The University of Maine School of Nursing developed its first graduate program in 1992 and the

initial group of graduate students received their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in May 1994. For

the first years, the MSN program focused on preparing the nurse for the advanced professional role

of family nurse practitioner (FNP). Later, in response to the diverse graduate education needs of

Maine nurses, our graduate program expanded to prepare nurses for professional roles such as

nurse educator, nurse administrator, or other professional roles. Following landmark changes from

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the Commission for Collegiate Nursing

Education (CCNE), the graduate program was revised in 2023 and 2024 to support graduate nursing

education in the 21st century. These changes highlight the importance of graduate prepared nurses

as leaders in healthcare. This spurred the degree name change to the Master of Science in Nursing

Leadership (MSNL) Graduate program faculty are expert practitioners and leaders in a number of

different specialties and are eager to assist students to individualized programs of study. Students

may select a flexible program of study, either full-time or part-time depending on their track

The School of Nursing offers a variety of program plans for graduate study:

Rural Family Nurse Practitioner (MSNL-FNP):

The family nurse practitioner is prepared to provide healthcare to individuals and families across the

lifespan (newborns, infants, children, adolescents, adults, pregnant and postpartum women and

older adults). Primary care includes health promotion, disease and injury prevention, and the

evaluation and management of common acute and chronic health problems. The focus of care

includes individuals within families and the family unit; however the family chooses to define itself.

Family nurse practitioners demonstrate a commitment to family-centered care in the context of

communities.

Course formats are a mix of online and classroom instruction. Clinical experiences are arranged to

meet program outcomes and to accommodate the needs of the student. Clinical skill workshops and

simulation are integrated throughout the curriculum. The FNP Track Coordinator will help plan a

program of study and timeframe that meets the academic and clinical requirements. The combined

credit requirement would be approximately 49-51. The MSN-FNP curriculum meets the 2022 Criteria

for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs published by the National Task Force on Quality Nurse

Practitioner Education.

MSN-FNP graduates are eligible to take national certification examinations for Family Nurse

Practitioners which are offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and by the American

Academy of Nurse Practitioners (http://www.aanpcert.org/index). The University of Maine MSN-FNP

program graduates have performed well on the national certification examinations.

Nurse Educator (MSNL-NE):

The nurse educator track is a blended online program consisting of 35 credits, and is designed to

prepare nurses for teaching roles in academic institutions and in professional development settings

in healthcare organizations. The program of study combines a robust foundation in leadership

development with specialized coursework in nursing education. Students begin with core graduate

nursing courses, including advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, advanced

pharmacology, leadership, population health, quality and safety, and graduate level scholarship. The

nursing education specialty courses offer targeted preparation in innovative teaching-learning

strategies for classroom, laboratory, simulation, and clinical environments. Coursework also

emphasizes curriculum development, assessment techniques, and evaluation of student learning

outcomes. A culminating graduate capstone allows students to integrate and apply prior learning to

both their clinical specialty and their emerging role as a nurse educator.

This blended program format includes primarily online coursework, with three courses requiring in-

person components. These include one lab course held on-site at the University of Maine in Orono

for two days during the summer semester, and two practicum experiences, which may be

completed at an approved clinical or academic site convenient to the student’s location. The

program is designed with flexibility in mind and can be completed in approximately two years of full-

time study or three to four years part-time. Throughout the program, faculty mentorship and

individualized guidance support student progress and professional development.

Upon completion of the nurse educator specialty courses, graduates are eligible to sit for the

National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator Novice (CNE®n) examination.

Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS): The CAS offers a clinically focused program of study to

registered nurses who already possess a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctorate of Nursing

Practice. The CAS prepares the graduate prepared nurse as a rural family nurse practitioner.

Students in the CAS program must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours (500 and 600 level

courses) within The University of Maine.

A full-time student can expect to complete MSN degree requirements in 2-3 years. All work for the

CAS or the MSN must be completed within a 6 year period.

 

The master’s degree program in nursing and the post graduate APRN certificate program at the University

of Maine School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655K Street

NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791

 

Graduate Faculty:

Katherine Darling, Ph.D., (University of California: San Francisco, CA) Assistant Professor of Health Sciences

Valerie Herbert, DNP, RN (University of Kansas), Graduate Coordinator, Nurse Educator Track Coordinator, Associate Professor of Nursing

Colleen Marzilli, PhD, DNP, MBA, APRN, Med/Surg-BC, CCM, PHNA-BC, CNE, NEA-BC, FNP-BC, FNAP, (The University of Texas at Tyler) Professor of Nursing

Jordan Porter, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC (Vanderbilt University) Lecturer, Associate Graduate Faculty

Eva Quirion, Ph.D., APRN, FNP-BC (University of Phoenix) Lecturer, Associate Graduate Faculty

Kathryn Robinson, Ph.D., MHA/Ed., RN (Northeastern University) Associate Director, Associate Professor of Nursing

Amanda Savage, DNP, M.Ed., RN (University of St. Augustine) Assistant Professor of Nursing

Sean Sibley, Ph.D. (University of Maine), MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, NP-C, CNE (University of Maine) Family Nurse Practitioner Track Coordinator, Clinical Assistant Clinical Faculty

Kelley Strout, Ph.D., RN (Northeastern University), Associate Professor of Nursing

Mary Tedesco-Schneck, Ph.D., PNP-BC, (University of Maine), Interim Director, Associate Professor of Nursing