Nursing – Master of Science and Certificate in Advanced Study

CCNE AccreditedTo improve the nation’s health in the twenty-first century, the SUNY Poly graduate programs prepare advanced practice nurses as leaders in clinical, educational, and administrative settings.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree programs in nursing, master’s degree programs in nursing, and post-graduate certificate programs in nursing at SUNY Polytechnic Institute are registered by the New York State Education Department and are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. For more information, see: www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE

Vision

The nursing community at SUNY Polytechnic Institute aspires to be a values-based center of nursing excellence for learners and professionals regionally, nationally, and internationally. We are dedicated to contributing to society by advancing nursing scholarship and practice through innovation, technology, collaboration, and caring.

Mission

The nursing community at SUNY Polytechnic Institute is to promote a caring, transformational learning environment through academic excellence, lifelong scholarship and innovation in nursing. We provide, quality, evidence-based nursing education that prepares learners to meet diverse healthcare needs within our local and global communities through technology, leadership and collaboration.

Master of Science in Nursing Program Outcomes

Upon completion of a Master of Science in Nursing program, graduate learners will meet the Program Outcomes specific to their specialty area of nursing practice.

MS in Nursing with a major in Family Nurse Practitioner

At the completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program, the graduate will:

  1. Integrate sciences, humanities, theories and frameworks to advance nursing science, professional identity, and lifelong learning.
  2. Engage in the spirit of inquiry, scholarship and best evidence to inform practice decisions
  3. Guide policy development aligned with professional nursing values to direct improvements and quality outcomes across organizational systems.
  4. Collaborate with interprofessional healthcare teams and multiple stakeholders as a member and leader to coordinate and manage the diversity and complexities of family healthcare across the lifespan.
  5. Utilize technologies, data, and communication networks to enhance family healthcare services and promote client-centered outcomes.
  6. Manage family health care across the lifespan utilizing models of health prevention, health protection, disease prevention and concepts of cultural competence.
  7. Evaluate clinical judgements, intervention strategies, and inter-professional consultations based on a specialized body of knowledge within the advanced practice role as a family nurse practitioner across a variety of settings.
  8. Practice critical reflection through self-evaluation and peer evaluation processes to enhance care and practice as an advanced practice nurse.

 MS in Nursing with a major in Nursing Education

At the completion of the Masters in Nursing Education program, the graduate will:

  1. Integrate sciences, humanities, theories and frameworks to advance nursing science, professional identity, and lifelong learning.
  2. Engage in the spirit of inquiry, scholarship, and best evidence to inform practice decisions.
  3. Guide policy development aligned with professional nursing values to direct improvements and quality outcomes across organizational systems.
  4. Design curriculum reflective of education frameworks and nursing science aligned with program outcomes.
  5. Create instructional designs grounded in evidence-based strategies and technological advances that meet diverse learning needs of adult students.
  6. Examine educational assessment plans and systematic evaluation processes to assure program quality and standards of practice across learning environments.
  7. Engage as a reflective practitioner through self-evaluation and peer evaluation processes to enhance practice as a nurse educator.
  8. Transform educational environments through leadership and mentoring practices that advocates the scholarship of teaching and advances the future direction of nursing education.

MS in Nursing with a major in Transformational Leadership in Nursing

At the completion of the Masters in Transformational Leadership in Nursing program, the graduate will:

  1. Integrate sciences, humanities, theories and frameworks to advance nursing science, professional identity, and lifelong learning.
  2. Engage in the spirit of inquiry, scholarship, and best evidence to inform practice decisions.
  3. Guide policy development aligned with professional nursing values to direct improvements and quality outcomes across organizational systems.
  4. Collaborate across inter-professional teams to build professional relationships and influence organizational decisions.
  5. Evaluate models of patient care systems across health care environments to assure evidence-based services and comply with ethical, legal, and regulatory standards.
  6. Formulate business strategies to appraise and manage financial (fiscal?), and human resources utilized within the organizational structure.
  7. Critique policies and procedures that promote evidence-based nursing practice, patient care safety, staff education, and performance improvement.
  8. Exemplify ethical, professional accountability as a leader in personal and professional practice which promotes mentoring and advocacy within the organization.

Career Paths

Nurse Practitioner

The need for nurse practitioners has continued to grow to support the demand for qualified primary health care providers in multiple settings. Nurse Practitioners are now working in their own private practices, public health agencies, primary care clinics, home health care and nursing homes. There are also many opportunities in physician offices, palliative care and occupational settings. Graduates of the program are encouraged to pursue doctoral study after completing their MS degree.

Nurse Educator

The need for highly qualified nurse educators prepared to teach the next generation of nurses, and help lead the reform needed to transform nursing education, has never been greater. A national study of nursing education conducted by the Carnegie foundation concluded that “nursing education needs teachers with a deep nursing knowledge who also know how to teach…” (Benner, Sutphen, Leonard, & Day, 2010, p. 6).  The Master of Science in Nursing Education program at SUNY Poly prepares graduates for a professional career as a nurse  educator and leader in a wide variety of settings. Graduates of this program are prepared and encouraged to: a) pursue doctoral studies; and b) take the National League for Nursing’s certification exam for academic nurse educators.

Transformational Leadership in Nursing

The Transformational Leadership in Nursing Master of Science degree is designed to prepare baccalaureate nurses as leaders in today’s healthcare system to advance nursing practice, transform work environments, and safeguard cost effective, quality care within health care organizations. Upon completion of this program, graduates are prepared to assume roles as nurse managers, Directors of Nursing and Chief Nursing Officers. Graduates of this program will be prepared to sit for ANCC’s Nurse Executive Certification Examination which is nationally recognized in the profession. The MS in Transformational Leadership in Nursing program also provides a strong foundation for doctoral study, scholarship, and research.