Location:

Austin, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Nursing Administration

Program Overview

Program Description:

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) offers a 36-credit online graduate program leading to the Master of Science in Nursing, which produces a nursing leader in the area of nursing administration.

The nursing administration option is developed to prepare nurses at the master’s degree level in nursing administration for leadership in traditional and non-traditional health care settings to meet the needs of a changing health care system. It has been developed to meet professional standards and guidelines of the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners, the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

The graduate nursing administration option area of study provides students with a foundation of knowledge and experiences in the following areas:

• principles of nursing administration and conceptual models of nursing
• organization and administration of nursing organizations and departments
• strategies to work with culturally diverse nursing groups
• development and evaluation of nursing administration
• applied nursing administration research

 

Graduates will be able to:

• identify nursing administration’s role in strategic planning, resource management and development of supportive practice environment for staff
• promote the inclusion of a culturally diverse staff and provide culturally sensitive client care
• apply nursing and organizational theories and strategies to enhance the delivery of quality, cost-effective nursing care to clients
• promote an evidence-based practice, nursing and interdisciplinary research and educational opportunities for staff

 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Apply to the UTRGV Graduate College:

1. Submit a UTRGV Graduate Application at www.ApplyTexas.org. The university application fee of $50 ($100 for International Applicants) can be paid online by credit card or electronic check (in the online application). All application fees are nonrefundable.
2. Register on the UTRGV Recommenders and Document Upload Webpage. This is where you will request recommenders and upload program requirement documents, and where the graduate office will upload your transcripts. If you do not complete this step, we will not be able to process your application.
3. Request your transcripts and other supporting documentation to be mailed to:
   The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
   The Graduate College
   Marialice Shary Shivers Bldg. 1.158
   1201 W. University Drive
   Edinburg, TX 78539-2999

 

Review and submit all Program Requirements:

• BS in Nursing or other baccalaureate degree plus the successful completion of Transition to Graduate Nursing course.
• Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
• Official transcripts from each institution attended (must be submitted directly to UTRGV).
• Personal statement detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
• Successful completion of undergraduate statistics course.
• Holding an unencumbered license as a registered nurse in their state of residence.
• Criminal background check.
• Evidence of current immunizations required by the Texas Department of Health for students in health-related programs

 

Additional requirements for domestic applicants who attended foreign universities:

• TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on paper-based, 213 on computer based, or 79 on Internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years.
• English translation of educational records.
• Transcript Evaluation by the Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA).

 

Additional requirements for international applicants:

• TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on paper-based, 213 on computer based, or 79 on Internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years.
• English translation of educational records.
• Transcript Evaluation by the Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA).
• Financial Documentation showing sufficient funds (minimum of $25,000) to cover all expenses (living and academic) for the first year of study.
• Immigration documents, including a current copy of your valid passport.

 

Application Deadlines

• Domestic
  • Fall - Jul 3
  • Spring - N/A
  • Summer I - N/A
  • Summer II - N/A
• International
  • Fall - Jun 1
  • Spring - N/A
  • Summer I - N/A
  • Summer II - N/A

 

COURSES

All courses are offered by UT Rio Grande Valley.

Required Courses (18 credits)

• NURS 6208 Nursing Informatics
• NURS 6301 Theoretical Foundations in Nursing
• NURS 6302 Research in Nursing
• NURS 6303 Statistics in Nursing
• NURS 6382 Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
• NURS 6474 Leadership, Policy and Population Health

 

Practice Courses (12 credits)

• NURS 6370 Nursing Administration Concepts and Theories
• NURS 6371 Health Care Change, Negotiation, and Conflict Resolution
• NURS 6372 Health Care Finance
• NURS 6374 Clinical Leadership in Nursing

 

Capstone Requirement (6 credits)
Choose one of the following options:

Thesis

• NURS 7300 Thesis I Proposal
• NURS 7301 Thesis II

OR

Project

• NURS 7302 Practice Intervention Project
• Nursing Elective

 

PARTICIPATING INSTITUTION AND ADVISOR

UT Rio Grande Valley

Eloisa Tamez
Professor, Program Director
(956) 882-5079
eloisa.tamez@utrgv.edu

Degree Awarded: Master of Science in Nursing: Nursing Administration

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

UT Rio Grande Valley is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The Master of Science in Nursing Program is a member of the National League for Nursing Council of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs in Nursing.

Financial Aid:

Yes