Why get a Master's degree in Nursing: Evidence-Based Nursing?
The Evidence-Based Nursing (EBN) program focuses on developing advanced generalist nursing practice in a focused area of study, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering life-long learning and preparing students for the leading edge of healthcare knowledge and delivery. Students strengthen their knowledge and skills in clinical decision-making, application of nursing interventions and ability to critique and appropriately use evidence as a foundation for practice.In this program, students study nursing as an applied discipline advancing their knowledge of theoretical perspectives for clinical practice, with an emphasis on leadership, quality improvement methodologies, and the cultural, social and political context of health and illness. Students gain valuable experience in leadership strategies to improve quality care in nursing practice through a minimum 112-hour clinical practicum.
Why choose UNH's M.S. in Evidence-Based Nursing program?
At UNH you’ll be supported by a productive faculty and outstanding facilities as you advance your nursing career. Faculty members conduct research in family-based health issues such as women’s health, health promotion for children and adolescents, and nursing care for the elderly. Clinical practicum sites are by arrangement in local, regional and teaching hospitals, clinics, community health agencies, primary care and other urban and rural healthcare settings in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine and other sites by permission.
Potential Career Areas
- Hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
- Correctional facilities
- Home health agencies
- Military
- Physicians’ offices
- Primary care clinics
- Schools
- Social service agencies
- Workplace clinics
Curriculum & Requirements
Evidence-Based Nursing
The Evidence-Based Nursing track focuses on developing advanced generalist nursing practice in a focused area of study, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering life-long learning, and preparing students for the leading edge of health care knowledge and delivery. Students strengthen knowledge and skills in clinical decision making, the application of nursing interventions, and their ability to critique and appropriately use evidence as a foundation for practice. In this graduate track, students study nursing as an applied discipline, advancing their knowledge of theoretical perspectives for clinical practice, with an emphasis on leadership; the cultural, social, and political context of health and illness; and quality improvement methodologies. Students are mentored in the enactment of leadership strategies to improve quality care in nursing practice through an intensive clinical practicum.
Admission Requirements
Registered nurses (RNs) who have successfully passed the NCLEX-RN, currently hold an unencumbered, active RN license in the United States, and who hold a baccalaureate degree in either nursing or another field can be considered for admission. Applicants are required to have a good academic record and completion of coursework in statistics and research. The following is required:
- Unencumbered, active RN license in the United States
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing or another field
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in associate and baccalaureate programs
- Nursing experience is preferred but not required for Clinical Nurse Leader and Evidence-Based Nursing tracks
- Successful completion of undergraduate statistics course and undergraduate research course
- 3 letters of recommendation Professional references should be substantial, and an academic reference is recommended. Letters of recommendation from family or friends are not acceptable.
- Admission committee may request an interview
RNs whose baccalaureate degree is in a field other than nursing may apply to the master of science degree in nursing (MS) program and will be considered for the track that is commensurate with their clinical experience based on faculty discretion.
Degree Requirements
Clinical Hours: 112*
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
NURS 812 | Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 3 |
NURS 814 | Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan | 3 |
NURS 816 | Health Promotion Theory and Population Health | 3 |
NURS 818 | Foundations of Evidence Based Practice | 3 |
NURS 820 | Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
NURS 915 | Leadership, Role & Collaboration | 3 |
NURS 917 | Biostats and Epidemiology | 3 |
NURS 943 | Fundamentals of Quality Improvement & Safety in Healthcare | 3 |
NURS 955 | Evidence Based Nursing Scholarly Project I | 3-12 |
NURS 956 | Evidence Based Nursing Scholarly Project II | 3 |
NURS 969 | Health Systems Policy, Economics & Financial Planning | 3 |
Total Credits | 33-42 |
- *
Clinical hours are completed through the following required course: NURS 955.
This graduate program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with certain undergraduate degree programs.
General Accelerated Master's policy, note that some programs have additional requirements (e.g. higher grade expectations) compared to the policy.
Please see the Graduate School website and contact the department directly for more information.
The Masters of Science Evidence Based Practice program builds upon the skills of the baccalaureate prepared nurse.
At the completion of the Master's nursing program, the graduate student is prepared to:
- Serve in a healthcare leadership and change agent role as part of a diverse, complex,and patient-centered health care system.
- Act as a practice scholar to design, direct and evaluate system changes to promote safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centered care.
- Use data analytic methods, information systems and technology to evaluate,integrate and apply knowledge that will improve programs of care, outcomes of care and care systems.
- Use translational science and analytic methods to develop, identify, implement, and evaluate best practices to improve health care and health care systems.
- Design and implement health promotion and clinical prevention strategies across the health/illness continuum to optimize health and disease management.
- Systematically use improvement methods to monitor and evaluate care processes and outcomes and applies data for continuous improvement and safety
- Advocate for social justice through policy, professional and political engagement.
- Applies leadership principles that support interprofessional practice.
Deadlines
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
- Fall: April 1
- Spring: Nov. 1
- Summer: N/A
- Special: N/A
Application fee: $65
Campus: Online
New England Regional: No
Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)
New Hampshire Residents
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission, or you will not be able to register for classes.
Transcripts
If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.
If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
- Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
- Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.
Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
Letters of recommendation: 3 required
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
References should be substantial with one academic, if available, and two current nursing professionals with graduate education background.
Personal Statement/Essay Questions
Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:
- Reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives.
- Your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field.
Additional Department Requirements
Applicants are required to have an unencumbered RN license in the United States, degree in nursing or outside nursing, and successful completion of undergraduate statistics and research to be eligible to apply to this program.
Non-BSN Admission Requirements:
RNs whose baccalaureate degree is in a discipline other than nursing may apply to the master of science degree in nursing (M.S.) program and will be considered for the track that is commensurate with their clinical experience based on faculty discretion.
- Unencumbered, active RN license in the United States
- Baccalaureate degree in another field
- Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher in associate and baccalaureate programs
- Nursing experience preferred but not required
- Successful completion of undergraduate statistics course and undergraduate research course
- Interview may be requested
Important Notes
All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.
International Applicants
Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.