Introduction

Organization
There are three graduate degree programs in the University of Kentucky College of Nursing. One program leads to the degree Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.), one to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and the third to the Doctor of Nursing (D.N.P.). Students in the M.S.N. Program are admitted with a B.S.N. or with an A.D.N. or diploma in nursing through the R.N.-M.S.N. option. The College also has a certificate program for post-master's students known as the clinical scholars Program. The M.S.N. and Ph.D. programs are in nursing but under the authority of the University of Kentucky Graduate School. The dean of the Graduate School is Jeannine Blackwell. James O'Reilly is the associate dean for Extended Campus and Admissions. Kwaku Addo is the associate dean for recruitment. Two of the assistant deans in the College of Nursing direct the graduate programs and are your liaison to the Graduate School for their respective programs. Juliann Sebastian is the assistant dean for advanced practice nursing and is responsible for the Master's and Clinical Scholars Programs. Lynne Hall is the assistant dean for research and the Ph.D. program. Juliann Sebastian and Marcia Stanhope, associate dean, co-direct the D.N.P. Program.

Master's Program
The master's program is designed to prepare you for the advanced practice of nursing. Advanced nursing practice requires sophisticated clinical knowledge within a defined area of nursing practice. Advanced practice requires a high level of accountability and collaboration within the health care system. Advanced practice nurses can assume many different roles in a variety of health care sites. Post-masters students have the opportunity to expand their clinical expertise within a new specialty area.

Based on your preparation as a nurse generalist in your undergraduate program, the M.S.N. program of study will provide you with nursing skills in the specialized area of nursing practice you select. Your study within the master's program will focus on the core content of leadership in advanced nursing practice, theoretical bases of advanced practice nursing research utilization and evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning. You were prepared for meeting the ANA standards of nursing practice in your undergraduate program, and in the M.S.N. program you will be prepared to meet those additional standards established for your specialized area of practice. Upon completing the program, you will have skills in leadership, collaboration, advanced nursing practice, analysis of the health care system, research, and scholarship.

Ph.D. Program
The goal of the Ph.D. Program is to develop your skills in clinical research for the generation of knowledge relevant to nursing practice. The focus of the program is on developing and testing mid-range theories and conducting clinical nursing research. The intent is for you to further develop skills in research and scholarship, and thus enhance the foundation in advanced nursing practice you gained at the master's level. Upon completing the program, you will be a scholar who conducts clinical research, develops nursing science, engages in collaboration, and provides leadership for the resolution of health care problems.

D.N.P. Program
The goal of the D.N.P. Program is to develop your skills in top-level clinical nursing leadership. This program focuses on using research from nursing and other disciplines to develop new models of care delivery to better meet the needs of populations, and to provide leadership in the design, implementation, and evaluation of population-focused care. This is an expert-level advanced practice nursing doctoral program that builds on advanced practice at the master's level. Upon completing the program, you will have developed sophisticated skills in clinical and systems leadership, dissemination of clinical innovations, and evaluation of population-focused outcomes.

How to use this handbook
The handbook contains information about the College of Nursing, its mission, and its organization. The policies and procedures governing your progress in the program, and the resources available to you for accomplishing the program objectives and your personal career goals, are described. Please review the handbook carefully. If you have questions, contact the assistant dean responsible for your program. Remember, it is important for you to keep your handbook for the entire length of your program.

We welcome you to the College of Nursing and wish you great success on your educational journey!

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