Master of Science in Nursing
Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
Why study to be a Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist at the University of Florida ?
Graduate-prepared clinical nurse specialists in Adult Health Nursing provide care for individuals who have a known or predicted physiological alteration. Clinical nurse specialists demonstrate an in-depth understanding of complex medical-surgical problems, as well as interventions to manage and improve patient care. Guided by theory and research, their practice considers all influences on health status and the related social and behavioral problems arising because of the patient's physiological condition. Clinical nurse specialists are engaged in education, case management, expert clinical practice, consultation, research, administration, and practice in settings where primary, acute, or long-term nursing care is delivered.
Adult health clinical nurse specialists work with patients in acute, critical, and long-term care facilities. Many graduates of this specialty take positions as case managers, advanced practice nurses in managed care organizations, or in collaborative practice with physicians. They are in high demand because of their well-rounded knowledge and experience of complex physiological patient care.
As part of a world-class Health Science Center and network of interdisciplinary health care centers, the UF College of Nursing offers Adult Health CNS students access to a unique variety of clinical experiences, ranging from work in hospitals to clinics, as well as a wealth of expert medical-surgical nursing faculty and technological resources. MSN students at UF have excellent opportunities to explore nursing research and science, be professionally involved with student and professional governance, and have access to clinical experiences with patients across the life and cultural span.
Program Description
The Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist program prepares nurses in leadership roles for advanced practice as expert clinicians and manager of care, consultant, and educator. Students take the core advanced practice courses of pathophysiology, health assessment and diagnostic reasoning, pharmacotherapeutics, theory and research, ethics and policy. Graduates will be able to provide services in a variety of settings at the individual patient/family level, nurse-nurse level, and at a systems level.
Program emphasis is on health promotion, clinical judgment, clinical inquiry, clinical outcome analysis, education facilitation, and systems thinking. Clinical experiences integrate the advanced practice roles of clinician, consultant, program administrator and educator with a collaborative approach in a variety of settings.
Graduates are eligible for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for Clinical Nurse Specialist in Medical-Surgical Nursing. This track is available for post master's study.
Sample full-time and part-time curriculum plans
Application deadline for all MSN clinical tracks is March 15. (See below for more details)*
*Note: The March 15 deadline for the MSN program indicate the earliest date when the College will begin accepting students. After March 15, applications to the MSN program will be accepted until May 31st and students will be accepted on a space available basis.
Medical-surgical clinical nurse specialist track applicants should refer to the Master of Science in Nursing page for admission criteria and application information.
Contact information
All general MSN program inquiries should be directed to
Cecile Kiley
Coordinator, Academic Support Services
UF College of Nursing
PO Box 100197
Gainesville, FL 32610-0197
(352) 273-6331
For specific information regarding this clinical track, contact:
Dr. Laura Sutton
Clinical Coordinator
lsutton@ufl.edu
352-273-6358