by Nancy Wise
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing has launched a Master of Nursing (MN) degree to help meet the high demand for registered nurses in health care settings throughout the nation. The program aims to attract people looking for a career change or those with a bachelor’s degree in another field. Applications are open and will be accepted through August. The program will begin in spring 2023.
The MN program is a direct response to the dire need for registered nurses nationwide — a need that became more acute throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “All through the pandemic, we heard about the need for more registered nurses,” said Pamela Jeffries, PhD, dean of the School of Nursing and Valere Potter Distinguished Professor of Nursing.
“There were more jobs than nurses even before the pandemic, and now baby boomers are requiring more health care than ever. Our local health care systems, providers’ offices, clinics and long-term care facilities all need more registered nurses.”
The first of its kind in the state of Tennessee, the MN curriculum will prepare graduates with the ability to provide holistic care for individuals of all ages, communities and populations while giving consideration to the socioeconomic, cultural, political, environmental and educational influences on health and well-being, said Mary Ann Jessee, MSN, RN, assistant dean for Academics, generalist nursing practice and associate professor of Nursing.
“A Vanderbilt MN nurse will utilize knowledge of health disparities in taking patient histories that bring socioeconomic and other social determinants of health challenges to light. This is very much in line with the School of Nursing’s mission and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. We have a goal and responsibility to foster and graduate highly educated, culturally sensitive health care professionals who mirror the diverse populations they serve,” Jeffries said.
The four-semester degree is grounded in principles of sound clinical judgment and evidence-based knowledge. Graduates will be registered nurses with the skills and knowledge required of RNs. As master’s-prepared RNs, students will also develop introductory clinical teaching skills and advanced competency in interprofessional teamwork, nursing leadership and nursing informatics.
Students will benefit from the depth and breadth of health care systems in Nashville and the experiential learning model unique to Vanderbilt University. Clinical experience, a program requirement, can be obtained at VUMC and clinical partners in and around Metro Nashville. Through this experience, students will be able to make informed decisions on their next steps in the nursing profession, said Mavis Schorn, PhD, CNM, senior associate dean for Academics.
Graduates who receive licensure will be able to work clinically in hospitals, public health and long-term care settings, clinics and as home health providers. Registered nurses can also layer their knowledge with other professional areas of expertise like engineering, business and law, or choose to pursue opportunities in education, research or advanced practice nurses.
The MN program joins the other School of Nursing degree programs, including its master of science in nursing, doctor of nursing practice and PhD in nursing science degrees.
“The Vanderbilt School of Nursing has long prepared our nurses for the latest in patient and family care,” said Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, NE-BC, chief executive nursing officer of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “This innovative new program will allow an even greater number of nurses to pursue a graduate degree and complement the remarkable body of knowledge throughout our health system.”
More information about the master of nursing program is available at https://nursing.vanderbilt.edu/mn/index.php.
