University of Mount Olive offers master's degree in nursing
By From staff reports
Published in News on October 9, 2016 1:45 AM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Phyllis Coley of Pikeville has been a registered nurse for more than 30 years.
She went into the field not just to make a living, but because she had a genuine love and concern for people. Since 2010 she has worked as a psychiatrist nurse educator at Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro.
Ms. Coley has recently enrolled in the University of Mount Olive's new master of science in nursing degree (MSN) program.
Ms. Coley is one of 10 nursing students who make up the very first MSN class at UMO which started this fall.
"Mental illness touches all of our lives in one way or another," Ms. Coley said. "This is my community and as a nurse with an advanced degree, I will be better prepared to integrate concepts from the practice of nursing, nursing theory, and nursing research on both the educational and administrative setting. Most importantly, I will be a voice of hope and living presence of Christ in the community."
Today's health care industry is commanding a higher educated nursing workforce, said Dr. Joy Kieffer, division chair and assistant professor of nursing.
"Nurse educators are needed to train student nurses, and educated nurse administrators are needed to lead the nursing workforce through these radical and expedient changes," she said.
The MSN program, which offers dual concentration in nursing education and nursing administration, can be completed in as little as 15 months or four consecutive semesters.
The entire program is asynchronous and online, making it convenient for working RNs with varying shifts who cannot attend traditional seated classes.
Classes are also limited to 15 students, allowing for personal attention from experienced nurse educators with nursing administration experience.
Carol Hill of Washington earned her bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) from UMO in December of 2015 and is now working toward her MSN.
Since graduating from UMO, many doors have opened for Ms. Hill, who initially went back for her BSN as a requirement for her position as assistant nurse manager in the emergency division of Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.
"Once I started the program in 2014, I was amazed at how it prepared me for the leadership role that I was in," she said. "The program empowered me by providing the knowledge and inspiration to do great things."
Ms. Hill has since been promoted to professional development coordinator, where she prepares new and experienced nurses for their roles in the emergency room.
"I can only imagine what lies ahead for me after the completion of the graduate program at UMO," she said.
Betty Harmon of Durham has been a RN since 2003. She works at Davis Ambulatory Surgery Center in Durham as a clinical nurse IV. In 2013 she earned her RN to BSN degree from UMO, and since that time, she has looked for an institution where she could get her MSN.
She said she was thrilled when UMO announced the start of its MSN program.
"As a member of the original cohort of RN to BSN graduates, I cannot express how impressed and pleased I was, and I know the MSN program will open even more doors for me," she said. "The UMO faculty is outstanding, encouraging, and supportive, all while holding us accountable.
"After graduating I will have the ability to sit for three different certifications, to pursue a formal leadership role, or to teach nursing; the opportunities to advance my career are endless."
Graduates of the MSN program will be academically prepared for all three nursing certification exams: the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), the Nurse Executive Advanced Certification (NEA-BC) and the Nursing Professional Development Certification (RN-BC).
Another important component of the MSN program at UMO is the accessibility of an online nursing community, where professional nurses, including UMO alumni, serve as mentors to current students.
"It's important for our students to have someone to talk to who has been there and can appreciate what they are going through," Ms. Kieffer said.
Also unique to the university's MSN program, students will be required to complete a faculty-guided exploratory research study, write a thesis on that study, and publish their thesis.
The students will then co-author an article with their nursing faculty and their collaborative mentor and submit it for publication to a peer-reviewed journal.
"Having a head start in the production of scholarly products, and a publication immediately upon graduation from their MSN, will be a fantastic attribute to our program and will set the stage for their continued contributions to evidence-based practice and utilization," Ms. Kieffer said.
For more information about the MSN program at the University of Mount Olive, visit www.umo.edu/onlinenursing or email grad@umo.edu.
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values.
For more information, visit www.umo.edu.