This presentation will describe the development and implementation of a Public Health Nursing/School Health Nursing Masters program that is offered entirely by distance education. He University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing currently offers a Masters Degree in Nursing with a specialty in public health nursing and a sub-specialty in school health nursing. As of winter semester, 2001, this course of study is available totally by distance education. This program was developed as a result of Advanced Nurse Education Funding from HRSA/Division of Nursing 1996-1999. A grant continuation 1999-2001 permitted us to develop the School Health sub-specialty and the adapt the curriculum for distance learning. The 35-hour program is comprised of 6 semester hours of nursing core, 10 hours of public health nursing core, epidemiology, statistics, and health policy. The School Health specialty substitutes 6 hours of School Health Core for policy and one elective. Both programs require a 3 credit hour research project. Extensive clinical practice hours are required for both programs, 6 credit hours (480 clock hours) and 7 credit hours (560 clock hours) for public health and school health respectively. After major marketing areas, these programs are being enthusiastically received nation-wide with increasing enrollments and inquiries from potential students both domestically and abroad.
Learning Objectives: 1) Assess distance learning strategies in graduate nursing education. 2) Discuss strengths and weaknesses of distance learning in graduate nursing education.
Keywords: Public Health Nursing, School Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.