ELM-MSN: Adult-Gerontology or Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
The Master of Science in Nursing with Adult-Gerontology or Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) program allows students to concentrate on one of these two clinical areas of content and practice. Nurses with advanced practice preparation may work in acute, primary, or long-term care settings. Students learn the process of developing and sustaining evidence-based practice in illness management, advancing the practice of other nurses and nursing personnel, and developing organizational or systems modifications to support and improve nursing practice. The traditional CNS roles of expert clinical practice, consultation, clinical leadership, research, and education are shaped toward producing desirable patient outcomes as the CNS works in several spheres of influence. Graduates are eligible to apply to the state of California for certification as clinical nurse specialists, and may apply for national certification through examination by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Contact the School of Nursing for specific program availability and locations. Prelicensure coursework must be completed prior to beginning advanced practice nursing coursework.
Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Core Courses | 13 | |
| GNRS 506 | Spiritual Concept Analysis in Health Care | 3 |
| GNRS 613 | Graduate Statistics | 3 |
| GNRS and/or GSPH XXX Electives | 7 | |
| Academic and Advanced Practice Core Courses | 12 | |
| GNRS 513 | Advanced Nursing Practice Role | 2 |
| GNRS 610 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| GNRS 611 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| GNRS 612 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning | 4 |
| Advanced Practice Specialty Courses | 22 | |
| GNRS 520 | Theory and Practice of the Clinical Nurse Specialist in Nursing Care of Adult-Gerontology Patients 1 | 6 (2/4) |
| GNRS 521 | Clinical Specialization in the Care of Adult-Gerontology Patients | 6 (2/4) |
| GNRS 543 | Transitions Across the Care Continuum | 6 (2/4) |
| GNRS 548 | Health Promotion Across the Lifespan | 2 |
| GNRS 580 | Gerontology | 2 |
| Concluding Course(s) | 1-3 | |
| GNRS 597 | Comprehensive Examination Directed Study | 1 |
- or - | ||
| GNRS 598 & GNRS 514 | Thesis and Research Proposal Writing | 3 |
| Total Units | 48-50 | |
- 1
Units in parentheses are classroom/clinical units.
Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Core Courses | 13 | |
| GNRS 506 | Spiritual Concept Analysis in Health Care | 3 |
| GNRS 613 | Graduate Statistics | 3 |
| GNRS and/or GSPH XXX Electives | 7 | |
| Academic and Advanced Practice Core Courses | 12 | |
| GNRS 511 | Advanced Pediatric Health Assessment and Health Promotion 1 | 4 (3/1) |
| or GNRS 612 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning | |
| GNRS 513 | Advanced Nursing Practice Role | 2 |
| GNRS 610 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| GNRS 611 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| Advanced Practice Specialty Courses | 20 | |
| GNRS 530 | Theory and Practice of the Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Care of the Pediatric Patient | 6 (2/4) |
| GNRS 531 | Clinical Specialization in the Care of the Pediatric Patient | 6 (2/4) |
| GNRS 543 | Transitions Across the Care Continuum | 6 (2/4) |
| GNRS 548 | Health Promotion Across the Lifespan | 2 |
| Specialized Option Course | 2 | |
| GNRS 589 | Adolescent Health Care | 2 |
| - or - | ||
| GNRS 510 | Family Theory in Health Care | 2 |
| Concluding Course(s) | 1-3 | |
| GNRS 597 | Comprehensive Examination Directed Study | 1 |
- or - | ||
| GNRS 598 & GNRS 514 | Thesis and Research Proposal Writing | 3 |
| Total Units | 48-50 | |
- 1
Units in parentheses are classroom/clinical units.
Admission
University graduate admission and program-specific requirements must be met before an application is complete (see Admission to the University). Program-specific application requirements are available online.
International students should contact Graduate and Professional Admissions for application procedures.