College of Nursing

The College of Nursing is an integral component of The University of Texas at Arlington and subscribes to the mission of the University. The College of Nursing prepares quality nurse health care providers through excellence in education, scholarship and service. The undergraduate and graduate academic programs prepare individuals for professional nursing roles and for collaboration with other professionals and consumers in the delivery of holistic health care.

The faculty believes learning is a continuous lifelong process and a personal responsibility. Students must be actively involved in the learning process to acquire clinical proficiency and to be socialized into professional roles. Learning experiences are implemented to achieve sequence, continuity, and synthesis of knowledge and expertise as defined by the educational outcomes. Teaching and learning are dynamic processes involving curriculum evaluation and revision based on research evidence, the needs of a multicultural society, and the changing health care system. The educational process facilitates the development of each person’s potential and promotes cultural competence and assimilation of ethical principles.

Faculty and students foster an educational climate of mutual respect, honesty, intellectual inquiry, creativity, and effective communication. We contribute to the development of our profession through the conduct of research and the dissemination and application of evidence-based knowledge. Faculty and students provide service to the community through clinical practice and leadership.

Undergraduate nursing education builds on a foundation of studies in the sciences, humanities, and arts. The baccalaureate program prepares competent, self-directed generalist nurses (Registered Nurses) who can assume increasing responsibility and leadership in the delivery of evidence-based nursing care.

Master’s education builds on a foundation of undergraduate nursing education and provides specialty practice with an expanded theoretical and empirical knowledge base. The Master of Science in Nursing programs prepares Registered Nurses for advanced functional roles that require increased accountability, expertise, and leadership. Graduates are prepared to provide evidence-based health care in collaboration with other health care providers and consumers.

Doctoral education develops and advances empirical knowledge to promote evidence-based practice in the discipline of nursing. Graduates have a background to develop theories and conduct research with vulnerable populations and to assume academic, research, and leadership roles. The doctorate provides a basis for future research programs and other scholarly activities.

Lifelong learning is the responsibility of each professional nurse. Continuing education programs developed by the College of Nursing are sensitive to the influences of a changing society and respond to the continuing education needs of professional nurses in Texas.

History and Overview

The UT Arlington College of Nursing was established in 1971 as the U.T. System College of Nursing in Fort Worth and was housed in John Peter Smith Hospital. The first baccalaureate class enrolled in fall of 1972; the graduate program (MSN) began in 1975. In 1976, the school became an academic unit of UT Arlington, moving to the campus in 1977.

The Undergraduate Program consists of the BSN and the RN to BSN programs. In addition to the Arlington campus, the RN to BSN program is offered via distance education strategies. The Graduate Program offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with preparation as a nurse practitioner in the areas of Acute Care Adult Gerontology --(1996), Acute Care Pediatric (2005), Adult Gerontology Primary Care (previously Adult and Gerontology) (2013), Family (1975), Gerontology (1984), Neonatal (2008), Primary Care Pediatric (1985) and Psychiatric-Mental Health (1995). Post-master’s certificates are available in all the above nurse practitioner specialties. In addition, the UT Arlington MSN Program offers preparation in Nursing Administration (1982) and Nursing Education (2008). Nursing Administration is also offered online through the UT Arlington Academic Partnership program. A dual degree of MSN (administration major) and Masters of Business Administration (MBA) was offered in 1999 and a dual degree of MSN and Masters of Science in Health Care Administration was offered in 2001. A joint degree of MSN and Masters in Public Health (MPH) was offered with University of North Texas Health Science in Center in 2007. Certificates are offered in: Nursing Education (2001) and Advanced Nurse Educator Role (2001). A PhD in Nursing was approved in April 2003 with classes beginning in Fall 2003. A BSN-to-PhD entry option was approved in 2005, with classes beginning in Fall 2006. A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) began in Fall 2009.

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The CCNE address is One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120; Phone is (202) 887-6791 and fax is (202) 887-8476; and Website: www.aacn.nche.edu/accreditation. There are no accrediting agencies for PhD in Nursing programs.

Scholastic Activities and Research Interests of the Faculty

The research programs of the College of Nursing faculty are diverse. A sampling of their areas of study includes Genomics (Dr. Barbara Raudonis); Hispanic health care (Dr. Donelle Barnes and Dr. Susan Baxley); effects of colon cleansing/ gastroenterology (Dr. Marilee Schmelzer); nursing care outcomes (Dr. Reni Courtney); leadership in nursing education (Dr. Ronda Mintz-Binder); chemical dependency and abuse (Dr. Cheryl Anderson and Dr. Diane Snow); nurses in international settings (Dr. Jennifer Gray); sickle cell disease (Dr. Phyllis Adams and Dr. Maxine Adegbola); care of the elderly (Dr. Barbara Raudonis and Dr. Kathryn Daniel); oncology (Dr. Laurie Johns); simulation instruction (Dr. Mindi Anderson and Dr. Judy LeFlore); neonatology, and very low birth weight (Dr. Judy LeFlore).

Special Programs and Opportunities

Smart Hospital^TM

Interim Assistant Dean, Dr. Judy LeFlore

The Smart Hospital^TM is a simulated hospital environment complete with state-of-the-science equipment and furnishings. In this facility, students interact with and provide care to a full array of simulated patients who occupy the Emergency Department, ICU, Labor and Delivery suite, pediatric unit, Neonatal ICU, adult medical/surgical beds and the resuscitation room for large team training. Students learn utilizing simulation technology including full body interactive patient simulators, computerized scenario-based programs and individual trainers for specific skills.

Learning Resources Center

Executive Assistant to the Dean: Lalita Thompson

The mission of the Center is to provide both undergraduate and graduate students support to develop, refine, and apply knowledge in the clinical practice of skills. Computer labs are available for student use. Faculty members are provided resources to support classroom instruction, clinical learning activities, and scholarly endeavors.

Center for Nursing Research

Associate Dean: Dr. Michael Young

Scholarship is an essential component of the professional role in the College of Nursing. The Center provides support services to faculty and students: identifying funding sources; developing competitive proposals; writing grant applications; retrieving literature; collecting, entering and analyzing data; and disseminating research results and other scholarly products. Collaborative relationships for research with Metroplex health care agencies are in place.

Center for Hispanic Studies in Nursing and Health

Co-Directors: Dr. Wendy Barr and Dr. Mary Lou Bond

The Center is dedicated to fostering an understanding between health care professionals and people of Hispanic origin for the purpose of increasing understanding of health and healing through research of individual experience, cultural meanings, and the structure of institutions as important variables influencing health outcomes. The Center is also committed to the provision of educational programs and services which will assist health care providers to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver increasingly culturally sensitive and competent care. The Center promotes interdisciplinary and interuniversity collaboration as a strategy for development of resources to solve or deal with bicultural issues facing health care professionals.

Rural Health Outreach Program

Director: Sylvia Rawlings

The purpose of the Center is to provide appropriate, affordable, accessible continuing education to the nursing staffs of acute care and psychiatric hospitals, long term care facilities, home health agencies, and other health care facilities in the rural communities of North Central Texas.

Center for Continuing Nursing Education

The mission of this Center is to provide quality continuing nursing education for the improvement of nursing practice and health care in North Texas. The program strives to be a regional center for the advancement of professional continuing nursing education and to meet the diverse needs of nurses in most every clinical specialty and all levels of functional roles.

Programs

The Graduate Nursing Program is comprised of two departments – The Department of MSN Administration, Education, and PhD Programs and Research and the Department of Advanced Practice Nursing. The Department of Nursing Administration, Education and Research is made up of the MSN in Nursing Administration (including the dual MSN/MBA and MSN/HCAD degrees and the joint MSN/MPH programs), the MSN in Nursing Education and the PhD in Nursing Programs. The Department of Advanced Practice Nursing is made up of all Nurse Practitioner and Post Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate Programs and the DNP Program.

Major Areas of Study for Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Nursing Administration
Nursing Education
Nurse Practitioner Programs
- Acute Care Adult Gerontology Nursing
- Acute Care Pediatric Nursing
- Adult Gerontology Nursing
- Family Nursing
- Neonatal Nursing
- Primary Care Pediatric Nursing
- Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing