6.55

Nursing

Head and Graduate Chair: Pamela Hawranik
General Office: 280 Helen Glass Centre for Nursing
Telephone: (204) 474 6216
Fax: (204) 474 7682
Email: nursing_grad@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/nursing
Graduate Program Assistant: Louise Sabourin

Academic Staff

Program Information
The Faculty of Nursing currently offers programs leading to the Master of Nursing (MN) degree and a Ph.D. in Cancer Control offered by the Faculty of Nursing and the Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine. The MN program includes nursing majors in the area of Community Health Nursing; Gerontological Nursing; Human Response to Illness; Nursing Administration; Woman, Child, and Family Health Nursing; and Nurse Practitioner (Advanced Practice Nursing) major.

The Nurse Practitioner major prepares nurses with advanced knowledge and skills to function as first line providers in primary care. This major is achieved through a course-based, non-thesis program of study comprised of 39 credit hours over two years (20 months). The program of study, taught by an interdisciplinary faculty, provides a strong basis in physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, advanced health assessment, community health and role development. Three clinical courses are designed to address the common health needs of individuals and families. Graduates of this program are prepared to work in an expanded nursing role as nurse practitioners in a variety of settings including community health centres, nursing stations in northern and remote areas of the province and country, and other primary care settings.

Graduates of the program over the past ten years have gone on to function as middle and senior managers and administrators, clinical nurse specialists in institutions and community health settings, government health policy bureaucrats, nursing educators, directors of research in institutions, and other roles. Over twenty percent of graduates have gone on to pursue doctoral education.

Fields of Research
The Faculty of Nursing has areas of established research excellence and emerging research specialties. Nursing is an ‘applied’ profession and the nurse research conducted at the University of Manitoba emphasizes the development of knowledge as a basis for evidence-based practice.

The research area of cancer care of individuals and families has gained international recognition with the establishment of the Research Chair in the ‘Development of Evidence-Based Nursing Practice in Cancer Care, Palliative Care, and Cancer Prevention’. The awarding of this Research Chair to the Faculty of Nursing has facilitated the creation of the joint Ph.D. in Cancer Control with the Faculty of Medicine. It has also acted as the stimulus for the growth of research and scholarship by faculty members and students.

Other areas of research strength include primary health care, children’s health, aging, women’s health, mental health, administration, and teaching. Many graduate faculty conduct research with other disciplines broadening the possibilities in identifying ways to improve the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities.

The Faculty of Nursing has formal linkages with the University of Manchester and the University of Tennessee, Memphis. Collaborate research is being conducted with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Research, consultation, and practice are also being conducted at many health facilities in the province. These relationships provide graduate students with endless possibilities and vast opportunities to pursue their areas of interest and expand their understanding of health and health care.

Research Facilities
The Manitoba Nursing Research Institute (MNRI) was established as a research unit within the Faculty of Nursing in 1985. The MNRI supports research and scholarly activities of faculty members, graduate students, and members of the local nursing community. Available supports include methodological and statistical consultation, library resources, computer data bases, statistical packages, qualitative data analysis programs, and information on research grant initiatives. Opportunities are available for graduate students to work with senior faculty as research assistants.

Master of Nursing

Admission
Admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies are found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this Calendar.

Application Deadlines
Students in the Faculty of Nursing normally begin their program on 1 September. For admission for this start date, Canadian and International students should send their applications with complete supporting documentation to the Faculty of Nursing by January 15th.

Applicants must possess:

• A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an approved or accredited university. Registered nurse applicants with a degree in another discipline are also eligible to apply. For these individuals, extra coursework may be required prior to consideration for admission to the graduate program;

• Completion of a Research Methods course and an Introductory Statistics course with a minimum grade of C+ in each course. The content of specific courses may be reviewed to determine whether these criteria are met;

• Proof of active practising nurse registration in Canada. Applicants from other countries may apply provided they have active practising nurse status in their home country and are eligible for registration in Manitoba. Once enrolled in the program, all students must maintain active practising nurse registration with the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba.

Maximum time to graduate: six years

Ph.D. in Cancer Control
The Faculty of Nursing offers a PhD in Cancer Control. See Section 6.9: Cancer Control.

Ph.D. in Applied Health Sciences
The Faculty of Nursing, along with the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation Studies, Faculty of Human Ecology, and School of Medical Rehabilitation, now offers a multi-faculty Ph.D. in Applied Health Sciences. Information on this program may be found in another section of this calendar.