Graduate Nursing Programs
Tony Umadhay, PhD, CRNA, APRN, Associate Professor and Associate Dean
Overview of Graduate Nursing Program
Students may select from the following graduate programs:
- Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN), Nurse Practitioner programs:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care specialization
- Family Nurse Practitioner specialization
- Post Graduate Certificate for Nurse Practitioners
- Post Baccalaureate to Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care specialization
- Family Nurse Practitioner specialization
- Nurse Anesthetist (C.R.N. A.) specialization
- Post Graduate to Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs:
- Nurse Practitioner specialization
- Anesthesiology specialization
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing programs:
- Post-BSN to PhD
- Post-MSN to PhD
- Post-DNP to PhD
Accreditation
The graduate nursing programs are currently approved by the Florida Board of Nursing (FBON). The FBON is located at 4080 Woodcock Drive, Suite 202, Jacksonville, Florida 32207. The Master of Science in Nursing degree, the Post BSN to DNP degree, the Post Graduate to DNP degree, and the Post Graduate Nurse Practitioner Certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K street NW, Suite 750, Washington D.C. 20001 (202)-887‑6791. The Nurse Anesthesiology program is additionally accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, 222 South Prospect Avenue, Suite 304, Park Ridge, IL 60068, (847) 692‑7050.
Philosophy of Nursing
This philosophy describes the beliefs of the nursing faculty of Barry University about person, society, health, illness, and professional nursing. The philosophy evolves from the University mission which is congruent with the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CHS) philosophy and supports the purpose of the Nursing Program.
The faculty believe that all humans are unique beings who have intrinsic value endowed in them by their Creator. Humans manifest a mind‐body‐spirit unity which encourages creativity, harmony, and health. The essence of human unity is the individual’s culture, spiritual experience, environment, and changing life circumstances. We respect diversity, multiple realities, and individual choices of all persons. We place value on the life of all human beings within the context of family, community, and society.
Society is the dynamic and constructed setting within which all persons exist and interact. Nursing occurs in the framework of a global society valuing cultural, social, and intellectual diversity. Professional nursing carries with it the social responsibility to shape and transform the environment, to improve health, and eliminate healthcare disparities for all people. Within society, each defined community provides a unique, multidimensional context for learning.
The faculty believe that health is the balance of mind‐body‐spirit which is interpreted and expressed in individuals and groups. The experience of illness is an alteration in the harmony of the mind‐body‐spirit. Health and illness are not considered dichotomous experiences; both are human experiences occurring simultaneously. Understanding simultaneity is fundamental to the diagnosis and treatment of human experiences and responses.
Focusing in a holistic manner across the life span, professional nursing roles involve evidence-based practices that are preventative, restorative, and promotive. Evolving professional roles are acknowledged and fostered.
The knowledge base for professional nursing practice is derived from the liberal arts, nursing science, and related professional studies. Professional nursing education facilitates the socialization process, the development of values and professional behavior, and the social construction of policies which affect health at local, national, and international levels. The faculty believe that the baccalaureate degree in nursing is the entry level for professional nursing practice. Nursing education at the master’s level is the minimal preparation for advanced nursing practice. Doctoral nursing education prepares nurses as expert clinicians, educators, leaders, researchers, scholars, policymakers, and visionaries.
Nursing scholarship advances the knowledge base of the discipline by promoting inquiry, generating new knowledge, translating research into practice and selecting theoretical knowledge that is compatible with our professional values and practices. Inquiry is paramount to competence in professional practice and lifelong learning. The unique focal area of our inquiry is multicultural health.
The curricula of the nursing programs are transformational and based on the belief that society and nursing are ever‐changing. This attention to nursing’s influence on communities and society supports our focal area of multicultural health by providing opportunities for scholarship, research, teaching, and community service. The curricula promote and facilitate analytical reasoning, critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and the ability to construct knowledge.
The philosophy of the Nursing Program articulates with the philosophy of the CNHS and the University mission through the major characteristics of: knowledge and truth, religious dimension, collaborative service, social justice, and an inclusive community which celebrates the diversity of students, staff, faculty, and community. The nursing faculty embrace Barry University’s international dimension, respect for human dignity, Dominican spirit of scholarship and service and commitment to a nurturing environment, social responsibility, and leadership.
Mission of the Graduate Nursing Program
The Graduate Nursing programs embrace the core commitments and values expressed in the University Mission, which includes providing the highest academic standards in graduate and professional education. The programs provide educational experiences, which are transformative and inclusive by building on the knowledge, skills, and values of the Baccalaureate and/or Masters prepared nurse. The faculty support a student-centered approach to education and a commitment to advancing the profession. The programs seek to educate advance practice nurses and scholar/scientists who honor and respect human dignity and who are prepared to serve as senior level nurses in key leadership positions that influence health care delivery locally, nationally and globally.
Supplement to the Mission for the Nurse Anesthesiology Program:
The nurse anesthesiology programs additionally seek to provide curricula that prepare Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) at the doctoral level to deliver safe, competent, and ethical anesthesia and anesthesia-related care to patients for diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical procedures. The curricula are designed to cover the full scope of nurse anesthesia practice with the following focal areas: patient safety, perianesthesia care, critical thinking, communication and leadership, and the professional role of the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).