Adult - Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG CNS)
The Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist includes perspectives of both health-restoration and health-promotion, while developing skills in case management. This concentration area focuses on physiological and psychosocial theories, concepts, and research underlying self-care and growth needs of individuals. Other commonly emphasized themes include: holism of clients, family relationships, environmental influences, conceptual thinking, and independent nursing actions. Faculty assist students in individualizing their education by facilitating work in hospital or non-hospital clinical areas in the specialization courses. Practicum experiences provide opportunities for testing new approaches and developing advanced skills.
Graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for recognition as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. The curriculum also includes coursework required by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners (TxBON) to be qualified as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). Additional requirements and experience for APN status are available from the TxBON.
Degree Plans
- MSN Adult - Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist: Program of Work (PDF)
- MSN Adult - Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist: Schedule (PDF)
Clinical Nurse Specialist: Visit NACNS: CNS Institute to learn more about the role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration is a 48-credit hour program that combines skills in primary care with community assessment, intervention, and management skills of community health nursing. It emphasizes health promotion, disease prevention, and the management of common acute and chronic illness across the lifespan. Students complete 645 hours of supervised clinical practice with nurse practitioners and primary care physicians and is tailored to the individual student's goals and program objectives.
Graduates are eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) exam and American Academy for Nurse Practitioner (AANP) certification examinations for the family nurse practitioner. The program meets the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty's curriculum guidelines. The curriculum also includes coursework required by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) to be qualified as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). Additional requirements and experiences for APN status are available from the BON.
Applicants to the Family Nurse Practitioner program must be graduates of either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, or a non-nursing baccalaureate degree and an Associate Degree in Nursing or Nursing Diploma and have at least two years of full-time clinical experience as a registered nurse within the last five years by the November 1 application deadline.
Degree Plans
- MSN Family Nurse Practitioner: Program of Work (PDF)
- MSN Family Nurse Practitioner: Schedule (PDF)
Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PCPNP)
The Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitionerconcentration focuses on the delivery of primary care to children from newborns to 21 years of age in a variety of settings. Emphases include child development, parenting, health promotion, disease prevention, and the management of common illnesses in children. Nurse practitioner skills are combined with community assessment, intervention, and management skills to broaden the scope of the clinical practice experiences. The graduate is prepared to assume leadership positions in pediatric-based health care agencies.
The Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner concentration at The University of Texas at Austin is the first nursing program in the country to offer Touchpoints training. Touchpoints is an interdisciplinary, relational, and developmental model of providing health care. Anticipatory guidance is tailored to the child's temperament and developmental level and a supportive relationship is nurtured between the practitioner and the parent.
Graduates are eligible to take the Primary Care Pediatric Nursing Certification Board examination and/or the American Nurses Credentialing Center exam for Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. The curriculum also includes coursework required by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) to be qualified as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). Additional requirements and experiences for APN status and prescriptive authority are available from the BON.
Applicants to the Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program must be graduates of either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, or a non-nursing baccalaureate degree and an Associate Degree in Nursing or Nursing Diploma. One year of full-time Registered Nurse experience with children/adolescents within the last five years is recommended.
Degree Plans
- MSN Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: Program of Work (PDF)
- MSN Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: Schedule (PDF)
Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program (PMHNP)
The PMHNP concentration is a 49-credit hour program that prepares graduates to provide primary psychiatric-mental health care at an advanced level to individuals of all ages and their families. Graduates will be prepared to assume responsibilities including differential diagnosis and management of psychiatric and mental health disorders through medication management and psychotherapeutic interventions including individual, group and family therapies. Graduates will also engage in health promotion and illness prevention strategies with their population. Graduates will participate in and utilize research to improve patient care and patient care systems. Graduates are prepared to work in both inpatient and community based psychiatric/mental health settings and may work in a variety of health care settings providing psychiatric-mental health care and consultation.
Graduates are eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification examinations for the family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. The program meets the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty's curriculum guidelines. The curriculum also includes coursework required by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) to be qualified as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Additional requirements and experiences for APN status and and prescriptive authority are available from the BON.
Degree Plans
- MSN Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Program of Work (PDF)
- MSN Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Schedule (PDF)
Leadership in Diverse Settings (LeaDS)
The Leadership in Diverse Settings (LeaDS) program is a Master’s level curriculum designed to respond to a national and local call for nurses to assume leadership positions in diverse healthcare settings. This program will facilitate development of a robust set of competencies preparing the graduate to provide leadership in a variety of patient-centered healthcare, community, and educational settings. The graduates of the LeaDS program will be uniquely qualified to lead change in complex, dynamic, and challenging environments. Through courses and guided experiences this program will develop leaders with:
- Advanced Competencies for Clinical Practice
- Advocacy Skills to Meet the Needs of Diverse and Underserved Populations
- Commitment to Stewardship of Resources
- Communication, Collaboration, and Negotiation Skills
- Dedication to Developing and Renewing Others
- Organizational Change Skills
- Project Management Skills
- Vision for the Future of Healthcare and Nursing Education
Degree Plans
- MSN Leadership in Diverse Settings: Program of Work (PDF)
- MSN Leadership in Diverse Settings: Full Time Schedule (PDF)
- MSN Leadership in Diverse Settings: Part-Time Schedule (PDF)
Advanced Practice Nursing (APN): Visit Advance Practice Nursing to learn about APN programs.
Aging & Health Portfolio: Visit to learn about Aging & Health Portfolio.
