Degree Type: 

Master of Science

Department: 

Department of Adult Nursing

Programme Duration: 

2 years (Mature Entry)

2 years (Standard Entry)

Modes of Study: 

Sandwich

About Programme: 

The Master of Science Nursing programme seeks to prepare practising nurses academically to function as advanced practitioners in the organisation and delivery of nursing care, nursing education and nursing research at the local, national and international levels.

Entry Requirements: 

To qualify for admission an applicant:

  1. Must have obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing OR its equivalent in a related field (e.g. B. ED Health Sciences Education) with at least Second Class Lower Division from a recognised institution.

  2. Should be a registered nurse.  

  3. Must pass a selection interview. 

  4. Advance Diploma / Post-Basic Nursing certificate with 5 years post-basic working experience in the specialty area, may be considered.

Goal / Aim / Objectives: 

  1. Produce nurses who are well-equipped to take up leadership roles in Nursing and Health care delivery services.

  2. Prepare nurses with high levels of intellectual and analytical competencies to function effectively in the various nursing specialty areas.

  3. Develop advanced clinical nurse practitioners who will be able to deliver evidence based  nursing care

  4. Provide nurses with the requisite foundation to undertake doctoral degree programmes.  

  5. Train nurses to work within complex organisational and political systems at local, national and international levels.

Career Opportunities: 

The demand for nursing services is ever increasing in Ghana and other parts of the world. Our students are employed in public and private health facilities like hospitals, clinics, home health care services, schools, military and police health facilities in Ghana and other countries.

Other employment avenues include Nursing and other health training institutions, health research centres, public/community health delivery services and workplace health care systems.

Programme Structure

Level 800

First Semester

NUR 800: Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing
3 Credit(s)

Student will be introduced to the nature and uses of theories and the process of theory construction. Selected concepts, theories and philosophies for guiding advanced nursing practice in various healthcare settings will be examined. The student will also critique, evaluate, and use the theory with emphasis on implications for nursing. The interrelationships among theory, practice and research will be emphasized.

NUR 803: Issues In Nursing and Health Care
3 Credit(s)

This course will examine concepts and issues that influence advanced nursing practice such as health teaching, policy development, programme planning, environmental health concerns, family relationships, cultural influences and selected health care problems. Professional issues and strategies which can facilitate the development of the nursing profession will be examined. Consideration will be given to selected variables influencing the development and resolution of issues. Additionally, it will focus on health care economics and policy analysis of current health care problems and issues. The student will examine the role of the advanced nurse practitioner in health policy formulation and political action. Advanced problem solving and decision making theories and concepts will be essential components of this course.

NUR 805: Professional Role Development
3 Credit(s)

The transition from the professional nursing role to an advanced nursing practice role will be examined in this course. Legal, ethical and advanced practice issues will be emphasized.  Analysis and synthesis of content regarding political, legal, socioeconomic, and technological factors that affect the advanced practice role will be emphasized to provide the student with a clear understanding of the nursing profession and advanced nursing practice roles.  The need for the graduate to work effectively in interdisciplinary relationships or partnerships, recognizing the uniqueness and similarities among the various roles, is also a critical element that will be discussed.

NUR 807: Advanced Pathophysiology
3 Credit(s)

This course builds upon the knowledge of pathophysiology acquired at the basic level and through clinical practice; this course will focus on the application of advanced principles of pathophysiology to the diagnosis and treatment of conditions occurring across the life span and within the scope of advanced nursing practice. Additionally, appropriate screening and diagnostic laboratory evaluative methods will also be examined.

NUR 809: Health Assessment
3 Credit(s)

This course builds upon the foundation assessment skills acquired at the Bachelor’s or in clinical practice. Emphasis will be placed on the advanced skills necessary for advanced nursing practice in assessing the health status of clients across the life span with a focus on health promotion and maintenance. Content will include techniques for comprehensive, holistic health assessment as well as focused assessment for common health problems. The process whereby the advanced nurse utilizes comprehensive physical, psychological, and cultural assessment across the life span to gather specific data relevant to common health problems is demonstrated. The course will include 2 hours of lecture and 3 hours practical experience per week.

Second Semester

NUR 801: Research Methods
3 Credit(s)

This course will build upon research methodology coursework at the first degree level. The course will further focus on application of the research process to generate new knowledge to provide high quality health care, initiate change to improve nursing education, practice and support clinical decision-making. The course will emphasize the use of appropriate software and information systems and databases for the storage and retrieval of data. A strong conceptual framework linking research with practice, theory, knowledge and philosophy will be stressed.

NUR 804: Advanced Pharmacology
3 Credit(s)

Basic pharmacologic principles and the pharmacologic actions of the major drug classes will be discussed in relation to physiologic systems. Emphasis will be on the application of these agents to advanced nursing practice. Theoretical and scientific basis for using pharmacotherapeutic principles in the treatment and management of conditions within the scope of advanced nursing practice will be highlighted. The use of clinical protocols will also be explored.

NUR 818: Advanced Health Assessment
3 Credit(s)

Elective Option III - Advanced Clinical Practioner

The course will focus on equipping students to use advanced health assessment skills to develop a comprehensive history and assessment to improve ability to detect and differentiate abnormal findings and potential diagnoses. Didactic content will be based on case study analysis. Clinical practice hours will involve demonstrations, use of the Model Patient Programme as well as practice in a clinical setting.

NUR 820: Advanced Nursing Strategies
3 Credit(s)

Elective Option III - Advanced Clinical Practioner

This course focuses on interdisciplinary illness management, health promotion, and outcome management for individuals and cohorts of patients using selected theoretical frameworks to guide decision-making. Students will be taken through advanced nursing care strategies for promotion of health and disease prevention throughout the lifespan from the perspective of the advanced practitioner.

NUR 822: Advanced Clinical Practicum I
3 Credit(s)

Elective Option III - Advanced Clinical Practioner

This course will be taken concurrently with NUR 820 to allow the practical application of course concepts. The student will be expected to spend 9 hours per week in a clinical setting under the guidance of a supervisor demonstrating interdisciplinary practice, patient-focused care and evidence-based practice. Co-requisite NUR 818 and NUR 820.

Level 850

First Semester

NUR 229: Advanced Clinical Practicum II in Specialty Area
3 Credit(s)

This course will be taken concurrently with NUR 822 during the inter-semester period. The student will be expected to apply previously acquired knowledge and skills to enact point-of-care leadership behaviours while demonstrating increased proficiency in health professions’ core competencies. The student will spend 9 hours in a clinical setting per week for a minimum of 6 months under supervision of a preceptor.  Seminars and discussions with faculty supervisors will be an integral part of this course.

NUR 811: Adult Health Nursing
3 Credit(s)

This course is designed to give the students the opportunity to build on their nursing expertise and develop advanced skills in Adult Health Nursing. Weekly seminars/presentations on Advanced Clinical concepts in Adult Health will be held. Core integrated nursing concepts will include critical thinking, bio-psychosocial assessment and cultural competence.

NUR 813: Public Health Nursing
3 Credit(s)

This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to integrate advanced nursing competencies with population-based public health strategies. It builds on knowledge and skills from previous courses in public health nursing. The course equips students with skills for advanced community-based interventions and outcomes measurement, while emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention interventions across the life span. Weekly seminars on advanced concepts in public health will be held. Regular meetings with the faculty-supervisor, and individual projects will be essential elements of the course.

NUR 815: Mental Health Nursing
3 Credit(s)

This course will allow the student to examine mental health concepts. It is expected that the student will use this opportunity to build on previous area of nursing expertise to enable them to develop advanced skills in Mental Health Nursing. Regular seminars will be held on a wide range of mental health concepts

NUR 817: Paediatric Nursing
3 Credit(s)

This course examines key concepts, principles and policies related to the care of children and their families and how they are enacted in Ghana and internationally.  Six hours of clinical practice experience per week will be required. The course will provide information on the global burden of disease among children and adolescents. The focus will be on health promotion and health maintenance strategies to meet the physical, developmental, and psychosocial needs of children and adolescents. The student will be challenged to critique, adopt, or apply child care concepts and policies in planning change projects in the area of child health.Weekly seminars on advanced concepts in child health will be held.

NUR 819: Obstetric Nursing
3 Credit(s)

This course builds upon basic knowledge and skills in obstetrics. It is designed to optimise the biological, psychological, socio-cultural, and environmental factors that interact to create the conditions that women and babies experience during antenatal, labour and postnatal period. The normal physiology and psychology for optimal maternal and newborn health will be discussed from preconception period through conception to six weeks post-partum. The ideal birth environment will be explored with reference to key midwifery concepts and the role of the midwife in ensuring safe and nurturing health care environment. Students will explore the significance of creating and maintaining a positive workplace culture to ensure women’s right and dignity in childbearing is upheld. The importance of evidenced based practice and research in professional development will be emphasised.

NUR 823: Ophthalmic Nursing Practice
3 Credit(s)

This course will equip students with essential knowledge and skills to explore ophthalmic disorders. This will allow students to examine these disorders at an in depth level, contributing to the development of advanced knowledge and practice.

NUR 825: Ear, Nose, And Throat Nursing Practice
3 Credit(s)

This course is designed to prepare students to evaluate and treat patients with ENT conditions. Students will learn the relevant anatomy and pathophysiology; enhance their foundational knowledge of ENT disorders; acquire ENT problem-focused evaluation, diagnosis and patient management skills. 

NUR 827: Nursing Anaesthesia
3 Credit(s)

This course is designed to equip students with the techniques of Anaesthesia and Anaesthesia-related care to facilitate diagnostic, therapeutic, or surgical procedures. Evidence-based practices in Anaesthesia will be explored. Pre, intra and post Anaesthesia techniques will be addressed. Weekly seminars and discussions on key practices in Anaesthesia will be held. 

NUR 833: Critical Care
3 Credit(s)

This course is designed to build on the students’ foundation knowledge in critical care nursing. It employs a systems approach to the development of advanced intensive care nursing knowledge and practice. Content will focus on care of the patient with neurological, renal, gastrointestinal, endocrine, haematological and multisystem disorders. Promotion of evidence based practice will be integral to course delivery and clinical case reviews. Standards for critical care nursing practice and professional issues will be addressed. Using current research findings, students will have an opportunity to examine and critically analyze current issues affecting critical care nursing practice.