The Department of Health Sciences offers advanced nursing degrees at the masters and doctoral levels.
Mission. The CMU graduate nursing program provides learners with an advanced understanding of the concepts, issues, and practices of the domain of nursing. This requires the ability to think independently and generate new knowledge with a respect for the diversity among ideas, programs, and people. Graduates develop expertise in a defined body of knowledge and are prepared to provide ethical leadership in the delivery of health services and education. Graduates, as nursing leaders, serve society while promoting and protecting the health of the individual, family, and public through clinical practice, administration, education, and research.
Philosophy. The graduate nursing programs support the overall mission of CMU. Furthermore, we believe the focus of nursing is defined by connecting science to the experience of human health and caring (Newman, 1991). Recognized ways of knowing in nursing include empirics, esthetics, ethics, and personal knowledge (Carper, 1978). CMU’s graduate nursing programs honor scientific, theoretical, and nursing knowledge to advance the discipline.
Vision. Faculty, students, and alumni value the expansion of nursing science, knowledge, and practice. This entails nursing leadership in the delivery of care for individuals across the life span, communities, and populations.
CMU's Graduate Nursing Program invites community members and healthcare leaders to serve on the Graduate Advisory Board (GAB). The GAB meets twice yearly over lunch to discuss issues related to the education of nurses for advanced practice in local, regional, national, and international communities. If you would like to participate on the GAB, please contact the Department of Health Sciences at 970-248-1235.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree programs, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Colorado Mesa University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. https://www.ccneaccreditation.org.
The graduate nursing program follows multiple professional standards and national guidelines. These are listed below along with other related resources.
- Colorado State Board of Nursing (CSBON)
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
- MSN education
- DNP education
- Standards for accreditation of baccalaureate and graduate degree nursing programs (2018)
- Quality and safety education for advanced nursing practice (QSEN) (2012)
- Essentials series: The essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice (2006)
- Position statement on the practice doctorate in nursing
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- American Nurses’ Association (ANA) (2010). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice.
- American Nurses' Credentialing Center
- National League for Nursing (NLN) nurse educator competencies (2205)
- Institute of Medicine (IOM) (2010). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health.
- National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) (2017).
- Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Practitioner Clinical Scholar
- Nurse practitioner core competencies
- Criteria for evaluation of nurse practitioner programs (2012)
- Healthy People
Stakeholder Notification/Public Notice
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is applying for renewal of accreditation. An accreditation site visit is planned for November 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2021. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) provides the opportunity for the program constituents and interested parties to submit, in writing, comments concerning CMU MSN program’s qualifications for accreditation renewal.
CCNE is an accrediting agency that supports the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports continuing self-assessment by collegiate nursing programs. Public comments relating to the quality and expertise of CMU’s MSN program, including its tracks, faculty, and graduates, are necessary to inform CCNE’s evaluation. Comments will be accepted by CCNE until October 19th, 2021. If you have questions about the certification process, please contact CCNE at 202-887-6791 x268.
If you would like to submit a comment to CCNE about CMU’s MSN program, please submit to
thirdpartycomments@ccneaccreditation.org.
Attn: Third-Party Comments
655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001