• Alabama, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York (effective as of June 25, 2012)
• Louisiana (Nurse-Midwifery Distance Learning program only, effective as of October 17, 2012)
• Arkansas, Maryland, and Oregon (effective as of December 18, 2012)

If you have questions regarding this information, please contact an Enrollment Advisor at 866-225-6764.

Positions and Work Experience

2011 to Present, Program Coordinator, Nurse-Midwifery Program, The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing Cincinnati, OH

2010 to Present, Assistant Professor, Clinical Nursing, The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing Cincinnati, OH

2008 to 2010, Adjunct Faculty, The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing Cincinnati, OH

2007 to 2009, Certified Nurse Midwife, Columbus Neighborhood Health Centers, Inc. Columbus, OH

2006 to 2008, Graduate Teaching Associate, The Ohio State University College of Nursing Columbus, OH

2005 to 2006, Graduate Research Associate, The Ohio State University Hospital System Columbus, OH

2004 to 2007, Staff Nurse, Berger Health Systems Maternity Unit Circleville, OH

2003 to 2004, Graduate Administrative Associate, The Ohio State University College of Nursing Columbus, OH

Education

Institution: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH PhD 2008 Nursing

Institution: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH MSN 2005 Nurse Midwifery

Institution: Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA BS 2001 Music Education

Board Certifications & Licenses

State of Ohio CMN, NP

State of Ohio RN

State of Ohio Certificate to Prescribe

Research

2008 Dissertation entitled “An Innovative Strategy to Understand and Prevent Premature Delivery” successfully defended to The Ohio State University College of Nursing Faculty

2005-2006 Graduate Research Associate with The Ohio State University Hospital System.  Guided by Dr. Barbara Czerwinski, PhD, RN

2006 Research Residency with Pamela Salsberry, PhD, RN

2006 Research Residency with Elizabeth Corwin, PhD, RN

Publications

Arbour, M.W., Corwin, E.J., Salsberry, P., & Atkins, M. (IN PRESS). Racial differences in the health of childbearing- aged women. MCN, The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing

Arbour, M.W., Corwin, E.J., & Salsberry, P. (2009). Douching Patterns in Women Related to Socioeconomic and Racial/Ethnic Characteristics. JOGNN,38, (577-585)

Corwin, E.J., & Arbour, M.W. (2007). Postpartum Fatigue and Evidence-Based Interventions. MCN, American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 32(4), 215-220.

Wood, M.J., & Atkins, M. (2006). Immersion in another culture: one strategy for increasing cultural competency. Journal of cultural diversity, 13(1), 50-54.

Conferences

2008 Presenter at Midwestern Nursing Research Society Meeting in Indianapolis

Honors and Awards

2006 RTCPR Training Grant, Phil Binkley, PI

2005 Nurse- Midwifery Advanced Practice Nursing Award: The Ohio State University College of Nursing

2004-2005 Certificate of Appreciation: World Gospel Mission for Honduran Nursing Mission

2004-2005 Advanced Education Nurse Traineeship: The Ohio State University College of Nursing

2004 Shining Star: Berger Health Systems

2002-2003 University Fellow: The Ohio State University

University Assistantship in Music Education: Susquehanna University

Service

2011 Treasurer of the Directors Of Midwifery Education group

2006 Represented College of Nursing at OSU Alumni Advisory Council meeting

She enjoys helping others achieve their educational goals.  In spite of many obstacles today’s students face, she believes with hard work, dedication and communication any student can make their dreams come true. It is her job and honor to make certain that students are successful on their educational journey.

MEETING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Students who continue on active status in their program without interruption are responsible for meeting all current requirements, including requirements that are added or revised since the student first entered the program. Students who interrupt their graduate studies by officially withdrawing from the university or by losing their active student status are held responsible for their graduate program requirements in force at the time they are readmitted or are reinstated into the program.

MINIMUM ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
A student must accumulate a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 to obtain a master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati. At least two-thirds of the minimum graduate credits for the degree must be at a level of B or higher. A doctoral student must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in all doctoral course work. Note: See your adviser or director. Programs establish minimum academic standards that may exceed the overall university standards provided above.

GRADUATION
Two quarters prior to the quarter in which a student anticipates graduating, the student should:
1. Confer with his or her program office staff;
2. Consult the Graduate School’s website for deadlines, instructions on submitting his or her electronic thesis;
3. Visit the Graduate School’s website to determine if he or she is defined as a thesis or non-thesis student or consult with your program.

Application to Graduate
Students must: 1) complete academic requirements, and 2) complete the official online Application to Graduate by the deadline for the quarter in which they expect to graduate. Deadlines are firm and failure to meet them will delay students’ graduation until the following quarter, when they must then submit a new application for their revised graduation date. Click here to view detailed graduation information.

All students applying to graduate will be assessed a graduation application fee. The fee will be assessed each quarter a student applies for graduation. To obtain an exception to this rule a student must petition the Associate Dean of the Graduate School on the basis of an unforeseen circumstance that prevented graduation during the quarter for which the student last applied (e.g., documented medical issue).

Graduation Requirements for Master’s Degrees
Students must be registered for at least one graduate credit that contributes to degree requirements (as determined by the graduate program) during the academic year in which they graduate from that program. Students must also complete degree requirements within a five-year period unless they have an approved extension (See Maintaining Graduate Student Status, Extensions of Time to Degree in your student handbook). They should contact their program office for any additional program requirements or deadlines to be completed prior to graduation.

Certification for Graduation
The finalization and submission of a student’s Application to Graduate will activate the process by which the student will be certified for graduation. The student should confer with his or her program office to ensure that any problems related to these requirements are resolved in a timely manner and to avoid delayed graduation until a subsequent quarter. Specifically, the student’s records will be reviewed to verify satisfaction of the following requirements:

• Finalization and submission of his or her online Graduation Application by the deadline;
• Instructor’s submission of passing grades for his or her final quarter credits;
• Removal of all I grades from his or her transcript;
• Removal of all UP/SP grades from unapproved courses and/or the final quarter in which the approved courses were taken; assignment of letter grades rather than UP/SP grades for courses in the final quarter of the student’s program;
• Removal of NG grades;
• Confirmation of satisfactory repetition or waiver of required courses in which an F was originally received;
• Confirmation of completion of work and changes of I grades within the one-year limit;
• Confirmation that the student was registered for at least one credit in his or her graduate program in each academic year;
• Confirmation that the student completed his or her degree requirements within the prescribed time-to-degree;
• Satisfactory completion of at least 45 graduate credits completed to the satisfaction of the student’s program, including at least 30 derived from formal course work (many programs have higher requirements);
• Completion of all program requirements for the degree;
• Confirmation that the admissions application fee has been paid;
• 3.0 GPA has been earned;
• And if a thesis is required, uploading of the electronic thesis (ETD) to Ohio Link through http://grad.uc.edu/student-life/etd.html.

WITHDRAWAL FROM PROGRAM
Students must notify their departments in writing and copy the Graduate School regarding their intent to withdraw from their programs.

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
The Student Code of Conduct defines behavior expected of all University of Cincinnati students. It is each student’s responsibility to know and comply with the university’s Student Code of Conduct, and sanctions or penalties are outlined. (Law and medical students are subject to their respective honor codes. However, these students are covered by the appeal process of the university’s Student Code of Conduct.) Academic behavior considered to be misconduct is defined in the Student Code of Conduct. The code also addresses nonacademic misconduct (such as disturbing the peace, destruction of property, and theft). Disciplinary procedures are explained in a step-by-step manner, and the procedures for appeal of decisions are stated.

In addition to this code, students must adhere to their college’s professional code of conduct and honor codes where applicable. Students may obtain copies of college honor codes from their college offices.

Note: The requirements clarified here are university requirements. Students must contact their program’s office for any additional program-level requirements or deadlines that must be completed prior to graduation.

Click here to view UC’s Graduate Student Handbook.

NURSE FACULTY LOAN PROGRAM
The Nurse Faculty Loan Program is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Bureau of Health Professionals (BHPr) and is offered through the UC College of Nursing. These loans, with an annual limit of $35,000 for a maximum of five years, are made available to eligible students enrolled in a Master’s or Doctoral Nursing program who intend to secure full-time employment as nurse educators upon graduation. The funds are intended to cover the cost of attendance including tuition, fees, books, and other reasonable education expenses. Following graduation from the nursing program, up to 85% of the loan principal and interest will be cancelled in exchange for the loan recipient’s service as a full-time nursing faculty at a school of nursing, with a certain percentage cancelled each year for up to four years. A commitment to complete four nurse educator courses in addition to the required courses for the intended degree program prior to graduation is required.

Students interested in applying for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program are encouraged to do the following:

• Click here to obtain the application packet. It can also be found in the Student Resources tab of the College of Nursing Student Body Blackboard Organization, under Scholarship Opportunities.
• Complete the application packet (application, promissory note, borrower rights & responsibilities, and statement of understanding).
  • Please note that students enrolled in Distance Learning programs must ensure that all signatures are notarized prior to submitting applications.
• Submit the application packet to the College of Nursing Office of Student Affairs either in person (Proctor Hall Rm. 260) or via mail to:

  University of Cincinnati
  College of Nursing
  P.O. Box 210038
  Cincinnati, OH 45221-0038
  Attn: Office of Student Affairs

Applications received 6 weeks prior to the term for which you are applying for funding will be reviewed and decisions will be made prior to the start of the term for which you are applying for funding. Applications received less than 6 weeks prior to the term for which you are requesting funding may be deferred to the following term.

For more information, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at (513) 558-3600.

Overview on nurse administrators

Nurse administration is an often overlooked profession due to the nature of the work. As individuals employed in this field work mostly behind the scenes in a managerial position, many people may not have a complete grasp on what these important professionals do. These resources should provide a quick overview on what exactly it means to be a nurse administrator.

Definition of a nurse administrator: MedConditions.net, a dictionary of medical terminology, provides a brief definition of what it means to be a nurse administrator

Skills required of nurse administrators: This report issued by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing outlines the numerous skills and abilities that are required of nurse administrators. The document also discusses educational guidelines for Master of Science in Nursing programs that are appropriate for this profession.

Theories and practice in nurse administration: Describes in detail the different theories that guide the manner in which nurse administrators approach their job. This resource also outlines how nurse administrators become certified, the different ways in which they can approach their role as hospital management and discusses a few case studies that nurse administrators can use to improve their managing skills.

Career and salary information for nurse administrators

The following resources outline the usual career path and salary of individuals employed as nurse administrators. Master of Science in Nursing degree students may find the included job outlooks and explanation of the career helpful when trying to decide which advanced practice field to specialize in.

The career of a medical services manager: The Bureau of Labor Statistics discusses the training and education required to become a manager in the medical field, a profession under which nurse administrators fall. It also outlines future career prospects, job projections and wages.

Salary of a nurse manager: Provides salary information for nurse administrators, nurse managers and directors of nursing.

The role of nurse administrators in the medical field

These resources describe the multiple roles that nurse administrators play in medical settings. The included documents outline the types of work that these medical professionals do as well as provide advice on how these individuals can do their jobs better.

Nurse administrators and quality of care: This article from Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice, a journal produced by the American Nurses Association, provides information about the role nurse administrators play in maintaining a high quality of care for patients in a hospital setting. In addition, this piece discusses how nurse administrators act as the risk managers of the healthcare system.

Work performed by nurse administrators: This document put out by the Kansas Department of Administration explains the type of work that nurse administrators are expected to do when working in clinics, hospitals and medical settings in the state. While this guide only applies to Kansas, similar documents with comparable requirements exist in all states throughout the U.S.

Nurse administrative duties: Describes how the role of the nurse administrator has expanded over past years and outlines how the profession is expected to change and adapt in the future

Issues relating to nurse administrators

The following documents include information that may be of interest to individuals considering a career in nurse administration. These resources discuss the different environments that nurse administrators may encounter or work in over the course of their careers and how they can best adapt to these different settings.

Leadership and nurse retention: This article from the U.S. National Library of Medicine discusses the role that nurse administrators play in retaining medical staff at a hospital. This may be of interest to individuals who are considering pursuing advanced nursing degrees, as it gives information as to what environment and conditions are most conducive to success in the field of nurse administration.

A nurse administrator’s guide to working in a rural environment: In this journal article, titled Rural Nurse Administrators: Essentials for the Practice, administrators from two Texas-based nursing programs discuss how rural areas provide a different working environment than suburbs or cities. It also describes the special qualifications that nurse administrators need to develop in order to seek employment in this type of area.

Overview on advanced practice nurses

While many people may be familiar with the terms ‘nurse practitioner’ and ‘nurse-midwife,’ they may not be aware of the fact that these medical professionals fall under the umbrella of advanced practice nurses. The resources included in this section should clear up any misconceptions that individuals may hold about the nursing profession and provide much clarification on the role of advance practice nurses in the healthcare system. These texts may be useful for individuals who are considering earning a Master’s in nursing.

Nursing career overview: This resource provides a summary of the nursing profession. In order to give individuals a comparison of the different career paths that are available for nurses, the Mayo Clinic has included information on licensed practical, registered and advanced practice nurses and explained the differences between each one.

Detailed description of the nursing profession: The Bureau of Labor Statistics has compiled a great deal of information that may be relevant and useful to individuals who are considering a career in nursing. This document discusses the nature of nursing work, the different types of nurses that exist important job-related statistics. In addition, it contains projections on the future job outlook and earnings of this profession.

Advanced practice nursing specialties: This document, produced by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, provides information on the different fields in which advanced practice nurses can specialize. In particular, this resource describes the careers of nurse practitionesr, clinical nurse-midwives and clinical nurse specialists in detail.

Education, career and salary information

The education track and career path of an advanced practice nurse is very different from that of an LPN or an RN. Although the exact requirements vary depending on the concentration one chooses to specialize in, extensive coursework, internships and research are required of individuals who wish to enter one of the advanced practice nursing fields. Individuals who are interested in pursuing this career may find the following resources helpful, as they provide much information on certification requirements, job opportunities and salary outlook.

Education requirements for advanced practice nurses: CollegeBoard describes what it takes to become an advanced practice nurse. In addition to discussing the educational commitment necessary to enter this field, it also provides information on career and compensation. This resource could be especially useful for individuals who have not begun their undergraduate work yet, in order to better prepare them to get into a graduate program.

The American Board of Nursing Specialties: This professional association is charged with accrediting nursing programs and setting the requirements and guidelines for certification. Its website provides many resources related to certification that may be of interest to individuals who are deciding where to attend nursing school.

Average salaries of advanced practice nurses: PayScale provides salary information on each of the five different types of advanced practice nurses for individuals to peruse and compare

Advanced practice nursing associations

There are many societies and associations that are dedicated to providing support, job resources and networking opportunities for individuals employed as advanced practice nurses. While some of the organizations are specific to the particular field that one specializes in, others that exist encompass all nurses that fall under the advanced practice umbrella. Individuals may be able to learn a great deal about the particular nursing concentration they are interested in by visiting the site associated with its professional organization. Oftentimes, these associations publish journals, news letters and research studies that could provide one with an inside look at the profession they desire to enter.

American Nurses Association: This professional organization encompasses all 3.1 million nurses who are currently employed in the U.S. Its website provides a wealth of information and resources about the nursing profession.

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners: A professional association for this particular subsection of advanced practice nursing. Individuals who are interested in this specialty will find information about education, legislation, practice and other aspects of this field.

American Association of Nurse Anesthetists: This organization is specifically for nurses who specialize in anesthesia. Its website provides a lot of information on advocacy work related to this field.

American College of Nurse-Midwives: This association provides important resources related to midwifery. This source may be useful for those who are considering earning a master’s in nursing.

Overview on Nurse Practitioners

Although nurse practitioners are one of the most respected professions in the medical world and can offer several of the same services as physicians, many individuals are unsure exactly what the role of these individuals is in hospitals, practices and the healthcare industry in general. These resources should provide inquiring minds with the information they need to understand what nurse practitioners do and how important their job actually is.

Nurse Practitioner Facts: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners gives statistics on nurse practitioners in the U.S.

Nurse Practitioner FAQ: This question and answer document released by Nurse Practitioner Central provides basic information on what is required of nurse practitioners in education and careers.

Types of Nurse Practitioners: The National Institute of Health, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, describes the different fields of study for nurse practitioners and the various jobs they do within hospitals.

Career Overview: This guide gives an overview of what nurse practitioners do and provides information about education requirements, salary ranges and future job outlook.

Jobs for Nurse Practitioners

Under the nurse practitioner umbrella there are many varied roles that individuals can play and jobs that they can hold in the medical field. These resources will provide information on the different types of positions that nurse practitioners can take upon finishing their Master of Science in Nursing degree and offer websites where qualified individuals may find jobs.

Oncology Nurse Practitioners: This document, published by the Oncology Nursing Society, describes what oncology nurse practitioners, or ONPs, do. It also gives details on how individuals can gain the correct competencies to become an ONP.

Acute Care Nurse Practitioners: This report from the National Panel for Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies gives an overview on the population of nurse practitioners practicing this specialty.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioners: This overview on neonatal nurse practitioners describes the important role that these medical professionals play in the care of the tiniest patients.

Salaries of Nurse Practitioners: This scale shows the average salaries of full-time nurse practitioners in all specialties.

Becoming a Nurse Practitioner

In order to become a nurse practitioner, one must complete several years of additional schooling beyond a secondary degree. Individuals who are considering this career path may be interested in learning more about the level of education and training required in order to become this type of medical professional. These resources will provide information on the Master of Science in Nursing degree, certifications, exams and clinical hours that students studying to become nurse practitioners are expected to complete.

Training For Nurse Practitioners: The Bureau of Labor Statistics outlines the education and training necessary for individuals to become nurse practitioners.

Certification FAQs: The American Nurses Credentialing Center answers the most common questions that individuals have about becoming certified as a nurse practitioner.

Professional Organizations for Nurse Practitioners

As in any industry, there are many professional organizations that nurse practitioners can belong to. Some are more prestigious than others but all provide a wealth of knowledge on the career itself as well as current issues in the field. In addition, these groups provide opportunities for nurse practitioners to network with each other and work together on research papers and clinical trials. These resources may also give more information to those who are considering pursuing a master’s in nursing.

Oncology Nursing Society: This group is for nurse practitioners who specialize in cancer care. The organization focuses on oncology research, clinical practice and career development for individuals who are involved in this medical field.

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners: This prestigious organization was the first group to be founded for nurse practitioners of all specialties in the U.S. The AANP currently serves as a networking group for nurse practitioners, a platform for advocacy and the best source of information on issues affecting these medical professionals.

The American College of Nurse Practitioners: This organization provides information for nursing students and practicing nurse practitioners, holds conferences for professionals and advocates to increase career opportunities for nurse practitioners.

A recent study published by Nursing Economics found that nurses with advanced degrees such as a Master of Science in Nursing can serve in the same capacity as individuals who have gone to medical school. The report, titled Advanced Practice Nurse Outcomes 1990-2008: A Systematic Review, presents enough data to conclude that nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and nurse midwives are educated and talented enough to run autonomous practices that will help ameliorate the current physician shortage.

In order to conduct the study, professors from a Washington, D.C.-based university investigated whether individuals with advanced nursing degrees are as competent as doctors. According to their findings, many patients state that they have received better care from nurse practitioners and nurse midwives than they did from primary care doctors or obstetricians and gynecologists.

The first MinuteClinic was established in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2000. In the 11 years since CVS Caremark began building these centers, close to 600 have been constructed inside CVS stores across the country. Today, there are MinuteClinic locations in 26 states and the District of Columbia.

"MinuteClinic was founded on the principle of providing convenient, high quality care and patient awareness is growing," said Andrew Sussman, the president of MinuteClinic. "This milestone demonstrates how innovation coupled with evidence-based treatment can make basic medical services more convenient and affordable for millions of Americans."

MinuteClinic centers are staffed by nurse practitioners, medical professionals who have earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree. These individuals can preform many of the same duties as doctors and physician's assistants, including diagnosing patients, ordering lab work or tests and prescribing medication.

Many individuals say nurse practitioners provide an increased level of patient care, and this sentiment is supported by the 95 percent satisfaction rate reported by CVS at its MinuteClinic locations.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website, the HRSA is a federal agency dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare for uninsured and under-insured Americans. Since 1999, the organization has funded close to $8 billion in grants to clinics that service this population, including many medical centers staffed by nurse practitioners.

The Appalachian Nurse Practitioner Clinic has treated more than 5,000 patients since it opened its doors in 2006, reports the news source. The institution was originally granted HRSA funding five years ago to develop the center, which serves individuals in give surrounding counties.

Many nurse practitioners work in similar clinics assisting individuals who lack sufficient insurance benefits. These medical professionals have earned Master of Science in Nursing degrees and can provide many of the same services as doctors.