HEGIS Code: 1203.10 | CUNY Plan Code: AHCNS-MS | Program Fact Sheet (PDF)

The Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing offers a 42-credit Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) program leading to a master of science (MS) degree. The program prepares nurses to assume an advanced practice nursing role as an adult-gerontology CNS in a variety of health care settings, from acute care to home care. Nurses who earn this degree are preparing themselves for advanced practice positions in medical-surgical specialties within acute care or community-based nursing services.

The program consists of 42 credits (which include the requisite 500 clinical practicum hours for specialty certification) and can be completed by full-time students in under four years. Students have five years to complete degree requirements, however, and many students earn the degree by attending part-time. Courses are offered in the late afternoons and evenings. Graduates of the program meet educational requirements for specialty certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

Course of Study

The program consists of nursing core courses and advanced practice courses shared with other graduate students in nursing, courses in the adult-gerontology CNS specialization, and cognate-electives. Through course work, clinical practicum placements, and carefully selected electives, students develop skills in the competencies required for the adult-gerontology CNS role. The advanced clinical practicum placements are offered in a variety of adult medical-surgical specialties. Students also have an opportunity to participate in community-based programs aimed at serving a selected target population and promoting policy changes in the health care delivery system.

Course descriptions are available in the Hunter College Course Catalog.

Nursing Core Courses (12 credits)

NURS 700    Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science (3 cr.)

NURS 702    Advanced Nursing Research (3 cr.)

NURS 704    Healthcare Systems & Policy (3 cr.)

NURS 749    Health Promotion & Disease Prevention in Diverse Populations (3 cr.)

Advanced Practice Core Courses (9 credits)

NURS 717    Advanced Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice (3 cr.)

NURS 750    Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3 cr.)

NURS 751    Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr.)

Specialization Courses (15 credits)

NURS 761    Clinical Leadership in Nursing I (5 cr., 167 practicum hrs)

NURS 766    Adult-Gerontology CNS I (5 cr., 167 practicum hrs)

NURS 767    Adult-Gerontology CNS II (5 cr., 167 practicum hrs)

Electives (6 credits)

Selections may be made from graduate offerings in nursing, health science, or other disciplines as applicable.

How to Apply

Review our admission requirements for all nursing master's specializations. Information on the application process is available from the Hunter College Office of Graduate Admissions.

Graduate Academic Program Outcomes

The program prepares graduates to:

1. Synthesize knowledge from nursing and arts/sciences to provide a theoretical framework for advanced practice.
2. Generate a philosophy and definition of advanced practice that emphasizes full range of health services for all members of society, affirms the worth and dignity of every human being, and demonstrates a humanistic caring approach that values diversity.
3. Collaborate with clients in managing their health-illness status through the advanced practice-nursing role.
4. Foster client participation and shared decision-making in health care and health care policy to maximize health and wellness for humans and the environment.
5. Evaluate specialized knowledge and skills needed to deliver care to clients and design programs to meet the health care needs of specific groups and communities.
6. Identify appropriate nursing science phenomena for nursing research to enhance practice.
7. Describe the nature of scientific inquiry in nursing as the basis for nursing practice.
8. Demonstrate activism, advocacy, and leadership in the health care environment and in the nursing profession.
9. Identify a nursing practice issue needing change and/or problem solving and use techniques for research utilization to translate and systematically use research findings and other credible information and data sources to facilitate evidence-based nursing practice.
10. Use the research process to systematically investigate ways to enhance nursing practice, improve delivery of health care services, and recommend innovative health policy initiatives.

For more information, contact Dr. Elsie Jolade, Adult-Gerontology CNS Specialization Coordinator, at ej238@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-396-7184.