Since 1985, the School of Nursing has prepared approximately
1,515 Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates to influence
the nursing profession for Jesus Christ, domestically and
globally. In 2010, the School extended its Gospel influence
by developing a graduate nursing program. The inaugural
class of the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program
graduated in 2013.
Our graduates’ impact is made possible in part through
the M.S.N. program’s distinctive approach to advanced
nursing practice. In the 2006 book
Called to Care: A
Christian Theology of Nursing
, the authors describe
nursing as “a ministry of compassionate care for the whole
person, in response to God’s grace toward a sinful world,
which aims to foster optimum health (
shalom
) and bring
comfort in suffering and death for anyone in need” (p. 18).
The M.S.N. program has been designed to extend
shalom
,
through a Gospel commitment, to individuals, families, and
communities in the United States and abroad. Nursing
faculty members are committed and called to prepare
students to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives
through the two M.S.N. focus areas: Family
Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Global Health
Ministries (GHM).
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
This focus prepares advanced practice
nurses to provide primary care
across the human life span from a
biblical worldview. This specialty
includes assessment, diagnosis,
management and treatment of
common acute and chronic
hea lt h problems,
health promotion,
client and family
e duc a t i on , a nd
use of evidence-
based research
f o r me e t i ng
pr ima r y ca re
and prevention
needs. Students
complete FNP course work in both on-
campus and online formats. Graduates are
prepared to address a domestic and global
shortage of primary care providers and
qualified to seek national certification and
employment as family nurse practitioners.
Global Health Ministries (GHM)
This focus is truly unique within
advanced nursing education. Offered in
a completely online format, the program
prepares graduates to approach nursing
as ministry by focusing on the health and
well-being of populations. Changes at the
population level might include changing
policies to improve access to or quality of
health care or implementing community-
based initiatives to improve hygiene
and sanitation.
By integrating the specialties of
advanced public health nursing and
faith community nursing, graduates
are prepared to address contemporary
global health issues. This focus area has a
special emphasis on how to partner with
vulnerable and diverse populations to
improve health. We stress the dignity of
all persons as created in God’s image and
explore the biblical appeal to care for both
physical and spiritual needs. At heart, we
believe the transforming power of the Holy
Spirit is the basis for individual health and
community change.
The mission and values of the M.S.N.
program are perhaps best illustrated
through student capstone experiences,
whether a master’s thesis or evidence-based
project. Students critically analyze a topic
of current concern within the specialty,
review and synthesize relevant literature,
appraise research reports and clinical
As a Christ-centered learning community, the Cedarville University School of Nursing is dedicated to influencing the
profession of nursing for Jesus Christ, domestically and globally. In this environment, we contribute to the body of
nursing knowledge and provide leadership in nursing and health care arenas. Our graduates are grounded in biblical
truth and demonstrate mastery in four areas: godly living, care, culture, and information management.
by Rachel (Batchelder) Parrill ’97 and Chu-Yu Huang
LE DING THE W Y
:
GRADUATE NURSING PRACTICE
GROUNDED IN BIBLICAL TRUTH
26
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Cedarville Magazine
