MISSISSIPPI EDUCATIONAL CONSORTIUM FOR SPECIALIZED ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING

SCHOOLS OF NURSING

Alcorn State University

Delta State University

Mississippi University for Women

University of Mississippi Medical Center

University of Southern Mississippi

In response to the need for specialized health care for vulnerable populations in this rural state and to the limited numbers of advanced practice nurses to meet these needs, in July, 2007, the five universities’ schools of nursing offering graduate programs with clinical tracks for nurse practitioners formed an educational consortium for specialized advanced practice nursing.

The mission of the Mississippi Educational Consortium for Specialized Advanced Practice Nursing (MECSAPN) is to:
• Serve the needs of vulnerable populations for specialized health care;
• Provide advanced practice nursing leaders to improve access to quality health care and reduce health disparities in vulnerable populations; and,
• Optimize access to specialized education for advanced nursing practice leaders.


The intent of the MECSAPN is to offer specialized advanced practice nursing clinical tracks that are accessible through all of the university graduate programs of the state. The students choosing these tracks are admitted, take core curriculum courses, and graduate from the NP programs of ASU, DSU, MUW, UMMC, or USM. The courses for the specialized clinical tracks are taught via distance learning to all these students together by faculty of the designated school.

Currently, the MECSAPN offers two specialized clinical tracks, the Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP) and the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), with either a Family or an Adult focus. The GNP clinical track is offered at ASU, DSU, MUW, UMMC, and USM and is taught by UMMC faculty. The PMHNP clinical track is offered by ASU, DSU, MUW, and UMMC and is taught by UMMC faculty; USM has a long-standing PMHNP clinical track that is offered through their regular curriculum.

Each school may offer a specialized clinical track as full-time or part-time study at the levels of MSN, post-master’s, or as dual majors, depending upon their individual programs. For example:
• MSN students may choose the dual majors of FNP and Family PMHNP, or GNP and Adult PMHNP. If portions of a practicum meet criteria for both majors, up to 240 clinical hours may be applied across clinical tracks, reducing to total hours for dual majors (e.g., a total of 960 hours for a GNP/PMHNP dual major).
• Currently practicing NPs, such as FNPs or ACNPs, may choose post-master’s GNP or PMHNP clinical tracks.
• GNP and PMHNP clinical tracks may be offered to students of the RN to MSN tracks after the BSN requirements are completed.
• Because requirements for clinical hours are determined by each program, semester hours for practicum courses may vary slightly according to each school formula.

Mississippi Schools of Nursing with Specialized Advanced Practice Nursing Options
Contact Persons 
 

  Alcorn State University, Natchez
  Dr. Diane Blanchard dianehb@alcorn.edu 
  or Ms Debbie Mizell debbie@alcorn.edu 
  1000 ASU Drive #359
  Alcorn State, MS 39096-7500
  601-304-4303
  http://www.alcorn.edu/ 

  Dr. Shelby Polk
  spolk@deltastate.edu
  or MS Cheryl Oleis
  1003 W Sunflower Road; P.O.Box 3343
  Cleveland, MS 38733
  662-846-4264
  http://www.deltastate.edu/  

  Dr. Patsy Smyth psmyth@nsgslp.muw.edu
  1100 College Street MUW-910
  Columbus, MS 39701-5800
  662-329-7320
  http://www.muw.edu/  

  Dr. Sheila Davis sheila.davis@usm.edu
  118 College Drive, Box 5095  
  Hattiesburg, MS 39406
  601-266-5457
  http://www.usm.edu/  

 MECSAPN PLANS OF STUDY