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College of Nursing
Nursing students paying attention in a classroom.

About M.S.N. Immersions

Immersions provide M.S.N. students with in-person opportunities to practice skills, network with faculty and fellow students, and participate in career development activities. Guest speakers, including M.S.N. alumni, share their post-graduation experiences, offering valuable career insights and advice. Students in all M.S.N. programs are required to attend these three immersions.

A nursing student with an instructor looking at a monitor.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Immersion 1 – Orientation

The first immersion, held at the beginning of the program, introduces students to their peers and faculty, and familiarizes them with the program and the University. Key sessions cover topics such as the learning management system, APA writing format, library services and financial aid.

A group of nursing students surrounding an instructor and a mannakin.

Immersion 2 – Practicum (occurs two years into program, early Fall)

At the second immersion experience, students learn and practice advanced clinical skills in a simulated environment. These include practicing physical exams and GYN/GU exams on standardized patients. Other opportunities include suturing, incision and drainage, and performance of punch biopsies. Specific skills for different populations include:

  • Adult-Gerontology, Acute Care: Students gain hands-on experience with intubation, EKG Interpretation, chest tube insertion and other skills.
  • Adult-Gerontology, Primary Care: Students attend and participate in sessions to provide transcultural healthcare focusing on topics addressing health promotion and prevention for the adolescent through the older adult. Sessions include differentiating abnormal and normal findings of the physical assessment, EKG and radiology interpretation and antibiotic review.
  • Psychiatric-Mental Health: Students receive instruction in motivational interviewing, integrated physical exams and focused lectures by subject matter experts.
  • Pediatric, Primary Care: Students focus on the integrated physical exam for children from birth to adolescence. Subject matter experts give lectures on EKG Interpretation, antibiotic review in children and other key areas.

Nursing students practicing injections on a fake arm.

Immersion 3 – Practicum (occurs two years into program, mid Fall)

The third immersion includes guest lectures by experts in various fields, covering topics such as clinical diagnostic skills, wound care management and X-ray interpretation. Students gain hands-on experience with suturing wounds, administering local nerve blocks and removing fishhooks. Specific skills for different populations include:

  • Adult-Gerontology, Acute Care: Students will develop skills in central venous pressure and arterial line insertion, lumbar puncture, thoracentesis and other clinical skills. Students gain experience through interdisciplinary OSCE simulations.
  • Adult-Gerontology, Primary Care: In addition to training in the clinical diagnostic skills typically seen in the primary care setting, such as suturing, punch biopsy and wound care (including incision and drainage), students receive additional instruction in complex care conditions of older adults, such as management of chronic conditions, mental health and palliative care.
  • Psychiatric-Mental Health: Students receive instruction in telehealth sessions and attend focused lectures by subject matter experts.
  • Pediatric, Primary Care: Students continue to learn clinical skills in a simulated environment and attend focused lectures by subject matter experts.