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Introduction

The Master of Science in Nursing Neonatal Intensive Care (MSNIC) provides the registered nurses who wish to undertake a specialist qualification in Neonatal Nursing Care with the required skills and clinical training to succeed in their endeavors to deliver healthcare within the Kingdom and beyond.

 

The Master of Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing program aims to prepare future leaders in Neonatal Intensive Nursing who provide safe, comprehensive evidence-based care to the critically ill patients who are competent in adding to the body of knowledge of Neonatal Intensive Care nursing practice through research and scholarly activities. These graduates will be able to provide high standard, ethical, holistic and culture-sensitive nursing care in the area of Neonatal Intensive Nursing, as well as in relevant education and research.

Program Goals

The goals of the MSc Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing program are to achieve the following:

Goal 1: Prepare future leaders in Nursing Neonatal Intensive Care who provide safe, comprehensive evidence-based care to the critically ill neonates.

Goal 2: Add to the body of knowledge of Nursing Neonatal Intensive Care practice through research and scholarly activities.

Program Objectives and Outcomes

  • Prepare neonatal nurse specialists and nurse educators who meet the requirements of evidence-based in neonatal Nursing practice.
  • Develop future Specialist Nurses who are prepared to offer leadership and excellence.
  • Provide high quality health education services to the community through a range of health education strategies.
  • Apply effective tools and methodologies to obtain current and advanced knowledge in nursing profession by adopting advanced research methodology and evidence- based holistic practice.
  • Prepare students to be able to add to the body of Neonatal Intensive Care knowledge to ensure publications for the dissemination of research findings.

Study Plan

  • The master’s degree requires successful completion of 42 credit hours.
  • The master;s degree requires two years of study (4 semesters), and each semester is 15 weeks duration.
Level Course Code Course Title Required or Elective * Pre-Requisite Courses Credit Hours
MSNIC111 Advanced Neonatal Nursing I Required None 3
MSNIC 112 Advanced Neonatal Nursing Practicum I Required None 3
MSNIC 113 Advanced Neonatal Health Assessment Required None 2
MSNIC 114 Advanced Research Methods Required None 3
MSNIC 211 Advanced Neonatal Nursing II Required MSNIC 111 3
MSNIC 212 Advanced Neonatal Nursing Practicum II Required MSNIC 113 & MSNIC 112 3
MSNIC 213 Seminar Required MSNIC 114 2
MSNIC 214 Advanced Pharmacology Required   2
MSNIC 215 Quality Improvement and Patient safety Required   2
Level Course Code Course Title Required or Elective * Pre-Requisite Courses Credit Hours
MSNIC 311 Advanced Neonatal Nursing III Required MSNIC 211 2
MSNIC 312 Advanced Neonatal Nursing Practicum III Required MSNIC 212 3
MSNIC 313 Nursing Care for Special Needs Required MSNIC 211 2
MSNIC 314 Advanced Nursing Leadership and Management Required None 2
MSNIC 315 Elective:
1. Information Technology & Health Care		 Elective None 2
MSNIC 316 2. Biostatistics
MSNIC 317 3. Infection Control
MSNIC 411 Thesis Required MSNIC 114 & MSNIC 213 8

Courses - Level 1:

This course is designed to expand the postgraduate nursing students’ knowledge base and critical thinking in caring for neonates including normal physiologic changes of each system in pregnancy, factors affecting fetal development and neonatal adjustment of extra uterine as well as family centered approach care. This course also assesses actual and potential health condition of the neonates by applying knowledge in nursing process for the promotion and maintenance of health with the integration of leadership and management. Furthermore, it will evaluate the outcome of care based on the advanced skills learned and exposure to actual experience with the application of evidence-based practice in providing quality care to neonates

This course covers the advanced neonatal nursing skills in the delivery room and nursery. It also presents the nursing assessment and management of the neonate from birth to transfer or discharge. Mother/baby relationship and influencing factors are also a focus. Furthermore, it will evaluate the outcome of care based on the advanced skills learned and exposure to actual experience with the application of evidence-based practice in providing quality care to neonates.

This course focuses on several aspects of advanced assessment with emphasis on comprehensive formulation of holistic assessment and care of the pre-term and term neonates. The course is designed to address history taking, comprehensive physical examination using a systems approach, differentiation between normal and abnormal signs, recording findings and developing a problem list and treatment plan.

The course Focuses on advanced knowledge about the scientific method, research design, and quantitative and qualitative analysis of data. The course offers students with opportunity to conduct research on topics within their field of study.

Courses - Level 2:

This course provides a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology and management of common disease processes in the neonatal (preterm and term infants). This course will focus on the cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal/nutrition, renal/genitourinary, and hematologic systems as well as fluid and electrolytes. It enables the postgraduate students to provide comprehensive evidence-based quality nursing care for preterm and term infants with different body systems alterations. Furthermore, this course includes discharge planning and follow-up care for the high-risk neonate

This course provides an advanced skills and nursing management for in the neonatal (preterm and term infants). This course will focus on the Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, Cardiovascular, Hematology, Genitourinary, and Metabolic disorders.

This course is designed to prepare Master students for conducting their own research project toward the end of their degree by consolidating all relevant research principles and activities needed for this endeavor as well as strengthening students’ autonomy, creativity, self-reliance, and critical thinking abilities. The course will review main principles of research in the nursing field, it will discuss in detail the steps of constructing a research proposal for both academic and funding purposes, and it will introduce students to principles of reading and critiquing research reports. Students will also be introduced to professional scientific writing of research articles for publication in terms of structure, format, contents, and style. Finally, students will learn the process of publishing a research report and the many issues related to this activity such as the choice of scientific journal, copyright issues, publication ethics, impact factor, and plagiarism.

This course focuses on the concepts and principles of pharmacology and its application to neonatal Intensive care practice. In addition to the emphasis on the most used drugs in neonate period. Besides the explanation of their proper use, dose calculation, route of administration, adverse drug reactions, drug-drug interactions, and contraindications. Moreover, the course provides knowledge and skills needed for management of Neonate with special and critical cases.

This course is designed to develop the postgraduate students knowledge, skills, and understanding of the generic nature of quality improvement and patient safety via offering a good foundation of the principles, concepts, theories, and methods for promoting and improving healthcare quality and patient safety, which will enable them to lead and influence their application to service delivery. Also, it will help them to understand the nature of patient harm and its causes, human factors, and their influence on patient safety. In addition to introduces the students to the unique challenges encountered when assessing, designing, and implementing a Quality Improvement and Patient Safety activities.

Courses - Level 3:

This course provides a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology and management of common disease processes in the neonatal (preterm and term infants). This course will focus on immune, neurobehavioral, musculoskeletal, eyes/ears/nose/throat and dermatologic systems. It enables the postgraduate students to provide comprehensive evidence-based quality nursing care for preterm and term infants with different body systems alterations. Furthermore, this course includes discharge planning and follow-up care for the ill neonates.

This course provides an advanced skills and nursing management for the neonates (preterm and term infants). This course will focus on endocrine and metabolic, immune, neurobehavioral, musculoskeletal, eyes/ears/nose/throat and dermatologic systems. In addition to that this course covers also surgical emergency, transplantation, and palliative care for neonates.

It focuses mainly on the management of pain, infection control, common neonatal surgeries and emergency cases. Also, it includes the palliative care and psychosocial aspects of neonatal care.

This course is designed to explore the major management theories and leadership styles and investigate the shortage of nursing leaders. The course addresses building cultures of critical thinking, decision making skills, quality, and safety in higher complex health care delivery systems

This course is designed to apply knowledge and skills related to the development, implementation, and use of informatics-based processes and technologies to support evidence-based practice, in electronic health records; analysis of digital data, information, and knowledge; and making clinical decision. The course will also equip the student with an understanding and underpinning of information technology; apply them in the context of neonatal intensive care nursing and health care education applications. The personal computer will be used as learning model and extrapolate to broader technologies and applications for clinical and administrative delivery of health care, as well as health care education and research.

This course emphasizes on the nature and characteristics of the most commonly used statistical techniques (descriptive statistics, correlation and linear regression, factor analysis, and elementary hypothesis testing), and their applicability to specific health care problems within the context of nursing. Students develop skills and knowledge in the use of computing software and to reinforce learning through course work and assignments, including data analysis and interpretation of computer outputs

This course addresses comprehensive knowledge of the basic concept of infection control (Chain of infections, Mode of transmission and Body defense mechanism). Focus is placed on the Isolation precautions (Hand hygiene, antisepsis and Personal protective equipment (PPE)). In addition to this, the course highlights the importance of improving patient outcome through practical round in the hospital.

Courses - Level 4:

This course is designed to provide the student regular, organized opportunity and follow up guidance for their thesis work from the supervisor (s) at different stages of the thesis work plan.

Admission requirements

  • A Bachelor of Nursing degree from regional accredited program.
  • Minimum GPA of 3.75 out of 5 or higher in the Bachelor of Nursing degree.
  • Proficiency English test must be as one of the following international recognized bodies:
Test Degree required
TOFEL paper-based test (PBT) 600
IELTS Academic English test 6.5
  • A valid professional Licensure from Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS).
  • A valid license for Pediatric Advanced Life support (PALS)
  • Three satisfactory academic and professional recommendation letters.
  • A letter from current employer.
  • Priority for candidates who have experience in any area of Pediatric Nursing.
  • The candidate must pass the personal interview conducted by the college.