Master's degree nursing education: state of the art

This study examines the state of the art in master's nursing education in the United States in light of projected national trends in the health care delivery system. The specific questions addressed are: What are the general characteristics of master's programs, including admission requirements and prerequisites, program requirements, major and minor areas of clinical concentration, functional role preparation, and career mobility options? What is the curricular organization, particularly with respect to required core courses? Is there a difference between master's programs in schools with a doctoral program in nursing and those with master's programs only? Is there a difference between master's programs with public support and master's programs with private support? Data were collected from 175 accredited master's programs in 1990. Study results and the projected trends derived from Nursing's Agenda for Health Care Reform, Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives, and Healthy America: Practitioners for 2005 provide the foundation for recommendations. Recommendations are organized around communication and curricular issues that master's nursing education needs to address as the profession approaches the 21st century.