Abstract
The role of nurse with Master Degree represents an challenge career opportunity for professional nurses. Currently, there are only 2 Professional Master in Nursing in Brazil, one is at São Paulo Federal University (SP) and the other, recently approved by CAPES, is at Fluminense Federal University (RJ). At the Fluminense Federal University, the Professional Master in Nursing Program was designed for experienced nurses who is seeking preparation for advanced practice as a clinical specialist, educator, researcher, or administrator. It includes course work and clinical experience in advanced health assessment, physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology, as well as research, nursing theories, health promotion and disease prevention, healthcare policy, health and culture, diagnostic reasoning, and clinical decision making. In addition to course work, nurses are required to publish an original article and to produce a dissertation. The Professional Master in Nursing encompass a 2 year program of study with specialized clinical experiences. Upon graduation, the nurse will have a base of knowledge in a specific area of nursing care; and can participate knowledgeably in research activity and application. Advanced clinical education and experience based on scientifc evidences have been identified as requirements for practice as a nurse with Professional Master Degree. The nursing practice has recently expanded as a result of changes occurring in health care settings, including increased acuity of hospitalized patients, demands of management hability to reduce length of stay and to coordinate patient/family care. The scope of practice for nurses with a Professional Master Degree is broad-based and involves, mainly, providing advanced nursing care to patients and their families according to the practice setting and patient population. For example, it may comprehend also therapeutic procedure work, aspects of case management, discharge planning, monitoring quality standards, clinical research, undergraduate preceptorship, and inservice education of nursing staff for the instituition. The Professional Master in Nursing at the Fluminense Federal University will offer a unique advanced practice opportunity for nurses to develop their nursing careers and for healthcare institutions and nursing faculties to improve the quality of their services.The Professional Master in Nursing at the Fluminense Federal University will be offered in March 2004. Do not miss the deadlines!