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Masters Specialty Area
| FYI/Facts: Critical Care / Trauma (CCT) Specialty | |
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The Critical Care/Trauma Clinical Nurse Specialist
Because inpatient care focuses increasingly on treating the sickest of the sick, the need for advanced practice nurses to provide and coordinate care in emergency rooms, trauma, critical care, and intensive care units has never been greater.
Critical care/trauma clinical nurse specialists fill that role. They bring clinical expertise to acute care across a variety of health care settings, and lead the care management processes that are essential in today's health care environment. Many also play a vital teaching and research role; from the front lines they lend a unique and essential perspective to understanding a range of issues confronting nurses.
Some of our students apply to enter the doctoral program while enrolled in our masters program. Critical Care/Trauma nurses who complete their PhDs accept positions as clinical researchers and faculty in the specialty area.
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"The opportunity to take courses from instructors who are on the cutting edge of the most current research and
frontiers in their fields is an experience that cannot be replicated."
Janis Farnholtz Provinse, RN, MS, CEN
The critical care/trauma program at UCSF is rooted in the belief that nursing is the hub of inpatient care. As such, nurses are the first line of defense as the acuity of hospitalized patients continues to increase.
Geared to the schedules of working RNs, our program teaches the skills needed to work effectively in a managed care environment, to evaluate clinical outcomes, and to promote high quality, cost-effective care.
Prestigious clinical sites provide hands-on experience. Students with particular interests in research have opportunities to work with faculty researchers.
The curriculum includes:
Our graduates go on to become clinical nurse specialists, critical care or trauma case managers, clinical educators, clinical researchers, trauma coordinators, and other leadership positions in both established and evolving critical care and trauma nursing roles.
"I gained a whole new perspective of nursing as a science and, after graduating from the program, I took on the
role of nursing faculty at a university school of nursing. My learning experience at UCSF was invaluable."
Denise Li, RN, MS, CCRN
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V. Carrieri-Kohlman
Nursing care of pulmonary patients is the clinical area and research focus of
Virginia (Ginger) Carrieri-Kohlman, RN, DNSc, FAAN.
Her research has focused on symptoms, especially the symptom of dyspnea. She has an ongoing research program related to the effect of exercise on dyspnea and other multivariate outcomes, including exercise performance and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A Professor in the Department of Physiological Nursing, she teaches in the Masters program and PhD program. Her courses include Theories Related to Nursing Care, Outcome Measures in Health Care, and Symptom Outcomes in the PhD program.
Garrett Chan
Garrett K. Chan, APRN, BC, PhD, CEN concentrates his clinical and research activities on care of patients in the emergency department and trauma services. Additionally, he works at Stanford University Medical Center supporting professional development of all staff in the Department of Nursing.
In his faculty role, he focuses on integrating the philosophical, theoretical and research knowledge with clinical practice. He is active in the Emergency Nurses Association and the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.
His research interest is in the area of death and dying in the Emergency Department and Trauma Centers.
"I enjoy working with students in developing skills and knowledge surrounding advanced nursing practice.
"The faculty are exceptional leaders, genuine and friendly.
"We work as a team to help support students through their experience here at UCSF."
Kathleen Puntillo
Kathleen Puntillo, RN, DNSc, FAAN, maintains an active program of research on pain in critically ill and injured patients as well as symptom management in high risk ICU patients.
Her studies have focused on post-operative pain, procedural pain, acute pain in ICU and Emergency Departments, and patients, and symptom management of dying ICU patients. Currently, she is the principal investigator of an end-of-life study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
She practices critical care nursing on a regular basis and publishes and lectures extensively on the topics of pain, palliative care, and symptom management.
"I cherish having graduate nursing students work with me as research team members, giving them the opportunity to see how research can come alive and be directly applicable to practice."
Barbara Drew, RN, PhD, FAAN, professor of cardiovascular and critical care nursing, also holds a joint appointment as Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology.
Barbara Drew
Prior to her academic career, she worked for 17 years as a critical care nurse, nurse manager, and clinical nurse specialist.
She teaches 12-lead ECG interpretation to medical students, residents, and graduate nursing students at UCSF.
The primary goal of Dr. Drew's research is to develop and test novel ECG monitoring strategies and to improve clinical practices for more accurate diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias and myocardial ischemia.
Currently, she is the principal investigator of two studies funded by the National Institutes of Health to test promising new techniques for detecting acute myocardial ischemia in patients with acute coronary syndromes.
"My most rewarding faculty experiences are working together with graduate students to conduct research. When I see a student present new findings from our research at a national meeting such as the Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association, I feel like a proud mother in the audience."
Nancy A. Stotts, RN, EdD, FAAN, is a member of the Critical Care/Trauma Program Faculty and has been privileged over the years to help students translate physiological principles and research into practice. Within the world of critical care, her special loves are wounds and nutrition.
Nancy Stotts
Nancy is responsible for the Nursing Education minor and has helped develop and teach the curriculum for the minor in nursing education.
She is an associate director of the UCSF Hartford Center for Geriatric Excellence. The Center's goal is to enhance care of older adults. She is currently participating in studies of venous, diabetic and pressure ulcers as well as acute wounds.
Her research and creative activities are in the area of wounds and nutrition and she is currently participating in studies of venous ulcers, diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, and acute wounds.
"I love UCSF and the opportunities it provides for research, learning, and growing. UCSF is a great place because it offers students exposure to faculty who are engaged in knowledge generation and dissemination and colleagueship with other UCSF students who ahe curious and want to practice data-based nursing. The atmosphere is one of inquiry and industry - both of which are integral to my beliefs and lifestyle . . . . In the Critical Care/Trauma program over the years we have had bright, articulate students who go on into the practice world to use their knowledge and skills to enhance patient outcomes."
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Denise Li, RN, MS, CCRN
"My journey within the Nursing profession is one that has taken me along several paths and offered surprises. While working for years as a clinical nurse, I realized that, in order to step up to the task of advance practice nursing, some missing elements were critically needed that I could obtain with advanced education.
Denise Li
"I was fortunate to be accepted into my #1 university choice (UCSF) to pursue a masters degree in the Critical Care/Trauma Specialty. The immense support provided by the school and faculty members made this venture possible for a working student like myself.
"The graduate school's academic training was rewarding and challenging. During my course of studies, I found myself being transformed at the ICU bedside as I applied many of the new skills I learned. I began to make intellectual inquiries into to whether certain clinical practices were supported by research evidence.
"More importantly, the most invaluable experience is the close interactions with the UCSF community of superb faculty scholars.
I gained a whole new perspective of nursing as a science and its pertinent role in today's multidisciplinary research and practice arena.
The experiences at UCSF instilled in me a love of academic teaching and research so much that I am currently pursuing formal research training in the UCSF Nursing PhD program."
Janis Farnholtz Provinse
Janis Farnholtz Provinse, RN, MS, CEN
"The graduate program at UCSF enabled me to function as an Emergency Department Clinical Nurse Specialist. My participation in the Critical Care / Trauma programwas one of my top life experiences. The friendships and professional relationships I made during school will last a lifetime.
"The caliber of instruction at UCSF is better than any other. The opportunity to take courses from instructors who are on the cutting edge of the most current research and frontiers in their fields is an experience that cannot be replicated. The curriculum is designed to challenge and hone one's critical thinking skills.
"I enjoyed my time as a student and continue to enjoy my relationship with UCSF as an Advanced Practice Nurse."
Hildy Schell, RN, MS, CCRN
Hildy Schell
"The faculty, course work, and residency/practicum experiences in the graduate program helped prepare me for my role as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Critical Care at UCSF Medical Center. The program provided me with a strong basic foundation for accessing, critiquing, and utilizing research in the clinical setting.
"The curriculum reflected current clinical practice and leadership topics. Case management and changes in advance practice nursing roles were covered in my program, a few years before these strategies and issues were prevalent in clinical settings. The faculty worked with me to identify clinical sites and classes that would help me to meet my goals.
"I had practicum experiences in an immunogenetics lab and the California Donor Transplant Network facility. I was able to complete my residency with an expert CNS
at another prestigious teaching facility in the Bay Area. The valuable resources and numerous opportunities at UCSF enhanced my graduate education and experience."
Amy Raff-Heynssens, RN, MS
"In my role as Assistant Trauma Coordinator at an urban trauma center, I have been able to integrate the varied roles of a Clinical Nurse Specialist into daily
practice - blending expertise in clinical, education, consulting, research, and leadership.
Amy Raff-Heynssens
"The CCT program prepared me to become an advanced practice nurse in a wide variety of settings.
"When I arrived at UCSF with an extensive clinical background in critical care and trauma, the notion of evidenced-based medicine was gradually becoming the goal for all critical care practitioners.
"The academic rigor of UCSF nurtured my position of strong advocacy for evidence-based nursing practice.
"The CCT graduate program provided the tools to help build the bridge between academic and clinical nursing, and also to teach and mentor others about this important linkage.
"In addition, the UCSF faculty provided generous support and guidance during the program - this invaluable connection has been strengthened years after my
graduation. They continue to be a resource and inspiration for the rich professional network of former UCSF graduates that I still cultivate and value."
Michele Pelter (at right)
Michele Pelter
"The UCSF Masters and Doctoral programs gave me an incredible foundation in nursing research.
"This has been instrumental in my successfully bringing nursing research to bedside clinicians and helping me further my program of research in my role as the Director of Nursing Research & Outcomes for Renown Health."
M. G. Carey (at right)
Mary G. Carey
"The exceptional training I received at UCSF for both my Master's and Doctorate degrees has ensured my success as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University at Buffalo.
"Specifically, my graduate education at UCSF provided me with a solid foundation from which I have launched my academic and research career."
| Quick-Links: Critical Care / Trauma | ||||||||||||
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Applying |
Details on the required courses for the Critical Care/Trauma program are available by selecting the following link:
Q: How much work experience in critical care, ED, and/or trauma is required?
A: The CCT specialty does not have a specific work requirement, but some work experience in one of those areas is recommended. Please discuss this with the program coordinator.
Q: Where can I do my clinical courses?
A: The CCT specialty is very flexible regarding clinical sites. Clinical sites and clinical preceptors depend on the student's needs and interests in the specialty. Faculty advisors work closely with students to arrange quality clinical experiences. The CCT program receives outstanding educational support from many advanced practice specialty nurses in the greater Bay Area community and beyond.
Q: What can I do to make my application "glowing"?
A: Each applicant is reviewed as a whole. Goal statement, letters of reference, extracurricular activities, language skills, activities on-the-job, research activities, work experience, professional organization activities, and GPA are ALL considered when the application is reviewed. List all of these aspects. Be sure to ask colleagues to review your goal statement. Include examples of on-the job activities. Describe any volunteer and professional activities. Make sure to ask your colleagues for "excellent" references and have them give specific reasons why they believe in your success.
Q: What does my GPA need to be for admission into the program?
A: A GPA of 3.0 is expected for admission into the School of Nursing although special circumstances can be discussed.
Q: What should I write in my goal statement?
A: You should be very clear about why you selected the specific specialty you are applying to. Your statement should reflect how you have made this decision and your future goals.
Q: How much can I work during the program?
A: The majority of our students hold part-time jobs while enrolled (typically working 50-60% time). Working full time while in school is highly discouraged. Consult with the specialty coordinator for more information about program specifics.
Q: What if I want to study part-time?
A: Over 95% of our students study full time and complete their program in two years. The majority of specialties hold classes two days a week (Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday) to allow for part-time work and family obligations. "Official" part-time status is highly restricted and is available only by special arrangement. In certain circumstances, also by special arrangement, faculty will allow a student to extend a two-year program over three years.
Q: Am I responsible for finding my own preceptors?
A: The faculty will work with you to find the preceptors who are best suited for your area of specialization. Our experience is that students often provide input in selecting and planning their clinical experiences and participate in this process of selecting preceptors.
Q: How do I find housing in the area? Is it expensive?
A: Many of our students find that sharing housing is a good approach to solving both the availability and cost issues. Housing in the Bay Area may be expensive, but help can be found with the campus Housing Office, the Student Affairs Office, and previous graduates can often give advice.
Q: What will help me prepare for school?
A: Rest and relaxation before school starts is helpful! Also computer proficiency with word processing and internet/web/email functions is essential.
| Quick-Links: Critical Care / Trauma | ||||||||||||
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| Definition | |
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Graduates | |
Courses | |
Questions | |
Applying |
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| Revised: Nov. 2007 | Contact: info@nursing.ucsf.edu · © Copyright 2007 University of California Regents, All Rights Reserved. | |||||||||||||
