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Masters Specialty Area
| FYI/Facts: Health Policy Nursing Specialty | |
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Notes:
(1) A Ph.D. program in Health Policy for nurses is also available from the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences -
see the Nursing Ph.D. in Health Policy web page.
(2) For the Health Policy Minor,
see the HP Minor web page.
The nursing profession has a growing role in the health policy arena. Nurses with policy expertise are assuming leadership roles in advocacy, research, analysis, and policy development, implementation and evaluation.
They work in health services research firms, legislative and regulatory offices, health maintenance organizations, advocacy organizations, or health care provider associations. Some hold elective office.
The Health Policy specialty focuses on preparing students to provide policy leadership in a variety of settings. Graduates learn to identify and critically analyze laws, regulations and policies at the institutional, local, state, and national levels.
The Health Policy Nursing Programs Newsletter is available at the link below:
They prepare to use their in-depth knowledge of the history, structure, theory and process of health policymaking in the United States to plan, implement, and evaluate policies. Additionally, they will understand the economic, ethical, and social implications of policy decisions, and devise and use strategies to effectively advocate for policy change.
| Quick-Links: Health Policy Nursing | ||||||||||||
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| Definition | · | Program | · | Courses | · | Faculty | · | Students | · | Questions | · | Applying |
| "This program exposes students to leaders in the field of policy across disciplines and provides numerous opportunities for learning and advocacy in the legislative
process." Karen Duderstadt, RN, MS, PCNS, CPNP Doctoral Student |
All students will complete courses in Communications and Policy Leadership, Ethical Dilemmas & Nursing, Health Care Economics and Policy, Health Economics, Health Policy Research, Policy Proseminar and Practica, Policy Residency, Policy Research Utilization, Race and Class Factors in Health Care, and Theories of the Policy Process.
UCSF Department of
Social and Behavioral Sciences
3333 California St., #LHts-455
San Francisco, CA 94143-0612
Telephone: (415) 476-3047
Fax: (415) 476-6552
Students may also take electives that include Comparative Health Care Systems, Economics of Managed Care, Ethics and Policy in Genetics, Health Care Institutions, Long Term Care Policies, Perspectives on Social Policy and Health, Social Policy and Aging, and Tobacco Control Policy Issues.
In addition to coursework, master's students complete a 10-week health policy residency. This may involve working in policy settings that include: legislative and regulatory offices, advocacy organizations, foundations involved in setting agendas for funding policy-related research and programs, health care organizations, community organizations, and professional associations.
Residencies emphasize the application of policy skills in real-world settings. Past students have completed residencies in Sacramento, Washington, D.C., and Geneva at the World Health Organization in addition to numerous San Francisco-area placements.
| "I want to learn about policy from people who are making it and shaping it, and UCSF has those people, as students and faculty!" Mary Foley, MS, RN, Doctoral Student and Past President of the American Nurses Association |
| Quick-Links: Health Policy Nursing | ||||||||||||
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| Definition | · | Program | · | Courses | · | Faculty | · | Students | · | Questions | · | Applying |
Details on the required courses for the Health Policy specialty are available by selecting the following link:
Charlene Harrington, RN, PhD, FAAN
Professor and Director of the Doctoral Program in Nursing Health Policy, Dr. Harrington has an established research program in heath care financing, legislation, policy analysis, regulation and planning, and quality outcomes. Many students work with her on current projects which include nursing home quality of care, long term care regulatory policies, nurse staffing in nursing homes, home and community based waiver programs, estimating paid and unpaid care hours, and consumer feedback about quality of care.
"A key part of the program is its residency component. We encourage students to gain practical policy experience by working in any of a variety of policy settings - and we help place them in settings that best meet their interests."
Ruth Malone, RN, PhD, FAAN Associate Professor and Director of the Masters Program in Nursing Health Policy, is examining the tobacco industries' targeting of minority populations. Her research includes the construction of, maintenance of, and changes in health policy trends and issues, including the role of media and industry.
"Increasingly, nurses and their patients face problems that are not solely clinical, but are related to the larger health policy environment. It's extremely important that articulate, well-prepared nurses help put health policy issues in context and shape policy planning. This is the program I wished for when I attended the UCSF Masters program more than a decade ago--but it did not exist then. I'm thrilled to now be part of this new program, preparing nurse policy experts who will play leadership roles in policy analysis, advocacy, research, evaluation and policymaking itself."
 Malone (above), Benner (center) Newcomer (right) |
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Patricia Benner, RN, PhD, FAAN, and Chair, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences/Thelma Shobe Chair in Ethics and Spirituality is well known for her work in skill acquisition and clinical knowledge development in nursing. Dr. Benner's current projects include Critical Caring: examining the ethical dimensions of critical care nursing practice, and expert clinical judgment in nursing.
Robert Newcomer, PhD, continues his extensive research interest in health and long term care costs and utilization, assisted living and living arrangements. He is currently examining the quality of care case mix in assisted living programs, as well as continuing projects in managed care for the elderly, health care use in end of life, management of chronic conditions, and preventing disabilities through nurse coaching.
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| Definition | · | Program | · | Courses | · | Faculty | · | Students | · | Questions | · | Applying |
Julia Buss, MS, RN
"I applied to the Health Policy Master's at UCSF because I wanted to learn how to improve our health care delivery system. Working as a nurse I had often noticed how regardless of individual nurses’ efforts the system affected patient care. I wanted to learn more about the system in which nurses deliver care. During the Health Policy specialty I learnt about health care from a variety of perspectives, and I was able to consider various policy solutions. Both the practical and research experience I gained in residencies during the program gave me a taste of the real world of policy work. At UCSF, taking political action became a reality when I became a member of a nationwide group of nurses called The Nightingales who are protesting tobacco industry marketing and promotion of cigarettes. I feel that I became empowered with new knowledge and skills during the Health Policy program that I believe will enable me to use my experience as a nurse to work to improve healthcare access and quality."
Christina Foushee, MS, RN
"UCSF's Nursing Health Policy program has taught me the critical role nurses play in patient and community advocacy at the policy level. Thoughtful, effective health care reform will benefit immensely from the active participation of the nursing profession."
Gina Intinarelli, MS, RN
"The health policy program at UCSF has opened avenues for me that I never knew existed. I was able to spend my summer residency at the World Health Organization in Geneva, which has proved to be an invaluable experience. From that residency, I was inspired to plan and implement an event at UCSF for World No Tobacco Day, 2005. One of the policy initiatives that the WNTD planning committee was work toward achieving a completely smoke free campus at UCSF! [The health policy] program provides you with the skills and the confidence to bring meaningful nursing-oriented dialogue to any policy table. Nurses have voice, we are knowledgeable and respected and I think that others are dying to hear from us. . . . I love the program so much that I am staying on for my PhD!"
| Quick-Links: Health Policy Nursing | ||||||||||||
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| Definition | · | Program | · | Courses | · | Faculty | · | Students | · | Questions | · | Applying |
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: Health Policy Nursing | ||||||||||||
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| Definition | · | Program | · | Courses | · | Faculty | · | Students | · | Questions | · | Applying |
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| Revised: Nov. 2007 | Contact: info@nursing.ucsf.edu · © Copyright 2007 University of California Regents, All Rights Reserved. | |||||||||||||
