SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY OFFERS MASTERS IN NURSING DEGREE

Southeast Missouri State University has received approval from the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education to offer a master of science in nursing program.

University officials made the announcement Friday.

"There has long been a need for a master's in nursing program in the Cape Girardeau area," said Catherine Taylor Foster, chairperson of the nursing department at Southeast.

"No other master's in nursing program is offered in this state south of St. Louis. As the only senior institution of higher education in Southeast Missouri, we are committed to providing advanced education to residents of the 26 counties we serve. This program is another example of our commitment."

Recent studies have identified a serious shortage of nurses nationwide who are educationally prepared for administration, teaching, research and advanced clinical nursing specialties a shortage that is predicted to continue through the 1990s. In addition, scientific and technological advances have increased average life expectancy, while also increasing the complexity of hospital and community care for the acutely and chronically ill.

"This new master's program has been tailored to meet the specific needs of Southeast Missouri, an area which is largely rural, poor, and has a growing percentage of elderly people," said Foster.

"Our focus will be on rural health care for the adult. While some master's programs in nursing across the country are designed to educate hospital-based clinical specialists with a particular area of emphasis, this program builds on the philosophy of holistic heath care in the region and directly connects the resources of the university with the rural health needs in Southeast Missouri.

"According to national data," said Foster, "many counties in this region have either no physician or fewer than one physician for every 5,000 residents.

"In a survey conducted by the Missouri Office of Rural Health Advisory Commission, citizens of Missouri's rural counties identified their priority health care needs to be, among others: wellness and prevention services, elderly services, hospice, parenting information, prenatal care, community referrals and interdisciplinary collaboration. These are precisely the services that will be provided by graduates of Southeast's master of science in nursing program," said Foster.

"This program, which we hope will commence in January 1993, is uniquely suited to meet the needs of people in the surrounding communities, as well as those of the baccalaureate-prepared nurses who need access to graduate-level nursing education. It has been designed as a part-time program to enable students to earn a graduate degree while pursuing their careers," said Foster.