The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) College of Nursing

The Global Disaster Nursing (GDN) Graduate Program

MSN, DNP, PhD, and Post Master’s Certificate

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) College of Nursing offers an innovative graduate program in Global Disaster Nursing (GDN) to prepare nurse leaders for practice, scholarship, education and policy in natural and man-made disasters, large-scale public health emergencies, and humanitarian relief. Training, application, and evaluation of skills and knowledge in disaster scenarios are cornerstones of the GDN program; and combined classroom learning, simulation exercises, and fieldwork experiences provide students with exceptional hands-on learning opportunities.

The GDN program trains nurses to:

+ Plan for mass casualty events

+ Manage organizational aspects of disasters, global health, and security incidents

+ Mitigate the effects of threats

+ Communicate with and work as integral parts of local, state, federal, and international response

+ Oversee and provide direct patient care and triage

+ Teach disaster preparedness in community and educational settings

+ Develop, implement, and evaluate policy

+ Contribute knowledge to the field of global disaster studies through research and scholarship

The GDN Program is currently funded by US Department of Health & Human Services, HRSA Grant D09HP22606.

Degree Offerings:  The GDN program offers MSN, PhD, and DNP degrees as well as a Post-Master’s Certificate.  Part-time scheduling and online learning options are available for some programs.  Each degree requires different and/or additional credit hours, please visit our website www.nursing.utk.edu for a full listing.

            Post-Master’s Certificate = 22 credit hours over 3.5 semesters

            MSN = 41 credit hours over 4 semesters

            PhD = 80 credit hours, can be completed 3 years of full-time study

            DNP = new degree option, please call for more information

Curriculum:  The GDN core curriculum provides a comprehensive examination of critical issues in disaster response including: exploration of all hazards; planning and leadership in disaster response; complex issues in incident management; infectious and tropical disease management; caring for vulnerable populations; the epidemiology of disease during disaster and recovery periods; ethics; and world affairs.

Simulations, Certifications, & Fieldwork:  GDN students participate in training exercises and receive certifications in Basic & Advanced Disaster Life Support™, HazMat emergency response, and capstone disaster simulation.  Off-site certification courses include radiation emergency medicine training through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Radiation Emergency Assistance Center / Training Site (REAC/TS). Additionally, all GDN students are required to complete a domestic or international field placement.  In the past, GDN students have practiced and/or conducted research in many places around the world including Haiti, Japan, China, and Papua New Guinea.  Opportunities for individual research and group projects continue to expand according to the students’ interests.

Spotlight on GDN Faculty: The GDN faculty have diverse backgrounds and research interests.  In addition to the College of Nursing faculty, the GDN program hosts guest lecturers who are experts in various fields relating to disaster prevention and response.

Program Director- Susan Speraw, PhD, RN (ssperaw@utk.edu) is a nurse and clinical psychologist specializing in child/adolescent/family health, and has worked with military families, refugees, and vulnerable populations in the US, Haiti, and Japan.  She coordinates the program and lectures in disaster nursing, global issues in healthcare delivery, psychological impact of disasters on responders and survivors, research methods and ethics.

Assistant Clinical Professor- Mary Nypaver, PhD, RN (mnypaver@utk.edu) is a critical care nurse with expertise in disaster education using a variety of instructional methods and assuring quality in service delivery. She organizes certification courses and lectures in disaster nursing, global health and security threats.

Clinical Instructor- Moriah McArthur, MSc (mmcarthu@utk.edu) has particular expertise in global public health issues. Specializing in reproductive and sexual health issues in developing countries, she has conducted research in Niger, Nigeria, and India. She arranges global field placement opportunities for GDN students and lectures in tropical medicine and current global health issues.

Admissions

Applications for the GDN program should be completed and submitted online through the University of Tennessee Graduate School. In addition to completing standardized forms online, application requirements include: transcripts from every post-secondary school attended, personal essay, formal writing sample, copy of nursing license, and three professional or academic recommendations.  Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores may also be required. Click the following link to access the application portal: http://graduateadmissions.utk.edu/

Eligibility Criteria

+ BSN from an accredited school

+ Current Licensure as a Registered Nurse

+ Competitive GPA

+ 3 credit hours of graduate level statistics

+ TOEFL score of 550 or higher (if applicable)

+ GRE scores may also be required

Funding Opportunities

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville offers funding opportunities for students via The Graduate School fellowships and assistantships, as well as support for obtaining funds from outside sources.  Additional fellowships and information are available at The UTK Graduate School website: http://gradschool.utk.edu/fellowships.shtml

The Graduate Diversity Enhancement Fellowship http://gradschool.utk.edu/fellowships/Diversity%202012-2013_reader.pdf

The UTK Graduate School seeks to recruit, enroll, and retain qualified students who will benefit from educational and social interactions with peers who come from different backgrounds and who have different life experiences, perspectives, and goals. Fellowship recipients will receive a $15,000 stipend, fee waiver, and graduate student health insurance.

The Lori Mayer Re-Entry Women’s Graduate Fellowships

http://gradschool.utk.edu/fellowships/Lori%20Mayer%202012-2013_reader.pdf

Open to entering graduate women students who are 27 years of age or older and have been out of a formal educational program for at least five years. Applicants should be individuals who demonstrate significant potential to contribute to the Graduate School’s educational mission and its diversity-related goals. The fellowship awards a $7,000 stipend for two consecutive terms.

The Summer Graduate Research Assistantship Fund

http://research.utk.edu/funding/gra.shtml

The Office of Research targets and promotes the contributions of graduate students in research by funding summer assistantships.  The award stipends are set at $3,600 for a three month period.

The College of Nursing has additional scholarship, traineeship and loan opportunities restricted to students enrolled in nursing programs.  A full listing of all College of Nursing scholarships, traineeships, and loans specific to nursing can be found at the College of Nursing website: http://nursing.utk.edu/current/scholarships.aspx.

Two of these in particular are designated exclusively for GDN students:

The Arline Ignatowski Radwan Memorial Scholarship gives first priority to doctoral students in the GDN program.  If there are no doctoral students meeting its criteria, second priority is given to MSN students. 

The Robert Proffitt Memorial Scholarship is also designated for GDN graduate students.

College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)

www.nursing.utk.edu

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Nursing, established in 1971, has provided outstanding leaders tocitizens of Tennessee, the nation, and global community through academic excellence, commitment to service and the highest ethical standards. College of Nursing programs and graduates enjoy excellent reputations for outstanding clinical competence, leadership and scholarship skills. We currently enroll approximately 124 students in our master`s program and 50 in our doctoral programs. Graduates of the College of Nursing are highly sought and superbly prepared for professional careers. 

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is committed to promoting diversity and multiculturalism by administering programs, activities and services that holistically address the cultural, educational, and civic growth of under-represented students, thus contributing to their academic and professional success in our diverse and complex world.  The Office of Graduate Training and Mentorship assists minority students by connecting them with faculty and resources. Campus organizations like the Black Graduate & Professional Student Association, The Program for Excellence & Equity in Research (PEER), and Center for International Education host mixers, professional development workshops, seminars, and networking events.