Department Introduction

Educational goals

The MSN Advanced Practice Nurse/Post-licensure program is designed for registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing to pursue advanced practice nursing education. The program aims to prepare advanced nurses with professional knowledge, complex situational decision-making and practical ability to expand professional fields.  

Basic literacies

1. 1. Analytical and communication skills
   2. Team spirit
   3. Information literacy
   4. Altruism and civic engagement

Core competencies

1. 1. Capabilities of applying advanced theoretical and empirical knowledge in clinical practice.
   2. Abilities to use consulting skills in clinical practice.
   3. Skills in leading team members to enhance the quality of healthcare.
   4. Abilities to communicate and collaborate effectively with other healthcare teams.
   5. Capabilities of demonstrating professional leadership.
   6. Abilities to conduct nursing-related research.
   7. Capabilities of demonstrating professional norms and ethical literacy. 

The Program’s three emphases/specialty areas

Advanced Nursing Care (Nurse Practitioner, NP)

1. 1. Applies advanced professional and empirical knowledge to develop clinical care programs.
   2. Provides healthcare team education, training, and communication, plus guidance and consultation.
   3. Demonstrates the roles of leaders and partners in communicating and working with other healthcare teams to enhance the quality of care.
   4. Considers the relationship between individuals, families, or groups to communicate and collaborate with other teams.
   5. Conducts evidence-based research to resolve nursing care-related issues.
   6. Demonstrates the attitudes and behaviors in line with professional norms and advocates patients’ rights.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

1. 1. Applies advanced empirical knowledge and ethical decision-making skills to clinical practice.
   2. Uses advanced knowledge of physiology and pathology in clinical decision-making and exercises the ability to identify and diagnose clinical problems.
   3. Can guide and suggest health enhancement plans to patients and their families.
   4. Demonstrates the ability to lead, work, and communicate with team members.
   5. Conducts evidence-based research and applies research findings and clinical care guidelines to improve the quality of care.
   6. Implements professional norms in clinical care and advocates the rights of everyone.

Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration (FNP)

1. 1. Uses empirical knowledge and clinical practice guidance in primary healthcare to demonstrate independent practice ability.
   2. Applies advanced knowledge of physiology and pathology in practice to exercise the ability to identify and diagnose care problems.
   3. Can guide and suggest health promotion plans for patients and their families.
   4. Demonstrates the ability to lead, work, and communicate with team members.
   5. Implements professional ethics in healthcare and advocates the rights of every individual.
   6. Updates the development of healthcare policies and systems.
   7. Applies technology and information to enhance the effectiveness and quality of care. 

Special Features

1. 1. Link learning in the classroom with application in the clinical environment.
   2. Work with other Tzu Chi affiliates in charity, healthcare, education, and humanistic culture, to provide students with diverse learning opportunities.
   3. Offer a master’s program to those interested in pursuing advanced studies.
   4. Collaborate with global partners to facilitate our faculty members, staff, and students working with those from overseas.
   5. Academic advisors, members of the Tzu-Cheng and Yi-Te Association (senior Tzu Chi volunteers from all walks of life), and counselors make joint efforts to stand firmly behind our students.

Future Career

Seek Employment

Students can provide nursing care at Tzu Chi hospitals in Hualien, Taipei, Taichung, Dalin, Yuli, Guanshan, and Douliu. Students can also work for other healthcare institutions in Taiwan or overseas. 

Almost all of our new graduates are associated with healthcare institutions. Their employers welcome and highly recognize their job performance.

Pursue advanced studies

Students can pursue their doctoral programs at Tzu Chi University or elsewhere.

Language of Instruction

Chinese

Documents to Be Submitted

Evaluation Criteria

Remarks