M.A – Nursing

MA specialization programs

The Master’s program in Nursing at University of Haifa has 4 specializations:

Program in symptom management:

Program’s aims: Managing symptoms, and consequently balancing them are the heart of the nursing profession, and contribute to the well-being and quality of life of patients and their family members. Graduates of this program could integrate in developing the research field of symptom management, to promote evidence-based clinical work and to provide treatment which matches patients’ needs.

Program structure:

Once a week.

Study paths: a. Thesis track – 3 years long; b. Practicum track (final project) – 2 years long.

Study hours for path: a. 36 hours/semester; b. 38 hours/semester.

Program in managing organizational resilience:

Program’s aims: training nursing personnel in research and management of resilient organizations, that reduce human error, and which promote quality of care. During the studies, the students will acquire research skills, in management and in leadership, need to lead nursing organizations to cope with the challenges of the 21st century.

 Program structure:

Once a week.

Study paths: a. Thesis track – 3 years long; b. Practicum track (final project) – 2 years long.

Study hours for path: a. 36 hours/semester; b. 38 hours/semester.

Program in well-fare and health technology:

To answer the changes and technological challenges of the 21st century, in line with leading universities worldwide, and to integrate in a developing the research and clinical fields that deals with health and well-fare technology. In addition, to promote evidence-based actions, and to promote health promotion, disease prevention and efficient treatment, while combining an interdisciplinary perspective that characterizes the faculty of social well-fare and health sciences.

Program structure:

Once a week.

Study paths: a. Thesis track – 3 years long; b. Practicum track (final project) – 2 years long.

Study hours for path: a. 36 hours/semester; b. 38 hours/semester.

MA program in palliative care:

The aim of the program is to promote research and practice in palliative care. Palliative care rests on an empirical-solid theoretical paradigm, whose purpose is to improve quality of life and to ease the patient’s and family’s suffering and distress, who are coping with complex, chronic and untreatable disease conditions. 

The studies of this program will provide a second degree in nursing and will enable graduates to get examined in the Ministry of Health Exam in the palliative care specialty. It is important to note that this program provides graduates only theoretical and practical studies (similar to health professions) and not the specialist diploma in nursing. The studies in the program do not permit working as clinical specialist in palliative care. The specialty diploma is given by the Ministry of Health, in line with meeting the regulations of the people’s health regulations – permit in specialist in nursing 2013.

Program structure:

Once a week.

Study paths: a. Thesis track – 3 years long; b. Practicum track (final project) – 2 years long.

Study hours for path: a. 38 hours/semester; b. 42 hours/semester.

 

Graduates from abroad and “complimentary studies”:

Registered nurses who are candidates for Master’s program studies, who are graduates of a recognized Israeli or foreign university, with an average below 80, and of foreign universities with a branch in Israel, working with the permit of the Higher Education Council, will choose one of the following options as one of the admittance conditions for the studies:

  • Succeeding the General GRE test, with a 70% percentile in each of its components. The candidate will attach the results of the GRE test to the application package, and the permit of the Israeli high education council for the foreign university’s branch’s activity in Israel (in case he/she is a branch’s graduate). After receiving all the above documents, his/her file will be transferred to the dean for advanced studies. Once the dean approves the continuation of the admittance procedure, the file will be transferred for evaluation by the MA committee of the Dept. of Nursing.
  • More information on the GRE test can be found in the MA degree regulation and in this link: http://www.ets.org/gre/
  • To submit candidacy for “complimentary studies” towards an MA degree (in the framework on the BA degree courses). The amount for complimentary courses required will be determined individually by the departmental MA program committee.

Completing the complimentary studies does not guarantee automatic acceptance to the Master’s degree.

It is recommended to get advice from the department before registering in relation to amount of complimentary work needed. 

The complimentary program includes at least 4 complimentary courses, or at least 8 credits. These courses need to be completed with an average of at least 80. The study program will be finally determined by the MA program committee head. Only after completing the complimentary studies, one can apply for the MA program with the same criteria mentioned above.

  1. Candidates who are not nurses and have a 1st or 2nd degree other than nursing – each case will be separately evaluated. It is important to clarify that studying a Master’s degree in nursing does not enable one to practice nursing.

 

Study program:

The study program includes theoretical courses (see mandatory requirements in tracks A or B):

Track A – Writing a research project – Thesis

This will provide the student with deep knowledge on the research methods relevant to the field of Nursing, and an ability to develop skills to independently analyze research findings. Writing a final research project (thesis) will summarize and reflect this knowledge and these skills.

The requirements from students in Track A:

  1. Completing courses of 36 weekly hours/semester (that include theoretical studies, exercise, and supervision). The student must complete these requirements until the end of the second study year.
  2. Writing one seminar essay
  3. Writing one final research project (thesis). Submitting the thesis for evaluation will be permitted only after completing all courses and assignments.
  4. Before submitting the thrsis, the student will have to present his/her research orally to the department staff

Comment: At the end of the second semester of study year one of the program, the departmental committee for the MA degree will examine the students’ achievements and will be able to recommend transferring a student from Track A to Track B.

The requirement for moving to the second year in Track A – an average of at least 80 in year.

Grade evaluation – Track A:

Course work: 45%

Seminar project – 15%

Thesis – 40%

 

Track B – A track with a final project (Practicum)

This track seeks to provide the student with knowledge and skills needed to lead and assimilate change in an organization/medical institute

Requirements from students in Track B:

  1. Completing courses of 38 weekly hours/semester (that include theoretical studies, exercise, and supervision). The student must complete these requirements until the end of the second study year.
  2. Writing 2 seminar essays.
  3. Meeting the practicum requirements: Students of this track are required to take part in a practicum of 2 theoretical weekly hours/semester and 4 practical weekly hours/semester.

The aim of the practicum is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to lead and assimilate change in a medical organization/institute/ The final product is the final project.

Grade evaluation – Track B:

Course work: 60%

Seminar essays – 20%

Final project – 20%

Moving from one track to another will be possible with permission of the departmental committee for MA degree until the end of the first year only. In case of transfer between tracks, the student will be obliged to meet all the requirements of the new track. The condition for transfer to year to in Track B is an average of 80 in year 1.