1851 Wiggins Road
915.747.7259
915.747.8295 (Fax)
http://nursing.utep.edu
http://nursing.utep.edu/currrnet/sa

Introduction

The School of Nursing offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and various certificate programs. Students enrolling in the Master of Science in Nursing degree program can elect majors in Nursing Education, Nurse Practitioner (concentrations in Adult Gerontology Acute Care, Family, Pediatrics Acute Care and Pediatrics Primary Care), and Nursing Systems Management. The MSN nursing degree programs are accredited and qualify students for national certification in their specialty. Certificate Programs include a Nurse Educator Certificate, a Nursing Systems Management Certificate, and a Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate with concentration in Family, Pediatrics Acute Care, Pediatrics Primary Care or Adult Gerontology Acute Care.

The Graduate Program (MSN) in Nursing has national accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the agency that accredits the majority of baccalaureate and higher nursing degree programs. Students completing the Graduate Program in Nursing earn a degree leading to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as an administrator, an educator, or a nurse practitioner.

The vision of the School of Nursing (SON) is to be the leader in nursing education, evidence-based practice, and research in the global healthcare environment.

The mission of the School of Nursing is to prepare professional nurses at baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels to meet complex human needs in a competitive global healthcare environment. Inspire evidence-based lifelong learning and utilization of advanced technologies by providing a progressive research environment where students, faculty and researchers investigate and meet global healthcare needs. Improve healthcare and quality of life in our diverse multicultural underserved local communities by preparing graduates to make significant contributions to nursing, local, national, and global communities.

Through excellence, innovation, and diversity, the SON graduate program curriculum prepares professional nurses for advanced leadership in enhanced practice, clinical scholarship, and role expansion. Enhancement of practice occurs through augmentation, refinement, and application of knowledge and theory. Supervised evidence-based projects enhance students’ inquiry and research skills. Role expansion occurs through advanced practice in the clinical, educational, management and leadership arenas; functions to improve health care delivery, access, and quality; and increases professional responsibilities to society.

Prior to admission, applications and official transcripts are submitted online to the Graduate School for evaluation. Final decisions regarding admission are made by the Dean of the Graduate School upon the recommendation of the appropriate Program Director in the School of Nursing. Applicants for specific majors are evaluated based on academic history, experience, letter of intent, and interview (if required).

Students are admitted into the Nursing Education and Nursing Systems Management programs on a rolling basis three times a year. Because of the competitive nature and limited available clinical placements, students are admitted into the Nurse Practitioner Program/Concentrations twice a year. Students are admitted into the DNP program annually into the fall.

ADA Statement for Nursing Profession

Nursing is a physically and mentally challenging profession. Nurses are required to think critically and quickly in order to respond to patient care needs. Providing patient care in the clinical setting is physically and mentally demanding. If you have a disability and need class accommodations, contact The Center for Accommodations and Support Services (CASS) at 915-747-5148, or by email to cass@utep.edu, or visit their office located in the UTEP Union East, Room 106. For additional information, please visit the CASS website at www.sa.utep/cass.  CASS’ Staff are the only individuals who can validate and if need be, authorize accommodations for students with disabilities.  

INTERIM DEAN: Dr. Patricia Castiglia 
ASSOCIATE DEAN: Graduate Education: Dr. Leslie Robbins
ASSOCIATE DEAN: Undergraduate Education: Dr. Gloria McKee

Professor

Maria Amaya
Contact Information: mamaya@utep.edu; 915-747-8583
Education: BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; MSN, Texas Woman's University; Ph D, New Mexico State University; Certificate, Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Certificate, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Postdoc, The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center; Graduate Certificate, The Johns Hopkins University, 2018
Research Interests: Population-based environmental epidemiology

Patricia Castiglia
Contact Information: pcastigl@utep.edu;

Associate Professor

Hsuen-Fen Kao
Contact Information: hkao@utep.edu; 915-747-7279
Education: Diploma, National Taipei College of Nursing; MSN, National Taiwan University; Ph D, The University of Texas at Austin; Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina, 2018
Research Interests: My areas of interests include family caregiver burden, family values, acculturation's effects, and cultural diversity in Hispanic families for chronically-ill older adults.

Gloria McKee
Contact Information: gmckee@utep.edu; 915-747-7246
Education: BSN, University of Texas System School of Nursing; MSN, University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, 2018
Research Interests: Health Disparities in breast cancer screening among Hispanic women. Instrument Development for use in assessment of Hispanic women's health; Use of Telehealth with underserved populations.

Diane Monsivais
Contact Information: dimonsivais@utep.edu; 915-747-8209
Education: BSN, Duke University; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 2018
Research Interests: Dr. Monsivais's research interests focus on educational issues in nursing and other healthcare professions. There is an emphasis on enhancing clinical teaching competencies, healthcare simulation, and improving the quality and safety of the healthcare system.

Hector Olvera Alvarez
Contact Information: holvera@utep.edu; 915-747-6518
Education: MS, The University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, The University of Texas at El Paso; Graduate Certificate in Epidemiology, University of Michigan, 2018
Research Interests: The main objective of my interdisciplinary research program is to help diminish the health burden of vulnerable populations that are caused by greater exposure to traffic-related air pollutants and socioeconomically induced susceptibilities by informing better policies and interventions. Specifically, I intend to continue to develop a research program that: (1) elucidates biological mechanisms through which social factors, such as stress, increase susceptibility to air pollutants; (2) determines how air pollution and stress interact during developmental stages to increase susceptibility to cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders; and (3) identifies mechanisms that can be targeted early in life to promote healthy development in low-income populations. As part of the implementation of this research program, I will continue to engage scientists from across and beyond the university to support the growth and expand the reach of the program, leverage an extant network of community partners to create a community advisory board to inform the identification of relevant research needs and to strengthen the dissemination and outreach capacity of the program, and actively engage and train minority scientists in the areas of environmental health. Ultimately, I intend to use my research program to expand UTEP’s capacities in biomedical and health disparities research, and, by building on regional conditions, needs, and strengths (e.g., predominant low socioeconomic status minority community, intense heavy-duty commercial traffic generated by the local ports of entry, strong community engagement, untapped human capital), procure funding for a Center of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities Research.

Leslie Robbins
Contact Information: lhrobbins@utep.edu; 915-747-7227
Education: ADN, Garland County Community College; BSN, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 2018
Research Interests: qualitative research, obesity, mental health, addictive disorders, TBI, health disparities, PTSD

Clinical Associate Professor

Karen Fowler
Contact Information: kfowler@utep.edu;
Education: Ph D, University of Phoenix, 2018

Lisa Hennessy
Contact Information: lhennessy@utep.edu; 915-747-7249
Education: BSN, West Texas State University; MSN, The University of Texas at El Paso; Ph D, New Mexico State University, 2018
Research Interests: Student Success,

Programs

Master of Science in Nursing

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Certificate