The USC School of Social Work is now accepting applications for Nursing@USC, a new online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) for aspiring family nurse practitioners (FNPs). Nursing@USC is the first graduate nursing program in the United States to integrate nursing and social work practice. The program is designed to prepare nurses for clinical leadership roles through an understanding of the biological, behavioral and social factors that influence health and well-being. The first class begins September 2016.

The transformation of health care delivery in the U.S. has emphasized the need for a more holistic approach to nursing—one that includes social determinants in nursing education, research and health policy. Graduates will be prepared to address the complexity of health needs for patients, particularly those in vulnerable populations, working toward an improved and equitable health care system for all.

The school has appointed Ellen Olshansky chair of the new Department of Nursing and Sharon O’Neill vice chair and director of the Family Nurse Practitioner program, the department’s first advanced practice specialization.

Olshansky, one of the nation’s leading experts in women’s health, was the founding director of the University of California, Irvine’s Nursing Science program and has been engaged in teaching and research for more than 30 years. She also serves as a board member for the American Academy of Nursing.

O’Neill holds dual post-master certification as a pediatric primary care nurse practitioner and a family nurse practitioner from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She served as the program coordinator of the FNP program at Johns Hopkins for seven years. She is also an attorney. Until recently, she acted as in-house legal counsel to the Kennedy Krieger Institute for more than 13 years.

“Evidence suggests 80 percent of health is influenced by social, psychological, environmental and behavioral factors. These 'social determinants of health' play a greater role than factors typically associated with our well-being. We believe combining nursing and social work will prepare a new kind of nurse who can effectively integrate this knowledge into practice and be the catalyst for making health care better,” Olshansky said. “I have a bachelor’s degree in social welfare from UC Berkeley before I pursued nursing as a career, and am excited to have the opportunity to bring all parts of my career full circle. I think this collaboration of disciplines can truly make strides in creating a more socially just world where everyone can experience optimum health.”

Nursing@USC is powered by technology education company 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ: TWOU) through its cloud-based software-as-a-service technology platform.

Students across the country will meet weekly through live online classes. In addition, they will attend two on-campus intensive experiences, where they will perform in-person assessments in a collaborative learning environment on USC’s campus. Students also will complete approximately 800 clinical hours in a variety of health care settings in their local communities to gain hands-on experience in assessing, diagnosing and managing health problems while applying unique skills learned through the program’s holistic approach. The degree consists of 49 credits, offered on a full-time (five semesters) and part-time (eight semesters) basis, and can be completed in 21 to 33 months.  Each year, there will be three start dates in September, January and May. The first Nursing@USC application deadline is July 11 with the first class beginning in September 2016.

The master's degree program in nursing at University of Southern California is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.