Nov 02, 2024  
2006-2007 Catalog 
    
2006-2007 Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Master of Science in Nursing


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http://www.sjcme.edu/gps/mastersciencenursing.htm

Purpose and Program Objectives

The Master’s program in Nursing at Saint Joseph’s College prepares graduates for nursing roles in Education and Administration requiring mastery of advanced nursing knowledge. Students acquire multidimensional in-depth knowledge and advanced skills in a selected area of administration or teaching. Mastery of critical thinking skills prepares the practitioner for leadership roles within a patient-centered health care delivery model or educational setting.

Students in the Master of Science in Nursing program demonstrate the following behaviors in order to achieve the program outcomes:

  • think critically to synthesize knowledge from nursing and other relevant disciplines as the basis for nursing practice;
  • influence nursing practice and health care policy through application of knowledge and skills in leadership, management, and administration or education to;
  • demonstrate competence in the advanced nursing roles of administration or education;
  • identify researchable problems in nursing and participates in research activities;
  • assume responsibility for contributing to the practice of nursing through research, management, administration, or education;
  • incorporate appropriate ethical and professional standards into the multi-faceted practice of nursing;
  • seek further professional development of knowledge and skills relevant to practice.

The Master of Science in Nursing program prepares graduates in advanced practice roles who demonstrate the following outcomes:

  • improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes;
  • acquire/maintain positions in nursing leadership roles;
  • engage in ethically-based professional behaviors;
  • use advanced nursing knowledge in selected settings;
  • use critical thinking to apply advanced nursing knowledge in practice and education settings;
  • engage in professional nurse behaviors of caring, respect, dignity, and integrity.

Curriculum


A common core of knowledge at the master’s level provides a foundation for nurses in advanced nursing roles. The theoretical base specific to each specialization is included in the course of study and accompanied by practical experience, thus providing students the opportunity to apply theory in a variety of settings.

Two specializations are offered: Nursing Administration and Nursing Education. The Nursing Administration specialization prepares nurses for administrative positions in various health care organizations. The Nursing Education specialization prepares nurses to teach in baccalaureate and associate degree education programs, or in staff development and continuing education fields.

Candidates must satisfactorily complete 42 credits, with an overall GPA of Saint Joseph’s College courses of 3.0 or higher. This consists of six core curriculum courses, five additional courses within the specialty and two practica within the specialty.

Additional Admission Requirements


Applicants must be graduates of a baccalaureate nursing program, accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, with a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is the norm.

All students applying to and currently enrolled in the MSN program must:

  • hold a valid United States unencumbered RN License;
  • possess the functional abilities to perform the skills and behaviors required of a professional nurse. Therefore all nursing students must possess the following functional abilities:
    1. Ability to see, hear, touch, smell, and distinguish colors.
    2. Communicate orally and in writing with clarity, accuracy, and efficiency.
    3. Manual dexterity with gross and fine movements.
    4. Think critically, analyze, assess, solve problems, make judgments.
    5. Emotional stability and ability to accept responsibility and accountability. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2000). Guidelines for Accommodating Students with Disabilities in Schools of Nursing. Washington, DC: American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (Detailed statements relative to these abilities can be obtained from the Nursing Department.)

International applicants educated in countries other than the United States must contact the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (COGFNS) for credentialing at:  Commission of Foreign Nursing Schools, 3600 Market St., Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 USA. Applicant Inquiries: 215-349-8767. Graduates of foreign nursing schools must submit an official report from the COGFNS.

Treatment of exceptions is listed below:

  1. Consideration will also be given to applicants with a regionally accredited baccalaureate degree in another field who are graduates of diploma or associate degree programs in nursing.

International students must be graduates of nursing programs equivalent to NLN- or CCNE accredited baccalaureate nursing programs in the United States or meet the same requirements as non-BSN baccalaureate prepared applicants. Foreign nurses who plan to complete practica in the U.S. must meet licensing requirements of the state in which the student will have the practicum and must meet all health requirements of the facility where the practicum will take place.

In addition to the prior educational/work credentials, applicants must submit:

  1. A copy (front and back) of current unencumbered registered nurse license;
  2. Résumé or work history for the last ten years.
  3. Official transcripts from all undergraduate program(s) and applicable master’s degree transcripts.

Summer Program


NU 502 Nursing Research: Methods, Design, and Analysis is a required core curriculum course for all specialties, and is only offered in the Summer Program. Students may enroll in this course only after satisfactory completion of an undergraduate course in statistics.

Degree candidates may participate in the Summer Program only after completion of NU 500 Conceptual Bases for Nursing and the following courses:

Prerequisites


All students must have completed undergraduate clinical courses in community health nursing and nursing leadership or received a waiver by portfolio assessment prior to full acceptance to the Master of Science in Nursing program.

RN to MSN Program


The RN to MSN curriculum allows nursing students to substitute certain courses from the Master of Science in Nursing program in lieu of comparable undergraduate courses. See BSN section of the catalog for detailed information.

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