Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale.
- An active RN license that has been unrestricted for two years prior to application, and the functional abilities required of a professional nurse.
- Minimum two years full-time experience in nursing.
- Completion of a minimum of an undergraduate statistics course.
All applicants with a baccalaureate degree in another field who are graduates of a diploma or associate degree program in nursing have an individualized audit conducted of their application materials. The Program Director reviews coursework and/or experience related to Community Health Nursing and Nursing Leadership. As a result of this process students will be required to complete either one or two undergraduate courses (NU405T/NU406T) with at least a B in each, or one or two one-credit courses (NU510/NU511) with a grade of an A.
Additional Requirements
Criminal Background Check Policy
All students will be required to submit to a criminal background check as part of preparation for practica courses. Students will be enrolled in a web based background screening and immunization tracker program (CertifiedBackground.com). The results of the one- time criminal background check are stored until a student graduates from the SJC Online MSN program or is no longer in the nursing program. In the event that the clinical practica extend beyond a 12 month period, an additional background check may be required. Criminal Background check items disqualifying a student from continuing into the clinical portion of the program include the following:
1. Misdemeanor involving violence/drug related offenses
2. Felony, pending felony, sex abuse conviction
If a student disputes the background check findings, they have up to 2 weeks to do the following:
1. Contact Certified Background Check directly to dispute findings or request supporting documentation.
2. Submit their dispute in writing to the Program Director. (see Student Handbook for details)
Process of the dispute: (see Student Handbook for details).
Drug Screen Policy
All students will be required to submit to an initial urine 10-drug panel screening performed at a SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) certified laboratory as part of Phase I preparation for clinical practica. Students will be enrolled in a web based background screening and immunization tracker program where specific instructions for drug urine testing are provided (CertifiedBackground.com – (see Student Handbook for details). The results of the urine drug screen are stored until a student graduates from the SJC Online MSN program or is no longer in the nursing program. At the direction and discretion of the Program Director, additional drug urine screens may be requested of the student. Any substance found on urine drug screen not explained by prescription and identified within the PCP documented physical exam is considered unacceptable and is grounds for a student to be denied access to the remaining practica portion of the Saint Joseph’s College MSN program. If a student disputes the findings, they have up to 2 weeks to do the following: (see Student Handbook for details)
CPR Policy
All students in clinical courses must present evidence of provider CPR certification (copy of both sides of card) before starting clinical. A provider level CPR course includes one and two rescuer CPR and covers adult, infant and child CPR. Evidence of CPR certification will be submitted in the Certified Background online tracking program (see Student Handbook for details).
Health Requirements
All students are required to maintain Individual Health Insurance Coverage that covers $10,000 per claim. Additional health requirements may be deemed necessary by the clinical agency and are at the student’s expense.
Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
All students must conform to clinical site Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) policies and the HIPAA national standards. It is required that all students supply the SJC Department of Online Nursing Education confirmation of attendance at HIPAA training either through their clinical agency or work agency. Documentation of attendance at a valid HIPAA training session will be submitted in the Certified Background online tracking program (see Student Handbook for details). All students must hold an active and unrestricted R.N. license in their state of practice. RN license numbers will be submitted in the Certified Background online tracking program All students must also purchase and maintain private student professional malpractice insurance throughout the entire MSN program. The student should purchase a per occurrence policy or a claims made policy with limits of 1,000,000/3,000,000. This should be a student policy. Documentation of this requirement will be submitted in the Certified Background online tracking program. (see Student Handbook for details). International applicants educated in countries other than the United States and Canada 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. Canadian nurses will be managed on a case by case basis.
Treatment of exceptions is listed below:
Consideration will 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, the Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing, 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:
Hold an active, unrestricted RN license. RNs are to provide their license number to Saint Joseph’s College for verification, at no cost to the college.
Note: Applicants who have had license sanctions must be without restrictions during the two years prior to Saint Joseph’s application. Work history for the last 5 years (required for Non BSN applicants only). Official transcripts from all undergraduate program(s) and applicable master’s degree transcripts. Course descriptions for all graduate courses being considered for transfer.
June 16, 2021COVID-19 Update: Upcoming vaccine deadlines; Testing phase-out
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