College of NursingSylvia Brown, Dean, 4205L Health Sciences Building Martha Engelke, Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship, 4210C Health Sciences Building Jana Pressler, Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, 3166A Health Sciences Building Kathy Sitzman, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies, 3166F Health Sciences Building Alta Andrews, Director for Community Partnerships and Practice, 4205H Health Sciences Building Marie E. Pokorny, PhD Director, 4165S Health Sciences Building Mary Ann Rose, Chair, Graduate Nursing Science, 3164D Health Sciences Building
The nurse midwifery concentration is also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) formerly called the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Division of Accreditation, 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1550, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 240-485-1802, fax 240-485-1818. The nurse anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, 222 South Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, IL 60068; telephone 847-692-7050. A RN/MSN option is available for registered nurses who do not have a baccalaureate degree in nursing. The Alternate Entry (AE) MSN option is a plan of study leading to the MSN degree for individuals who have earned a baccalaureate degree in another field. The program is divided into 2 phases: Phase I (Pre licensure) includes graduate courses that include content and experiences that are required to take the Registered Nurse Licensure examination (NCLEX-RN) and preparation for advanced study in nursing. Phase I only begins in fall semesters and full-time enrollment is required. Successful completion of the NCLEX-RN and licensure as a Registered Nurse is required prior to entering Phase II clinical concentration courses. Students may enroll in core classes during the first semester of Phase II, while obtaining credentials. Phase II will include courses in a selected clinical concentration. AdmissionAdmission to the master of science in nursing degree program requires the student to meet the minimum admission requirements for graduate study as established by the university and the following requirements established by the College of Nursing.
Due to the high demand of courses by our enrolled MSN students, the College of Nursing will not enroll nondegree graduate students at this time. Prospective students are encouraged to apply for full admission as soon as possible in order to be eligible for all College of Nursing course offerings. Applicants for the nurse midwifery concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year RN experience (labor and delivery preferred), demonstrate a commitment to practice with under-served populations, and one of the references should be from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant’s nursing practice. Applicants for the family nurse practitioner and adult-gerontology nurse practitioner concentrations, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year RN experience and provide a third reference from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant’s nursing practice. The application deadline for both concentrations is January 2. Applicants for the nurse anesthesia concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one-year adult critical care experience, completion of a supplemental nurse anesthesia admissions packet, a total of five professional references (two on forms provided in nurse anesthesia admissions packet), and an interview with the Nurse Anesthesia Admissions Committee. The application deadline for the nurse anesthesia concentration is May 31. Applicants for the clinical nurse specialist concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year of current practice experience and provide a third reference from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant’s nursing practice. Completed applications for the clinical nurse specialist concentration will be considered for fall and spring admission. Applications must be received by October 1 for spring, June 1 for fall. Applicants for the neonatal nurse practitioner concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have two years of current practice experience in a critical-care environment for high risk neonatal care RN experience and provide a third reference from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant’s nursing practice. Applicants may take core courses while gaining the required RN experience for admission into selected concentrations. Applicants for admission to the (AE) MSN option must meet general admission requirements with the exception of a valid RN license and baccalaureate degree in nursing. Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree in another field. Additional requirements include:
Application deadline for the (AE) MSN option is December 1. Completed applications will be considered as they are received, with the exception of nurse anesthesia, family nurse practitioner, adult nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, and the alternate entry master of science in nursing option. Applicants for the nursing education, nursing leadership, and clinical nurse specialist concentrations must have a minimum of one year RN experience prior to enrolling in specialty courses. Applicants for the nursing leadership concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must provide a third reference from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant’s nursing practice. Applicants for admission to the RN/MSN option will be evaluated using the following criteria.
Program PrerequisitesA course in statistics with a grade of C or higher and basic computer skills with both applications software and the Internet are prerequisites for all concentrations. A course in basic accounting is a prerequisite for the nursing leadership concentration.Students in the (AE) MSN option must complete all cognate requirements prior to beginning the program. Admission to the (AE) MSN option does not guarantee entry into a specific graduate concentration. Students in the RN/MSN option must complete all general education and cognate requirements prior to beginning undergraduate nursing courses. Separate application is made to the graduate program in the first or second semester of study in the RN/MSN option. Students enrolled in the RN/MSN option must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the 15 s.h. of undergraduate nursing courses to be eligible to continue in this option. Admission to the RN/MSN option does not guarantee entry into a specific graduate concentration. Degree RequirementsDepending upon the concentration area chosen within the degree program, the master of science in nursing requires 37-69 s.h. credit as follows. Concentrations are clustered as administrative, clinical, and education.
Students in the RN/MSN option must complete the following undergraduate courses prior to enrolling in any graduate nursing courses–NURS 3020, 3021, 3510, 3900, 4210, 4211.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for the nurse midwifery post-master’s certificate, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year RN experience (labor and delivery preferred). Applicants for the nurse anesthesia post-master’s certificate, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year adult critical care experience as a RN, completion of a supplemental nurse anesthesia admission packet, a total of five professional references (two on forms provided in the nurse anesthesia admissions packet) and an interview with Nurse Anesthesia Admissions Committee. Courses in physiology and chemistry/biochemistry within five years are highly recommended. Acceptable score on GRE within past 5 years (GRE required). Applicants for the neonatal post-master’s certificate, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have two years of current practice experience as a RN in a critical care environment for high-risk neonatal care. Applicants for the clinical nurse specialist post master’s certificate, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year RN experience. Applicants for the post-master’s certificate options in adult nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, family nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner, and nurse midwifery must have had graduate level courses in pathophysiology (reproductive physiology is an additional requirement for nurse midwifery), health assessment and pharmacology within the past five years or approval by the concentration director; otherwise, students will be required to take these courses as part of the post-master’s certificate requirement. Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner: - 10-33 s.h. NURS 6621,6622,6623. Depending on student’s needs and past education, additional course work from the following may be required: NURS 6050, 6610, 6611, 6612, 6613, 6614, 6615, 6618, or equivalent clinical courses. Clinical Nurse Specialist: - 15-30 s.h. NURS 6959, 6960, 6961, 6962, 6989. Depending on student’s needs and past education, additional course work from the following may be required: NURS 6050, 6208, 6610, 6611, 6214, 6224 or equivalent clinical courses. Family Nurse Practitioner: - 15-38 s.h. NURS 6616, 6617, 6619, 6620. Depending on student’s needs and past education, additional course work from the following may be required: NURS 6050, 6610, 6611, 6612, 6613, 6614, 6615, 6618. Neonatal Nurse Practitioner: - 20-29 s.h. NURS 6420, 6421, 6422, 6423, 6424, 6425. Depending on student’s needs and past education, additional course work from the following may be required: NURS 6417, 6418, 6419. Nurse Anesthesia: - 56 s.h. NURS 6610, 6805, 6806, 6810, 6811, 6812, 6813, 6814, 6815, 6816, 6817, 6818, 6819, 6820, 6821, 6822, 6823, 6824; PTHE 7002. Nurse Leadership: - 19-25 s.h. Acute Care Health Systems: NURS 6971, 6984, 6973, 6974*, 6977**, 6983, 6985, 6986, 6987** Community Based Health Systems: NURS 6310, 6311, 6971, 6973, 6974*, 6977**, 6983, 6986, 6987** Educational Health Systems: NURS 6903, 6904, 6909, 6973, 6974*, 6977**, 6983, 6986, 6987** *If less than two years leadership experience in the focus area NURS 6977 will be required. **If less than 2 years of financial experience NURS 6987 will be required. Nurse Midwifery: - 22-38 s.h. Post Master's Certificate NURS 6109, 6113, 6115, 6116, 6117, 6118. Depending on student’s needs and past education, additional course work from the following may be required: NURS 6050, 6110, 6112, 6119, 6610, 6611. Nursing Education: - 12-15 s.h. NURS 6903, 6904, 6905, 6909. Depending on student’s needs, past education, and teaching experience, additional course work from the following may be required: NURS 6908.
The BSN to PhD option is a plan of study leading to the PhD degree. This graduate level option blends the doctoral curriculum with two different MSN concentrations – the nursing education concentration or the nursing leadership concentration. It reduces the number of master’s level courses required in the traditional MSN program and facilitates completion of the PhD in Nursing. Admission Requirements
ApplicationThe PhD in nursing program admits 6-8 students each year. Applications for study to begin in the fall semester will be accepted until March 1 or until seats are filled. BSN to PhD applications for spring semester are due September 1 or until seats are filled. Applicants are expected to ensure that the Graduate School and the College of Nursing receive all supporting credentials by the final filing date. Applicants are evaluated in five areas: GPA, GRE, references, essay, and interview. Completed applications are considered as they are received. All completed applications received by the final filing date will be given careful consideration. Interviews are conducted as completed applications are received. Each applicant will be notified in writing of the admission decision after the admission process is completed.Preference is given to those who demonstrate a capacity for creative inquiry, critical thinking, scholarship, and leadership. In the case of equally qualified applicants, preference will be given to individuals who intend to pursue doctoral study on a fulltime basis. Students will be assigned an academic advisor at the time of admission. All admitted PhD students are required to attend a College of Nursing orientation session in August. Degree RequirementsStudents are required to complete a minimum of 56 semester hours beyond the master’s degree (includes a minimum of 6 s.h. for dissertation) with the exception of BSN to PhD students who are required to complete between 74 and 80 semester hours. As in other research-focused programs of doctoral study, students in this program may expect to enroll in more than the minimum required credit hours and to be aware that study opportunities that focus on particular areas of study are in addition to the basic program requirements. Additional study is individualized and depends on the student’s background and graduate preparation as well as the employment role identified as a career focus. This program of study enrolls both full- and part-time students. Since enrollments in doctoral programs tend to be small, students need to closely adhere to the plan of study, as courses are offered once a year. To deviate from the plan of study will mean a delay of one or more semesters before course enrollment is again possible.
PhD students must complete at least five semesters in residence. Residency requirement must be completed prior to admission to candidacy. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) throughout the program. Academic progress will be evaluated at the end of each semester by the academic advisor, who is responsible for notifying the associate dean for graduate programs if a student’s academic status is in jeopardy. PhD students apply to take a candidacy examination upon completion of all required nursing courses with the exception of the dissertation. This examination must be successfully completed within five years of matriculation. Students are required to conduct an original research project, which adds to the body of knowledge in nursing, and to communicate the research in a written dissertation and an oral defense of the dissertation within six years of admission. With endorsement of the dissertation committee and the associate dean for graduate programs, students may request one extension of not more than two semesters, summers included. Doctor of Nursing PracticeThe doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree is a practice-focused terminal degree earned by specialists in advanced nursing practice. The DNP focuses on developing nursing experts in translating and applying research findings into clinical practice rather than in generating new knowledge. The post-master’s DNP curriculum expands the competencies of the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) from the master’s level to encompass knowledge required as nurse leaders in increasingly complex healthcare systems to assess published evidence informing practice, improve systems of care to improve healthcare outcomes, and to make changes to enhance the quality of care. The location and mission of the College of Nursing as well as the expertise of the faculty provide a unique opportunity for the application of research in the identification and resolution of individual and aggregate health systems problems related to nursing and health issues in rural underserved areas. The DNP will provide the knowledge base to:
Upon graduation, students are prepared to assume leadership positions as clinicians, administrators in public and private health care organizations, policy makers and analysts, and university faculty. Additional course work may be required, depending on student objectives and focus. Admission Requirements:
ApplicationThe post-master’s DNP program admits 20 students each year. Applications for study to begin in the fall semester will be accepted until the end of the first full week in January. Applicants are expected to ensure that the Graduate School and the College of Nursing receive all supporting credentials by the final filing date. Applicants are evaluated in five areas: GPA, GRE, references, essay, and interview. Completed applications are considered in a competitive review process. All completed applications received by the final filing date will be given careful consideration. All completed applications are reviewed by the DNP admission committee shortly after the admission deadline. All completed applicant packets are discussed among the DNP admissions committee until consensus has been attained for competitive rankings for admission decisions. Every effort is made to complete the competitive admission process by the last week in February with admissions notifications by the first week of March. Each applicant will be notified in writing of the admission decision after the admission process is completed. Preference is given to those who demonstrate a capacity for creative inquiry, critical thinking, scholarship, and leadership. In the case of equally qualified applicants, preference will be given to individuals who intend to pursue doctoral study on a full-time basis. Students will be assigned an academic advisor at the time of admission. All admitted DNP students are required to attend a College of Nursing orientation session at the beginning of the fall semester. Degree RequirementsThe post-master’s DNP is offered as an online, 36 semester hour post-master’s program of study for advanced practice nurses. Students are required to complete a minimum of 36 semester hours beyond the master’s degree. Campus requirements and group learning will serve as a foundational component of the DNP program of study. A minimum of 12 scholarly practicum credit hours will be divided over 4-5 semesters depending on capstone project complexity. In order to achieve the DNP competencies, students must complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of post-baccalaureate practice hours as part of a supervised academic program. Practice hours earned in accredited MSN/APRN programs are included in the total of the minimum required hours. Students may enroll in either full-time or part-time programs of study, completing their degree requirements in 4 or 6 semesters, respectively. As in other programs of doctoral study, students in this program may expect to enroll in more than the minimum required credit hours and to be aware that study opportunities that focus on particular areas of study are in addition to the basic program requirements. Additional study is individualized and depends on the student’s background and graduate preparation as well as the employment role identified as a career focus. This program of study enrolls both full- and part-time students. Students need to closely adhere to the plan of study, as some courses are offered only once a year. To deviate from the plan of study will mean a delay of one or more semesters before course enrollment is again possible. Post-Master’s DNP Requirements:Core Courses: NURS 8266, 8267, 8268, 8270, 8271, 8273, 8275, 8276 Scholarly Practicum Courses: 8269, 8272, 8274, 8277
Graduate credits earned at other institutions may be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the doctoral program. Courses offered for transfer credit will be evaluated individually relative to Graduate School requirements, program requirements, and the student’s plan of study. Please refer to the Graduate School Transfer Credits Policy located at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/grcat/regulations.cfm#transfer. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) throughout the program. Academic progress will be evaluated at the end of each semester by the academic advisor, who is responsible for notifying the associate dean for graduate programs if a student’s academic status is in jeopardy. Students are required to complete a scholarly practicum project, which informs practice, improves systems of care to improve healthcare outcomes, or make changes to enhance the quality of care. Scholarly projects are completed under the direction of the scholarly project committee consisting of a faculty advisor, faculty committee member and a clinical mentor with expertise in the scholarly project domain. The scholarly practicum project consists of a minimum of 12 scholarly practicum s.h. divided over 4-5 semesters depending on capstone project complexity. Successful progression through each phase of the scholarly development project must be approved by the scholarly project committee. |
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