Nursing Education, M.S.N.

Purpose

Nursing offers a 32 semester hour Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with a nursing education focus for bachelor of nursing prepared registered nurses. The mission of the MSN program is to provide educational mobility and preparation in nursing education at the graduate level to qualified registered nurses. The MSN program directly addresses the need for nurse educators in the state and region that the University serves. The nursing faculty is committed to excellence in developing nurse educators.

The curriculum, designed to build on the students’ previous education and experience, prepares nurses for professional nursing education practice. Major areas of emphasis include the nurse educator role, cultural competencies, theories, technology, curriculum, research and evidence-based practice, and issues in nursing education. Graduates are prepared to teach in diploma, licensed practical, associate, and baccalaureate degree nursing programs.  

The minimum time required to complete the program is four academic semesters (three 16 week and one 8-week semester), provided the student meets all other Program, Graduate College, and University requirements.  Students working full-time typically complete the program in 6 semesters (two academic years). Students may take a maximum of six (6) years to complete the program after enrolling in nursing courses with field experiences. The first course is a blended course; all other courses with the possible exception of selected studies, are online courses. 

MSN Program Goals

1. Facilitate students’ mastery of knowledge and skills essential to a professional nurse educator.
2. Prepare nurse educators who reflect increased competency with the cultures and communities served.
3. Impact the current and future local, state, and regional needs for master’s prepared nurse educators.
4. Prepare nurse educators for further graduate and doctoral studies.

 Program Student Learning Outcomes 

1. Partner with other nursing or related professional colleagues in the delivery of nursing education.
2. Apply knowledge and skills in curriculum, technology, and cultural competency to the nurse educator role and teaching.
3. Apply expanded research knowledge, critique skills, and evidence-based practice to nursing education.
4. Apply nursing education knowledge and skills to issues, social policies, and ethics in nursing education.
5. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for professional nursing education practice and lifelong learning.

 Admission Requirements

1. Earned bachelor’s in nursing degree from a regional accredited college or university and an NLNAC or CCNE accredited Nursing program; 
2. Completion of an approved statistics and nursing research course with grades of “C” or better;
3. Licensed as a Registered Nurse;
4. Be formally admitted to Northeastern State University and the Graduate College by submitting an application and official transcripts to the Graduate College;
5. Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale on all undergraduate course work attempted or a 3.0 GPA based on a 4.0 scale in the nursing major of the bachelor degree;
6. Submit GRE or Miller’s Analogy test scores that are no more than 5 years old by the end of the first semester (no minimum score requirement; scores may be used to differentiate between applicants as necessary or determine admission to the Master’s of Science in Nursing program).
7. Personal or telephone interview may be required.
8. Submit application to the MSN Program and receive program admission approval.

• Three references from professional or academic sources

• Completed health form with Tetanus, TB, Rubella & Rubeola, Hepatitis B, & flu documentation (some agencies may require further verification of health status).

• Photocopy of professional liability insurance policy face sheet reflecting $1,000,000/incident and $3,000,000/aggregate. The nursing program must be named as a certificate holder.

• RN license verification 

• Photocopy of both sides of current CPR card for adult, child, and infant (American Heart Association’s BLS Healthcare Provider Course).

• Completed national background check and drug screen

Retention Requirements  

1. A student must maintain a 3.0 grade point average or above in all didactic, field experience, and elective coursework;
2. Current RN licensure, current professional liability insurance with minimal limits of $1,000,000 per incident and $3,000,000 per aggregate, and current CPR certification is maintained, and relevant immunizations are updated annually.
3. A nursing course can be taken a maximum of two times.
4. Completion of the program must occur within six (6) years of starting the first MSN nursing course.
5. A student who has stopped out of the MSN program can be readmitted on a space available basis. A written letter must be submitted to the MSN program chair requesting re-entry into the MSN program prior to the beginning of the semester in which the student wishes to re-enroll. 

The student who is re-entering the MSN Program must meet the requirements in effect at that time. A new degree plan must be submitted if the student has not been continuously enrolled, or if requirements have changed since the student was last enrolled in the MSN Program. Another background check and/or drug testing may be required.

Program Dismissal Standards:  

1. Students who fail to either earn the grade point average (3.0) or meet retention criteria will be placed on academic probation for one semester. If the deficiency/deficiencies is/are not corrected by the end of the probationary semester, the student will be suspended from the program. The student may apply for re-admission into the program one time after one year. 
2. In the case of unethical, illegal or unprofessional behavior, or violations found in the Unsafe Nursing Practice Policy, the Nursing Admission, Promotion and Retention Committee will investigate, impose any sanctions, and determine retention in the program by a simple majority of the membership.  Such violations may also be subject to disciplinary actions under the university conduct code and/or relevant Nurse Practice Act.  See Unsafe Nursing Practice Policy in Nursing Handbook.

Graduation Requirements 

1. Successful completion of coursework with a 3.0 or better within 5 years of the completion of the first course; 
2. Successful completion of field experiences with a 3.0 or better.

Capstone Experience 
The capstone experience is an academic activity in which the student demonstrates synthesis of the knowledge gained and skills learned in the MSN program. It is a culminating experience that goes beyond the required MSN course work and should be completed near the end of the student’s program (after at least 25 hours of coursework). Capstone experiences will have a significant writing component and may include satisfactorily completing one of the following:

• A nursing education project that requires students to apply skills and knowledge acquired in the program
• A thesis reflective of designing and carrying out a nursing education research proposal. The guidelines for a Thesis are available on the Graduate College website.

 Advisement

The program chair serves as advisor for all MSN graduate students. Students who have been admitted to the MSN graduate program must meet with the program chair by email, phone, video-conference, or face-to-face each semester for advisement concerning course sequences and to track progress toward completion of the degree.

Admission to Candidacy

Students who have been admitted to the MSN graduate program are eligible to be admitted to candidacy for the Master of Science in Nursing degree upon completion of:

• Submission of Degree Plan approved by the advisor and Dean of the Graduate College

• Submission of Statement of Understanding (signed by student and advisor and delineating program requirements, university requirements, and ethical considerations required in field experiences) to Graduate College.

• Maintenance of grades of “B” or better in all graduate courses during the first two semesters in the graduate program

Admission to candidacy must be completed before the first 24 hours of the program is completed. A minimum of 8 hours must be completed after the student has been admitted to candidacy.