Department of Graduate Nursing

Dr. Sattaria Dilks and Dr. Ann Warner, Co-Coordinators

The McNeese State University nursing graduate program in cooperation with the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing, offers a program of advanced nursing studies. The program reflects the missions of McNeese State University, the College of Nursing and Health Professions, and the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing.

Graduate nursing education seeks to stimulate continued intellectual growth and commitment to lifelong learning. The program builds upon the clinical judgment, role development, professionalism, service to the community, and communication skills developed in the undergraduate program to influence the health care of members of a multicultural world community.

The scope of advanced nursing practice is derived from the American Nurses Association Scope and Standards of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials of Master’s Education for Advanced Practice Nursing, and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Curriculum Guidelines and Programs Standards for Nurse Practitioner Education. Graduates of the program are prepared to assume leadership roles in nursing education and advanced clinical nursing practice.

Within the consortium arrangement, the curriculum encompasses the concept of specialization along the developmental life span of a human being. The program provides students with an opportunity to develop advanced skills and knowledge of clients with a variety of complex health care problems, while encouraging diversity in nursing functions and levels of intervention.

The Master of Science in Nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 463-6930.

Purpose

The Master of Science in Nursing program will develop graduates who are:

1. Critical thinkers who engage in scholarly inquiry using current research to improve healthcare outcomes for individuals, families, populations, and systems;
2. Practitioners, educators, and leaders who engage in professional discourse through written and verbal venues;
3. Nursing professionals who advance the culture of nursing excellence and best practices in healthcare through professional achievement and practicie, interdisciplinary collaboration, and lifelong learning;
4. Nursing leaders who can direct interprofessional teams in advance practice, education, and administrative roles in healthcare systems and diverse settings to promote quality improvement and effect positive change; and
5. Ethically responsible nursing leaders who advocate for health policy to improve healthcare in all populations.

Licensing and Credentialing Requirements

Completion of the program will prepare the graduate to practice as an advanced practice nurse or to teach at the undergraduate college level. Students who successfully complete the MSN curriculum for the nurse practitioner role meet educational requirements to take the following national certification examinations, and to apply for an advanced practice license:

• Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Concentration
• Nurse Educator Concentration

Admission and Progression

The Master of Science in Nursing degree is offered as part of a consortium agreement with McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Students seeking admission to the consortium must apply and pay appropriate fees at the institution at which the student plans to pursue the nursing major.

The student selects a functional area in nursing education or a nurse practitioner role concentration in family or psychiatric mental health.

The College of Nursing and Health Professions reserves the right to limit the number of students to be admitted to the graduate nursing courses based on faculty and clinical resources.

Students seeking admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program must meet all of the requirements for admission to the William J. Doré, Sr. School of Graduate Studies. Transfer students must meet the same admission requirements and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Admission to the Master of Science in Nursing Program

An applicant must have:

1. A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited school. The transcript should demonstrate completion of a 3 semester hour or 4 quarter hour statistics course with a C or better. Students who will complete their BSN in the semester prior to anticipated enrollment may apply; however, acceptance will be contingent upon successful completion of the BSN.
2. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 on 4.0 scale for all undergraduate coursework.
3. Earned a minimum score of 282 on the combined verbal and quantitative Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
4. Eligibility for unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in Louisiana or Texas.
5. Two letters of professional recommendation from faculty members, professional colleagues, or work supervisors. These letters should address the prospective student’s ability to be successful in a graduate nursing program.
6. A 500-word essay detailing professional goals. The goal statement should include motivation for pursuing graduate nursing education as well as long and short term professional goals.
7. Current résumé.
8. Submitted completed application materials by May 1 to be considered for fall admission and by November 1 to be considered for spring admission.
9. Candidates selected for admission will provide proof of an acceptable background check and drug screen by the end of the first semester.

Admission to the Post-Master’s Certificate Program

An applicant must have:

1. A current unencumbered advanced practice nursing license from Louisiana or Texas;
2. A Master of Science in Nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited school;
3. A 500-word essay describing how the post-master’s certificate will enhance current practice.
4. The core requirements obtained through a previous degree and evaluated through a gap analysis.
5. Two letters of professional recommendation from faculty members, professional colleagues, or work supervisors. These letters should address the prospective student’s ability to be successful in the post-master’s certificate program.
6. Current résumé.
7. Submitted completed application materials by May 1 to be considered for fall admission and by November 1 to be considered for spring admission.
8. Candidates selected for admission will provide proof of an acceptable background check and drug screen by the end of the first semester.

Conditional Status

An applicant who meets all requirements for regular admission to the master’s degree program except the grade point average of 2.75 on all undergraduate courses attempted may seek conditional admission status. For acceptance to conditional status the student must have a minimum of 282 on the combined GRE verbal and quantitative examinations and a minimum of 2.5 GPA on all undergraduate courses in the nursing curriculum. To be removed from conditional status, the student must earn a B or higher in each graduate-level course in the first 12 hours. If a C is earned, the student will be dismissed from the program.

Admission and Progression Requirements for the Advanced Practice Role Concentration

Admission means that the student is eligible to progress to clinical coursework. The application to clinical courses requires that the student submit the following by December 1 for the spring semester and August 1 for the fall semester.

1. Proof of current Healthcare Provider CPR;
2. Proof of OSHA Training;
3. TB verification;
4. Health insurance or a signed waiver;
5. Preceptor agreement forms;
6. Agency affiliation agreements;
7. Proof of negative drug screen;
8. Nurse practitioner student malpractice insurance in the amount of $1 million for each occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; and
9. Additional immunizations may be required depending upon site of precepted experiences.

Once admitted to clinical courses, the student is expected to follow the full-time or part-time degree plan which becomes a part of their record. Students who do not follow their degree plan may lose a clinical position and have to reapply.

Program Length

The program is four to six semesters in length dependent upon which role is selected. Students who attend full-time may complete the nursing education concentration in four semesters, the family nurse practitioner concentration in five semesters, the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner concentration in six semesters, and the psychiatric mental health post-master’s certificate in four to five semesters. Part-time students may complete their program in four to six years.

Retention and Progression Requirements

1. A student must earn a B or higher in each course in the program to be eligible for progression.
2. A student who has regular admission status and who earns a grade below B will be placed on probation and must repeat the course within two regular semesters with at least a B. If the student does not repeat the course within two semesters, the student may be subject to program dismissal. If a grade below B is earned in a subsequent course, the student will be dismissed. Students whose GPA for the semester falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Once on academic probation, a student will continue on probation until the cumulative and term GPA rises to 3.0. Students on academic probation whose GPA for any term falls below 3.0 will be suspended from further graduate study. Suspended students may be re-admitted on probation with the recommendation of the graduate coordinator and the approval of the dean of the graduate school.
3. A student who has conditional admission status who earns a C or lower in the first twelve (12) hours of coursework will be dismissed from the program.
4. A graduate student who makes a grade of F in any course taken for graduate credit will be ineligible to register for further graduate work. A student who receives an F because of extenuating, non-academic reasons may appeal through the established graduate school process (see Graduate School Regulations).
5. Students who have not been enrolled during the preceding semester must apply for readmission to the School of Graduate Studies; however, they do not have to meet all admission requirements as listed above (please contact the Department of Graduate Nursing for more information). Students who have not been enrolled during the preceding calendar year must apply for readmission and meet graduate nursing admission requirements in effect at the time of readmission.
6. A student may not receive more than two grades of W. A student may appeal progression for extenuating circumstances to the graduate nursing program.

Graduation Requirements

To earn the Master of Science in Nursing degree, the student must:

• Complete all degree requirements including:
  • A minimum of 42-45 credit hours for the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration.
  • A minimum of 48-51 credit hours for the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration.
  • A minimum of 40-43 credit hours for the Nurse Educator concentration.
• Complete a focused scholarly project or a thesis; and
• Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 at all times.

To earn the Post-master’s Certificate, the student must:

• Earn a minimum of 18 credit hours for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner post-master’s certificate.
• Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 at all times.