Master of Science in Nursing with Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) concentration focuses on preparing registered nurses to address the healthcare needs of rural and underserved communities. Employment of nurse practitioners is expected to grow 31 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than average for all occupations. Rural areas, particularly in the counties surrounding SMWC —Parke, Clay, Greene, and Sullivan — are currently lacking in full-time nurse practitioners.
Earning a master’s degree in three years and becoming a family nurse practitioner will help address this need. Upon program completion, graduates will be eligible to take the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). This program gives students the flexibility to work toward advancing their career while meeting family and professional responsibilities.
Highlights
- Students have the flexibility to attend face-to-face, online synchronously, or online asynchronously for most classes.
- Each term students take one or two classes, with most eight-week terms only requiring one course. Summer classes are taken at the end of years two and three.
- The program requires the completion of 44 credit hours
- Small classes allow students to interact with fellow nurses and receive mentoring from expert faculty
- The program features a minimum of 750 patient hours with hands-on learning focused on all populations across the lifespan in the outpatient primary care setting.
How will MSN benefit me?
Rooted in the strong foundation of liberal arts, science, and Catholic education, graduates of the Master of Science in nursing are expected to demonstrate the following outcomes:
- Utilize effective communication and collaboration skills through oral, written and technology media with patients, nursing colleagues and interprofessional team members.
- Promote holistic health, including spiritual well-being, through the support of wellness and health related activities for self and patients.
- Guard patient safety through critical thinking, information technology, data analysis and risk management strategies.
- Provide effective, culturally sensitive and compassionate nursing care through the use of the nursing process that is supported by current, evidence-based research as indicated by educational preparation and scope of practice.
- Demonstrate effective leadership and management abilities through the competent coordination of patient care across the health care continuum.
- Advocate for social justice through the promotion of access, resources, quality health care and prudent health policies.
-
- Exhibit professionalism through upholding the values, ethics, and standards of nursing.
Mission & Vision Statement:
Mission of the SMWC Nursing Program
The mission of the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) nursing program is to provide a value-added education that produces professional and advanced practice nurses who think critically, engage in lifelong leadership, and effect positive change in a spirit of service and social responsibility.
Vision of the SMWC Nursing Program
Vision Statement: Aspire higher in the spirit of faith to promote wellness, provide quality care, and develop transformational leaders through academic innovation.
MSN Admissions Requirements:
- Baccalaureate degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university
- Cumulative GPA of a 3.0/4.0 or higher on any undergraduate work
- Cumulative GPA of a 3.0/4.0 or higher on any graduate work
- Must have current unencumbered license as a registered nurse
- Completed application
- Official transcript of all collegiate work (undergraduate and graduate)
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals knowledgeable of the applicant’s professional or academic experience
- A current résumé
- Personal career statement (limit 500 words)
- Must pass a background check or provide a current background check
MSN/FNP requires 44 credit hours of coursework and 750 clinical hours. It is designed according to the educational guidelines of the American Association of Colleges in Nursing and The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. The curriculum offers a focus in social justice.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College accepts transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions if the student earned a grade of “B” or better in the course. The Master of Science in Nursing track will accept up to 12 transfer credit hours. The Post-Master’s FNP Certificate track will accept up to 6 transfer credit hours. Pharmacology courses cannot be older than 5 years at the time of graduation and completion of the FNP certification exam. All transfer credits are subject to approval by the Program Director.
Grading Scale
This scale will be utilized by all graduate nursing courses. Grades are not rounded. The percentage listed is the minimum required for each grade earned. (e.g., 72.9% is not assigned a C).
|
Letter Grade
|
Percentage
|
GPA
|
|
A
|
94-100
|
4.0
|
|
A-
|
90-93
|
3.7
|
|
B+
|
87-89
|
3.4
|
|
B
|
83-86
|
3.0
|
|
B-
|
80-82
|
2.7
|
|
C+
|
77-79
|
2.4
|
|
C
|
73-76
|
2.0
|
|
C-
|
70-72
|
1.7
|
|
D+
|
67-69
|
1.4
|
|
D
|
60-66
|
1.0
|
|
F
|
59 or less
|
0
|
Per the Graduate Catalog, a student who receives a grade of “C-” or below must retake the course, with full tuition charge. The second grade will replace the first, which will remain on the transcript, but will no longer be included in the calculation of the GPA. A 3.00 cumulative GPA is required for graduation. A course grade below “C” will not count toward the graduation requirements. A student who does not maintain a 3.00 cumulative GPA is subject to probation.
In non-clinical courses, students must earn a grade of C or better to progress in the nursing major. A course may be repeated only once for grade improvement.
A passing grade for a clinical course is considered 83% (B) or greater. In courses that contain both a didactic and skills lab component (NU 525) or didactic and clinical component (NU 530, 540, 550, 560, 546), the student must pass BOTH components in order to pass the course and progress in the program (if applicable). With a passing skills lab or clinical component, the final course grade will reflect the didactic grade. However, failure of the skills lab or clinical component will result in a course grade of F regardless of the didactic grade earned. NU 530 and NU 560 do not have a didactic/lecture component. The grading scale in these course syllabi indicate passing is considered 83% (B) or greater.
Leadership Opportunities
Students meeting the requirements for induction into Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society for Nursing will be invited to join during the Spring term of each academic year. Graduate students are inducted based on outstanding academic achievement and/or as leaders in the nursing profession.
Programmatic Accreditation:
The master’s degree program in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
MSN Curriculum
(44 credit hours)
Required Courses
| NU 511 | Health Care Policy and Advocacy | 3 |
| NU 513 | Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 |
| NU 517 | Theories for Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 |
| NU 519 | Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 |
| NU 522 | Statistical Analysis for Health Care | 3 |
| NU 525 | Advanced Physical Assessment | 3 |
| NU 526 | Research for Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NU 528 | Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostics | 2 |
| NU 530 | FNP Assessment Clinical | 1 |
| NU 535 | Mental Health Considerations for Outpatient Primary Care | 2 |
| NU 540 | Clinical Management I | 4 |
| NU 544 | Nurse Practitioner Review | 1 |
| NU 546 | Transition to Advanced Practice | 2 |
| NU 547 | Healthcare Informatics | 1 |
| NU 550 | Clinical Management II | 4 |
| NU 560 | Culminating Clinical Experience | 4 |
| NU 566 | Evidence-Based Best Practice Project | 2 |