2015-2016 Catalog

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Nursing, M.S.N.

Learning Goals

Jane Williams

Dean, School of Nursing

M.S.N. Graduate Program Director: Cynthia Padula

M.S.N. Program Faculty: Professors Byrd, Carty, Padula, Thomas, Williams, Wood; Associate Professors Aflague, Blasdell, Costello, Hetzel, Huntley-Newby, Lockett, Quigley, Schwager; Assistant Professors Blanchette, Brennan, Coia, Creamer, DeNuccio, Foote, Gremel, Griffin, Mock, Molloy, Morris, Records, Ross, Servello, Siskind, Smith, Wilks

Admission Requirements for All M.S.N. Students

  1. A completed application form accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable application fee.
  2. A baccalaureate degree in an upper-division nursing major from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited program.

  3. Applicants with international degrees must have their transcripts evaluated for degree and grade equivalency to that of a regionally accredited institution in the United States.

  4. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate records.
  5. Completion of a course in statistics (MATH 240 or its equivalent), with a minimum grade of C.
  6. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in undergraduate course work. Provisional acceptance is occasionally granted to students with a cumulative grade point average of less than 3.00. Students who are provisionally admitted must achieve a minimum grade of B in three required nursing courses to qualify for full admission.
  7. An official report of scores on the Graduate Record Examination or the Millers Analogies Test.
  8. An official report of scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language from international applicants who are from countries where English is not the first language.
  9. Current unrestricted licensure for the practice of nursing in Rhode Island.
  10. A professional résumé.
  11. Three professional references (one from the clinical area).
  12. A brief letter of intent, which includes a statement of goals.
  13. Proof of residency.
  14. An interview may be required. 

Additional Admission Requirements for R.N. to M.S.N. Students

Students must fulfill all of the above requirements and successfully complete the R.N. to B.S.N. program, including MATH 240. When at senior standing in the B.S.N. program, students may complete NURS 501, NURS 502, NURS 503, or NURS 512 (up to 9 credits) as electives. Those completed M.S.N. courses will be waived upon entry into the M.S.N. program of study.

Additional Admission Requirement for the Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Option

One year relevant acute care experience.

Additional Admission Requirements for Nurse Anesthesia

Due to clinical rotations at hospitals in Massachusetts, a license is required for Massachusetts. Personal interview is required. Completion of two courses in chemistry (Chem 105, 106) within the last ten years with minimum grades of C. A preferred undergraduate science GPA of 3.0. Of the three required references, one must be from a clinical supervisor. Current ACLS certification. Minimum of one year critical care experience. A complete definition of accepted critical care experience is found on the St. Joseph Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia website: www.sjhsna.com.

Retention Requirement for M.S.N. Students

All students are expected to maintain a cumulative average of B (3.00) or better in their graduate program. Students who do not maintain a cumulative B (3.00) average will have their status reviewed by the master’s program director. Students who achieve less than a B in a required nursing course (electives excluded) will be placed on probationary status. Students in the Nurse Anesthesia option who earn a grade of less than B- in the required science courses, including CHEM 519 and BIO 535 and BIO 536, will be placed on probationary status. Students on probationary status must achieve a B or better in each required course over the next 9 credits. Two grades below B are sufficient cause for consideration of dismissal; the decision regarding students’ status will be made by the master’s program director in consult with the dean. Students may be required to repeat a course at the discretion of the master’s program director.

Handbook

The School of Nursing Handbook for Graduate Students in Nursing provides detailed and essential information about the graduate nursing program. It is available online at www.ric.edu/nursing.

Course Requirements - Full-Time Students

Select option A, B, or C below

A. Adult/Gerontology Acute Care

First Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 501Advanced Nursing Research

3

 Fall, Summer.
NURS 502Health Care Systems

3

 Fall, Spring.
NURS 505Advanced Pharmacology

3

 Fall, Spring.
NURS 506Advanced Health Assessment

3

 Fall.

Second Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 503Professional Role Development

3

 Spring, Summer.
NURS 504Advanced Pathophysiology

3

Fall, Spring.
NURS 510Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness I

3

 Spring.
 
NURS 530Synergy Model for C.N.S. Practice

3

 Spring.
-Or-
NURS 540Differential Diagnosis for Nurse Practitioners

3

 Spring.

Summer Session I

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 509Professional Project Seminar

1

 Summer.

Third Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 512Genetics and Genomics in Health Care

3

 Fall, Spring.
NURS 609Master's Major Project

1

 Fall, Spring, Summer.
NURS 610Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness II

6

 Fall.

Fourth Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 609Master's Major Project

1

 Fall, Spring, Summer.
NURS 620Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness III

6

 Spring.
ELECTIVEChosen with advisor’s consent

3
Total Credit Hours:45

B. Nurse Anesthesia

First Semester - Summer Session II

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 501Advanced Nursing Research

3

 Fall, Summer.

Second Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
BIOL 535Advanced Physiology I

4

Fall.
CHEM 519Biochemistry for Health Professionals

3

 Spring.
NURS 502Health Care Systems

3

 Fall, Spring.
NURS 505Advanced Pharmacology

3

 Fall, Spring.
NURS 506Advanced Health Assessment

3

 Fall.

Third Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
BIOL 536Advanced Physiology II

4

 Spring.
NURS 503Professional Role Development

3

 Spring, Summer.
NURS 504Advanced Pathophysiology

3

Fall, Spring.
NURS 514Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia

2

Spring.
NURS 517Foundational Principles of Nurse Anesthesia

3

 Spring.

Fourth Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 509Professional Project Seminar

1

 Summer.
NURS 516Advanced Principles of Nurse Anesthesia Practice I

3

Summer.
NURS 570Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum I

1

Summer.

Fifth Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 512Genetics and Genomics in Health Care

3

 Fall, Spring.
NURS 616Advanced Principles of Nurse Anesthesia Practice II

3

Fall.
NURS 630Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum II

1

Fall.

Sixth Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 609Master's Major Project

1

 Fall, Spring, Summer.
NURS 626Advanced Principles in Nurse Anesthesia III

3

Spring.
NURS 640Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum III

1

Spring.

Seventh Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 609Master's Major Project

1

 Fall, Spring, Summer.
NURS 670Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum IV

1

Summer.

Eighth Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 636Transition into Nurse Anesthesia Practice

2

Fall.
NURS 690Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum V

1

Fall.
Total Credit Hours:56

C. Population/Public Health Nursing

First Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 501Advanced Nursing Research

3

 Fall, Summer.
NURS 502Health Care Systems

3

 Fall, Spring.
NURS 508Public Health Science

3

 Fall.

Second Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
HPE 507Epidemiology and Biostatistics

3

 Spring.
NURS 503Professional Role Development

3

 Spring, Summer.
NURS 511Population/Public Health Nursing

6

 Spring.

Summer Session I

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 509Professional Project Seminar

1

 Summer.

Third Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 512Genetics and Genomics in Health Care

3

 Fall, Spring.
NURS 609Master's Major Project

1

 Fall, Spring, Summer.
NURS 611Population/Public Health Nursing II

6

 Fall.

Fourth Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 609Master's Major Project

1

 Fall, Spring, Summer.
NURS 621Population/Public Health Nursing III

6

 Spring.
ELECTIVEChosen with advisor’s consent

3
Total Credit Hours:42

Course Requirements - Part-Time Students

Select option A or B below

A. Adult/Gerontology Acute Care

First Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 501Advanced Nursing Research

3

 Fall, Summer.
NURS 502Health Care Systems

3

 Fall, Spring.

Second Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 503Professional Role Development

3

 Spring, Summer.
NURS 504Advanced Pathophysiology

3

Fall, Spring.
NURS 512Genetics and Genomics in Health Care

3

 Fall, Spring.

Third Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 505Advanced Pharmacology

3

 Fall, Spring.
NURS 506Advanced Health Assessment

3

 Fall.

Fourth Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 510Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness I

3

 Spring.
 
NURS 530Synergy Model for C.N.S. Practice

3

 Spring.
-Or-
NURS 540Differential Diagnosis for Nurse Practitioners

3

 Spring.
 
ELECTIVEChosen with advisor’s consent

3

Summer Session I

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 509Professional Project Seminar

1

 Summer.

Fifth Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 609Master's Major Project

1

 Fall, Spring, Summer.
NURS 610Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness II

6

 Fall.

Sixth Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 609Master's Major Project

1

 Fall, Spring, Summer.
NURS 620Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness III

6

 Spring.
Total Credit Hours:45

B. Population/Public Health Nursing

First Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 501Advanced Nursing Research

3

 Fall, Summer.
NURS 502Health Care Systems

3

 Fall, Spring.

Second Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
HPE 507Epidemiology and Biostatistics

3

 Spring.
NURS 503Professional Role Development

3

 Spring, Summer.
NURS 512Genetics and Genomics in Health Care

3

 Fall, Spring.

Third Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 508Public Health Science

3

 Fall.
ELECTIVEChosen with advisor’s consent

3

Fourth Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 511Population/Public Health Nursing

6

 Spring.

Summer Session I

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 509Professional Project Seminar

1

 Summer.

Fifth Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 609Master's Major Project

1

 Fall, Spring, Summer.
NURS 611Population/Public Health Nursing II

6

 Fall.

Sixth Semester

CourseTitleCreditsOffered
NURS 609Master's Major Project

1

 Fall, Spring, Summer.
NURS 621Population/Public Health Nursing III

6

 Spring.
Total Credit Hours:42