Our Master of Science in Nursing degree offers concentrations in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), Nurse Educator (NE), and Nurse Midwifery. Post-Master's certificates in these concentrations are also offered for MSN prepared nurses seeking certification.
All clinical rotations must be completed in Georgia with a preceptor that is approved by the School of Nursing (SON). Students are assisted by the SON in securing their preceptors and arranging their clinical schedules.
Students must have computer access, preferably at home. All MSN majors are expected to be able to use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access) when submitting assignments. Graduate students should have proficiency with Microsoft Office, Internet, and email.
To earn the MSN, students need to complete all required courses within a period of seven years from the date the student begins graduate courses at Georgia College & State University. Any coursework completed more than seven years prior to completion of requirements for the MSN degree will be considered outdated and will not be applied toward the MSN degree program. This includes courses that may be transferred from other institutions.
To enhance the practical learning experience and ensure comprehensive skill development, students enrolled in our program will be required to participate in on-campus labs and simulations approximately once per semester, with the duration spanning between 1 to 3 days. These hands-on sessions are designed to provide students with valuable opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Students will be notified of specific dates well in advance of the required campus visits.
The application for graduate admissions will open on July 15 and close on March 15 each year. Because MSN classes begin in the summer semester, please note that when you apply, you are applying for the next academic and calendar year. For example, an application in July 2023 is for admission in May 2024. Those applying before November 1 will be considered for early admission, those applying from November 1 through January 15 will be considered for regular admission, and those applying between January 15 and March 15 will be considered for late admission on a space-available basis. Please refer to the table below for additional information.
SON Graduate Admissions
Graduate Admissions Application Window
SON Application Window
Student Notification (as approved by SON Grad Committee)
The Nurse Midwifery (NM) focus prepares students to provide complete, advanced care for women throughout the lifespan and including birth. This master’s option couples theoretical background with evidence-based clinical experiences and clinical experience in midwifery practice settings.
Accreditation
The midwifery specialty program was granted a 5-year initial accreditation in July 2023 by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) 2000 Duke Street, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314, support@theacme.org, Phone: 240-485-1803 - www.midwife.org/acme
Mission and Philosophy of the Georgia College Nurse-Midwifery Specialty
MISSION OF THE GEORGIA COLLEGE NURSE-MIDWIFERY SPECIALTY
In concert with the Georgia College, liberal arts mission is committed to the formation of nurse leaders to engage in evidence-based practice, lifelong learning, and civic participation in a health information-intensive environment through the development and mastery of clinical reasoning, professional nursing skills, and values in the practice of full-scope midwifery care to women and their families.
PHILOSOPHY OF THE GEORGIA COLLEGE NURSE-MIDWIFERY SPECIALTY
OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PROFESSION
We believe that midwives exemplify excellence in the care of women and families by providing safe, supportive, economical care that is supported by evidence. We believe that midwifery is the optimal model of care for women because it is based on a holistic, family-centered approach that views women’s life cycle events from a perspective of normalcy. The practice of midwifery should be based on a model of health promotion and collaborative practice that embraces the unique contributions that each health profession provides in the care of women and their families. We believe that midwives are in a position to be the change agents in transforming healthcare in our local and global communities to improve the well-being of all individuals that we care for.
COMMITMENT TO LEARNING AND TEACHING
The midwifery faculty are committed to educating our students by being strong role models that value diversity and inclusion by creating a welcoming community and environment for all. We believe in providing student-centered learning that allows students to share in decisions and encourages them to develop their capacity to lead. Midwifery faculty affirm the need to provide a wide variety of educational pedagogies to support distinct learning needs, interests, aspirations, or cultural backgrounds of individual students. We support the need for faculty practice and are dedicated to being exceptional practitioners and educators who demonstrate the commitment to life-long learning.
COMMITMENT TO THE MIDWIFERY COMMUNITY
We are committed to providing accessible and supportive education to diverse individuals from rural and medically underserved Georgia who are committed to living and working in their communities. We believe that educating midwives in their home communities will enhance the ability to improved maternal outcomes in these communities experiencing healthcare shortages. We strive to provide support for midwives and other healthcare providers who are living and working in these critical shortage areas of Georgia.
COMMITMENT TO ETHICAL AND JUST ACTION
GCSU midwifery faculty believe that excellent care is rooted in the core principals of integrity and ethics and that confronting and addressing institutional biases both in the educational and healthcare environment must be a guiding principal for our program.
American College of Nurse-Midwives Core Competencies and Philosophy of Care
PROGRAM OUTCOMES OF THE GEORGIA COLLEGE NURSE-MIDWIFERY SPECIALTY
The Nurse-Midwifery faculty, of the Georgia College of Nursing, are committed to preparing the next generation of highly competent, inquisitive, and caring nurse-midwives capable of demonstrating the following by
Integrate liberal arts foundation with scholarly inquiry and client values as a basis for problem-solving.
Demonstrate leadership in the advanced specialty (nurse-midwifery) role through legal and ethical decision-making, accountability, and a commitment to quality improvement and safety.
Demonstrate informatics and healthcare technology competencies to enhance outcomes for clients and populations.
Advocate for ethical policies that promote access, equity, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
Collaborate within nursing and interprofessional teams to improve client and population health.
Demonstrate the competencies associated with the nurse-midwifery role within the scope of practice as defined by ACNM.
ACME Certification Three Year Aggregate Data
STUDENT GRADUATION RATE
Graduation rate (taken from United States Department of Education): Measures the progress of students who began their studies as full-time or part-time, first-time degree or certificate seeking students y showing the percentage of these students who complete their degree or certification within a 150% of “normal time” for completing the program in which they are enrolled.
Graduation rate is calculated as: the sum of students with a Graduated status divided by the total number of students in the cohort (excludes students with a deceased or Leave of Absence (medical) status). This is a new program which has enrolled the first cohort of students who will begin in Summer 2020. The anticipated graduation date for full-time students will be in Spring of 2022. This data will be updated as it becomes available.
Program Assessment Measures
Student Employment/Placement Rate
Graduate employment/placement rate: Percentage of students within 6-months of graduation that have obtained positions in the following categories: employed as a nurse midwife, employed as other, and not employed.
The employment rate is calculated as the sum of students employed as a nurse midwife, number of students employed as other and then divided by the total number of students in the cohort (excluding students with a Not Employed, due to military service and Deceased). This is a new program that has enrolled the first cohort of students who will begin in Summer 2020. The anticipated employment data for full-time students will be in the Spring of 2022. This data will be updated as it becomes available.
Anticipated Program Costs
COST OF PROGRAM
For the 2020-2021-year, total tuition and fees cost is approximately $473 per credit hour, with a total of 45 credit hours in the program. Of course, small yearly increases in tuition are normal, so this figure may increase slightly for next year. In order to be eligible for financial aid, students MUST be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credit hours each semester. Students in the part-time program have fewer than 5 credit hours during some semesters.
Nurse Midwifery Quick Facts
The Nurse Midwifery (NM) focus prepares students to provide complete, advanced care for women throughout the lifespan and including birth. This master’s option couples theoretical background with evidence-based clinical experiences and clinical experience in midwifery practice settings.
ONLINE PROGRAM AND REQUIRED TRIPS TO CAMPUS
This is an online program; however, there are a limited number of mandatory trips to the campus that are required. Students will receive these dates are posted well in advance.
The programs begin each summer with a mandatory immersion experience. This year because of COVID -19 this immersion will be online. Opportunities enabling you to meet your faculty and fellow students will be included.
For cohorts beginning in 2020, immersion orientation will be Tuesday- Wednesday, May 12-13, 2020. During Immersion Week, students receive training that supports and encourages successful completion of the program. Examples of topics that are covered include:
How to navigate the online learning system.
How to connect to your online classroom.
How to meet virtually with your classmates and faculty outside of class time.
How to ensure that you are up to date with technology requirements.
How to develop an electronic portfolio of your work.
How to use our library system so that books and journal articles can be delivered directly to your home.
How to secure preceptors and clinical sites.
Opportunities for International Study Abroad and Exchange Programs.
Students taking Advanced Assessment (NRSG 5480) in the fall semester are also required to be on campus for Lab Assessment Week (5 nine-hour days). This 45-hour hands on intensive clinical instruction provides the advanced assessment skills foundation for all NM students. (Full time NM students take this class the second semester they in the program. Part Time students will take this course the following fall semester. Please see programs of study for course sequencing.)
Throughout the rest of the program, there may be approximately an additional five required trips to campus, for activities such as a required guest lecture, specific skills lab, etc. These dates are announced well in advance so that you may plan accordingly.
INFORMATION ABOUT CLINICALS/PRECEPTORSHIPS
The majority of student’s clinical experiences are completed in their home communities with a preceptor that is approved by the School of Nursing (SON). Students are assisted by the SON Clinical Coordinator in securing their own preceptors and arranging their own clinical schedule.
Total of 810 clinical hours in the program.
Our Clinical Coordinator assists students in selecting qualified providers who have precepted our students in the past and provides instruction on how to present yourself in a professional manner to a potential preceptor.
Preceptors are NOT ALLOWED to be paid to precept students.
Because we are a public University, Clinical hours MUST be completed within the State of Georgia.
CLASSES
Didactic classes are held on Thursday and are structured in a variety of formats aimed at engaging the learner and making learning possible for all students. Class formats include:
Synchronous interactive lecture/discussion via WebEx.
Asynchronous online modules and recorded lectures that can be accessed on your own schedule.
Thursday is class day while in the program. You will need to plan to be in online class each week. See program of study for the number of credit hours taken per semester.
Success in the courses requires an average of 2-3 hours of additional work for each 1-hour credit you are receiving for the course. This means if you are taking three courses and receiving 8 semester hours of credit, your expected study time would be 16-24 hours outside of class each week in a 15-week semester and 30 hours outside of class each week in an 8-week summer session.
The program is offered as:
Full time/6 semester program (2 years).
Part time/9 semesters (3 years)
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
We accept students once per year.
There are two dates to remember for applications:
The deadline for “priority consideration” of applications is the second Tuesday in January. “Priority Consideration” is a “first round” review of your application. Qualified applicants with complete applications who apply by this application deadline will schedule an interview in the month of February. These applicants receive a decision on their application by March 1.
The final deadline for applications is April 1. Qualified applicants with complete applications who apply after the 2nd Tuesday in January and before March 1 will schedule their interview in the month of March. These applicants receive a decision on their application by April 15.
The program begins Summer semester (May) each year.
The Master of Science in Nursing program accepts degree-seeking students once per year and begins each year with summer semester. Students are admitted as a cohort and progress through the program together.
Application deadlines: Second Tuesday in January for priority consideration of application; however, applications are accepted until March 1st each year. Enrichment students are admitted each semester.
All required application documents must be received by Graduate Admissions by close of business on application deadline.
To allow for any possible delay in transcript or other application materials, applicants are encouraged to begin the application process 6 to 8 weeks prior to the deadline.
Applicants must submit THREE letters of recommendation.
Interviews will be held once applications are complete.
Apply online or mail your completed Application for Admission to the MSN program to the Graduate Admissions Office, Georgia College & State University, CBX 107, Milledgeville, GA 31061. For information regarding the admissions process or to check on your admission status, e-mail Grad-Admit@gcsu.edu.
DEGREE SPECIFIC APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Three letters of reference from professionals who can speak to the applicant's experience and potential for success in master's studies.
Applicants need one year of labor and delivery experience to be considered for admission.
Official transcripts from all previous colleges/universities attended.
Dr. Ketchie's educational background includes earning a Doctorate in Nursing Practice at Augusta University, a Post Master’s Certificate as an Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) from Northern Kentucky University, an MSN concentrating in Midwifery from East Carolina University, and a BSN from the University of Connecticut. She has 30-plus years of experience focused as a certified nurse-midwife and presently uses this experience and knowledge within our nursing programs. Her research and clinical interests include increasing the use of research evidence in nursing practice, physiologic birth, and obesity's effect on pregnancy. She has presented on women's health topics locally, at the state level, and nationally. She is presently serving on a task force examining Georgia's high maternal mortality rates. She presently coordinates the Nurse-Midwifery and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Program.
