MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (M.S.N.)

The mission of the nursing program is to prepare professional nurses to function as effective members of interdisciplinary teams to meet the healthcare needs of Georgia's multicultural families. The master's program in nursing builds on a liberal arts core and a generalist foundation in nursing and prepares a specialist as clinician, educator, administrator, or informatician.

The MSN degree offers three majors: Adult Health, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Administration. Within the Adult Health major, there are two options for specialization: clinical nurse specialist and nurse educator. Within the major of administration, there are two options for specialization: nursing service and informatics.

The MSN/MBA dual degree is available for students seeking advanced education in both nursing administration and business administration. Students must meet the graduate admission requirements of both the School of Health Sciences and J. Whitney Bunting School of Business. The student works with coordinators of graduate study in both schools to develop a collaborative program of study.

The RN to MSN option is available for those registered nurses with associate or diploma education in nursing, who wish to earn a graduate nursing degree. Students who are interested in the RN to MSN program should consult the Undergraduate Catalog for admission information and descriptions of the undergraduate courses in this option. RN to MSN students must meet the requirements for graduate admission shown below and will complete a program of study in the desired major and concentration once the baccalaureate portion has been completed.

The Post-MSN certificate option is available for those who hold an MSN and are seeking specialization as a family nurse practitioner or nurse educator. A healthcare informatics certificate option is available to individuals holding a master's degree in nursing or other health-related field. Admission requirements include completing an application for enrichment and sending all undergraduate and graduate transcripts (no testing is required). An individualized program of study will be developed on the basis of previous coursework completed. For information concerning these options, contact the Chair of the Department of Graduate Nursing at 478-445-1795 or 478-445-5122.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MSN DEGREE

Admission is limited to the most qualified applicants.

Applicants shall:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited program.
2. Provide evidence of current licensure as a registered nurse and eligibility for licensure in Georgia. If the student expects to complete any clinical learning in the state, a Georgia RN license is required. At least one year of clinical practice is required for consideration, additional clinical experience is preferred.
3. Have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 undergraduate hours required in the nursing major.
4. Have successfully completed an undergraduate level statistics course and, for students in the family nurse practitioner major and adult health major, have successfully completed a physical assessment course.
5. Participate in an interview if requested.

REGULAR ADMISSION

Depending on the admission test one selects, the following formula is used to determine eligibility for regular admission to the MSN program:

GRE score (verbal + quantitative) + [GPA (upper division nursing-required coursework) X 100] = 1200 or more

MAT score (minimum 385) + [GPA (upper division nursing-required hours) X 100] = 700 or more

GMAT score (minimum 450) + [GPA (undergraduate GPA) X 200] = 1000 or more

Or

GMAT score (minimum 450) + [GPA (upper division nursing-required hours) X 200] = 1050 or more

* GMAT required for MSN/MBA dual degree and accepted for MSN in nursing administration only.

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION

Students will be eligible for provisional admission in the following circumstances:

GRE score (verbal + quantitative) + [GPA (upper division nursing-required coursework) X 100] = 1100 to 1199

MAT score (minimum 385) + [GPA (upper division nursing-required hours) X 100] = 660 to 699

GMAT score (minimum 450) + [GPA (undergraduate GPA) X 200] = 950 to 999

Or

GMAT score (minimum 450) + [GPA (upper division nursing-required hours) X 200] = 1000-1049

* GMAT required for MSN/MBA dual degree and accepted for MSN in nursing administration only.

Students admitted under provisional status must complete 9 semester hours of graduate course work at Georgia College & State University, earning no less than a 3.0 GPA for regular admission to the MSN program. The 9 semester hours of course work must be earned in courses approved by the Chair of the Department of Graduate Nursing. Students may not enroll in courses with clinical hours while in this admission category.

CONDITIONAL ADMISSION

Students who apply late for full consideration for admission and/or have not submitted all required documents for evaluation may enroll with conditional admission status for one semester only with permission of the Chair of the Department of Graduate Nursing and Director of Graduate and Professional Outreach. Students who select this option and are unable to submit the admission documents by the designated date will be administratively withdrawn from the University. After one semester of conditional status, students must have achieved either provisional or regular admission or they will not be allowed to continue at the University.

OTHER NURSING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

1. 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 e-mail. In addition, graduate students are expected to have updated and enabled virus protection software on their computers. Students in the nursing administration major are expected to purchase additional software as described in course syllabi.
2. Complete and return all forms specified in the Nursing Graduate Student Handbook found at http://info.gcsu.edu/nursing/graduateprogram/index.htm to the Chair of the Department of Graduate Nursing.
3. Complete all required courses for the MSN degree within a period of 7 years from the date the student begins graduate courses at Georgia College & State University. Any course work completed more than 7 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 in from other institutions.

CLINICAL COURSES

Prior to participation in any clinical learning rotation, students must submit evidence of health status, immunizations, TB screening, professional liability insurance, RN license, current CPR certification, criminal background checks, urine drug screens and other laboratory tests as specified by clinical agencies, ability to meet technical standards or ask for accommodations, and complete required documents as described in the Nursing Graduate Student Handbook, which is found at http://info.gcsu.edu/intranet/health_sciences/GradHndbk.htm. All documents must be updated annually. Students are required to earn a grade of B or higher in clinical courses in order to progress to the next semester.

TRANSFER CREDITS

Only 9 semester hours of graduate course work in nursing may be accepted from other institutions. All requests for transfer credit must be approved by the Chair of the Department of Graduate Nursing and Director of Graduate and Professional Outreach.

SYNTHESIS REQUIREMENT

All students who expect to complete requirements for the MSN degree or MSN/MBA degree must demonstrate synthesis of knowledge/skill for their respective areas of specialization prior to graduation. Synthesis may be demonstrated by successful completion of one of the following: (1) thesis; (2) research project; (3) scholarly practicum; or (4) comprehensive examination. Options (1), (2), and (3) above involve enrolling in 3 credit hours of coursework in NRSG 6700. Students must enroll in synthesis credit each semester until the requirement is completed and a grade is assigned.

FACILITIES

The large number of health care agencies in the region makes it possible for the School of Health Sciences to offer a variety of clinical learning opportunities; however, students can anticipate driving up to 100 miles for clinical learning on occasion. Students considering application to the MSN program should be aware that criminal background checks, drug screens, and other laboratory tests can be required by clinical sites.

CAREER INFORMATION

Students completing the MSN degree have opportunities encompassing management, administration, teaching, and advanced clinical positions throughout Georgia and the nation. Career information is available from faculty in the School of Health Sciences.

NATIONAL ACCREDITATION

The professional nursing programs at Georgia College & State University are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), 61 Broadway (33rd floor), New York, New York 10006 (800)-669-1656.

STEPS IN COMPLETING THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING PROGRAM

1. Submit a complete application for graduate study, test scores, and official transcripts from every college or university attended to the Graduate Admissions Office.
2. Complete all admission documents and return them to the Director of Graduate and Professional Outreach.
3. Consult faculty academic adviser for development of a Program of Study.
4. Complete course requirements, maintaining 3.0 GPA.
5. While enrolled in clinical courses, assure that current clinical documents have been submitted for the student file in the Chair, Department of Graduate Nursing office.
6. Complete synthesis requirement.
7. Complete a written application for graduation by the date specified in the official University calendar.

MSN Degree Options

Programs of study for MSN with a major in adult health are shown below.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR MSN WITH A MAJOR IN ADULT HEALTH: CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST ROLE

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR MSN WITH A MAJOR IN ADULT HEALTH: NURSE EDUCATOR ROLE

Elective Course (2 semester hours)

Refer to the Course Description Section of this catalog for courses and course descriptions.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR MSN WITH A MAJOR IN FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER

Refer to the Course Description Section of this catalog for courses and course descriptions.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR MSN WITH A MAJOR IN ADMINISTRATION: NURSING SERVICE ROLE

Elective Course (3 semester hours)

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR MSN WITH A MAJOR IN ADMINISTRATION: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS ROLE

Elective Course (3 semester hours)

REQUIREMENTS FOR MSN/MBA DUAL DEGREE OPTION

*Foundation courses may be waived if undergraduate equivalent completed with a grade of C or better.

*Additional courses may be required for students who have not met the foundation courses.