Master
of Science in Nursing Program
Students
selected for the MSN program will find themselves in a cutting edge,
clinically-based curriculum that will facilitate their professional
development as scholars capable of providing safe and innovative
advanced care for those they care for. In addition, they will participate
in leading the profession during a period of unprecedented demand
for nurses capable of advanced practice and clinical management.
Shenandoah University has a rich history of meeting the need for
nurses. The graduate program offers a Master of Science in
Nursing (MSN) with four specialty tracks. These tracks include:
Family
Nurse Practitioner - 49 credits
Health Systems Management
- 36 credits
Nurse
Midwifery - 44 credits
Psychiatric Mental Health
Clinical Nurse Specialist - 37 credits
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- 48 credits
In addition, we offer the following certificate programs for those
students that already hold a master's degree in nursing.
Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner - 20 credits
Certificate in Nurse Midwifery - 19 credits
Certificate in Psychiatric Nursing - 15 credits
MSN ADMISSION CRITERIA
Admission
into the MSN program is competitive. Individuals seeking admission
into the program must meet the following requirements:
-
Be
a licensed Registered Nurse. Applicants not licensed in Virginia,
must apply and receive licensure by endorsement.
-
Have
a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of
2.8 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants to the Post-Master's
Certificate tracks must have a minimum graduate cumulative GPA
of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
-
Have
earned a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited
program. RN-MSN applicants must have earned an ASN or diploma in
nursing degree from an NLNAC accredited program.
Post-Master's Certificate applicants must have earned a MSN
degree from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited program. If degree is not from an NLNAC
or CCNE accredited program, the applicant
will be evaluated on an individual basis.
-
Have
a minimum of one year (2080 Hours) of appropriate clinical experience
before entering the specialty tracks.
These are generally offered in the second year; therefore the
first year courses may be taken while the student is
accumulating clinical nursing experience. Equivalency is determined by Division of Nursing Graduate Admissions
Committee. Applicants to the Psychiatric Mental Health
Nurse Practitioner Certificate Track must document a minimum of
320 clinical hours in PMH course work.
-
Successful
completion of baccalaureate level nursing courses in physical
assessment, introductory statistics, and community nursing with
a grade of C or better within the last five years. Applicants
missing one or more of these courses may be admitted as a special
student and allowed to complete any missing prerequisites within
the first year of study, or challenge the Community Nursing and
Physical Assessment requirements via NLN exams. Upon successful
completion of prerequisites, special students must request admission
to the MSN program.
-
Post Master's Certificate applicants must demonstrate successful
completion of a MSN degree and graduate level health assessment,
pharmacology, and Pathophysiology courses that are completed
with a grade of "B" or better.
-
RN-MSN applicants must
demonstrate successful completion of prerequisite courses.
Applicants missing one or more of these courses may be admitted
provisionally and allowed to complete any missing prerequisites
within the first year or study while taking the Bridge courses.
-
Provisional
acceptance may be granted at the discretion of the faculty.
These
requirements are in addition to the University application process.
MSN APPLICATION
PROCESS
AND CHECKLIST
Applicants
to the Master of Science in Nursing Program must submit a complete
application packet to the Office of Admission. A complete application
consists of the following:
Please contact our admissions counselors, Marykay Hester at
msvoboda@su.edu or Abigail
Griffeth at agriffet@su.edu or
call 540-665-4581, if you have any questions regarding admission or the
application process.
Completed
application materials should be returned to the:
Office
of Admissions
Shenandoah University
1460 University Drive
Winchester, VA 22601-5195
Only
Complete Packets Will Be Considered for Admission
It
is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all application
materials have been received by the Office of Admissions by the
admission deadline.
Applicants
recommended for admission will be notified, in writing, by the Director
of Admissions within two weeks of the completion of all application
requirements. Accepted applicants must submit written confirmation
of their intention to accept the offer of admission within thirty
(30) days of acceptance. This written confirmation will reserve
a placement in the class.
ADDITIONAL
STUDENT INFORMATION
Students
accepted into the MSN program must have, and maintain, a minimum
of a 2.8 GPA on a 4.0 scale throughout the curriculum.
Accepted
students must submit documentation of the following credentials
prior to beginning any clinical course:
1.
Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) for Health Professionals
2.
Professional liability insurance for students to the maximum litigation
potential allowed by the state in which clinicals are being held.
Insurance must be held for the entire duration of all clinical courses.
The Division of Nursing will provide students with information regarding
obtaining liability insurance. The cost of liability coverage is
the responsibility of the student.
3.
Complete a Shenandoah University Health Form, which includes evidence
of basic immunizations, plus Rubella and Hepatitis B. Questions
concerning the health form or immunizations should be directed to
the Office of Health Services at (540) 665-4530.
4. Complete and maintain a criminal background check.
TRANSFER CREDITS:
Graduate applicants may transfer up
to 12 semester hours of equivalent courses into the Graduate Program. Post
Master’s Certificate applicants may transfer up to 6 credit hours into the
Graduate Program.
CLINICAL
FACILITIES:
Clinical
experiences will be in a variety of facilities and communities.
Students should be aware that they may have to travel for clinical experiences and will need transportation
and may need multiple state licenses.
STUDENT STATUS:
Full-time
status is 9 credit hours per semester while taking the advanced
nursing core courses with the exception of the summer semesters.
Part-time
students must take a minimum of 3 credit hours per semester.
TUITION:
Tuition is $610 per credit hour for the 2006-2007 academic
year, clinical lab fees are $175 per course. For a complete list of
fees, please consult Student Account's
tuition and housing fees table.
FINANCIAL
AID:
Students
interested in the graduate nursing program are encouraged to contact
the Office of Financial Aid at (540) 665-4538 to discuss financial
assistance early in the application process.
ACCREDITATION:
The Division of Nursing offers Baccalaureate and Graduate Degree
Programs, which are fully accredited by the
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), American
Association of Colleges of Nursing, One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530,
Washington, DC, 20036 through 2008. (202)463-6930.
The Nurse-Midwifery Program has been accredited
through the American College of Nurse Midwives Division of Accreditation,
8403 Colesville Road Suite 1550, Silver Spring, MD 20910 through
2015. (240)-485-1800.
OTHER
INFORMATION
Liability
insurance, textbook cost, travel expenses, state license fees, and
NLN exam fees are the responsibilities of the student.
Applicants
needing additional information should call or write the:
Division
of Nursing
Shenandoah University
1775 North Sector Court
Winchester, VA 22601
(540) 678-4374
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