Master of Science in Nursing: Leadership Track and Education Track

Overview

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offers two focused tracks and prepares baccalaureate nurses for the professional nursing practice role with a focus in nursing leadership, or a focus in nursing education. “Graduates of master’s degree programs in nursing are prepared with broad knowledge and practice expertise that builds and expands on baccalaureate or entry-level nursing practice. This preparation provides graduates with a fuller understanding of the discipline of nursing in order to engage in higher-level practice and leadership in a variety of settings and commit to lifelong learning” (AACN, 2006, 2010). A master’s education will allow the nurse to transition into a research or practice-focused doctoral program. The MSN program is built on the College mission, vision, and values.

The Master of Science in Nursing program, with a focus in nursing leadership, or a focus in nursing education, is a 36-credit hour program of study that aligns with The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2021). The curriculum is designed to provide all courses in an asynchronous, online, distance education platform with the exception of the practicum experiences that will be completed in a geographical location most convenient for the student. Students can complete the program in six semesters by enrolling in six credit hours per semester. The semesters are divided into 7-week sessions; this design allows students to take one course at a time, with the exception of courses taken in the final semester which include the Leadership or Education Practicum and Leadership or Education Capstone II courses which are offered over 10 weeks. The program of study must be completed within five years as measured by the first semester of enrollment through degree completion.

Nursing Mission Statement

Mercy College of Ohio Division of Nursing prepares quality graduates to care for and serve diverse populations within healthcare systems reaching persons of our communities and global environment through critical thinking, clinical judgement, and scholarship with the evolution and implementation of evidence-based practice. The Division of Nursing inspires students to dedicate themselves to service, intellectual inquiry, social engagement, leadership, and lifelong learning in the spirit of the Mercy values. Through graduate education, the Division of Nursing provides graduates with a greater understanding of the discipline of nursing in order to engage in higher-level practice and leadership in a variety of settings and to commit to lifelong learning.

Goals

The MSN program is designed to:

• Promote excellence in the education of nurses for the advanced role as leaders and educators in healthcare.
• Cultivate Christian values of compassion, excellence, human dignity, justice, sacredness of life, and service in the profession of the nurse leader and nurse educator.
• Prepare graduates for the advanced role in nursing leadership and/or nursing education through the application of nursing theory and evidence-based practice.
• Foster self-direction in pursuit of lifelong learning, and personal and professional development.
• Prepare graduates to address top priorities in global health based on needs and emerging health issues.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the graduate program application requirements, students seeking admission to the MSN program must:

• Submit official transcripts from higher education institution(s) where the original nursing degree was earned (Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Science, and/or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree), and any subsequent coursework thereafter.
• Possess a degree in nursing at the bachelor’s level or higher with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for full admission or a minimum 2.3 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for provisional admission from a professionally-accredited (ACEN or CCNE) program and an institution that is approved/accredited by a recognized accreditor and a regional accrediting organization recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). An applicant with a minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from an institution that is approved/accredited by a recognized accreditor and a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) may be granted provisional admission.
  • Provide additional transcripts, if an applicant has less than 40 credit hours on the bachelor degree granting transcript.
  • Submit official transcripts from the bachelor degree-granting higher education institution and all graduate-level transcripts.
• Provide proof of an active unencumbered RN license.
• Submit a current professional resume or curriculum vitae.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MSN program the graduate will:

1. Demonstrate the values of compassion, excellence, human dignity, justice, sacredness of life, and service within the advanced nursing practice role.
2. Employ holistic critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide nursing actions in advanced nursing practice situations.
3. Develop articulate communication skills for use in client care, teambuilding, advanced practice, education, research, and leadership.
4. Function as a leader in advanced nursing practice.
5. Integrate scholarship into advanced professional practice through intellectual inquiry, generating scholarly activities, and unique nursing knowledge through research, and applying new knowledge to advanced nursing practice.
6. Demonstrate professional expertise in knowledge development, clinical practice, research, systems leadership, and communication technologies.
7. Synthesize and integrate knowledge from nursing and relevant sciences to influence quality care in advanced nursing practice that affects healthcare outcomes across varied populations.

Curriculum

The MSN curriculum is a 36-credit hour program of study that is designed to be completed in six semesters. Courses are offered in 7-week sessions, so students can take one course at a time, with the exception of the courses offered in the final semester which include the Leadership or Education Practicum and Leadership or Education Capstone II course that are offered over 10 weeks.

MSN Program Courses: Leadership Track

Complete all of the following

MSN Leadership Track Sample Program of Study

Semester I

Semester II

Semester III

Semester IV

Semester V

Semester VI

MSN Program Courses: Education Track

Complete all of the following:

MSN Education Track Sample Program of Study

Semester I

Semester II

Semester III

Semester IV

Semester V

Semester VI

Master of Science in Nursing Practicums

Students are required to complete two practicum experiences during the curriculum. The first is associated with one of the foundation courses: NUR 525 Population-Based Healthcare course (1 credit hour = 40 hours), and the second is associated with one of the specialty focused track courses, either NUR 560 Leadership Practicum course (2.5 credit hours = 100 hours), or NUR 561 Education Practicum course (2.5 credit hours = 100 hours).

Health Requirements

The College requires all students entering programs which include a clinical component, practicum, or field experience (health program) to comply with specific health requirements, such as documentation of positive titers, vaccinations, or other health requirements. Students may request waivers or extensions of vaccinations and other health requirements, which may be approved or denied by clinical facilities. If waivers/extensions are denied, it will prevent placement in clinical experiences and progression in the academic program. The College will make a reasonable attempt to find alternate clinical placements for students seeking waivers or extensions of vaccinations, but it is at the discretion of clinical sites whether students are permitted to participate in clinical experiences. The requirements may vary depending on the program of study and the clinical agency. Students in such programs can find information on criminal background checks, drug screens, and health requirements at https://www.mercycollege.edu/background. Current information is maintained on the College website and is subject to change. Students are responsible for all costs associated with criminal background checks, drug screens, and health requirements. Students who do not meet listed health requirements may not be able to fulfill the clinical, practicum, or field experience requirements and complete their program of study.

Please see the program administrator with questions regarding documentation for health records, including titer and vaccination requirements.

Graduation Requirements

The Master of Science in Nursing degree will be awarded to students who have successfully completed all required coursework in the graduate nursing curriculum, have a minimum of 36 credit hours, and have fulfilled all other requirements for graduation.

Master of Science in Nursing: Fast Track

Undergraduate students who are pursuing a post-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at the College may be granted permission to take one or more (maximum of six credit hours) 500 level graduate courses if students meet all the following conditions:

1. Students must have senior status at the time they take graduate coursework.
2. Students must have a College GPA of 3.5 or higher at the time of request.
3. Students must complete the Graduate Course Request form and obtain permission from their academic advisor, undergraduate program director, and the graduate coordinator or director of the course requested.
4. Only the following courses will be considered: NUR 510, NUR 520, and NUR 530.
5. Graduate coursework can only substitute for upper level BSN elective coursework in the table below.
6. All other course pre-requisites and conditions apply.

Students may apply up to six credit hours of graduate-level credit to satisfy the requirements for both degrees only when the grade received is a "B" or better. Graduate coursework earning a "C" can only be applied toward bachelor’s degree requirements. Graduate coursework at a "C" or lower will need to be repeated and a "B" or better must be earned for graduate program credit to be awarded. Completion of graduate coursework does not imply acceptance into a graduate program; all other program admission requirements apply. Graduate coursework taken by undergraduate students must be utilized to meet program-specific requirements for the undergraduate degrees associated with BSN degree.

Undergraduate students taking graduate courses will be charged the undergraduate tuition rate.

MSN Courses Eligible to be Substituted for Upper Level BSN Elective Coursework

*Undergraduate courses descriptions can be found in the 2022-2023 Mercy College Undergraduate Catalog.