Ida Moffett School of Nursing

Administration

Nena F. Sanders, Ralph W. Beeson Dean and Professor
Jane S. Martin, Senior Associate Dean; Professor
Gretchen S. McDaniel, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs; Professor
Terri M. Cahoon, Chair, Department of Nurse Anesthesia; Associate Professor
Jill L. Cunningham, Chair, Family Nurse Practitioner Department; Professor
Lora R. Shelton, Interim Chair, Undergraduate Program; Associate Professor
Cynthia G. Berry, Director, Clinical Partnerships and Clinical Education; Professor

Faculty

Amy Branyon Bigham, Professor
Ellen Banks Buckner, Professor
Jennifer J. Coleman, Professor
Cynthia G. Cortes, Professor
Stephanie D. Wynn, Professor
Andrea W. Collins, Associate Professor
Lisa E. Gurley, Associate Professor
Lisa E. Herbinger, Associate Professor
Mary Annette Hess, Associate Professor
Jane T. Holston, Associate Professor
Jillyn N. Pence, Associate Professor
Vicki W. Rochester, Associate Professor
Amanda L. Barron, Assistant Professor
Pamela E. Carver, Assistant Professor
Sherri H. Chatman, Assistant Professor
Tracey K. Dick, Assistant Professor
Lee M. Hardin, Assistant Professor
Nina R. Harvey, Assistant Professor
Julie A. Head, Assistant Professor
Jill B. Hightower, Assistant Professor
Kristen C. Johnston, Assistant Professor
Moniaree Parker Jones, Assistant Professor
Maria D. Ledbetter, Assistant Professor
Megan R. Mileski, Assistant Professor
Tameka D. Pritchett, Assistant Professor
Tonya D. Shanahan, Assistant Professor
Amy C. Snow, Assistant Professor
Rebecca J. Warr, Assistant Professor
Ashley B. York, Assistant Professor
Kelli R. Burdette, Instructor
Jennifer W. Childress, Instructor
Havilah S. Couvillion, Instructor
Meagan B. Deese, Instructor
Lori H. Harrison, Instructor
Melanie Wise Henningsen, Instructor
Lauren H. Jones, Instructor
Sandra L. McMichael, Instructor
Brandy B. Mobley, Instructor
Christa Moore, Instructor
Ashley McLeod Turner, Instructor
Angela Wilson, Instructor

History

Rich in tradition, the Ida Moffett School of Nursing was founded in 1922 by the Birmingham Baptist Association as a hospital-based diploma program. In 1955, the school became the first program in Alabama to achieve national accreditation and it has remained fully accredited throughout its existence. The nursing program transferred to Samford University in 1973 following a merger agreement with the Baptist Health System to offer associate and baccalaureate degrees in nursing. In 1988, the school moved to its current home on the Samford campus. Extraordinary growth and transformation have occurred since the school’s inception, all while remaining focused on preparing students to provide exceptional, patient-centered care. Pass rates for graduates taking national licensure and certification examinations exceed national averages. The Ida Moffett School of Nursing offers a variety of options for obtaining a bachelor of science in nursing, a master of science in nursing, or a doctor of nursing practice degree.

Accreditation and Approval

The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, and doctor of nursing practice degree at Samford University is regionally accredited and also accredited by The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC, 20001; phone (202) 887-6791. In addition, the nurse anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 222 South Prospect Avenue, Suite 304, Park Ridge, Illinois, 60068-4010; phone (847) 692-7050. The School of Nursing is also approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Curricular Options

The Ida Moffett School of Nursing offers a unique curricular approach that allows students several choices in pursuing their nursing education. These options are:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.): The goal of nursing is directing, maintaining, and reinforcing the adaptation of individuals, families, and groups toward optimal health. Students enrolled in the B.S.N. program in the School of Nursing are prepared to meet this goal as they use knowledge, critical thinking skills and practice skills obtained from both nursing and liberal arts to provide professional care in a variety of settings. Upon completion of this program, the student is eligible to write the licensing examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Second Degree B.S.N.: The second degree B.S.N. program is a five-semester program for individuals who already hold a baccalaureate degree in a field of study other than nursing. Upon graduation with the B.S.N. degree, the graduate is eligible to write the licensing examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Veterans B.S.N: The Veterans B.S.N. program is designed for honorable or generally discharged service members, active duty service members, reservists, or guard members. The program bridges the gap between military culture and today’s professional nursing culture and offers unique pathways to earning a B.S.N. by allowing veterans to receive credit for prior valuable hands-on learning experiences. Upon completion of this program, the student is eligible to write the licensing examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Program Goals

The goals of the Ida Moffett School of Nursing are as follows:

Recruit qualified nurse educators and staff who are committed to the mission and philosophy of Samford University and the Ida Moffett School of Nursing.
Promote professional development of faculty through mentoring and collegial relationships and administrative support.
Recruit and retain qualified students who have demonstrated high standards of scholarship, outstanding personal character, and serious educational aims.
Maintain a qualified and diversified student body by mentoring students and providing financial aid support.
Provide an environment that promotes scholarship, critical thinking, and responsiveness to community needs.
Create a Christian environment in which diverse student populations may develop an academic and social network that supports their uniqueness and promotes professionalism and lifelong learning.
Integrate the liberal arts, sciences, and professional nursing education in order for graduates to make positive contributions to society.
Develop individuals who are competent in the application of knowledge and skills and who possess values and attitudes consistent with the nursing profession.
Prepare graduates to contribute to the advancement of professional nursing and the improvement of the health care system.

Code of Ethical and Professional Conduct

Students in the School of Nursing must adhere to standards of conduct specified in the Samford University Student Handbook as well as the Samford University Student Guide to Academic Integrity, and certain standards of behavior appropriate for all health professionals. Students shall comply with legal, moral, and legislative standards that determine acceptable behavior of the nurse. Noncompliance may be cause for suspension/dismissal from the nursing school and denial of permission by individual state boards of nursing to take the NCLEX-RN examination or be approved as an advanced practice nurse.

Students documented to have demonstrated unethical, unprofessional, or unsafe conduct merit immediate probation or dismissal from the nursing school. Grievances, which result from students failing to adhere to appropriate personal and professional conduct, will be considered by utilizing the grievance process in the Ida Moffett School of Nursing Student Handbook and the University Catalog.

School of Nursing Expenses

In addition to tuition, fees, and room and board costs, undergraduate students are responsible for other costs associated with beginning nursing courses. Costs include uniforms, books, medical equipment, yearly physical examinations, required immunizations, background checks, certification in basic life support a personal laptop computer, testing software, and required health insurance. Additional expenses for undergraduates include costs associated with application for licensure, and may include costs for the School of Nursing pin and lamp. Students are responsible for providing transportation to and from clinical experiences.

Graduate students who are enrolled in specialty tracks can expect additional expenses. Costs include lab coat, books, medical equipment, testing software, yearly physical examinations, required immunizations, required drug testing, background checks, a personal laptop with a webcam and microphone, software for electronic medical records, and required health insurance.

Personal Health Insurance

Students in the School of Nursing are required to provide proof of current personal health insurance coverage. Each semester, students in the IMSON are automatically enrolled in the University sponsored student health insurance plan. There is a charge for this coverage.

International Students: Based upon federal regulations and University policy, all F and J visa holders are required to carry insurance that meets certain coverage requirements. Information about specific policy carriers, minimum coverage, and premium costs is available from the Office of Global Engagement at (205) 726-4334.

Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance is provided by Samford University. Personal professional liability insurance for clinical practice, while not required, is highly recommended for all nursing students.

Clinical Resources

Clinical experiences for the School of Nursing are provided in Birmingham-area hospitals and selected community health clinics and settings. All clinical facilities are accredited by the appropriate agencies. In addition, a wide variety of agencies are utilized for graduate student experiences including, but not limited to primary care facilities, schools of nursing, acute care facilities, and managed care organizations.

Required Health Data

The student must have completed and submitted all necessary documentation required by the University, the School of Nursing, and all clinical agencies before starting clinical courses. The following health data must be current:

Health Form: Prior to starting a clinical course, undergraduate students must have a College of Health Sciences health form (updated yearly) on file.
Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification: BLS is a requirement for all clinical nursing courses. The School of Nursing does not accept online courses. Certification must be updated every two years. This certification must be obtained through the American Heart Association. This certification must include one-rescuer and two-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of adult, child, and infant. Evidence of a current card issued by the American Heart Association is required.
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) immunity: Each student must submit evidence of two MMR vaccinations or a positive titer for all three components. If the titer is negative, the student must get a booster and re-titer. If a student refuses the vaccine, a waiver must be completed, signed, and filed.
Varicella (Chicken Pox): Students who have not had the chicken pox must complete the two-step varicella vaccine or provide evidence of a positive titer. If the titer is negative, the student must repeat vaccination series and re-titer. If a student refuses the vaccine, a waiver must be completed, signed, and filed.
Influenza immunization: Each student must submit an influenza immunization, annually, in the fall semester.
Hepatitis B: The School of Nursing requires each student to take the three-step Hepatitis B vaccine or provide evidence of a positive titer. If the titer is negative, the student must repeat vaccination series and re-titer. University Health Services offers the vaccine, or the student may consult a physician or local health department for the vaccination. If a student refuses the vaccination series, a waiver form must be completed, signed, and filed.
Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test: The School of Nursing requires each student to have an initial, two-step Mantoux tuberculin skin test or TSpot or Quantiferon Gold. Subsequent testing should be performed annually and should include a one-step Mantoux tuberculin skin test or TSpot or Quantiferon Gold. Students who test positive must meet current CDC guidelines.
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis: Each student must provide evidence of Tdap vaccination within the past ten years.
Drug Testing and Background Checks: All undergraduate students are required to submit to drug testing and a background check prior to beginning clinical experiences and an additional drug screen at the beginning of the senior year. Additionally, all students may be tested for cause or clinical affiliation requirements. International students are required to have a Social Security number in order to complete the background check. Students are responsible for all costs associated with the background check. (See School of Nursing Student Handbook for Substance Abuse Policy and Procedure.)
Additional Requirements: Clinical agencies may place additional health requirements on students affiliating with that agency. Clinical instructors will notify students when applicable.