Nursing (Graduate)

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Graduate Programs and Requirements

Degrees
Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)
          Nursing
                    Family Nurse Practitioner (M.S.N.) 
                    Family Nurse Practitioner w/ENP Specialty (M.S.N.)  
                    Family Nurse Practitioner/Psychiatric Mental Health NP-Lifespan-Dual Focus (M.S.N.) 
ADN/ASN to Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) *
          Nursing
                    Family Nurse Practitioner (ADN/ASN to M.S.N. Option) 
                    Family Nurse Practitioner w/ENP Specialty (ADN/ASN to M.S.N. Option)  
                    Family Nurse Practitioner/PMH NP-Dual Focus (ADN/ASN-M.S.N. Option)  

Certificates/Post-Master of Science in Nursing
Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post-Graduate) (ENP) 
Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post-Graduate) (FNP) 
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post-Graduate) (PMHNP) 
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The Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing offers comprehensive, innovative options in a program leading to a master of science in nursing degree (M.S.N.). Graduates are prepared to practice in an advanced role to meet and/or manage health care needs of families across the life span. The graduate will be prepared to practice in a variety of settings with a functional focus in one of the following areas: emergency nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

Through the ADN/ASN to M.S.N. option*, the School of Nursing provides experienced registered nurses, who currently hold an associate of science in nursing or a hospital diploma, the opportunity to earn an M.S.N. through a nontraditional path. As in the main M.S.N. program, the same nurse practitioner options are available.

The School of Nursing offers post-graduate certificates in emergency nurse practitioner (ENP), family nurse practitioner (FNP), and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). Students completing the post-graduate options will have fulfilled the educational requirements to be eligible to sit for the corresponding certification examinations.
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*The ADN/ASN programs are under review and subject to change/closure/replacement. They are currently closed to new admits.

Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)

M.S.N. Outcomes

Graduates with a master of science in nursing from the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing will be prepared to:

1. Integrate interprofessional scientific findings for the continual improvement of nursing care across diverse settings.
2. Demonstrate leadership skills that emphasize ethical and critical decision making, effective working relationships, and a systems perspective to promote high quality and safe patient care.
3. Articulate and apply quality methods, tools, performance measures, and standards within organizations.
4. Apply research outcomes within the practice setting to resolve practice problems, work as a change agent, and disseminate results.
5. Utilize patient-care and communications technologies to deliver, enhance, integrate, and coordinate care.
6. Intervene at the system level by developing and advocating policy to influence health and health care.
7. Demonstrate effective collaborative, communicating, and consulting skills as a leader and as a member of interprofessional teams to manage and coordinate care.
8. Provide evidence-based clinical prevention and health promotion care and services in a client-centered manner to individuals, families, and populations.
9. Synthesize an advanced level of understanding of nursing and relevant sciences to integrate this knowledge for direct or indirect care.

Graduate Program Policies

The following policies apply to students who are enrolled in the nurse practitioner, advanced practice, or nursing administration options.

Admission Requirements

For complete admission requirements and instructions, visit www.samford.edu/nursing.

Academic Policy and Progression

Transfer Credit

Graduate students are permitted to transfer a maximum of 12 graduate credits from an accredited and a CCNE, CNEA, or an ACEN (formerly NLNAC) accredited college or university. To do so, students should complete a course substitution form and attach a copy of the syllabus. Transfer credits will be evaluated by the appropriate course coordinator for applicability to the graduate program.

Progression Policies

In order to progress in the graduate program in the School of Nursing, the student must:

1. Have a completed and updated Health Data Record (with all required immunizations) on file
2. Carry health insurance while enrolled at Samford.
   1. Students in the School of Nursing are required to provide proof of current personal health insurance coverage. Each semester, students in the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing are automatically enrolled in the university-sponsored student health insurance plan. There is a charge for this coverage. To have the charge removed from his/her Samford account, a nursing student must provide proof of insurance by completing the insurance waiver at https://samford.myahpcare.com.
3. Provide current documentation of BLS certification.
4. Adhere to the Code of Ethical/Professional Conduct as specified earlier in the catalog.
5. Possess a current unencumbered RN nursing license in your state of practice and in the state of all clinical rotations.
6. Maintain licensure and certification. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing of any encumbrance that is placed on any license.
7. Submit to background check and random drug testing.
8. Make a grade of B or better in each required or prescribed course in the graduate program. NOTE: A grade of C, D or F constitutes a failure in any prescribed or required course in the graduate program.
9. Maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA and may not earn a grade below B in any course to progress in the curriculum.
10. Students must have a 3.00 cumulative GPA to graduate.

Academic Policies

Students who receive a grade below a B in any required or prescribed course or whose cumulative GPA falls below a 3.00 will be placed on academic probation and must:

• Repeat any nursing course in which a grade received was below a B and receive a grade of B or better.
• Be aware that a required nursing course can only be repeated one time.
• Be aware that failure of the same course twice or failure of two separate courses constitutes dismissal from the program

Students who fail to successfully complete a required nursing course within one calendar year of the academic probation notification will be dismissed from the program.

Students must be aware that matters of plagiarism, unethical, unprofessional, or unsafe conduct may result in immediate dismissal from the School of Nursing.

An incomplete grade in one or more courses may result in a plan of study change.

Program Interruptions

Students who need more than four years to complete the program may petition the School of Nursing graduate program to request an additional year for completion (a total of five years for completion).

Readmissions

A student who has been dismissed from the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing graduate program may apply through the Office of Graduate Student Services for readmission after an intervening period of not less than one semester. The appropriate graduate admission committee will consider such requests for readmission on presentation of substantial evidence of a responsible and successful period of work or study during the intervening period. There is no guarantee, however, that a student will be readmitted. The decision regarding readmission rests with the dean and is based upon the faculty’s evaluation of the likelihood of the applicant’s ability to perform successfully in graduate coursework.

ADN/ASN to M.S.N. Option

IMPORTANT NOTE: Program is under review and subject to change/closure/replacement. Program is closed to new admits.

The School of Nursing offers the master of science in nursing (M.S.N.) degree through a nontraditional pathway. The program provides the experienced registered nurse who holds an associate of science in nursing degree or hospital diploma an opportunity to earn a master’s degree within one program of study.

In the ADN/ASN to M.S.N. option, the graduate does not earn a bachelor’s degree. Should an individual not complete the requirements for the M.S.N., whether for personal or academic reasons, no B.S.N. is awarded nor is academic credit transferred to the B.S.N. program.

The ADN/ASN to M.S.N. option consists of five bridge courses and the M.S.N. curriculum. The bridge courses (NURG 500 , NURG 501 , NURG 502 , NURG 503 , and NURG 504 ) can be completed in two semesters and must be completed prior to progressing to the M.S.N. core courses. When taken full time and in sequence, the length of the ADN/ASN to M.S.N. option is approximately seven semesters, or two years. General education courses may be completed at another college or university and then transferred to Samford University prior to enrolling in the ADN/ASN to M.S.N. option.

Admission Requirements

For complete admission requirements and instructions, visit www.samford.edu/nursing.

ADN/ASN to M.S.N. Progression Policies

In order to progress in the graduate program in the School of Nursing, the student must:

1. Have a completed and updated Health Data Record (with all required immunizations) on file
2. Carry health insurance while enrolled at Samford.
   1. Students in the School of Nursing are required to provide proof of current personal health insurance coverage. Each semester, students in the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing are automatically enrolled in the university-sponsored student health insurance plan. There is a charge for this coverage. To have the charge removed from his/her Samford account, a nursing student must provide proof of insurance by completing the insurance waiver at https://samford.myahpcare.com.
3. Provide current documentation of BLS certification.
4. Adhere to the Code of Ethical/Professional Conduct as specified earlier in the catalog.
5. Possess a current unencumbered RN nursing license in your state of practice and in the state of all clinical rotations.
6. Maintain licensure and certification. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing of any encumbrance that is placed on any license.
7. Submit to background check and random drug testing.
8. Make a grade of B or better in each required or prescribed course in the graduate program. NOTE: A grade of C, D or F constitutes a failure in any prescribed or required course in the graduate program.
9. Maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA and may not earn a grade below B in any course to progress in the curriculum.
10. Students must have a 3.00 cumulative GPA to graduate.

Certificates/Post-Graduate

The School of Nursing offers post-graduate certificates in emergency nurse practitioner (ENP), family nurse practitioner (FNP), and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). Students completing the post-graduate options will have fulfilled the educational requirements to be eligible to sit for the corresponding certification examinations.

Admission Requirements

For complete admission requirements and instructions, visit www.samford.edu/nursing.

Progression Policies

In order to progress in the graduate program in the School of Nursing, the student must:

1. Have a completed and updated Health Data Record (with all required immunizations) on file
2. Carry health insurance while enrolled at Samford.
   1. Students in the School of Nursing are required to provide proof of current personal health insurance coverage. Each semester, students in the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing are automatically enrolled in the university-sponsored student health insurance plan. There is a charge for this coverage. To have the charge removed from his/her Samford account, a nursing student must provide proof of insurance by completing the insurance waiver at https://samford.myahpcare.com.
3. Provide current documentation of BLS certification.
4. Adhere to the Code of Ethical/Professional Conduct as specified earlier in the catalog.
5. Possess a current unencumbered RN nursing license in your state of practice and in the state of all clinical rotations.
6. Maintain licensure and certification. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing of any encumbrance that is placed on any license.
7. Submit to background check and random drug testing.
8. Make a grade of B or better in each required or prescribed course in the graduate program. NOTE: A grade of C, D or F constitutes a failure in any prescribed or required course in the graduate program.
9. Maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA and may not earn a grade below B in any course to progress in the curriculum.
10. Students must have a 3.00 cumulative GPA to graduate.

Programs

• ADN/ASN to Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)
• Family Nurse Practitioner (M.S.N.)
• Family Nurse Practitioner w/ENP Specialty (M.S.N.)
• Family Nurse Practitioner/Psychiatric Mental Health NP-Lifespan-Dual Focus (M.S.N.)

• Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post-Graduate) (ENP)
• Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post-Graduate) (FNP)
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post-Graduate) (PMHNP)

Courses

• NURG 500 - Transition to Professional Nursing Practice (3)
• NURG 501 - Health Assessment (3)
• NURG 502 - Healthcare Research and Introduction to Statistics (3)
• NURG 503 - Clinical Prevention and Population Health (3)
• NURG 504 - Leadership and Management (3)
• NURG 514 - Population Health and Policy (3)
• NURG 515 - Statistics for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
• NURG 516 - Research, Theory, and Quality Improvement (3)
• NURG 517 - Ethical Leadership and Collaboration (3)
• NURG 533 - Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology (3)
• NURG 600 - Common Diagnostics/Procedures (3)
• NURG 601 - Advanced Physical Assessment (3)
• NURG 602 - Family Practice I: Care of Adults (6)
• NURG 603 - Family Practice II: Care of Women (3)
• NURG 604 - Family Practice III: Care of Children (3)
• NURG 605 - Family Practice IV: Practicum (6)
• NURG 633 - Pharmacotherapeutics for APRN (3)
• NURG 650 - Interprofessional Practice in Behavioral Health (3)
• NURG 699 - Independent Study in Nursing (1-3)