Nursing M.S.N.
Debra Servello
Interim Dean, School of Nursing
Lynn Blanchette
Associate Dean, School of Nursing
Graduate Department Chair: Joanne Costello
M.S.N. Graduate Program Director: Kara Misto
M.S.N. Program Faculty: Professor Costello; Associate Professors Misto, Mock, Servello; Assistant Professors Calvert, Dame, DiLibero, Hodne
Admission Requirements for All M.S.N. Students
- A completed application form accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable application fee.
- A baccalaureate degree in an upper-division nursing major from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited program.
- Applicants with international degrees must have their transcripts evaluated for degree and grade equivalency to that of a regionally accredited institution in the United States.
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate records.
- Completion of a course in statistics (MATH 240 or its equivalent), with a minimum grade of C.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in undergraduate course work.
- An official report of scores on the Graduate Record Examination or the Millers Analogies Test.
- An official report of scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language from international applicants who are from countries where English is not the first language.
- Current unrestricted licensure for the practice of nursing in Rhode Island.
- A professional résumé.
- Three professional references (one from the clinical area).
- A brief letter of intent, which includes a statement of goals.
- Proof of residency.
- An interview may be required.
- Under certain circumstances when an application does not meet a requirement for admission, the program may provisionally offer acceptance to an otherwise qualified candidate. Examples include but are not limited to academic concerns related to GPA below 3.0, letter of intent, CV, letters of recommendation or work experience. Under this provision, the applicant will be permitted take courses on a non-matriculated basis and must achieve a minimum B grade in three required nursing courses. Upon meeting this requirement, the program will matriculate the applicant into the MSN program. Students who are allowed take classes on a provisional, non-matriculated basis are not eligible for financial aid, graduate assistantships or scholarships.
Additional Admission Requirements for R.N. to M.S.N. Students
Students must fulfill all of the above requirements and successfully complete the R.N. to B.S.N. program, including MATH 240. When at senior standing in the B.S.N. program, students may complete NURS 501, NURS 502, NURS 503, or NURS 512 (up to 9 credits) as electives. Those completed M.S.N. courses will be waived upon entry into the M.S.N. program of study.
Additional Admission Requirement for the Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Option
One year of relevant acute care experience.
Additional Admission Requirements for Nurse Anesthesia
Due to clinical rotations at hospitals in Massachusetts, a license is required for Massachusetts. Personal interview is required. Completion of two courses in chemistry (Chem 105, 106) within the last ten years with minimum grades of C. A preferred undergraduate science GPA of 3.0. Of the three required references, one must be from a clinical supervisor. Current ACLS certification. Minimum of one year critical care experience. A complete definition of accepted critical care experience is found on the St. Joseph Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia website: www.sjhsna.com.
Additional Admission Requirements for Nurse Anesthesia:
- Due to clinical rotations at hospitals in Massachusetts, a license is required for Massachusetts.
- Personal interview is required.
- Completion of two courses (total of 8 credits) in chemistry (Chem 105, 106) within the last 10 years with minimum grades of C.
- A preferred undergraduate science GPA of 3.0
- Of the three required references, one must be from a clinical supervisor.
- Current ACLS certification.
- Minimum of 1 year of critical care experience. Complete definition of accepted critical care experience is found on the sjhsna website:
www.sjhsna.com
- Skills and abilities applicants and students must demonstrate are also on the sjhsna website: www.sjhsna.com
Retention Requirement for M.S.N. Students
All students are expected to maintain a cumulative average of B (3.00) or better in their graduate program. Students who do not maintain a cumulative B (3.00) average will have their status reviewed by the master’s program director. Students who achieve less than a B, including a grade of ‘U’, in any course will be placed on probationary status. Students who do not achieve a B or better in Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pathophysiology or Advanced Pharmacology must repeat the course and may not progress in clinical courses. Students in the Nurse Anesthesia option who earn a grade of less than B- in the required science courses, including CHEM 519 and BIOL 535 and BIOL 536, will be placed on probationary status.Students on probationary status must achieve a B or better in each required course over the next 9 credits. Two grades below B are sufficient cause for consideration of dismissal; the decision regarding students’ status will be made by the master’s program director in consult with the dean. Students may be required to repeat a course at the discretion of the master’s program director.
Handbook
The School of Nursing Handbook for Graduate Students in Nursing provides detailed and essential information about the graduate nursing program. It is available online at www.ric.edu/nursing.
Course Requirements - Full-Time Students
Select option A, B, or C below
A. Adult/Gerontology Acute Care
First Semester
| NURS 501 | Research Methods for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 | Fall, Summer. |
| NURS 502/HCA 502 | Health Care Systems | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 505 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 506 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 | Fall. |
Second Semester
| NURS 503 | Professional Role Development | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 504 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 510 | Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness I | 3 | Spring. |
| | | | |
| NURS 530 | Synergy Model for C.N.S. Practice | 3 | Spring. |
| | -Or- | | |
| NURS 540 | Differential Diagnosis for Nurse Practitioners | 3 | Spring. |
Summer Session I
| NURS 509 | Professional Project Seminar | 1 | Summer. |
Third Semester
| NURS 512 | Genetics and Genomics in Health Care | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 610 | Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness II | 6 | Fall. |
| NURS 692 | Directed Readings I | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
Fourth Semester
| NURS 620 | Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness III | 6 | Spring. |
| NURS 693 | Directed Readings II | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ONE COURSE from
| NURS 513 | Teaching Nursing | 3 | Summer Session I. |
| NURS 515 | Simulation in Interprofessional Healthcare Education | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 518 | Nursing Care/Case Management | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 519 | Quality/Safety in Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 521 | Global Health and Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 522 | Concepts and Practice of Palliative Care | 3 | Annually. |
| NURS 523 | Surgical First Assist Theory | 3 | Fall. |
| | -Or- | | |
| | Other elective approved by advisor | | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 45 | |
B. Nurse Anesthesia
First Semester - Summer Session II
| NURS 501 | Research Methods for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 | Fall, Summer. |
Second Semester
Third Semester
| BIOL 536 | Advanced Physiology II | 4 | Spring. |
| NURS 503 | Professional Role Development | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 504 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 514 | Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia | 2 | Spring. |
| NURS 517 | Foundational Principles of Nurse Anesthesia | 3 | Spring. |
Fourth Semester
| NURS 509 | Professional Project Seminar | 1 | Summer. |
| NURS 516 | Advanced Principles of Nurse Anesthesia Practice I | 3 | Summer. |
| NURS 570 | Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum I | 1 | Summer. |
Fifth Semester
| NURS 512 | Genetics and Genomics in Health Care | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 616 | Advanced Principles of Nurse Anesthesia Practice II | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 630 | Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum II | 1 | Fall. |
Sixth Semester
| NURS 626 | Advanced Principles in Nurse Anesthesia III | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 640 | Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum III | 1 | Spring. |
| NURS 692 | Directed Readings I | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
Seventh Semester
| NURS 670 | Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum IV | 1 | Summer. |
| NURS 693 | Directed Readings II | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
Eighth Semester
| NURS 636 | Transition into Nurse Anesthesia Practice | 2 | Fall. |
| NURS 691 | Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum V | 1 | Fall. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 56 | |
C. Population/Public Health Nursing
First Semester
| NURS 501 | Research Methods for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 | Fall, Summer. |
| NURS 502/HCA 502 | Health Care Systems | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 508 | Public Health Science | 3 | Fall. |
Second Semester
| HPE 507 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 503 | Professional Role Development | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 511 | Population/Public Health Nursing | 6 | Spring. |
Summer Session I
| NURS 509 | Professional Project Seminar | 1 | Summer. |
Third Semester
| NURS 512 | Genetics and Genomics in Health Care | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 611 | Population/Public Health Nursing II | 6 | Fall. |
| NURS 692 | Directed Readings I | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
Fourth Semester
| NURS 621 | Population/Public Health Nursing III | 6 | Spring. |
| NURS 693 | Directed Readings II | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ONE COURSE from
| NURS 513 | Teaching Nursing | 3 | Summer Session I. |
| NURS 515 | Simulation in Interprofessional Healthcare Education | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 518 | Nursing Care/Case Management | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 519 | Quality/Safety in Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 521 | Global Health and Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 522 | Concepts and Practice of Palliative Care | 3 | Annually. |
| NURS 523 | Surgical First Assist Theory | 3 | Fall. |
| | -Or- | | |
| | Other elective approved by advisor | | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 42 | |
Course Requirements - Part-Time Students
Select option A or B below
A. Adult/Gerontology Acute Care
First Semester
| NURS 501 | Research Methods for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 | Fall, Summer. |
| NURS 502/HCA 502 | Health Care Systems | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
Second Semester
| NURS 503 | Professional Role Development | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 504 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 512 | Genetics and Genomics in Health Care | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
Third Semester
| NURS 505 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 506 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 | Fall. |
Fourth Semester
| NURS 510 | Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness I | 3 | Spring. |
| | | | |
| NURS 530 | Synergy Model for C.N.S. Practice | 3 | Spring. |
| | -Or- | | |
| NURS 540 | Differential Diagnosis for Nurse Practitioners | 3 | Spring. |
| | | | |
ONE COURSE from
| NURS 513 | Teaching Nursing | 3 | Summer Session I. |
| NURS 515 | Simulation in Interprofessional Healthcare Education | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 518 | Nursing Care/Case Management | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 519 | Quality/Safety in Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 521 | Global Health and Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 522 | Concepts and Practice of Palliative Care | 3 | Annually. |
| NURS 523 | Surgical First Assist Theory | 3 | Fall. |
| | -Or- | | |
| | Other elective approved by advisor | | |
Summer Session I
| NURS 509 | Professional Project Seminar | 1 | Summer. |
Fifth Semester
| NURS 610 | Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness II | 6 | Fall. |
| NURS 692 | Directed Readings I | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
Sixth Semester
| NURS 620 | Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness III | 6 | Spring. |
| NURS 693 | Directed Readings II | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 45 | |
B. Population/Public Health Nursing
First Semester
| NURS 501 | Research Methods for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 | Fall, Summer. |
| NURS 502/HCA 502 | Health Care Systems | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
Second Semester
| HPE 507 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 503 | Professional Role Development | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 512 | Genetics and Genomics in Health Care | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
Third Semester
ONE COURSE from
| NURS 513 | Teaching Nursing | 3 | Summer Session I. |
| NURS 515 | Simulation in Interprofessional Healthcare Education | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 518 | Nursing Care/Case Management | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 519 | Quality/Safety in Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 521 | Global Health and Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 522 | Concepts and Practice of Palliative Care | 3 | Annually. |
| NURS 523 | Surgical First Assist Theory | 3 | Fall. |
| | -Or- | | |
| | Other elective approved by advisor | | |
Fourth Semester
| NURS 511 | Population/Public Health Nursing | 6 | Spring. |
Summer Session I
| NURS 509 | Professional Project Seminar | 1 | Summer. |
Fifth Semester
| NURS 611 | Population/Public Health Nursing II | 6 | Fall. |
| NURS 692 | Directed Readings I | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
Sixth Semester
| NURS 621 | Population/Public Health Nursing III | 6 | Spring. |
| NURS 693 | Directed Readings II | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 42 | |