College of Nursing

The undergraduate nursing program provides a foundation for professional practice based on the biological, physical, and behavioral sciences and the humanities. The program is designed to prepare the student for nursing practice with individuals, families, and aggregates of persons in a variety of health states, and in a variety of health care settings including hospitals and community health agencies. With professional experience, the graduate may progress to beginning–level leadership positions. Prenursing foundational courses and science courses were selected based on required knowledge and skills for the contemporary professional in nursing. The program, which has been approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education provides a foundation for graduate study in nursing.

Students who are seeking admission to the undergraduate nursing program or who have declared nursing as their major preference receive academic advisement from the College of Nursing.

Admission as a Junior

Admission to the College of Nursing is competitive. Minimal criteria for application to the College are:

1. Completion of at least 56 credits acceptable to the College of Nursing with a cumulative grade-point  average of 2.75 or higher.
2. Completion of the following Prenursing foundation courses:
   PSY    101    Introductory Psychology  (4)
   FCE    225   Ecology of Lifespan Human Development in the Family  (3)
   HNF    260   Principles of Human Nutrition  (3)
   NUR   300   Pathophysiology   (4)
3. Completion of the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical  Sciences referenced in item 1. under the Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing  Degree in Nursing. Selection of the alternative track is highly recommended to attain requisite  knowledge and skills.
4. A grade of 2.00 or higher in approved biological science, chemistry, microbiology and  molecular genetics, human anatomy and physiology courses including required laboratory  work or  in courses completed in the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical  Sciences and in Nursing 300.
5. Completion of the university’s Tier I writing requirement.
6. Completion of the university’s mathematics requirement referenced in item 1. under the  Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree in Nursing.
7. Satisfactory community service, work experience and letters of recommendation.

Applications for admission to the nursing major are reviewed twice each year.  A limited number of positions are available during each selection period.  Students may be admitted to the nursing major for either the Fall semester or the Spring semester.

Students who wish to be considered for admission to the nursing major must submit their applications to the College of Nursing by March 1 for admission to the Fall semester and October 1 for admission to the Spring semester. Applicants are encouraged to meet with a college undergraduate program advisor prior to the submission of their application materials.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree in Nursing

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of the catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
   Students must take Statistics 200 to fulfill the mathematics requirement of the University.
   Students who are enrolled in the Nursing major leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in the College of Nursing may complete an alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that consists of the following courses:  Biological Science 111, Chemistry 141 and 143, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 201 and 302, Human Anatomy 350, and Physiology 250 or 310.  The completion of Chemistry 143 and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 302 satisfy the laboratory requirement.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Nursing major is met by completing Nursing 340, 460, and 480.  Those courses are referenced in item 2. a. below.
   
   
2. The following requirements for the major:
   

    3.    Admission as a Registered Nurse

Registered Nurses who have graduated from a diploma or associate degree program in nursing with a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.75, a minimum grade of 2.00 in all required science courses and who possess an active, unrestricted RN license to practice without probationary status will be granted 30 credits for successful completion of the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Students should contact the College of Nursing regarding the application process and deadlines. The following are the requirements for the major for students admitted as Registered Nurses. 

a.	All of the following courses (32 credits):
	ISS	315	Global Diversity and Interdependence (I)				4
	NUR	300	Pathophysiology				4
	NUR	335	Health Assessment				3
	NUR	340	Foundations of Nursing Practice				4
	NUR	355	Integrative Seminar I				2
	NUR	400	Pharmacology for Nurses				3
	NUR	455	Integrative Seminar II				2
	NUR	465	Leadership Immersion				4
	NUR	470	Community and Population Health Nursing				4
	NUR	485	Role Transition Seminar				2

Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited and recognized college or university with a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.75 are eligible to apply. Applicants should contact the College of Nursing regarding the application process and deadlines. Completion of the following prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of 2.00 in all science courses is required for admission:

The College of Nursing offers two graduate degrees, the Master of Science in Nursing and the Doctor of Philosophy with a major in Nursing. The college also offers a graduate certificate in Clinical Nurse Specialist and in Nurse Practitioner.

The Master of Science in Nursing degree prepares graduates for roles that reflect current, emerging and expanding roles of nurses as providers and educators. The curricula for these advanced practice roles are designed in the context of related challenges, needs and increasing complexities within the systems of health care delivery, higher education, and professional nursing. The Master of Science in Nursing degree has been fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The Master of Science in Nursing degree program consists of three concentrations. The first concentration, Nurse Practitioner, focuses on the preparation of advanced practice nurses as nurse practitioners. Within this concentration, there are two areas of study: adult/gerontology, and family. A second concentration, Clinical Nurse Specialist-Nurse Education, focuses on the preparation of advanced practice nurses who also have preparation as an educator. A third concentration, Nurse Anesthesia, prepares advanced practice nurses who will use specialized skills and knowledge in the administration of anesthesia and pain management agents.

Nurse Practitioners, as advanced practice nurses, are in direct-care provider's role, use specialty skills and knowledge in providing care to clients of all ages and stages of development in primary care settings. The nurse practitioner curriculum prepares nurses to function interdependently with other health care providers to provide primary care. As part of this care, advanced practice nurses assess the physical, socio-emotional, and developmental states of individual clients and their families, analyze health behavior, apply clinical judgment, and intervene in a manner to improve the quality and effectiveness of health care delivery. They recognize the importance of health promotion, as well as early recognition and prompt treatment and management of illness, prevention of complications, and needed rehabilitation. Client and family education, guidance, and advocacy are vital characteristics of the advanced practice nurse’s role. Graduates of the program will assume leadership roles as accomplished advanced nurse practitioners and will be eligible for licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).

The Clinical Nurse Specialist-Nurse Education concentration is designed to prepare registered nurses to assume an advanced practice role as a clinical nurse specialist and nurse educator.  The clinical nurse specialist-nurse educator assumes a professional leadership role to inform nursing practice, education, and health care delivery systems in the design and implementation of strategies to improve organizational, educational, and individual client, student, and nurse provider outcomes. Advanced practice clinical and educational expertise is reflected in the application of innovative evidence-based practice interventions and the development of collaborative relationships in order to address the health care needs of a diverse population. Graduates of the program will assume leadership roles as accomplished advanced nurse practitioners and will be eligible for licensure as a Clinical Nurse Specialist-Nurse Education.

Nurse Anesthetists are advanced practice nurses who use specialty skills and knowledge in the planning and administration of anesthesia and pain management agents. The Nurse Anesthesia Program has applied for Accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 222 South Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068, (847) 655-1160. It is a rigorous, full-time program designed to educate Registered Nurses in academic knowledge, technical and clinical skills, and professional attitudes in nursing practice in preparation for safe administration of anesthesia. Graduates of the program will assume leadership roles as accomplished advanced practitioners in nurse anesthesia and will meet the requirements and be eligible for certification as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and for licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).

Students must meet the requirements of the university as described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog, in addition to the requirements of the College of Nursing specified below.

Students who are enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing degree program may elect a specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood. For additional information, refer to the statement on Interdepartmental Graduate Specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood in the College of Social Science section of this catalog.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program, an applicant must have:

1. Submitted a university application for admission and a curriculum vita.
2. Completed a Bachelor of Nursing degree from an accredited college or university.
3. Current licensure to practice nursing as a Registered Nurse in the applicant’s state or country. For those applicants practicing in Michigan, a current Registered Nurse Michigan license is required. Applicants who hold Registered Nurse licensure from other states or countries and who are in the Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthesia concentration may be admitted provisionally with the requirement that a United States and Michigan Registered Nurse license must be obtained prior to progression to clinical courses.
   
4. A minimum grade-point average of 3.00 (4.00 scale) for total credits completed during the second-half of the four-year baccalaureate nursing program.
5. Applicants to the Nurse Anesthesia concentration must have completed the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical sections  of the Graduate Record Examination within the last five years.
6. One year of clinical practice as a registered nurse prior to the clinical sequence of courses for the Nurse Practitioner concentration. No clinical practice experience is required prior to acceptance for the Clinical Nurse Specialist-Nurse Education concentration. One year of full-time clinical experience or equivalent as a Registered Nurse in an intensive care unit within the last five years is required for the Nurse Anesthesia concentration.
7. Successfully completed an approved statistics course within the last five years or a waiver examination. For those applicants applying to the Nurse Anesthesia concentration, they must have completed a three (3) credit undergraduate or graduate statistics course with a grade of 3.0 (4.0 scale) or better within the last five years.
8. Submitted a written essay of 150-200 words typed and double-spaced that addresses the applicant’s career goals and motivations for graduate study in the selected area of specialty nursing practice: nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist-nurse education, or nurse anesthetist.
9. Submit three letters of recommendations. For those applicants applying to the Nurse Anesthesia concentration, the reference letters must be from a source that has direct knowledge of the applicant’s work and educational experience specifying the applicant’s ability to do graduate work.
10. Completed an admission interview with the College of Nursing faculty.
11. If the applicant’s native language is not English, the applicant must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language with a total score of 580 (paper version) or 21 (computer version). Equivalent scores on the English Language Center Test may be submitted.
12. If the applicant’s native language is not English, the applicant must complete the Educational Testing Service Test of Spoken English (TSE) with a score of 50 or above.

Provisional Status

Applicants who do not meet the requirements for regular admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program may be accepted provisionally.  Provisionally admitted students are required to satisfy deficiencies as specified in the letter of admission and will be formally removed from provisional status once the deficiencies are satisfied. Students on provisional status may not progress in the program if deficiencies are not satisfied in the specified time frame.

Requirements for the Master of Science in Nursing Degree in Nursing

A  total of 47 to 85 credits is required for the degree under either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis) depending on the student’s area of concentration. Students interested in pursuing a research focus or doctoral studies are encouraged to pursue Plan A, which requires completion of a thesis. Students must meet the requirements specified below:

Part–time Students

Although many nursing students pursue the master's degree on a part–time basis, all degree candidates will be expected to maintain minimum degree progress standards established by the College and published in the College of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook. Students are also expected to complete at least one course per semester until the degree is earned.

Academic Standards

A cumulative grade–point average of 3.00 and a grade of 3.0 in each nursing course is required.

Transfer Credits

Up to 25% (9  semester credits) of graduate course work (excluding thesis credits) may be transferred into the Master of Science in Nursing program from other National League for Nursing or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited programs upon approval of the College of Nursing.

Time Limit

The time limit for completing the degree is six years from the beginning of the first semester in which credit toward the degree was earned.

The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nurse Specialist provides both theoretical and clinical content related to meeting adult health care needs and prepares registered nurses who already earned a master’s degree in nursing to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center Clinical Nurse Specialist certification examination.

The scheduling of the certificate program allows flexibility to accommodate both full-time students and working professionals by offering an online format with clinical placements in collaborating agencies throughout the state.

Admission

To be considered for admission into the Graduate Certificate program in Clinical Nurse Specialist, applicants must meet the requirements specified below:

1. Completion of a master’s degree in nursing from a National League for Nursing (NLN) and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited program. A clinical focus is preferred.
2. Current licensure to practice nursing as a Registered Nurse in the applicant’s state or country without restrictions.
3. A minimum grade-point average of 3.00 (4.00 scale) for total credits completed during their Master of Science in Nursing program.
4. One year of clinical practice as a Registered Nurse in the United States prior to the start of the program.
5. Submit an essay to the College of Nursing stating plans for post-graduate study including professional career goals.
6. Personal interview with College of Nursing faculty.
7. If the applicant’s native language is not English, the applicant must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a total score of 580 (paper version) or 21 (computer version). Equivalent scores on the English Language Center Test may be submitted.
8. Three references from academic or employment sources.

No provisional admission will be allowed. An applicant must meet all of the requirements for admission upon acceptance. Although students may meet all admission requirements, they may be denied admission solely based on space availability in the program.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nurse Specialist

Students must complete all of the following courses (25 credits):

The Graduate Certificate in Nurse Practitioner provides both theoretical and clinical content related to meeting adult health care needs and prepares registered nurses who already earned a master’s degree in nursing to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center Nurse Practitioner certification examination.  Successful completion of an approved certification examination is a prerequisite for applying for nurse practitioner licensure at the state level.

The scheduling of the certificate program allows flexibility to accommodate both full-time students and working professionals by offering an online format with clinical placements in collaborating agencies throughout the state.

Admission

To be considered for admission into the Graduate Certificate program in Nurse Practitioner, applicants must meet the requirements specified below:

1. Completion of a master’s degree in nursing from a National League for Nursing (NLN) and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited program. A clinical focus is preferred.
2. Current licensure to practice nursing as a Registered Nurse in the applicant’s state or country without restrictions. Applicants who hold Registered Nurse licensure from other states or countries and who are in the Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Practitioner concentration, may be admitted provisionally with the requirement that a United States and Michigan Registered Nurse license must be obtained prior to progression to clinical courses.
3. A minimum grade-point average of 3.00 (4.00 scale) for total credits completed during their Master of Science in Nursing program.
4. One year of clinical practice as a Registered Nurse in the United States prior to the start of the program.
5. Submit an essay to the College of Nursing stating plans for post-graduate study including professional career goals.
6. Personal interview with College of Nursing faculty.
7. If the applicant’s native language is not English, the applicant must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a total score of 580 (paper version) or 21 (computer version). Equivalent scores on the English Language Center Test may be submitted.
8. Three references from academic or employment sources.

With the exception of item 2. above, no provisional admission will be allowed. An applicant must meet all of the requirements for admission upon acceptance. Although students may meet all admission requirements, they may be denied admission solely based on space availability in the program.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Nurse Practitioner

Students must complete all of the following courses (33 or 34 credits):

The Doctor of Philosophy degree program with a major in Nursing is designed with a major emphasis in health status and health outcomes research related to individuals and families within the context of community-based primary care. Graduates will conduct and facilitate research in a variety of academic, clinical and community-based settings.

Admission

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university as described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog, students must meet the requirements specified below.

1. Grade-point average of at least 3.00 for all previous academic work.
2. Graduate Record Examination Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytic sections completed within last five years.
3. Bachelor's or master’s degree in nursing. Admission to the program without a master's degree in nursing will require additional course work as specified by the College of Nursing.
4. Three letters of recommendation from academic or employment sources that are knowledgeable about your potential for doctoral study and research in nursing.
5. Written statement that addresses your area of research interest, program goals and career goals, and how the Michigan State University College of Nursing program and faculty fit those research interest and goals.
6. Completion of an undergraduate or graduate-level statistics course with a grade of B (3.00) or better within the past five years.
7. International applicants whose academic language in not English must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as a condition for regular admission to Michigan State University. See the International Student Admission Minimum Requirement for Regular Admission section in the Graduate Education section of this catalog. All official transcripts must be translated into English by a certified translator.

Applicants with completed materials are reviewed by a faculty committee. Applicants identified as well-matched with the College of Nursing academic standards and program focus will be contacted for a required personal interview with representatives from the doctoral program faculty. Recommendations for admission are made by the faculty committee to the Director of the Doctoral Program and the Dean of the College based on the requirements for admission and the personal interview. 

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Nursing

In addition to meeting the university requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, students will complete a program of required and selected courses. Required courses guide the student in the principles and methods of research for the evaluation and testing of current and developing theories relevant to nursing. Courses in the selected area of focus offer opportunity for students to build upon their educational and experiential backgrounds to develop greater depth of knowledge in their research area. Students will be involved in a community health care site to gain an in-depth understanding of the dynamics in the translation of scientific knowledge to the practice setting. Students will also be required to participate in a research team to gain experience in the conduct of nursing research.

Transfer Credits

Up to 45% (22 semester credits) of graduate course work (excluding dissertation credits) may be transferred into the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program from other accredited institutions upon the approval of the College of Nursing.

Transfer of course credits from other accredited institutions must be completed through the following procedure:

1. Course credits for transfer must be part of the student’s program plan and must be approved by the student’s guidance committee and the director of the doctoral program. The student is responsible for requesting that an official transcript of the grade(s) for course work completed at another institution be sent to the Director of the Doctoral Program in the College of Nursing.
2. When requesting credit for transfer courses completed without prior approval, students must submit the course syllabi and an official transcript for review and approval by the student’s guidance committee and the director of the doctoral program.