Nursing (Graduate)

The Master of Science in Nursing program expands the focus of nursing, using as its foundation the basic baccalaureate nursing program. The program’s goals are directed toward educating the Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator.  The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares nurses to perform in the expanded role caring for families and facilitating adaptation in a variety of settings. The student’s area of study incorporates a blend of theory and research with an emphasis on guided practice in clinical areas.  The Nurse Educator concentration provides the knowledge base and skills needed to teach adults in a collegiate or health care setting.

The Master of Science in Nursing curriculum is primarily provided via the internet. This program is designed to provide working RNs the opportunity to pursue graduate work through the completion of a combination of online cohort courses and faculty and preceptor-guided practicums in the student's local community. All students are required to attend two focus sessions on Graceland's Independence campus during the course of the program.

Post-Master's Certificate programs are available to nurses who already hold a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Each specialty track presents a theoretical base specific to the selected area. The theoretical base is accompanied by clinical or practical experience which allows the student to apply the theory to specialized professional practice. Students admitted to a Post-Master's Certificate program are not matriculated for a graduate degree. A certificate is awarded upon completion.

Applicants for admission into the Master of Science in Nursing program are evaluated by the Graduate Student Affairs Committee on the basis of scholarship, writing ability, potential for success, professionalism and references. Admission is a competitive selective process and space availability is limited. Students are admitted into a specified specialty track within the MSN program. Admission decisions made by the GSAC are confidential and may not be discussed with applicants. Applicants must submit all college transcripts and a complete application packet in order to be considered for admission and must meet the following criteria:

1. Graduation from a baccalaureate-nursing program that has been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved nursing accrediting agency.
2. For students with foreign transcripts, a CGFNS evaluation is required with GPA equivalency and TOEFL score.
3. Current license to practice as a registered nurse in the U.S.A. and its territories.
4. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in both of the following areas:
   1. The last 60 hours of graded undergraduate coursework.
   2. All graded undergraduate nursing courses.
5. The following undergraduate courses must have been taken and a grade of 2.0 (C) must have been achieved in each one:
   1. Health Assessment
   2. Sciences (e.g., Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Microbiology)
   3. Pathophysiology
   4. Pharmacology
6. An undergraduate statistics course must have been taken and a minimum grade of 2.0 (C) must have been achieved
7. A minimum grade of 3.0 (B) in any graduate nursing courses taken.

Graceland alumni applicants with comparable qualifications will be given preference over other applicants. Graduate level nursing courses completed at another nationally accredited Master of Science program may be considered for transfer on a course-by-course basis. Graduate courses that were applied toward a baccalaureate degree may not be transferred. The maximum number of credits that may be transferred is 10. A Pharmacotherapuetic course will be considered for transfer only if completed within one year prior to admission. Advanced Pathophysiology and Advanced Health Assessment courses must have been completed within three years of admission to be considered for transfer credit. All other courses must have been completed within the past 7 years to be considered for transfer credit.

Conditional admission status may be assigned when there is concern regarding potential for success in the program.

Applications for admission are considered three times per year as shown below. Applicants who are qualified to be considered for admission but whose materials were received and/or are incomplete may be considered in the next admission cycle.

1. Completed sufficient credit to meet the total required graduate semester hours within 6 years of enrollment.
2. Completed at Graceland University:
   47 total graduate semester hours with a minimum of 37 at Graceland for Family Nurse Practitioner concentration;
   40 total graduate semester hours with a minimum of 30 at Graceland  for the Nurse Educator concentration.
3. Earned a final course grade of B or better in every course.
4. Satisfactorily completed the required scholarly project.
5. Fulfilled all financial obligations to Graceland University.
6. Filed an application for graduation with the Office of the Registrar at least 6 months prior to the anticipated graduation date.

The Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner program enlarges the focus of nursing, using as its foundation the Master of Science in Nursing program. The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares nurses to perform in the expanded role, caring for families in a variety of settings. The student's area of study incorporates a blend of theory and research with an emphasis on guided practice in clinical areas.

The curriculum builds on the core master’s courses with the addition of essential Family Nurse Practitioner courses. All didactic and clinical courses are planned following the guidelines of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) to meet the requirements for national certification.

The Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner program is primarily provided via the internet. It is designed to allow practicing RNs to pursue further graduate work within their home community. Students complete the requirements for certification through a combination of online courses and preceptor guided practicums in the student’s community. Those post MSN students who need Advanced Health Assessment and/or those who elect to take the Advanced Practice Procedures course will be required to come to one focus session at the Independence campus.

Students admitted to the Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Program are not matriculated for a graduate degree. A certificate is received upon completion of the coursework and students are then eligible to sit for the national certification exam as a Family Nurse Practitioner. The Post-Master's program requires a total of 30 semester hours. A minimum of 21 semester hours must be taken through Graceland University.

Applicants for admission into the Master of Science in Nursing program are evaluated by the Graduate Student Affairs Committee on the basis of scholarship, writing ability, potential for success, professionalism and references. Admission decisions made by the GSAC are confidential and may not be discussed with applicants. Applicants must submit all college transcripts and a complete application packet in order to be considered for admission and must meet the following criteria:

1. Graduation from a Master of Science in Nursing program that has been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved nursing accrediting agency.
2. Current license to practice as a registered nurse in the U.S.A. and its territories.
3. A minimum GPA of 3.2 or higher in a Master of Science in Nursing program.
4. No grade lower than a 3.0 (B) and no "Unsatisfactory" grades in graduate nursing courses.

Graduate level nursing courses completed at another nationally accredited Master of Science program may be considered for transfer on a course-by-course basis. Graduate courses that were applied toward a baccalaureate degree may not be transferred. The maximum number of credit hours that may be transferred is 10. A Pharmacotherapuetic course will be considered for transfer only if completed within one year prior to admission. Advanced Pathophysiology and Advanced Health Assessment courses must have been completed within three years of admission to be considered for transfer credit. Other graduate nursing courses must be considered on a case by case basis.

Admissions are considered three times per year as shown above.

Applicants for admission are evaluated by the Graduate Student Affairs Committee on the basis of scholarship, writing ability, potential for success, professionalism and references. Applicants must submit all college transcripts and a complete application packet in order to be considered for admission and must meet the following criteria:

1. Graduation from a Master of Science in Nursing program that has been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved nursing accrediting agency.
2. Current license to practice as a registered nurse in the U.S.A. and its territories.
3. A minimum GPA of 3.2 or higher in a Master of Science in Nursing Program.
4. No grade lower than a 3.0 (B) and no "Unsatisfactory" grades in graduate nursing courses.

1. All students will be assigned a faculty advisor upon admission to the MSN program. Faculty advisors are to be contacted by students for issues related to academic progress and professional success.
2. Student may earn only one "C" or lower in the program. This course must be successfully repeated with a grade of "B" or above. A second "C" or lower in graduate coursework will result in the student's dismissal from the program.
3. Students admitted on conditional status will be dismissed from the program if they receive a "C" in the first 12 hours of graduate courses.
4. Three documented withdrawals from graduate courses will result in dismissal from the program.
5. Students who have voluntarily or involuntarily withdrawn from the program or have been dismissed previously from Graceland's MSN program will only be considered once for readmission. Student's approved for readmission will return on probationary status for the first trimester. Readmission is not guaranteed and is based on current criteria used for admission to the program, space availability and the judgment of the GSAC as to the student's likelihood of academic and professional success.
6. The School of Nursing reserves the right to dismiss any student from the program whose professional conduct or theoretical and/or clinical performance demonstrates an inability to continue in graduate studies. This may include violation of the academic integrity policy.

Concentrations:

Family Nurse Practitioner
NURS5100 Pharmacotherapeutics 3 s.h.
NURS5141 Advanced Health Assessment 3 s.h.
NURS5142 Advanced Health Assessment Lab 1 s.h.
NURS5150 Advance Practive Procedures 1 s.h.
NURS5200 Primary Care of Families: Pediatrics 3 s.h.
NURS5440 Advanced Pathophysiology 3 s.h.
NURS5480 Primary Care for Women's Health 2 s.h.
NURS6200 Primary Care of Families: Adults 3 s.h.
NURS6741 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum: Pediatrics I 2 s.h.
NURS6742 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum: Pediatrics II 2 s.h.
NURS6761 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum: Adults I 2 s.h.
NURS6762 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum: Adults II 2 s.h.
NURS6830 Advanced Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum 3 s.h.
Core Courses 17-20 s.h.

Nurse Educator
NURS5141 Advanced Health Assessment 3 s.h.
NURS5142 Advanced Health Assessment Lab 1 s.h. 
NURS5440 Advanced Pathophysiology 3 s.h.
NURS5630 Issues in Nursing Education 2 s.h.
NURS6720 Nurse Educator Practicum 3 s.h.
EDUC/NURS5610 Teaching and Learning Theories 3 s.h.
EDUC/NURS5620 Technology for Educators 2 s.h.
EDUC/NURS5640 Curriculum Design, Implementation, and Evaluation 3 s.h.
EDUC/NURS5650 Teaching Strategies, Student Learning Styles and Assessment 3 s.h.
Core Courses 17-20 s.h.

Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
NURS5100 Pharmacotherapeutics 3 s.h.
NURS5141 Advanced Health Assessment 3 s.h.
NURS5142 Advanced Health Assessment Lab 1 s.h. 
NURS5200 Primary Care of Families: Pediatrics 3 s.h.
NURS5440 Advanced Pathophysiology 3 s.h.
NURS5480 Primary Care for Women's Health 2 s.h.
NURS6160 Role Socialization for Family Nurse Practitioner 1 s.h.
NURS6200 Primary Care of Families: Adults 3 s.h.
NURS6741 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum: Pediatrics I 2 s.h.
NURS6742 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum: Pediatrics II 2 s.h. 
NURS6761 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum: Adults I 2 s.h.
NURS6762 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum: Adults II 2 s.h. 
NURS6830 Advanced Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum 3 s.h.

Post-Master's Nurse Educator Certificate
NURS5210 Role Socialization for the Nurse Educator 1 s.h.
NURS5630 Issues in Nursing Education 2 s.h.
NURS6720 Nurse Educator Practicum 3 s.h.
EDUC/NURS5610 Teaching and Learning Theories 3 s.h.
EDUC/NURS5620 Technology for Educators 2 s.h.
EDUC/NURS5640 Curriculum Design, Implementation and Evaluation 3 s.h.
EDUC/NURS5650 Teaching Strategies, Student Learning and Assessment 3 s.h.