Mar 29, 2024  
2012 - 2013 Graduate Catalog 
    
2012 - 2013 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

School of Nursing


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Anthony Ramsey, Interim Director
Ginger Burggraf, Graduate Program
Coordinator
Graduate Faculty
See Graduate Faculty list at:
http://gradcollege.asp.radford.edu/faculty.html

Graduate Program

Radford University’s School of Nursing offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) program to prepare registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree (M.S.), or a master’s degree in nursing science (M.S.N.) for advanced nursing practice. Theory and research-based courses prepare graduates to work in a variety of settings, including community and population-based service, home care, clinics, hospice care, hospitals, long-term care, education, administration, and policy. The program culminates in a residency tailor-made to the student’s learning needs and career goals. The program is distance-based to promote maximum flexibility while maintaining quality student connections.

MSN Degree Concentrations

The online graduate program in Nursing of courses leading to the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.). The program is designed to provide advanced knowledge in nursing theory, research and practice. Two clinical concentrations are available: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Nurse-Midwife (NMW) in collaboration with Shenandoah University.  Students will participate in practica in a variety of acute and chronic health care settings that are designed to meet program outcomes as well as individual learning needs of students. The FNP concentration educates nurses who, upon completion, are qualified to provide primary health care in a variety of settings.  Graduates are prepared to seek national nurse practitioner certification and to practice collaboratively or independently in rural and urban underserved areas. The NMW concentration prepares advanced practice nurses to seek certification as a NMW to provide obstetric services in a variety of settings. Students may be accepted into graduate study as full-time or part-time students. The MSN FNP can be completed in four semesters plus one summer of full-time study. The Nurse-Midwifery can be completed within two calendar years, including two semesters plus one summer of full-time Radford University coursework and two semesters plus one summer of midwifery courses through Shenandoah University.

Students seeking the MSN in these concentrations must complete a comprehensive examination. For students completing a thesis, the oral defense serves as the comprehensive exam and for students completing the master’s capstone intervention project, the accompanying paper serves  as the comprehensive exam.

Financial aid for tuition and/or fees may be available to qualified students in the form of scholarships, traineeships, stipends and graduate assistantships.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Continuous enrollment exists until a quota is reached. Completed applications must be received by the Graduate College. Applicants must:

1.    Complete the entire application.

2.    Provide three letters of recommendation, in addition to the required form. These must be from a former faculty member, if a recent graduate, or professional contacts.

3.    Arrange to have official GRE scores sent to the Graduate College and also report these scores in your application materials.

4.    Arrange to have official transcripts sent from all previous academic institutions. Applicants must have a cumulative minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4 point scale in the BSN undergraduate major.  

5.    Meet undergraduate course prerequisites (undergraduate statistics, health assessment, nursing research and – for the FNP - either a course or CE in gerontological nursing).

6.    Provide a letter describing career goals and how a graduate credential will assist in meeting these goals and how practice in a rural area will be accomplished.

7.    Provide a resume that includes prior education and professional practice (must document a minimum of one year of full-time or the equivalent of 12 months of nursing practice within the last three years).

The application and related information can be found online at the College of Graduate and Professional Studies website: http://www.radford.edu/content/grad/home/admissions.html.

Prior to enrollment in the program, applicants are expected to have achieved, by experience and education, basic skills in written and oral communication, and computer usage.

The application, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, letter of intent, and resume should be submitted electronically to the Graduate College (see link above). Additional information will be requested after these materials are received.  Additional materials  include: a current license to practice as a registered nurse in VA, and current certification in BLS or ACLS.
Once all materials are received, the Graduate Coordinator will arrange for an interview.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
(M.S.N.)  DEGREE

Program Requirements         41-54 hours

Required Courses for all       21 hours
Concentrations

NURS 620. Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice.

NURS 628. Advanced Pathophysiology.

NURS 629. Advanced Health Assessment.

NURS 631. Advanced Pharmacology.

NURS 633. Advanced Practice Nursing in  Rural Communities.

NURS 650. Evidence for Advanced Nursing Practice.

NURS 651. Advanced Practice Nursing Roles and Leadership.

Family Nurse Practitioner     29-33 hrs.

NURS 634. Advanced Family Nursing I: Women’s Health.

NURS 635. Advanced Family Nursing II: Children’s Health.

NURS 636. Advanced Family Nursing III: Acute Illness Across the Lifespan.

NURS 637. Advanced Family Nursing IV: Chronic Illness Across the Lifespan.

NURS 638. Family Nurse Practitioner: Preceptorship.

NURS 696. Master’s Capstone Project. OR NURS 699. Research  and Thesis.

Nurse-Midwifery

The 43-credit Nurse-Midwifery option provided in collaboration with Shenandoah University prepare nurses for advanced practice in the care of women across the lifespan with an emphasis on the child-bearing phase of the life cycle. The Nurse-Midwifery component is taught by the Division of Nursing at Shenandoah University, the only Graduate Program in the Commonwealth of Virginia with a Nurse-Midwifery specialty that is accredited by the American College of Nurse Midwives. The Nurse-Midwifery courses offered by Shenandoah University will qualify students to sit for the Nurse-Midwifery certification examination of the American College of Nurse Midwives Certification Council. For a description of the Nurse-Mid wifery program, go to: http://www.nursing.su.edu/nursing-3/graduate-degrees-post-masters-certificate/graduate-degrees-master-of-science-in-nursing/msn-nurse-midwifery/.

DNP Degree Concentrations

Four clinical concentrations are available: Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Family Nurse Practitioner and, in collaboration with Shenandoah University, Nurse-Midwifery and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Adult – Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist

This concentration emphasizes advanced nursing practice roles for adults of all ages, including older adults. A holistic approach is emphasized in the care and treatment of adults, older adults, and families with regard to health promotion, protection, and restoration. Graduates will be qualified to provide care in homes, hospices, hospitals and long-term care facilities. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to sit for a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) certification exam.

Family Nurse Practitioner

This concentration educates nurses who will be qualified to provide primary health care in homes, clinics, ambulatory care facilities, long-term care facilities and other health care agencies. Upon completion of this concentration, graduates are prepared to sit for a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification exam.

Nurse-Midwifery

The concentration is provided in collaboration with Shenandoah University to prepare nurses for advanced practice in the care of women across the lifespan with an emphasis on the child-bearing phase of the life cycle. Nurses will be qualified to work in home care, hospitals and clinics. The nurse-midwifery courses offered by Shenandoah University will qualify students to sit for a Nurse-Midwifery (NM) certification exam.

Psychiatric Mental Health

The concentration is provided in collaboration with Shenandoah University to prepare nurses for advanced practice in psychiatric mental health nursing. Nurses will be qualified to work in hospitals, clinics, and mental health facilities. The psychiatric courses offered by Shenandoah University will qualify students to sit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (PMHCNS) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) exams.

D.N.P. Tracks

Students will be placed in one of three tracks:

  • Post-B.S.N. – Students in this track may choose any concentration and will receive a D.N.P. upon program completion.
  • Post-M.S.N. (Non-Certified) – This track requires selection of a concentration. Students will receive a D.N.P. upon program completion.
  • Post-M.S.N. - The concentration for students in this track will be dictated by their specialty, and students will receive a D.N.P. upon program completion.

Students seeking the D.N.P. in all concentrations and tracks must complete a residency and a capstone project.

Admission Requirements

  • Undergraduate course requirements in statistics, health assessment, and nursing research;
  • Minimum of 2,000 hours RN clinical practice;
  • Bachelor’s degree in nursing (B.S.N.), master’s degree in nursing (M.S.N.), or graduate degree (M.S.) in another discipline;
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale at the undergraduate level, 3.5 GPA at the graduate level;
  • Competitive Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (master’s degree-prepared applicants with national certification as APRN-NP, CNS, NM, or PMH are exempt from this requirement);
  • Current certification in BLS or ACLS;
  • Current license to practice as a registered nurse in Virginia;
  • Completed graduate college application;
  • Resume or curriculum vitae that includes prior education and professional practice;
  • 3-5 page essay outlining applicant’s vision for a career as a D.N.P. and how the D.N.P. program would help the applicant achieve this goal;
  • A sample of previous academic writing or publication;
  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended;
  • Three letters of reference from professional contacts (at least one must be from a former nursing faculty member);
  • Three recommendation forms (these forms may be completed by the same 3 contacts who provide your letters of reference);
  • Personal interview with Graduate Nursing Faculty.

Application Process

Prospective students can apply online at the Graduate College website at http://gradcollege.asp.radford.edu.

E-mail your application request to gradcollege@radford.edu or phone (540) 831-5431.

Recommendations are not submitted online, have them sent directly to:

Graduate Admissions
Radford University
P. O. Box 6928
Radford, Virginia 24142

A complete list of application materials can be found at http://www.radford.edu/dnp.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to students in a number of forms. A limited number of Graduate Assistantships are available to full-time degree seeking students through the Graduate College for both entering and returning students. In addition to awards based on demonstrated financial need, Radford University offers scholarships focused on leadership, character and academic achievements. Radford University School of Nursing students may also qualify for Federal Traineeship Grant Money.

Withdrawal

A graduate nursing student may not withdraw from more than three different graduate courses. Any withdrawal beyond the third withdrawal will result in an automatic “F.” In addition, a student may not withdraw from the same course more than once. A second withdrawal from a course will result in an automatic “F.”

Contact Information

For additional information, contact Ginger Burggraf, DNS, RN, FAAN, Graduate Program Coordinator, School of Nursing, Waldron College of Health Services, P. O. Box 6964, Waldron 335, Radford, VA 24142, (540) 831-7714, vburggraf2@radford.edu.

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