Janice Wiegmann, Ph.D., R.N., Associate Professor of Nursing;jwiegman@mckendree.edu; Nursing Office Building; (618) 537-6842
The graduate program in nursing is designed for working nurses who are interested in the masters degree to further careers in nursing education or nursing management/administration. The program offers a traditional two-year (five semesters) program for either option after the baccalaureate degree is completed, or an RN-MSN schedule for the nurse manager option that moves the students from the associate to the master’s degree in three years. Both options offer specific curricula that prepare the students to function on an advanced level in the nursing profession. The faculty is committed to providing excellent course and clinical experiences for learning. Professional and personal growth are expected to be the outcomes, as the masters-prepared nurse needs to have advanced preparation as well as communication and teaching skills. All students take core courses for higher-level practice, such as research and theory, as well as specific coursework for the area of emphasis. All students will complete a directed research project. This will prepare the graduates to function in a variety of settings. Graduates of the nursing education option will be prepared to teach at a community college; hospital staff development department; community health staff development department; or teach patients in any type of patient care area. Graduates of the nursing management/administration option will be prepared to work as a patient care manager in any setting. Either option will prepare the graduate to pursue the terminal degree.
The program is designed to meet the Commission on Colleges of Nursing Education’s (CCNE) Essentials of Master’s Degree Nursing Standards. The nursing division is applying for accreditation through the CCNE for both the baccalaureate completion and the masters degree program.
Transfer Credits
Following matriculation, students are expected to complete coursework at McKendree. However, prior to matriculation, up to 15 credits will be accepted from an accredited nursing graduate program. The courses must have equivalent content and a grade of (3.0) B or better to be considered for transfer.
Time to Complete Degree
Students must complete all degree requirements within 7 years of matriculation, unless otherwise specified. Students will remain under the catalog in effect at the time of their matriculation, unless they request to change to a subsequent catalog governing their degree requirements. Students must then meet all of the requirements of the new catalog.
Master of Science in Nursing Program Assessment
The students in the Master of Science in Nursing Program must complete four levels of assessment: candidates must (1) meet entry-level requirements for admission, (2) submit a portfolio at the end of the 500 level courses, (3) meet the performance indicators for clinical experiences and (4) successfully complete the Directed Research project at the end of the program. Each student will work with a graduate advisor to complete the assessment levels. The purpose of the McKendree nursing assessment is to ensure the preparation of nurses who can demonstrate theoretical knowledge, clinical skills and professional behavior to function effectively as an advanced level nurse.
Assessment One: Admission to the Program
Applicants for the graduate nursing program will be required to submit:
1. A valid Registered Nurse license,
2. Official transcripts from each college attended, demonstrating graduation from an undergraduate program,
3. Evidence of a 3.0 GPA. (Students with a 2.75 GPA may be conditionally admitted provided a 3.0 GPA is attained by the first 12 credit hours of graduate coursework. Conditional status will be removed after the student attains a 3.0 GPA for the first 12 hours of graduate coursework.)
4. A copy of an updated resume,
5. Three professional references.
Assessment Two: Portfolio at the End of the 500 Level Courses
Because the 500 level courses are required as transitional for all graduate students, evidence of successful completion of the foundational requirements is essential before the students enter the clinical courses. To assure success, the faculty evaluates the GPA and course progress. Students have an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding before being admitted to the 600 level courses. Self-analysis will be included as a part of the assessment process. Students will be provided with feedback during this assessment cycle, including areas for needed improvement before moving onto higher-level nursing practice.
Assessment Three: Clinical Experience Performance Indicators
Graduate students in the nursing education option will be required to take NSG 611, which focuses on the clinical proficiency of the nurse at an advanced level and NSG 612, which prepares the graduate for teaching in the classroom and clinical areas. Each graduate student will be mentored by a masters degree prepared nurse supervisor in the classroom and clinical area, with guidelines and outcomes specified regarding knowledge, clinical skills, delivery of content, professional behavior and abilities. Graduate students in the nursing management/administration option will be required to take NSG 605, which will focus on clinical management proficiency. A system of written evaluations from the supervisors, and feedback to the students will be utilized so that students can be encouraged to make improvements. Students must receive satisfactory evaluations from their nurse supervisors during NSG 611 and 612 to pass these courses. Students who do not meet the performance indicators will be required to repeat the course in which the problem occurred
Assessment Four: Directed Research Project or Thesis
Students will be required to prepare a directed research project, based on Boyer’s Scholarly Evidence Classifications, or complete a thesis. The faculty member responsible for the NSG 613 Directed Research Project course will mentor each student’s project based on the student’s choices for demonstrating scholarly activity. Students must demonstrate their ability to critically think, be creative and display professional relevance. The success of the student in displaying, organizing, analyzing data, and completing a project in a scholarly fashion is essential for this graduate degree. The graduate faculty member will be responsible to direct the students in the optimal way to complete the projects. For example, if a student is writing a grant proposal, it must be submitted. Students who choose to complete NSG 614 Thesis will follow the Graduate School Thesis Guidelines.
Master of Science in Nursing Degree Requirements
1. Students must declare their intent to graduate by completing a Degree Application (available in the Office of Academic Records) the semester prior to the anticipated graduation term;
2. Maintain a 3.0 in each course to remain in, and graduate from the program;
3. Complete 33 credit hours for the Nurse Manager Option and 38 credit hours for the Nurse Educator Option with a Grade Point of 3.0 or higher for each course in the graduate program;
4. Complete all courses (or equivalent content) in the Recommended Courses of Study Section above, in the Option declared by the student;
5. Complete all degree requirements within 7 years of matriculation.
Required Course of Study
Core Nursing Courses
(required of all graduate students in nursing)
|
Course Number
|
Course Title
|
Credits
|
|
NSG 500
|
Research Inquiry and Utilization in Healthcare
|
3
|
|
NSG 501
|
Policy, Economics and Organization in Healthcare Delivery Systems
|
3
|
|
NSG 502
|
Ethical Issues
|
2
|
|
NSG 503
|
Health Promotion/ Disease Prevention
|
2
|
|
NSG 504
|
Cultural Diversity in Healthcare Populations
|
3
|
|
NSG 505
|
Professional Role Development
|
2
|
|
|
Total
|
15
|
Nursing Education Option
|
Course Number
|
Course Title
|
Credits
|
|
NSG 606
|
Advanced Health Assessment Through the Lifespan
|
3
|
|
NSG 607
|
Advanced Pathophysiology
|
3
|
|
NSG 608
|
Advanced Pharmacology
|
3
|
|
NSG 609
|
Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations for Nursing Education
|
3
|
|
NSG 610
|
Curriculum, Instructional Methods and Evaluation
|
4
|
|
NSG 611
|
Clinical Practicum
|
3
|
|
NSG 612
|
Nurse Educator Practicum and Seminar
|
2
|
|
NSG 613 OR NSG 614
|
Directed Research Project OR Thesis
|
2-6
|
|
|
Total credits
|
23-27
|
Total Nursing Education Degree credits 38
Nursing Management/Administration Option
| Course Number |
Course title |
Credits |
| NSG 600 |
Theories and Principles of Nursing Management |
3 |
| NSG 601 |
Nursing Informatics |
3 |
| NSG 602 |
Human Behavior in Organizations |
3 |
| NSG 603 |
Management of Fiscal Systems |
3 |
| NSG 604 |
Clinical Systems Management |
2 |
| NSG 605 |
Nurse Manager Practicum and Seminar |
2 |
| NSG 613 OR NSG 614 |
Directed Research Project OR Thesis |
2-6 |
|
Total credits |
18-22 |
Total Nursing Management/Administration Degree credits 33
Nursing Education Option Recommended Schedule
Year One
Fall
NSG 500 Research Inquiry and Utilization in Healthcare (3)
NSG 502 Ethical Issues (2)
NSG 504 Cultural Diversity in Healthcare Populations (3)
Spring
NSG 501 Policy, Economics and Organization in
Healthcare Delivery (3)
NSG 503 Health Promotion/ Disease Prevention (2)
NSG 505 Professional Role Development (2)
Summer
NSG 606 Advanced Health Assessment through Lifespan (3)
NSG 607 Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
Year Two
Fall
NSG 608 Advanced Pharmacology (3)
NSG 609 Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Education (3)
NSG 611 Clinical Practicum (3)
Spring
NSG 610 Curriculum, Instructional Methods and Evaluation (4)
NSG 612 Nurse Educator Seminar and Practicum (2)
NSG 613 Directed Research Project (2)
or
NSG 614 Thesis (6)
Nursing Management/Administration Option
Recommended Schedule
Year One
Fall
NSG 500 Research Inquiry and Utilization in Healthcare (3)
NSG 502 Ethical Issues (2)
NSG 504 Cultural Diversity in Healthcare Populations (3)
Spring
NSG 501 Policy, Economics and Organization in Healthcare Delivery (3)
NSG 503 Health Promotion/ Disease Prevention (2)
NSG 505 Professional Role Development (2)
Summer
NSG 601 Nursing Informatics (3)
NSG 602 Human Behavior in Organizations (2)
Year Two
Fall
NSG 600 Theories and Principles of Nursing Management (3)
NSG 603 Management of Fiscal System (3)
NSG 604 Clinical Systems Management (2)
Spring
NSG 605 Nurse Manager Practicum and Seminar (2)
NSG 613 Directed Research Project (2)
or
NSG 614 Thesis (6)
RN-MSN Option
(Only available for the Nursing Management/Administration Option)
This accelerated course schedule is designed for the associate degree nurse who meets the admission criteria for the masters degree. Students will be expected to fulfill all undergraduate core course requirements for the baccalaureate nursing program. This course of study may result in a master’s degree. If the student does not maintain the GPA at 2.75 for undergraduate courses and 3.0 for graduate courses, or if one opts not to complete this course of study, a baccalaureate degree may be granted at the designated point in the program (see Year 2 Spring).
RN-MSN Course Schedule
YEAR One
Fall
MTH 310 Statistics (4)
NSG 301 Nursing Theory and Research (4)
Core/Elective Course (3)
CSI Course (3)
Spring
NSG 350 Health Assessment (3)
NSG 370 Pathophysiology (4)
Core/Elective Course (3)
Core/Elective Course (3)
Summer
NSG 320 Evidence Based Practice (2)
NSG 345 Transcultural Nursing (3)
Core/Elective Course (3)
Core/Elective Course (3)
Year Two
Fall
NSG 420 Family Health Nursing (3)
NSG 450 Community Health Nursing (4)
NSG 502 Ethical Issues (2)
Core/Elective Course (3)
Spring
NSG 400 Leadership and Management in Nursing (3)
NSG 470 Clinical Practicum in Community Health (4)
NSG 501 Policy, Economics & Organization in Healthcare Delivery (3)
Core/Elective Course (3)
A BSN degree may be granted at this point provided the student meets all requirements for degree conferral.
Summer
NSG 601 Nursing Informatics (3)
NSG 602 Human Behavior on Organizations (3)
Year Three
Fall
NSG 500 Research Inquiry and Utilization in Healthcare (3)
NSG 504 Cultural Diversity in Healthcare Populations (3)
NSG 600 Theories & Principles of Nursing Management (3)
NSG 603 Management of Fiscal Systems (3)
Spring
NSG 503 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (2)
NSG 505 Professional Role Development (2)
NSG 604 Clinical Systems Management (2)
Summer
NSG 605 Nurse Manager Practicum and Seminar (2)
NSG 613 Directed Research Project (2)
or
NSG 614 Thesis (6)
Course Descriptions
NSG 500 Research Inquiry and Utilization in Healthcare (3)
Graduate level nurses are prepared to extend their scientific base of knowledge through the acquisition of statistical methods and techniques of the research process. Learners select and analyze research studies in nursing and related fields, building upon their baccalaureate education. Graduate students critique, synthesize and develop evidence-based practice standards.
NSG 501 Policy, Economics &Organization in Healthcare Delivery Systems (3)
This course prepares advanced nurses to assume responsibility for health care and policy planning at the local, state, regional and federal levels and the private sector. The impact of financial, legal and managed care issues involving health care is explored.
NSG 502 Ethical Issues (2)
Examines ethical dilemmas encountered in advanced nursing and explores the decision making process and the implications of various decisions. Applies these concepts to clinical practice at various levels of nursing practice.
NSG 503 Health Promotion/Disease Prevention (2)
Graduate students participate in health promotion, education and disease prevention strategies based upon the health concerns and preventive needs of different groups. Utilizing knowledge of the local, state and federal health plans, students will be expected to conceptualize and operationalize a plan to promote health and/or prevent disease in a specific group.
NSG 504 Cultural Diversity in Healthcare Populations (3)
Graduate level nursing students will select a diverse population and conduct in-depth studies of that group regarding healthcare. Experiences directly with that population are essential for the understanding of healthcare expectations and needs.
NSG 505 Professional Role Development (2)
Provides a reflective look at the evolution of nursing roles in the current healthcare environment. Distinguishes role expectations under current standards of practice for RN and MSN. Relationships to nursing organizations are explored, as well as continuing education options. Emphasis is placed on transitioning to the MSN role, personalizing values and individualizing a philosophy of nursing.
NSG 600 Theories and Principles of Nursing Management (3)
This course focuses on the theoretical foundations of management and its applications to nursing practice at all levels. Critical thinking and how it applies to the process of management is examined as an essential part of development of nursing leadership styles.
NSG 601 Nursing Informatics (3)
This course will introduce modern informatics to the graduate student in the management option. Ability to understand and utilize the processes needed to communicate and store data in the present computer-based nursing world will be a focus of this course.
NSG 602 Human Behavior in Organizations (3)
Exploration of the behavior of people in organizations is the interest of this course. Students in the graduate nursing management option will be introduced to the integrated concepts in the field of organizational behavior.
NSG 603 Management of Fiscal Systems (3)
The structure and function of fiscal systems in the healthcare environment is the focus of this course. Developing understanding of, and ability to manage, fiscal resources is essential for nurse managers.
NSG 604 Clinical Systems Management (3)
This course focuses on the way that healthcare is delivered, and the management of those delivery systems. Graduate student nurse managers will explore different types of delivery systems in clinical settings.
NSG 605 Nurse Manager Practicum and Seminar (2)
In this capstone to the nurse manager option, the graduate student synthesizes all previous learning.. Students will be able to develop competence and comfort in the manager role through practice with a preceptor. This is a concentrated practice experience supported by conferences with faculty.
NSG 606 Advanced Health Assessment through the Lifespan (3)
Nurse educator option students learn how to obtain comprehensive histories and perform professional level physical examinations. Students learn interpretation of health status data, critical thinking, and differential diagnosis. This course includes laboratory practice of physical examination skills.
NSG 607 Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
The graduate nurse educator students are taught to understand the biological basis for physiological diseases. This is the foundation for students to refine their critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills in recognizing alterations in functions. Students will learn to differentiate among the normal changes of aging, benign variations and pathology.
NSG 608 Advanced Pharmacology (3)
The graduate nurse educator students are taught the principle of clinical pharmacology with an introduction to pharmacotherapeutics, necessary to manage patients across the lifespan. Learning about drug regimens, monitoring and patient education is essential for teaching pharmacology.
NSG 609 Philosophical and Theoretical Foundation for Nursing Education (3)
This course analyzes conceptual models and theories for both the education and nursing sciences. Nurse educator option students will have an opportunity to compare, contrast and evaluate the usefulness of these concepts in teaching practice.
NSG 610 Curriculum, Instructional Methods and Evaluation (4)
Nurse educator option students examine curriculum design and a variety of methods for teaching and evaluation. Congruence between expectations and styles of teachers and learners are integrated into the process of developing and evaluating the classroom experience.
NSG 611 Clinical Practicum (3)
This course provides the students with an opportunity to expand the level of their clinical expertise. Nurse educator option students will be able to evaluate and develop advanced practice skills to deliver a higher level of clinical instruction to their students. Clinical experiences will be consistent with the course objectives and will be individually planned. Students will be expected to demonstrate clinical competence in the area of expertise in which they plan to teach. Choices for this experience include medical-surgical, psychiatric, women’s health or pediatric clinical areas.
NSG 612 Nurse Educator Practicum and Seminar (2)
In this capstone to the nurse educator option, the graduate student synthesizes all previous learning. Students will be able to develop competence and comfort in the educator role through practice with a preceptor in the classroom and clinical instruction areas. This is a concentrated practice experience supported by conferences with faculty. Pre/co-requisites: NSG 610 & NSG 611.
NSG 613 Directed Research Project (2)
This capstone course for all graduate nursing students will guide the learners through a research process. From writing a proposal to conducting some research related to the practice field into which they are preparing to go, this comprehensive course provides a conduit for independent practice through research. Pre/co-requisites: NSG 610, NSG 611 & NSG 612.
NSG 614 Thesis (6)
Students will review relevant research and develop a proposal to collect, organize, and analyze data. A proposal must be approved by the student’s thesis committee before research can commence. Students must complete the thesis in accordance with the Graduate School Thesis Guidelines. The thesis must be presented and defended before the student’s thesis committee. May be taken for variable credit throughout the program until thesis is completed.