Master of Science in Nursing

The Mission of the Graduate Program at Central Methodist University is to create a learning environment that allows students to continue their professional development. This is achieved through emphasis on academic and professional excellence, ethical leadership, and social responsibility.

Mission of the MSN Program

The Master of Science in Nursing Program in the College of Graduate and Extended Studies at Central Methodist University provides opportunities for qualified students to acquire the knowledge necessary to enhance professional leadership and management skills while nurturing a research-oriented, mentor and evidence-based practice nursing environment. The Master of Science in Nursing Program's mission is to prepare nurses to practice in a professional role with a master's degree in nursing. The primary focus is to provide advanced practice clinical skills and knowledge fostering ethical leadership and social responsibility.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)

The program has been written using the guiding principles developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The MSN graduate should be eligible to matriculate to a practice- or research-focused doctoral program. The MSN program at CMU accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791, the accreditation arm of AACN.

MSN Philosophy

The goal of the Central Methodist University Master of Science in Nursing Program is to facilitate opportunities for qualified students to acquire the knowledge necessary to provide excellent nursing leadership and management skills while nurturing a research-oriented, mentor and evidence-based practice environment. This knowledge is acquired within a liberal arts experience, which emphasizes honesty, integrity, civility and a strong sense of personal responsibility. Professional preparation as a nurse includes promoting lifelong learning, social responsibility and service.

Clinical Nurse Leader Program: The goal of the Master of Science in Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leader Program is to provide opportunities for qualified students to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in nursing and clinical leadership in the health care delivery system across all health care settings. The CNL assumes accountability for client care outcomes through the assimilation and application of evidence-based information to design, implement, and evaluate the process of health care delivery. The goal also includes improving clinical or client outcomes and enhancing nursing practice through the identification and application of evidence-based care to clients and families. The CNL is accountable for a defined group of clients within the health care setting. The CNL is a formal leader and provides horizontal leadership to foster lateral integration of care.

For more information about the Clinical Nurse Leader role and certification options, please visit the AACN website.

Students in their last term of a CNL education program may sit for the CNL Certification Exam prior to sitting for NCLEX. These students will be formally certified after successfully passing the certification exam and notifying CNC of meeting the remaining eligibility requirements - RN licensure and graduation from a CNL education program.

Nurse Educator Program: The goal of the Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Educator program is to provide opportunities for qualified students to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in nursing to enable them to provide nursing education across all settings in which health care information is delivered. The Nurse Educator assumes accountability for client or student outcomes through the assimilation and application of evidence-based information to design, implement, and evaluate curriculum, instruction, and learning. The goal also includes improving client or student outcomes and enhancing nursing practice through the identification of and application of effective instructional strategies. The Nurse Educator is accountable for a defined group of clients or students within an educational setting.

Nursing Faculty Belief: The faculty believes persons are unique, holistic and developing beings with the process and capacity for thinking, feeling, reflecting and choosing. Health is a state and a process of being and becoming an integrated and whole person. Health is a continuum ranging from peak wellness to death. Nursing assists persons, families and communities to examine life and environmental patterns while attaching personal meaning to these patterns. Nursing acts to enhance interaction with the environment by promoting meaningful life experiences and growth. The profession of nursing is an integrated part of a system for health care delivery and shares responsibility for working collaboratively with other health care practitioners.

Nursing education is a process, which enables the learner to synthesize a body of knowledge obtained through courses in nursing, liberal arts, humanities, and the sciences. Because nursing is dynamic, the education is foundational for professional growth through nursing research and continuing education.

The faculty believes that the learner is best able to reach individual potential in an environment that is nurturing and promotes inquiry, dialogue, curiosity, creativity, the ethical ideal and assertiveness. The learner brings an attitude of commitment and motivation for achievement. The role of the learner is to share in the responsibility of the teaching-learning process.

The facilitator interacts with students as persons of worth, dignity, intelligence and high scholarly standards. The facilitator's role is to provide the climate, structure, and dialogue that promote discovery of patterns and paradigms for practice. The facilitator raises questions that require reading, observation, analysis, and reflection upon patient care. The facilitator nurtures the learner, is available for dialogue, and promotes the use of research and critical thinking in the delivery of nursing care.

Program Outcomes

Clinical Nurse Leader Program Outcomes

At the end of this program the graduate will be able to:

Design, coordinate, supervise and evaluate care provided by the health care team evaluating appropriate use of fiscal and human resources.
Assume accountability for client care outcomes by utilizing evidence-based information to design, implement, and evaluate the process of health care delivery.
Evaluate issues in health care delivery from an ethical, socio-political, technological, and historical framework while providing leadership for change.
Effect change through advocacy for clients within the health care delivery and policy system, the profession, and the interdisciplinary health care team.
Assume personal responsibility and accountability for current practice and health care information and skills.
Utilize a multidisciplinary approach to discuss strategies and identify and acquire resources for client populations that empower them to attain health and maintain wellness.
Identify the impact of health care financial policies and economics on the delivery of health care and client outcomes.
Utilize information systems and patient care technologies at the point of care to improve health care outcomes.
Effectively utilizes varied methods of communication and technologies to impact care and practice, including instructional practices, at macro-, meso-, and microsystems levels.

Nurse Educator Program Outcomes

At the end of this program the graduate will be able to:

Design, coordinate, and evaluate educational experiences provided to student and patient populations.
Assume accountability for learning outcomes, including those that focus on patient care, by utilizing research-based information to design, implement, and evaluate learning experiences.
Analyze issues in education from an ethical, sociopolitical, technological, and historical framework while providing leadership for change.
Advocate for policies that improve nursing education and the profession of nursing.
Analyze the impact of higher education on nursing education focusing on policy, issues, and trends.
Analyze nursing history to expand thinking and provide a sense of professional heritage and identity.
Integrate findings from the sciences and humanities to impact educational outcomes.
Mentor and coach nursing students and other members of the educational team.
Effectively utilize varied methods of communication and technologies to enhance learning.
Integrate clinical prevention and population health concepts in the development of health education, communication strategies, and interventions.
Design strategies that promote lifelong learning for self, peers, and students that incorporate professional nursing standards and accountability for practice.
Integrate an evolving personal philosophy of nursing and healthcare into one's educational practice.

Admission Criteria

POLICY: The Admissions Committee shall review all completed applications to the nursing program. The committee will determine whether an applicant may be admitted unconditionally, admitted with provisions, or not admitted, based on established criteria. This committee will include the following individuals: the Division Chair of Health Professions, all CMU nursing program and clinical coordinators, one full time MSN faculty member, and one adjunct MSN faculty member.

Students who have graduated from any of Central Methodist University’s baccalaureate nursing programs in 2012 or later, have passed the NCLEX, and have an unencumbered nursing license are eligible for direct admission to the MSN program. Please contact Graduate Admissions for further information at asage@centralmethodist.edu.

All other applicants must meet the following requirements:

Eligible for admission to Central Methodist University's Graduate School
Current Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree from a college or university accredited by CCNE, ACEN, or CNEA.
Current, undisciplined RN license from a U.S. state or territory
Cumulative GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from the completed BSN program
Nursing Research course with a C grade or better
Statistics course with a C grade or better
Submission of an Application for Admission
Resume and cover letter (one page each) detailing why you are pursuing a graduate degree and how you will use this degree to improve your current practice. Submit to cges@centralmethodist.edu.
Submission of a formal written paper to cges@centralmethodist.edu. A maximum of four pages, demonstrating skills in grammar, spelling, and composition supported by at least two (2) sources from current literature (APA formatting mandatory) that addresses one of the two following prompts:
1. What is the role of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) in shaping the future of healthcare delivery? or
2. What is the role of the Nurse Educator in shaping the future of healthcare delivery?
Two letters of recommendation, one must be from a previous instructor or supervisor. Letters of recommendation should be submitted directly from the author to cges@centralmethodist.edu.

Student submitted transcripts or letters of recommendation are not accepted. Please direct your transcript request and recommendation authors to send the documents directly to cges@centralmethodist.edu.

Conditional Admission

Students who do not meet the published admission criteria for the MSN program may petition for conditional admission during the Admission Review Process. Petition letters must explain why the student does not meet the standard and provide a valid reason for consideration for acceptance. Additionally, students should express how they plan to be successful should their petition to be considered for admission be granted. The Admissions Committee will then submit a recommendation to the Director of Graduate Studies once the petition has been reviewed.

Criteria Upon Acceptance

Depending on individual circumstances, some MSN students may need to purchase liability insurance through the University and a CastleBranch account, including a criminal background check, urine drug screen, and immunization tracker. Students will be contacted by the MSN Program Coordinator with additional details.

Students need to have a computer with access to the internet to be successful in this program. They must also have Microsoft Office Professional 2007 or newer version to enable them to submit papers to the faculty which are easily opened and by which faculty comments can be submitted as feedback to the students. Documents must be saved in .rtf, .doc, or .docx format.

Requirements for Continuation in Program

Progression

Students must earn a grade of "B" in all Nursing (NU) courses. Should a student receive a grade of less than B for any one NU course, s/he must repeat the course.

Withdrawal (a grade of "W") from any NU course other than a medical withdrawal is considered the same as being academically unsuccessful in that course for purposes of progression through the nursing program. Should the student receive any second grade of less than B for any NU course, the second grade of less than a B (or two non-medical withdrawals) will result in the student's dismissal from the nursing education program.

Resumption of the program following an approved medical withdrawal requires a letter from the health provider stating that there are no restrictions affecting the student's ability to resume the course of study.

Any student not actively participating in the MSN program for more than three consecutive semesters is dropped from the program and must reapply for consideration for acceptance into the program.

Note: No current CMU student shall supervise another CMU student as part of any CMU course. This specifically includes all practicum, internships, and student-teaching experiences or related courses. Students should consult the appropriate advisor if they have any questions regarding their assignment for the aforementioned experiences.

Graduation Requirements

A 3.0 cumulative G.P.A. must be maintained and a grade of "B" or above must be earned in all graduate course work. Should a student receive a grade of less than a "B" the student must "stop out" and return to repeat that course before continuing.
The MSN Program must be completed within five years of the initial start date.

Assessment

Method of Assessment

Specific Program Outcomes are aligned with each course. Each course has primary objectives which illuminate the aligned Program Outcomes. Satisfactory achievement of the identified primary objective demonstrates accomplishment of the Program Outcome. Each primary objective has a specific course assignment for which successful completion of the assignment at or above the established threshold signifies student achievement of the objective.

Review

Student evaluations of instruction (SEIs) are reviewed at the end of each course and each academic year as part of the Nursing Department's yearly evaluation process. Graduate, alumni, and Employer surveys are issued annually in December. The surveys are designed to provide an opportunity for these groups of constituents to provide feedback to the programs regarding the achievement of program outcomes and new opportunities to provide service.

Feedback

Faculty provide primary feedback to students regarding assignments through the course management system, myCMU. Rubrics used to grade assignments with comments appended are attached to the course room. Feedback for assignments is NOT provided through email.

Faculty are required to respond to student assignments with feedback not more than 7 days following the due date for the assignment. Work turned in early does not require earlier feedback.

Faculty will be active participants in the discussion forum at least once per week.

Faculty should respond to questions and concerns communicated via Courseroom in no more than 24 hours.

The Portfolio, which may include course summaries and self-evaluation related to whether the courses content helped them meet the program outcomes, is primarily a methodology for students to demonstrate growth in professionalism to actual and potential employers and for 5-year recertification as a CNL or CNE.

*The MSN programs do require clinical hours as part of some courses. Specific information is available from the Program Coordinator.