Nursing, M.S.N.
Learning Goals
Jane Williams
Dean, School of Nursing
M.S.N. Graduate Program Director: Cynthia Padula
M.S.N. Program Faculty: Professors Byrd, Carty, Padula, Thomas, Williams, Wood; Associate Professors Aflague, Blasdell, Costello, Hetzel, Huntley-Newby, Lockett, Quigley, Schwager; Assistant Professors Blanchette, Brennan, Coia, Creamer, DeNuccio, Foote, Gremel, Griffin, Mock, Molloy, Morris, Records, Ross, Servello, Siskind, Smith, Wilks
Admission Requirements for All M.S.N. Students
- A completed application form accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable application fee.
- A baccalaureate degree in an upper-division nursing major from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited program.
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Applicants with international degrees must have their transcripts evaluated for degree and grade equivalency to that of a regionally accredited institution in the United States.
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate records.
- Completion of a course in statistics (MATH 240 or its equivalent), with a minimum grade of C.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in undergraduate course work. Provisional acceptance is occasionally granted to students with a cumulative grade point average of less than 3.00. Students who are provisionally admitted must achieve a minimum grade of B in three required nursing courses to qualify for full admission.
- An official report of scores on the Graduate Record Examination or the Millers Analogies Test.
- An official report of scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language from international applicants who are from countries where English is not the first language.
- Current unrestricted licensure for the practice of nursing in Rhode Island.
- A professional résumé.
- Three professional references (one from the clinical area).
- A brief letter of intent, which includes a statement of goals.
- Proof of residency.
- An interview may be required.
Additional Admission Requirements for R.N. to M.S.N. Students
Students must fulfill all of the above requirements and successfully complete the R.N. to B.S.N. program, including MATH 240. When at senior standing in the B.S.N. program, students may complete NURS 501, NURS 502, NURS 503, or NURS 512 (up to 9 credits) as electives. Those completed M.S.N. courses will be waived upon entry into the M.S.N. program of study.
Additional Admission Requirement for the Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Option
One year relevant acute care experience.
Additional Admission Requirements for Nurse Anesthesia
Due to clinical rotations at hospitals in Massachusetts, a license is required for Massachusetts. Personal interview is required. Completion of two courses in chemistry (Chem 105, 106) within the last ten years with minimum grades of C. A preferred undergraduate science GPA of 3.0. Of the three required references, one must be from a clinical supervisor. Current ACLS certification. Minimum of one year critical care experience. A complete definition of accepted critical care experience is found on the St. Joseph Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia website: www.sjhsna.com.
Retention Requirement for M.S.N. Students
All students are expected to maintain a cumulative average of B (3.00) or better in their graduate program. Students who do not maintain a cumulative B (3.00) average will have their status reviewed by the master’s program director. Students who achieve less than a B in a required nursing course (electives excluded) will be placed on probationary status. Students in the Nurse Anesthesia option who earn a grade of less than B- in the required science courses, including CHEM 519 and BIO 535 and BIO 536, will be placed on probationary status. Students on probationary status must achieve a B or better in each required course over the next 9 credits. Two grades below B are sufficient cause for consideration of dismissal; the decision regarding students’ status will be made by the master’s program director in consult with the dean. Students may be required to repeat a course at the discretion of the master’s program director.
Handbook
The School of Nursing Handbook for Graduate Students in Nursing provides detailed and essential information about the graduate nursing program. It is available online at www.ric.edu/nursing.
Course Requirements - Full-Time Students
Select option A, B, or C below
A. Adult/Gerontology Acute Care
First Semester
| NURS 501 | Advanced Nursing Research | 3 | Fall, Summer. |
| NURS 502 | Health Care Systems | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 505 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 506 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 | Fall. |
Second Semester
| NURS 503 | Professional Role Development | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 504 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 510 | Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness I | 3 | Spring. |
| | | | |
| NURS 530 | Synergy Model for C.N.S. Practice | 3 | Spring. |
| | -Or- | | |
| NURS 540 | Differential Diagnosis for Nurse Practitioners | 3 | Spring. |
Summer Session I
| NURS 509 | Professional Project Seminar | 1 | Summer. |
Third Semester
| NURS 512 | Genetics and Genomics in Health Care | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 609 | Master's Major Project | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 610 | Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness II | 6 | Fall. |
Fourth Semester
| NURS 609 | Master's Major Project | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 620 | Adult/Older Adult
Health/Illness III | 6 | Spring. |
| ELECTIVE | Chosen with advisor’s consent | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 45 | |
B. Nurse Anesthesia
First Semester - Summer Session II
| NURS 501 | Advanced Nursing Research | 3 | Fall, Summer. |
Second Semester
| BIOL 535 | Advanced Physiology I | 4 | Fall. |
| CHEM 519 | Biochemistry for Health Professionals | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 502 | Health Care Systems | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 505 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 506 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 | Fall. |
Third Semester
| BIOL 536 | Advanced Physiology II | 4 | Spring. |
| NURS 503 | Professional Role Development | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 504 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 514 | Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia | 2 | Spring. |
| NURS 517 | Foundational Principles of Nurse Anesthesia | 3 | Spring. |
Fourth Semester
| NURS 509 | Professional Project Seminar | 1 | Summer. |
| NURS 516 | Advanced Principles of Nurse Anesthesia Practice I | 3 | Summer. |
| NURS 570 | Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum I | 1 | Summer. |
Fifth Semester
| NURS 512 | Genetics and Genomics in Health Care | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 616 | Advanced Principles of Nurse Anesthesia Practice II | 3 | Fall. |
| NURS 630 | Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum II | 1 | Fall. |
Sixth Semester
| NURS 609 | Master's Major Project | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 626 | Advanced Principles in Nurse Anesthesia III | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 640 | Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum III | 1 | Spring. |
Seventh Semester
| NURS 609 | Master's Major Project | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 670 | Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum IV | 1 | Summer. |
Eighth Semester
| NURS 636 | Transition into Nurse Anesthesia Practice | 2 | Fall. |
| NURS 690 | Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum V | 1 | Fall. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 56 | |
C. Population/Public Health Nursing
First Semester
| NURS 501 | Advanced Nursing Research | 3 | Fall, Summer. |
| NURS 502 | Health Care Systems | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 508 | Public Health Science | 3 | Fall. |
Second Semester
| HPE 507 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 503 | Professional Role Development | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 511 | Population/Public Health Nursing | 6 | Spring. |
Summer Session I
| NURS 509 | Professional Project Seminar | 1 | Summer. |
Third Semester
| NURS 512 | Genetics and Genomics in Health Care | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 609 | Master's Major Project | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 611 | Population/Public Health Nursing II | 6 | Fall. |
Fourth Semester
| NURS 609 | Master's Major Project | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 621 | Population/Public Health Nursing III | 6 | Spring. |
| ELECTIVE | Chosen with advisor’s consent | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 42 | |
Course Requirements - Part-Time Students
Select option A or B below
A. Adult/Gerontology Acute Care
First Semester
| NURS 501 | Advanced Nursing Research | 3 | Fall, Summer. |
| NURS 502 | Health Care Systems | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
Second Semester
| NURS 503 | Professional Role Development | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 504 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 512 | Genetics and Genomics in Health Care | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
Third Semester
| NURS 505 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| NURS 506 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 | Fall. |
Fourth Semester
| NURS 510 | Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness I | 3 | Spring. |
| | | | |
| NURS 530 | Synergy Model for C.N.S. Practice | 3 | Spring. |
| | -Or- | | |
| NURS 540 | Differential Diagnosis for Nurse Practitioners | 3 | Spring. |
| | | | |
| ELECTIVE | Chosen with advisor’s consent | 3 | |
Summer Session I
| NURS 509 | Professional Project Seminar | 1 | Summer. |
Fifth Semester
| NURS 609 | Master's Major Project | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 610 | Adult/Older Adult Health/Illness II | 6 | Fall. |
Sixth Semester
| NURS 609 | Master's Major Project | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 620 | Adult/Older Adult
Health/Illness III | 6 | Spring. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 45 | |
B. Population/Public Health Nursing
First Semester
| NURS 501 | Advanced Nursing Research | 3 | Fall, Summer. |
| NURS 502 | Health Care Systems | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
Second Semester
| HPE 507 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 | Spring. |
| NURS 503 | Professional Role Development | 3 | Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 512 | Genetics and Genomics in Health Care | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
Third Semester
Fourth Semester
| NURS 511 | Population/Public Health Nursing | 6 | Spring. |
Summer Session I
| NURS 509 | Professional Project Seminar | 1 | Summer. |
Fifth Semester
| NURS 609 | Master's Major Project | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 611 | Population/Public Health Nursing II | 6 | Fall. |
Sixth Semester
| NURS 609 | Master's Major Project | 1 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| NURS 621 | Population/Public Health Nursing III | 6 | Spring. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 42 | |