Purpose
The master`s program prepares
advanced practice nurses who are qualified to take relevant national
certification examinations and become certified for prescriptive
privileges in New Jersey and other states. Students in the B.S./M.S. to
Ph.D. programs are prepared to become nurse scientists. The master`s
graduate will be prepared to:
1. apply knowledge gained from nursing and related disciplines as the basis for advanced nursing practice;
2. manage independently and collaboratively the health-care problems of clients in a variety of settings;
3. analyze values and beliefs as the basis for a personal philosophy of advanced nursing practice;
4. use research findings to provide high quality health care, initiate change, and improve nursing practice;
5. design and provide quality, cost-effective care in health- care systems;
6. provide culturally competent care;
7. participate in regulatory, legislative, and professional policies to promote health communities;
8. use information systems for the storage, analysis, and
retrieval of data for clinical practice and research;
9. evaluate the standards of practice and consensus or
evidence-based practice guidelines applicable to a particular
population or area of practice;
10. employ
educational strategies (using instructional theories/ research) with
clients, families, staff members, and others;
11. use management theories and research to optimize health system functioning;
12. pursue doctoral study.
Organizing Framework
The master`s curriculum prepares clinical nurse specialists and nurse
practitioners who are able to function in continuously changing
environments or health care delivery systems. A nursing research track,
as part of the B.S./M.S. to Ph.D. program is also available. The
curriculum consists of three components: core courses in nursing,
cognate courses, and the clinical or research specialty in nursing.
Core courses build upon the knowledge and skills gained at the
baccalaureate level. In core courses, students study ethics and
advanced theories and research about the health of individuals,
families, groups, and communities. They also discuss theories and
research about management, education, role, and health care policy. The
essential theoretical foundations underpinning nursing practice are
addressed. The research focus is on identifying a problem, designing
advanced methods for testing hypotheses, and organizing and managing
qualitative and quantitative data.
The second component of the
curriculum involves science courses that establish a foundation for
clinical decision making. The final area of the curriculum concentrates
on preparing advanced practice nurses for adult and aged primary care,
advanced practice in women`s health, community health nursing, family,
acute care, advanced practice in pediatrics, oncology, and
psychiatric/mental-health nursing. An additional specialty option in
forensics/biopreparedness is being developed. The theory and practicum
courses cut across all areas, focusing on levels of health,
specifically health promotion, acute health problems, and chronic
health problems. Students in the B.S./M.S. to Ph.D. program take
courses that focus on nursing concepts and the research process.
Curriculum
Professional nursing is accountable to society for the effects of
nursing practice. As the needs of society change in response to new
knowledge and new technology, nursing evolves to meet these challenges.
The roles of professional nurses are changing to complement and work
with the changing roles of other health professionals. With society
demanding increasing authority and responsibility from health
professionals, leadership in planning and developing health resources
as a part of a multidisciplinary team is a necessary response.
The master`s program offers specialized study that takes students from
the baccalaureate-prepared generalist to the advanced practitioner who
is able to take on sophisticated roles in consultation, management, and
education. The graduate program is designed to prepare nurses to deal
with larger and more complex situations in providing health care
services.
Degree Requirements
The
master`s program in nursing may be completed in full- or part-time
study. Some courses are offered in sequence and are not offered every
term. Students in most tracks of the master`s program must complete 42
credits of course work. The exceptions are the family nurse
practitioner track, which requires completion of 48 credits, the
nursing oncology track, which requires 48 credits, the acute care
nursing track, which requires 43 credits, and the nursing research
track (B.S./M.S. to Ph.D.), which requires 30 credits. Additional
requirements are determined by the catalog in effect when the student
is admitted or readmitted.
Students also are encouraged to
enroll in various elective courses, which are available in other major
academic units of the university. Courses may be taken in the Rutgers
Business School, the School of Law-Newark, the School of Criminal
Justice, the School of Social Work, and the public administration and
other graduate programs offered by the Graduate School-Newark.
Time Limit.
Requirements for the master of science degree with a major in nursing
must be completed within five consecutive years from the date of
matriculation. Matriculation continued status is included in
matriculation time.
Additional Master`s Level Options
Post-Master`s Certificate Program
Post-masters certificates can be obtained in the following advanced
practice specializations: acute care, community health nursing, family,
pediatrics, primary care of the adult and aged, psychiatric/mental
health, and women`s health nursing. A post-master`s certificate can
also be obtained in nursing education. These programs are for the
graduate of a nursing master`s program. Post-master`s certificate
programs in oncology, administration, clinical trials, and informatics
are being developed.
Minor in Nursing Education
A minor in nursing education can be obtained along with any of the
advanced practice specializations. To complete either the minor or the
post-master`s certificate program, four nursing and one education
course must be completed. Additional minors are being developed in
clinical trials and informatics.
B.S./M.S. to Ph.D. Program
The B.S./M.S. to Ph.D. program is available for exceptional students
desiring a career in research. Students may be admitted prior to
beginning their bachelor`s program or master`s program. The master`s
program is designed for a role in research. It is not an advanced
practice nursing specialization. The student is expected to maintain a
3.5 cumulative grade-point average throughout the program.
Admission
The requirements for admission to the master`s program are as follows:
1. Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program;
2. An undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 (where
A = 4.0). For the B.S./M.S. to Ph.D. program, an undergraduate
cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 is required.
3.
One of the following: (1) five years of relevant practice experience,
(2) a grade of B or better in three Rutgers` College of Nursing
graduate courses taken on a nonmatriculated basis, (3) a B.S. in
nursing from Rutgers in the past 12 months with a GPA of 3.2 or better,
or (4) a satisfactory combined score on the verbal, quantitative, and
writing portions of the Graduate Record Examination taken within the
last five years;
4. Current New Jersey Professional Nurse licensure;
5. Three satisfactory academic and professional letters of reference;
6. Completion of a descriptive/inferential statistics course and a
physical assessment course * or equivalent, prerequisite to full
matriculation.
Admission for Foreign Applicants
To qualify for full graduate status, foreign applicants must meet all of the following additional criteria:
1. Completion of a college or university program equal to the
unit requirements for a baccalaureate degree in nursing;
2. Registered professional nurse licensure in the country of origin and
registered professional nurse licensure in the state of New Jersey;
3. Completion of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a
satisfactory score for students whose first language is not English
(the Test of Written English, part of TOEFL, is required);
4. Satisfactory completion of Rutgers` English as a Second Language
Placement Examination. This test is administered by the Program in
American Language Studies (PALS) and is given prior to the term for
which the student is accepted. Details about taking the test are sent
to the student by the admissions office along with the letter of
acceptance to the program. Based upon the student`s performance on this
placement test, the PALS program makes recommendations that are to be
followed by the graduate program in nursing;
5. Applicants in
F-1 or J-1 student status must prove that they have sufficient funds to
cover both their educational and living expenses.
Applicants
are encouraged to write to the College of Nursing Office of Student
Affairs asking for an informal evaluation before filing a formal
application.
Please note that specific clinical specialties may impose additional requirements.
Academic Advisement
When a student is fully or conditionally accepted into the graduate
program, the associate dean for student affairs consults with the
graduate program director and assigns a member of the graduate faculty
as the student`s academic adviser. Students are notified of their
advisers` names during new student orientation.
A student`s
adviser will be changed if a faculty member leaves the College of
Nursing, if the adviser or student indicates that a change would be
beneficial, or if the faculty member`s workload needs to be readjusted.
The change may be initiated by the adviser or student in a written
request to the associate dean for student affairs, and/or the graduate
program director. The associate dean for student affairs, in
consultation with the graduate program director, assesses and
coordinates reassignment of the student to another adviser.
Academic Policies
1. A full-time course load is defined as 9 or more credits, and a course
load of 18 credits or more requires the approval of the graduate
program director.
2. A student registered for 8 or fewer credits has part-time status.
3. Students must be registered every term to continue matriculation.
Those students who interrupt their studies may register, with the
approval of the graduate program director, for matriculation continued.
4. When a student applies for admission, the requirements for
the degree at that time become the student`s program of study. Any
courses taken as a nonmatriculated student are applied toward the
degree only if the courses are required at the time of admission and
were taken within the five-year time frame for earning the degree.
5. As many as 12 credits of graduate course work taken at other fully
accredited institutions before enrollment in this program may be
considered for replacing courses within the student`s program. The
courses must have been taken within the five- year time limit for the
degree and all must meet the stipulations outlined in this catalog. To
petition for approval of substitute courses, students should complete
Form T-1, which is available at the Office of Student Affairs. Transfer
of credits does not occur until a student has completed at least 12
credits in the graduate program.
6. No more than 9 credits with a grade of C or C+ may be used in meeting the requirements for a master`s degree.
7. Students are expected to earn grades of B or better in their course
work. An overall B average is required for graduation.
8. The grade of incomplete, IN, can be granted when a student has not
completed the assigned work in a course because of illness or other
reasons satisfactory to the instructor. The grade of IN is issued at
the discretion of the instructor. The IN grade must be converted to a
letter grade by the end of the drop/add period in the next term if the
course with the incomplete grade is a prerequisite for a current course
the student is taking. Any student failing to complete the assigned
work to remove the IN grade is required to drop the subsequent course.
University regulations require the removal of incompletes within a
calendar year. If not removed, the IN remains on the transcript.
In unusual and compelling situations, an extension may be
recommended by the graduate program director and approved by the dean
of the Graduate School-Newark. A specific plan for completion is
required for an extension to be approved. The Request for Incomplete
Status form may be obtained from the College of Nursing Office of
Student Affairs.
9. All requirements for the master`s degree
must be completed within five consecutive years from the date of
matriculation. Should extenuating circumstances necessitate prolonging
the time limit, the student`s record is reviewed. Extensions are
granted only to those students who have a history of satisfactory
performance and can document a timetable and plan to complete the
requirements within a reasonable period of time. A written request for
such an extension is made to the academic adviser, who makes a
recommendation on the matter to the graduate program director. The
director reviews the student`s record and forwards the appropriate
document of approval or disapproval to the dean of the Graduate
School-Newark. The final decision rests with the dean of the Graduate
School-Newark.
Clinical Placements
Clinical
placements for graduate students are arranged collaboratively with the
student, the professor responsible for the course, and a preceptor. The
terms of the placement are formalized in a letter of agreement filed
with the agency and in the Office of Student Affairs. Preceptors serve
as role models and guide the clinical experience. The professor
maintains contact with the preceptor, provides overall supervision, and assigns the final grade.
Professional Liability Protection
All graduate students are required to have professional liability insurance before they begin clinical work.
CPR Certification
Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the health care
provider level is required prior to beginning the clinical experience.
Thereafter, yearly recertification is required. A letter from the
instructor indicating a pass or a current CPR card is valid proof
of status. Only CPR certification from the American Heart Association
will be accepted.
Criminal History Background Check
Clinical agencies mandate criminal history background checks for all
individuals engaged in patient care. All students must undergo these
criminal history background checks and information related to this
process will be sent to the student from the College of Nursing.
Grade Complaints
The nursing program has procedures to ensure that all parties get due
process when a grade complaint arises. Any complaints by students about
their grades should be handled within the graduate program. The
program`s procedures give the student a chance to determine if an error
was made in assigning the grade. On the other hand, they enable the
instructor to explain why the grade was given. Complaints about grading
practices of individual instructors are handled in the following
manner:
1. Within 10 days of receiving notification of the
grade, the student should meet with the instructor who recorded the
grade.
2. If the two parties cannot resolve the matter, the
student must file within 10 school days a written complaint with the
graduate program director or a designee.
3. The program
director`s office reviews the case and attempts to mediate the dispute.
Within 10 school days of receiving the written complaint, the graduate
program director or designee shall consult with all parties and propose
a resolution.
4. If the student is not satisfied with the
results achieved at that level, he or she can refer the matter to the
Student Life Committee. To support this appeal, the student must
forward to the chairperson of the Student Life Committee the previously
written complaint and all materials submitted earlier in the case.
5. To review materials the student has submitted, the Student Life
Committee forms a subcommittee composed solely of its members who have
graduate faculty status.
6. Within 15 school days of receiving
the complaint, the committee shall render a decision. In arriving at
its decision, the committee may consult with anyone it chooses. In
extraordinary cases, it even may ask third parties from among the
faculty to review the grade in question.
7. Any student wishing
to pursue the matter further may appeal the program faculty`s decision
to the dean of the Graduate School-Newark. Such an appeal must be made
in writing within 10 school days from the day the student received
notice of the program faculty`s decision. In this document, the student
should outline clearly the grounds for the appeal.
8. The dean
of the Graduate School-Newark shall render a decision within 10 school
days of the receipt of the appeal. This decision is final.
Health Requirements
All students enrolled in degree-granting programs must provide
documents to prove that they have had all immunizations that are
required by state law. The required immunization forms are included
with the student`s letter of admission. Students who do not submit
documentation of immunizations before enrolling or during the first
term of enrollment may not register for the following term. Any student
seeking an exemption from this requirement for medical or religious
reasons must request in writing that the requirement be waived.
In addition to the university`s health requirements, the College of Nursing health policy requires the following:
1. Complete physical examination, health history, and laboratory tests;
2. Tuberculin screening yearly if the person tests negatively. For those
who test positively by Mantoux test, a chest X-ray is required upon
admission;
3. Evidence of immunity to Hepatitis B;
4. Tetanus/diphtheria booster received within the last 10 years;
5. Documentation of immunity to varicella, measles, mumps, and rubella.
Forms needed to meet these requirements are sent to each student by the
College of Nursing. Each student must return these forms to the
Immunization Program at Hurtado Health Center, Rutgers, The State
University of New Jersey, 11 Bishop Place, New Brunswick, NJ
08901-1180.
Graduate Nurse Alliance
The Graduate
Nurse Alliance (GNA), which was formalized in 1984, is open to all
enrolled master`s students. Students are expected to participate in
this organization, which was formed to provide a medium of exchange
between faculty members and graduate students. Among its other
purposes, the GNA ensures that graduate students have representation on
designated faculty committees; advocates student participation in
curriculum planning, implementation, and evaluation; and acts as a
liaison with the Graduate School-Newark student government.
Nondegree Students
Students who wish to take courses without enrolling in a degree program
are given nondegree status. The following policies and procedures apply
to nondegree students:
1. Applications for nondegree graduate
nursing courses may be obtained from the Internet by visiting
http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu.
2. All students must be advised
before registering for courses. The College of Nursing associate dean
for student affairs is the adviser for all nondegree students.
3. No more than 12 credits may be earned as nondegree credits. This
includes prerequisite courses for the graduate program in nursing.
4. Credit for nondegree courses may be applied to the graduate degree if
the student applies and is admitted to the graduate program within five
years. However, satisfactory completion of these courses does not
guarantee admission to the graduate degree program. In addition, a
student receives credit for these courses only if the courses were
required at the time of admission. Course syllabi are available no
later than the first day of class at http://nursing.rutgers.edu/.
Internet and Internet-Assisted Courses
A number of the master`s nursing courses are provided either entirely
online or partially online accompanied by a number of face-to-face
meetings. Courses that are entirely online are indicated as such in the
specific schedule of courses. Students are expected to be computer
literate and have convenient access to a computer with the appropriate
hardware and software. These computer system requirements are provided
on the College of Nursing web site.
