Baccalaureate Program in Nursing Student Handbook
Student Handbook Graduate Program in Nursing
Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia Mandatory Nurse Anesthesia Course and Clinical Activity Packet
FAQs
Nurse Anesthesia FAQs
Graduate Student Advisor - School of Nursing
Graduate Student Curriculum Prgression Plans
Deadline Dates for Application
Graduate Student tuition and Fees
Graduate Student Admission Forms
SIUE Graduate Student Catalog Introduction
Master's Student Outcome Behaviors
Admission Requirements: MS Nurse Anesthesia
Admission Requirements: Post Master's Certificate in Nurse Anesthesia
Admission Requirements: MS in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Nurse Educator (NE), or Health Care & Nursing Administration (HCNA)
Admission Requirements: Post Master's Certificate in FNP, NE, or HCNA
Additional Admission Requirements
Probationary Admission
Retention
Program of Study
Master's Degree Specializations
Terminal Project
Post-Master's Certificates
Exit Requirements
Professional Development Sequences (PDS) in Nursing
Admission to the PDS Program
PDS Program of Study
PDS Exit Requirements
Graduate Student Assistantship Information
For questions or information about the graduate program, contact the Graduate Student Academic Advisor, Hailey King, at 618-650-3930 or by email at hking@siue.edu
Ms. King can be reached at 618-650-3930 or hking@siue.edu
*3 references must be submitted, one of which must be from your immediate supervisor (who preferably holds a master's or doctoral degree).
The Graduate Program in Nursing, accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120, (202) 887-6791, CCNE Accreditation, provides courses for advanced practice, and /or advanced nursing, and/or professional development. The Nurse Anesthesia specialization is also accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. The School of Nursing inspires students and faculty to embody the creativity to teach, the curiosity to learn, the courage to serve, and the compassion to care for others in this diverse and complex world, forever exemplifying nursing excellence in action.
Master’s degrees and Post-Master’s Certificates are awarded in the specializations of Health Care and Nursing Administration, Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Educator, and Family Nurse Practitioner. Courses in oncology nursing and pain management nursing are also offered either as a Professional Development Sequence or as electives.
Graduate nursing education builds upon baccalaureate nursing education and emphasizes development of leadership skills and the expertise necessary to assume complex, specialized roles while providing direct and indirect nursing care to individuals, groups, and families. We focus on knowledge of community resources and the aspects of primary, secondary, and tertiary modalities in health care. Clinical experience in community agencies and hospitals is an integral part of the program. Knowledge and experience related to advanced practice in nursing are incorporated into the program. Clinical practicum experiences are required and are individualized according to the student’s professional experience, interest, and academic needs. Faculty act as facilitators while creating a supportive learning community.
Using a learner-centered paradigm, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate Program in Nursing will be a premier leader in preparing compassionate and caring nurses who will:
Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations. * Nursing is a learned profession built on a core of knowledge reflective of its dual components of science and art. As life-long learners, professional nurses practice in a variety of settings such as hospitals, public health departments, schools, outpatient clinics, and home health and mental health agencies. Professional nurses partner with other health care professionals in applying evidence-based knowledge combined with caring and compassion to provide quality care.
Faculty are nationally recognized experts in nursing care and their expertise represents a wide range of specialties. All faculty have advanced preparation in nursing and maintain an active role in clinical practice skill development, research, scholarly inquiry, and professional service.
The School of Nursing maintains a state-of-the-art Simulated Learning Center for Health Sciences that provides students with opportunities to practice and expand clinical knowledge and skills in a simulated, technological environment. Various dimensions of health care are practiced in this environment, which consists of computerized and non-computerized patient simulations.
The SIUE Community Nursing Services’ nurse-managed center in East St. Louis, Illinois, provides comprehensive nursing services to promote, maintain, and restore the physical, emotional, and social well-being of its clients. Services offered at the East St. Louis and community sites include physical examinations, immunizations, health screenings, evaluation and management of acute minor and chronic illnesses, and health education. Nursing students gain invaluable experience by working under the supervision of the Community Nursing Services staff. More information about Community Nursing Services can be obtained by calling (618) 482-6959.
All nursing majors are required to file reports of a physical examination, immunizations, satisfactory criminal background checks, and a drug screen, as specified by the School of Nursing. These reports are to be performed after initial acceptance to their program. These specifications are required by all clinical agencies. Yearly tuberculin skin testing, flu vaccine, and CPR certification are required. The Student Handbook, issued to students accepted into the School of Nursing, contains full details.
Each student's program is designed to meet the general requirements of the Graduate School and the requirements of the School of Nursing. The degree requirements include completion of a project to demonstrate competence in scholarship.
Graduate students completing any of the degree specializations in the master's program in nursing are eligible to register for their respective national certification examinations and some are, upon certification, eligible to apply for advanced practice nursing licensure and practice.
*ANA (2003) Social Policy Statement
In addition to the University requirements for admission (which include application to the Graduate Admissions Office, submission of official transcripts, and an application fee), the following School of Nursing admission decisions are based upon the following:
In order to progress through the program, students will be required to provide evidence of current ACLS certification and PALS certification (through the American Heart Association)
Return to Academic Programs Page:
Family Nurse Practitioner | Health Care and Nursing Administration | Nurse Anesthesia | Nurse Educator
In addition to the University requirements for admission (which include application to the Graduate Admissions Office, submission of official transcripts, and an application fee), the following School of Nursing admission decisions are based upon the following:
In order to progress through the program, students will be required to provide evidence of current ACLS certification and PALS certification (through the American Heart Association).
Return to Academic Programs Page:
Family Nurse Practitioner | Health Care and Nursing Administration | Nurse Anesthesia | Nurse Educator
In addition to the University requirements for admission (which include application to the Graduate Admissions Office, submission of official transcripts, and an application fee), the following School of Nursing admission decisions are based upon the following:
In addition to the University requirements for admission (which include application to the Graduate Admissions Office, submission of official transcripts, and an application fee), the following School of Nursing admission decisions are based upon the following:
In order to progress through the program, students will be required to provide a completed physical assessment/immunization form, proof of a current unencumbered Illinois license as an RN (Nurse Anesthesia majors and some of the Family Nurse Practitioner majors will be required to possess both Illinois and Missouri RN licenses), and evidence of current CPR certification (through the American Heart Association “Health Care Provider” course or the American Red Cross “CPR for the Professional Rescuer” course). All students must be trained on the use of the automatic and semi-automatic defibrillators.
All required verifications listed above must be kept up-to-date throughout enrollment in the program, with evidence in the student's file. Immunization requirements are reviewed annually and may change.
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Family Nurse Practitioner | Health Care and Nursing Administration | Nurse Anesthesia | Nurse Educator
Probationary Admission may be granted by the School of Nursing Graduate Student Affairs Committee (GSAC) to degree-seeking students who have submitted all of the required admission materials to allow an admission decision to be made but who do not qualify for regular admission. Applicants whose undergraduate Nursing grade point average (GPA) is between 2.50 and 2.99 may be considered for Probationary admission.
Students granted Probationary Admission must complete a minimum of nine (9) hours of graduate Nursing coursework during the first three (3) consecutive semesters of enrollment, attaining a grade of “B” or above in each course. Failure to complete nine (9) hours of graduate Nursing courses in three (3) consecutive semesters and/or failure to successfully complete each course with a “B” or above will result in dismissal from the School of Nursing Graduate Program.
Students will be released from Probationary Admission status upon satisfactory completion of all requirements. The GSAC will notify students in writing of their release. A copy of the letter will also be placed in the students’ academic file.
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Family Nurse Practitioner | Health Care and Nursing Administration | Nurse Anesthesia | Nurse Educator
A Graduate Student may not earn more than one grade of “C” or lower during enrollment in the Graduate Program. If a second grade of “C” or lower is earned, the student is automatically removed from the Graduate Program in Nursing, regardless of the student’s cumulative GPA. Repeating a course in which there is originally a grade of “C” or lower does not eliminate the original course grade of “C” or lower from being applied toward this exclusion policy.
The program for the Master of Science degree in nursing consists of 35 semester hours for Health Care and Nursing Administration, 72 semester hours for Nurse Anesthesia, 36 semester hours for Nurse Educator, and 54 semester hours for the Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization.
The graduate nursing curriculum consists of graduate core curriculum content courses, advanced practice nursing core courses, specialization courses, and the successful completion of a terminal project. The purpose of the graduate core curriculum is to provide a strong foundation for all graduate nursing specializations. These courses include content in the conceptual basis of nursing, health policy, research, and professional role development. The advanced practice nursing core courses include content in advanced health and physical assessment, advanced physiology and pathophysiology, and advanced pharmacology and epidemiology. These courses are designed to provide the advanced nursing student with knowledge and skills applicable to direct client care.
In each area of specialization, students enroll in advanced nursing courses that support the specialized practice areas. The specialization courses include practicum experiences designed to prepare a nurse with knowledge and skills in the role of nurse anesthetist, family nurse practitioner, nurse educator, or health care and nursing administrator.
Health Care and Nursing Administration (35 semester hours)
Nurse Anesthesia (72 semester hours)
Family Nurse Practitioner (54 semester hours)
Nurse Educator (36 semester hours)
For any of the specializations, a student must complete a terminal project which meets the requirements of the Graduate School and the School of Nursing. This project includes the submission of a manuscript of publishable quality to a professional journal and an oral presentation in the School of Nursing. There are no credit hours associated with this project, but it is a requirement for graduation for any master’s degree in nursing.
Post Master's Certificate: Health Care and Nursing Administration (variable, 22- 35 semester hrs.*)
Post Master's Certificate: Nurse Anesthesia (variable, 41 - 72 semester hours*)
Post-Master's Certificate: Nurse Educator with Clinical Focus Area in Medical-Surgical Nursing (variable, 13-36 semester hours)
Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner (variable, 20 - 54 semester hours*)
Master's
Each candidate for the Master of Science degree in nursing is required to participate in a final exit interview. The interview, administered by the faculty directing the student’s Terminal Project, includes questions concerning the following: the project, the student’s development in the advanced nursing role, the effects of the program on the individual’s professional development relative to expected student outcomes, and recommendations for improvement in the program. Student outcome characteristics of graduate nursing students are assessed in writing by both the Terminal Project committee member(s) and the student.
Near the end of each semester, a Project Presentation Day is scheduled; graduating students are required to present their work to faculty and students and respond to questions from the attendees.
Post-Master's
Each candidate for the Post-Master's Certificate is required to participate in a final exit interview conducted by a selected committee of faculty. The interview includes questions concerning the student’s development in the advanced nursing role, the effects of the program of study on the individual’s professional development relative to expected student outcomes, and recommendations for the improvement of the program. Student outcome characteristics of graduate nursing students are assessed in writing by both the Exit Interview committee members and the student.
The Professional Development Sequence (PDS) in Nursing Education (NURS 581, 582, 583, and 584) will provide a foundation in nursing education theory and skills for those employed as nurse educators in schools of nursing, hospitals, community agencies, and other organizations where nurses are employed in educator roles. Three of the courses (NURS 581, 582 and 584) may also satisfy a portion of the requirements for the Master’s Degree or Post-Master’s Certificate in Nurse Educator.
The Professional Development Sequence in Nursing Management will provide a foundation in management skills for nurses who function as nurse managers in acute care, primary care, long-term care and community agencies or for nurses interested in pursuing a career in nursing management. Two of the courses (NURS 591 and 592) may also satisfy a portion of the requirements for the Master’s Degree or Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Care and Nursing Administration.
The Professional Development Sequence in Oncology Nursing (NURS 521, 522, 523 and 524) will provide a foundation of knowledge specific to Oncology Nursing for those either employed or seeking employment in the care of Cancer patients. These courses provide the theory basis for completion of the national certification examination in Oncology Nursing. The Oncology Nursing Society Certification examination also requires supervised practice in an Oncology setting, which is not included in this group of courses.
The Professional Development Sequence in Pain Management Nursing (NURS 534, 535, 536, and 537) provides a foundation in pain management knowledge for Nurses employed in any practice setting, with special focus on pain management clinical areas. Completion of these courses prepares the student with the theoretical basis needed for completion of national certification in pain management. The supervised clinical practice requirement for certification is not included in this group of courses.
A Registered Nurse with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree may take the PDS upon admission to the Graduate School as an unclassified student (if not concurrently in a related master’s program) and approval of the Assistant Dean for the Graduate Program.
Students must maintain a grade of “C” or higher to earn a certificate. Students receiving a grade below a “C” in any course may continue with the sequence but will not receive a certificate of completion from the School of Nursing.