Nursing, MS (53-982) (33-44 hours)

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Student Learning Outcomes - The graduate with a Master of Science degree in Nursing will use the knowledge and skills obtained in the program to:

• Use multiple modes (Effective, Oral, Written, Therapeutic, Media, and Technological) in adapting language and communication strategies appropriate to the advanced practice role and diverse settings.
• Use theory and principles, guided by logic and sound judgment, to allow for the provision of advanced practice nursing care.
• Use reasoning and knowledge to assess, plan, intervene and evaluate while providing holistic care in diverse environments utilizing pertinent resources.
• Actively engage in interaction based on mutual respect with collaboration toward goal achievement.
• Internalize and demonstrate ethically grounded behaviors reflective of the ANA’s Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (2015), ANA’s Nursing’s Social Policy Statement  (2010), ANA’s Code of Ethics for Nurses (2015), NLN Core Competencies for Nurse Educators (2005).
• Locate, organize, store, retrieve, evaluate, synthesize, and annotate information from print, electronic, and other sources in preparation for providing advanced nursing care.

This program is designed to emphasize advanced practice nursing knowledge, skills, and attitudes, as well as the application of the research process to clinical phenomena within the context of  family health. The Nurse Educator emphasis area provides graduates with the needed course work to sit for the certification exam The advanced practice emphasis area of Family Nurse Practitioner provides graduates with the needed course work and practica necessary to sit for the certification exam.

Admission requirements -

• Bachelor’s degree with an upper division nursing major from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
• Admission to UCM’s graduate studies including specific requirements for the School of Nursing.
• Completion of the School of Nursing’s application for admission including undergraduate transcripts.
• A minimum of one year of post baccalaureate nursing experience for students choosing the Family Nurse Practitioner emphasis area. This year may be completed while taking core theory courses for the program.
• Undergraduate minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.00 scale for students choosing the Family Nurse Practitioner emphasis area. Undergraduate cumulative minimum grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale for students choosing the Nurse Educator emphasis area.
• Computer or computer access with hardware compatible with UCM’s program software. Basic computer skills are required prior to matriculation.

Exception to any of the admission requirements will be considered on an individual basis.

Consideration of Applications - Completed applications to the nurse educator area will be considered by the School of Nursing on a space available basis throughout the year. Students applying for the nurse educator area may take graduate courses in nursing prior to official admission to the graduate nursing program. Completed applications to the family nurse practitioner area will be considered by the School of Nursing on or around September 15 for the spring semester and on or around February 15 for the summer or fall semesters. Admission to the family nurse practitioner area is competitive based on one’s undergraduate grade point average from the last earned undergraduate degree. Students applying for the family nurse practitioner area may not take graduate classes in nursing prior to official admission to the graduate nursing program.

Notification of Status - Admission to the School of Nursing may be approved, deferred, or rejected. If admission is approved, the applicant will receive an email and additional acceptance forms that must be submitted to complete the admission to the graduate nursing program. Applicants whose admission is deferred or rejected will be notified by email.

Full-Time and Part-Time Degree Status - Opportunities for part-time and full-time study are available. Part-time study is encouraged. A full-time graduate student is one enrolled in 9 or more semester hours of graduate credit during the fall and spring semesters and 6 semester hours during the summer session.

Additional Admission Requirements for International Applicants
- International students provide a unique cultural and personal addition to UCM. They are encouraged to apply early in the academic year prior to the year they wish to attend Central Missouri to ensure time to complete the following additional requirements:

1. Evidence of adequate financial support for the duration of the program.
2. A minimum score of 600 paper-based or 100 internet based on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if English is not the primary language.
3. A passing score on the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) examination.

The CGFNS examination is a prerequisite for taking the Registered Nurse Licensing examination in the state of Missouri and for obtaining a non-immigrant occupational preference visa (H-1A) from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. CGFNS offers a two-part certification program that includes a credentials review followed by a test of nursing and English language skills. The CGFNS examination is given in March, August, and Nov.  Application materials may be requested from CGFNS, Attn: CP, 3600 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19014-2651 (Phone 215/349-8767). The registration deadline for these exams is approximately four months prior to their administration. Early application is therefore essential.

Health and Immunization Record - As a professional nurse, the graduate student is expected to maintain immunizations according to school policy. The University of Central Missouri, School of Nursing Student Health Immunization Form, furnished by the School of Nursing, should be completed.

Criminal Background Check - Criminal background checks are required of all students who have been provisionally accepted into the School of Nursing. Students who have completed an acceptable background check but have not started the program and students currently enrolled in the Nursing Program have an ongoing duty to report any criminal convictions, pending charges, or other negative information that arise during such enrollment. 

Registered Nurse Licensure - Students who are provisionally accepted into the School of Nursing are expected to hold and maintain an active, unencumbered registered nurse license. Students who have not started the program and students currently enrolled in the Nursing Program have an ongoing duty to report an encumbered license.

CPR Certification - Students must be trained and certified in adult and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) prior to enrollment in graduate courses requiring clinical experience. Students must maintain re-certification throughout the program.

Non-Degree Students - Individuals may take graduate level courses as a non-degree student, provided they have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a National League for Nursing (NLN) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited school. Non-degree students are admitted to individual classes by permission of the instructor on a space available basis.

To apply, applicants must send an official copy of all undergraduate nursing transcripts to the School of Nursing, along with a completed application for admission as a non-degree student.

Students who also register for clinical courses must submit evidence of licensure as a nurse in the state of Missouri.

All non-degree application requirements must be received by the deadline for the semester during which the course will be offered (cf. “Consideration of Application” in this book). Requests for non-degree status will be considered
within two weeks after the appropriate deadline.

If permission is granted by faculty, the student will be notified by the Chair of the School of Nursing. (Non-degree students requesting a second course may make the request to the School of Nursing). Up to seven credits earned as a non-degree student may be accepted for credit toward the M.S. degree if the applicant is later admitted to the master’s program.

Transfer of Graduate Credits - Transfer credit will be given only for academic work completed within eight years before matriculation at Central. Such units are transferable only if the student has earned a minimum of 6 units of graduate credit at University of Central Missouri’s School of Nursing. A student wishing to transfer course work should make a written request and provide a syllabus or some other description of the course to his/her advisor. (See Central’s Graduate Catalog or other policies related to the transfer of graduate credit).

Transfer to Another Graduate Nursing Emphasis Area - A change of graduate nursing emphasis area may be made, contingent upon approval of the faculty involved. Subsequent to the submission of an application for a change of major from Nurse Educator to Family Nurse Practitioner emphasis area students may not enroll in graduate core classes in nursing prior to official admission to the Family Nurse Practitioner emphasis area. Should a change be made, a student must meet all requirements of the new emphasis area.

Advisement - The Graduate Program Coordinator will assign students to graduate faculty for advisement. The graduate faculty adviser assists the student in planning and implementing his/her course of study throughout the master’s program.

Grades - All courses counting toward the master’s degree must be taken for the following grades: A (4.0); B (3.0); C (2.0). Master’s degree students with a GPA of less than 3.00 after completing 20 credits will be asked to withdraw from the program. Earning a D or F in any graduate level nursing degree course will result in administrative withdrawal from the program at the end of the semester in which the grade is received. In case of illness or other nonacademic problems, it is the student’s responsibility to negotiate with the professor for a U (uncompleted grade).

Withdrawal from a Course - Students may make changes in their schedules during the drop/add periods of the fall, spring and summer semesters. A fee is charged by the university if changes are made after that period. If a student withdraws from a course after the drop/add period, the progress of the student at the time of withdrawal from the course will be indicated on the record as Withdrew.

Interruption of Program and Withdrawal from the Graduate Program - the School of Nursing reserves the right, and matriculation by the student is a concession of this right, to request the withdrawal of any student whose performance at any time does not comply with the Missouri State Board of Nursing Practice Act (1993) and the American Nurses’ Association Code for Nurses (2015).

If a student for any reason wishes to withdraw from the program, notification should be made in writing to the coordinator before the expected date of withdrawal. Students who have withdrawn from the program must apply for readmission according to regular admission policies. Students who find it necessary to interrupt their programs of study should request in writing a leave of absence addressed to the Graduate Program Coordinator of the School of Nursing. A maximum of one calendar year’s leave may be granted; this will be counted toward the total time allowed to complete the program.

Commencement - Graduation exercises are held twice a year, in May and December, when degrees are conferred and diplomas issued to students who have completed all requirements. Diplomas cannot be issued until they are approved by the Academic Council and Board of Governors.