Graduates of the Nursing Education with a Clinical Focus program will be specifically prepared to:

• Educate in nursing programs at multiple levels of entry.
• Develop educational programs for patients, groups, communities, industry, insurance providers, and government agencies.
• Collaborate across multiple disciplines with organizations and systems involved in healthcare to assure patients and their families are able to access, understand, and utilize information.
• Provide clinical education to professionals working in hospitals and rehab facilities and long-term care, outpatient, and home care settings.

Students will further their learning in the program through a hands-on practicum in which they will identify a subject of study, create a project, and put their skills to work to the benefit of a community. This program has 180 practicum hours and 120 clinical immersion hours.

Please refer to the general Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog for health, C.P.R., and malpractice insurance requirements. Students must register with CastleBranch for their document repository. Students must also read and acknowledge the Criminal History and Background Check policy.

Course Requirements

Admission Requirements

1. Completed online graduate application for admission (no application fee).
2. A minimum of a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an approved or accredited institution with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
3. Evidence of capability to succeed in a graduate program based on an overall undergraduate GPA of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
4. Official transcripts from all college/ universities attended. Non-US students must submit ‘course-by-course’ evaluation (or equivalent) of all college and/or university transcripts through the World Education Services (WES) or other approved foreign transcript evaluation agencies.
5.  GPA of 2.75-2.99 is eligible for provisional admission status. Students will be allowed to register for  and must successfully complete two faculty determined graduate courses with a grade of B or better in the first semester to attain full admission in the second semester of study.  Students who earn a grade less than B will not be permitted to repeat the course and will be ineligible to continue in the program. 
6. Active unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in New York or in Ontario for Canadian students. Students enrolled in online programs must have an active unencumbered RN license to practice nursing in the state where their practicum will take place.
7. A current CPR certification with a psychomotor component.
8. Baccalaureate-level health assessment, pathophysiology and pharmacology courses or equivalent.
9. A student who meets the entry requirements and is currently or previously enrolled in a graduate nursing program at another college or university must obtain a letter from that School of Nursing stating the student is in good standing, not on probation, and able to register for classes. Students who were dismissed from a graduate nursing program will not be considered for admission.

Academic Regulations

In addition to the general academic regulations, all matriculated students in the Nursing Education with a Clinical Focus Program must fulfill these requirements:

1. Completion of 36/37 credit-hours (master of science) or 30 credit-hours (postmaster’s certificate) as required.
2. Students on academic probation are limited to six credits per semester while on probation.
   1. Students in Graduate Nursing Programs are expected to maintain a cumulative and semester GPA of 3.0. Students who do not maintain this GPA will be reviewed by the Progression and Retention Committee for academic consequences. A student who has less than a 3.0 GPA in either semester or cumulative, at any time will be placed on academic probation for the next semester or summer session. At the end of the probation period, the student’s file will be reviewed by the program Graduate Progression and Retention committee. If the student’s cumulative or semester GPA is a minimum of 3.0, the student will be removed from probation.
   2.  If the student does not achieve the 3.0 cumulative or semester GPA after a first probation, the graduate progression and retention committee may consider a second semester of probation. If a minimum of 3.0 GPA (cumulative or semester) is not achieved after a second probation, the student will automatically be ineligible to continue in their program.
   3. A student will be allowed probationary status for no more than two semesters during the entire graduate program. The student will automatically be ineligible to continue in their program if in excess of two semesters.
3. Students cannot register for clinical courses until formally accepted into the program.
4. Nurse Education with a Clinical Focus students are required to receive at least a B in all courses required for the degree. Students who receive less than a B, including a B-, C+, C or lower in these courses, will have to repeat that course, will be placed on probation and cannot take any of the clinical practicum courses until they raise their grade in the applicable course to at least a B. They are also limited to six credits while on probation.
5. Student responsibilities: The graduate nursing track is a demanding program in coursework, time, commitment and financial obligation. Due to these responsibilities for the program, students should seriously evaluate the impact that employment may have on their clinical performance and academic progress.