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

• Teach in traditional 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

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate programs at D’Youville, applicants for the master of science degree in Nursing Education with a Clinical Focus must present the following:

1. Completed online graduate application for admission (no application fee).

2. Completion of a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a CCNE or NLNAC (ACEN) accredited program at a college or university in the US (or by the CNO in Ontario).

3. GPA for admissions decisions:

     A. GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or greater is required for unconditional admission to master’s programs.

     B. GPA of 2.75-2.99 is G for provisional admission status. Students 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.

     C. Applicants with a GPA of 2.70-2.74 and a baccalaureate degree in nursing earned more than five years ago and who have achieved significant professional success as documented on curricula vitae are eligible for consideration of provisional admission.

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. Active unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in New York or in Ontario for Canadian students.

6. A current CPR certification with a psychomotor component.

7. One year of practice as a registered nurse is recommended.

8. A 3-cr descriptive statistics course or equivalent with a grade of C or better.

9. Optional: Applicants who wish to strengthen their submission packet are encouraged to submit two references on clinical performance with one reference from a professional with an advanced degree attesting to the clinical knowledge, skills, leadership and the ability to be a good applicant. Other acceptable references include supervisor, manager or former professor. 

10. Optional: Applicants who wish to strengthen their submission packet are encouraged to submit a writing assignment on their philosophy of nursing, 2 pages in length, double space and 12-point font that includes philosophy of nursing focused on past experience, what influencing nursing has had on your career, why you chose to pursue this degree, how you see this degree enhancing your career and how you will utilize this degree to advance patient care and health care outcomes.

11. 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 40 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.