Marymount University
Graduate Catalog 2016-17
Nursing
Marymount offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) and the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.).
Marymount’s D.N.P. and M.S.N. programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036.
Programs
Admission Requirements for Degree and Certificate Programs: In addition to universitywide graduate admission requirements for degree-seeking applicants or post-master’s certificate applicants, individuals must
- provide evidence of having earned a nursing degree from an accredited college or university (M.S.N. applicants must hold a B.S.N. with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Certificate applicants must hold an M.S.N. with a minimum GPA of 3.3. D.N.P. applicants entering with a B.S.N. as their highest credential must have a minimum GPA of 3.3, must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 in 500-level courses, and must be eligible for graduation as an M.S.N. prior to enrolling in NU 700-level courses. D.N.P. applicants with an M.S.N. as their highest credential must have a minimum GPA of 3.5);
- hold R.N. licensure in Virginia. Family nurse practitioner students are required to have licensure also in Maryland and the District of Columbia prior to placement in clinical courses;
- provide two letters of recommendation from professionals who can attest to the applicant’s potential for graduate work. At least one recommendation should be from a direct supervisor within the past two years and the other from an employer or professor who can attest to the applicant's potential for graduate work;
- submit a 250- to 500-word professional essay describing professional goals and motivation for seeking the degree;
- provide a copy of APN certification, as applicable; and
- D.N.P. applicants should identify an area of interest for their scholarly project.
In addition, individuals must meet these requirements:
- D.N.P. applicants and post-master's family nurse practitioner certificate applicants must provide documentation of clinical hours at the master's level.
- M.S.N. family nurse practitioner degree and certificate program applicants must have two years of experience as a registered nurse or the equivalent before beginning practicum courses.
- Post-master's D.N.P. applicants must have completed a graduate level statistics course within the last five years.
After a preliminary review of application materials, applicants may be invited to interview with members of the admissions committee.
Enrollment Policies and Application Deadlines:
Fall/summer enrollment: preferred deadline — March 1; final D.N.P. application deadline June 15.
NOTE: The M.S.N. and D.N.P. programs admit students in the fall semester only.
Transfer Credit Policy: M.S.N. students may request that up to 12 credit hours be reviewed for acceptance as transfer credit. D.N.P. students may request that up to 9 credit hours be reviewed. Only courses in which a student has earned a grade of B or better will be considered.
Nondegree Admission: Faculty approval is required for nondegree student enrollment in graduate nursing courses. Approval is based on applicant qualifications and class space availability. Courses that may be taken on a nondegree basis are NU 501, NU 512, NU 550, NU 551, NU 590, and NU 591. No more than 9 credits may be taken without enrolling in the M.S.N. program.
A student may take core D.N.P. courses with the approval of the D.N.P. director or graduate program chair.
Clinical Requirements: All graduate nursing students must submit evidence of a recent health examination and required immunizations upon entering the university.
Students must provide evidence of the following before entering each practicum course:
- written verification of PPD testing for tuberculosis (required annually) (If PPD is positive, an initial chest X-ray is required.)
- written verification of CPR certification from the American Heart Association (BLS for Healthcare Provider)
- health insurance coverage
- documentation of malpractice insurance
- a criminal background check, which is a federal requirement for all persons working with vulnerable populations
- written verification of the following immunizations; Hepatitis B, MMR, Chicken Pox, Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis and Influenza. Note: influenza immunization is an annual requirement.
- negative 9-panel (or more) drug screen
- additional requirements as stated by specific health care agencies
Students enrolled in clinical courses are not guaranteed their choice of placement site.
Clinical-Experience Transportation: Students provide their own transportation to and from clinical experiences. The university’s free shuttle service connects the Main Campus, the Ballston Center, and the Ballston-MU Metro station.
Graduation Requirements: All graduate nursing students must take and pass a comprehensive examination prior to graduation.
Legal Limitations of Licensure: The practice of nursing is regulated by state laws. Questions concerning advanced practice licensure in a specific state should be directed to that state’s board of nursing. Applicants for advanced practice nursing licensure in Virginia are required to notify the Virginia Board of Nursing if they have
- been convicted of (or pled nolo contendere to) a violation of any federal or state law;
- been hospitalized or received treatment for chemical dependence during the two years preceding application to complete the licensing examination; or
- have a mental or physical condition that could interfere with their ability to practice.
Minimum Grade Requirements: Successful completion of a graduate nursing course requires a minimum grade of B. A student may repeat one course in which a grade of B- or lower is earned. A grade of B- in a second course will result in dismissal from the program.
Residency Requirements for Certificate Students: Certificate-seeking students must complete two-thirds of the required credits at Marymount.
Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (M.S.N.)
Marymount’s Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) family nurse practitioner program prepares nurse practitioners to provide primary care to the family. An in-depth study is made of health, as well as common acute and chronic illnesses throughout the life cycle. Laboratory and clinical experiences are provided to develop competence in the diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses. This degree program prepares graduates to sit for nationally recognized certification examinations offered by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Marymount’s family nurse practitioner curriculum is designed and based upon the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN) The Essentials of Master's Education in Nursing (2011) as well as "The Criteria for the Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs" from the National Organization of Nursing Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) (2012).
Upon successful completion of M.S.N. program, students will be able to
- use advanced knowledge from the sciences and related disciplines to support advanced nursing practice and role development;
- use knowledge of nursing and theories of related disciplines as the basis for advanced nursing practice;
- develop expertise in specialized areas of advanced nursing practice;
- utilize research to provide high quality health care;
- plan and initiate change in nursing practice and health care systems;
- implement leadership strategies in a variety of settings to advance professional nursing and health care;
- engage in collaborative relationships to improve health care delivery and advance nursing practice; and
- employ ethical theory in the decision-making process.
Degree Requirements — Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (M.S.N.)
45 credits and minimum of 675 clinical hours
NU 501 Theoretical and Ethical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice
NU 510 Population Health
NU 512 Nursing and Health Care Systems and Organizations
NU 550 Advanced Pathophysiology I
NU 551 Advanced Pathophysiology II
NU 552 Advanced Pharmacology
NU 590 Health Care Data Analysis
NU 591 Health Care Research
NUF 501 Professional Role Development of the Family Nurse Practitioner
NUF 502 Advanced Assessment and Health Screening for the Family Nurse Practitioner
NUF 503 Primary Care of the Family I
NUF 504 Primary Care of Family II
Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master’s Certificate)
This certificate program prepares nurse practitioners to provide primary care to the family. Title IV federal financial aid is available for this certificate program. Prospective students will find the Gainful Employment Disclosure for this certificate program on the Malek School for Health Professions Graduate Programs website at www.marymount.edu/Academics/Malek-School-of-Health-Professions/Graduate-Programs.
Certificate Requirements
30 credits and minimum of 675 clinical hours
NU 550 Advanced Pathophysiology I
NU 551 Advanced Pathophysiology II
NU 552 Advanced Pharmacology
NUF 501 Professional Role Development of the Family Nurse Practitioner
NUF 502 Advanced Assessment and Health Screening for the Family Nurse Practitioner
NUF 503 Primary Care of the Family I
NUF 504 Primary Care of Family II
Nursing Education (M.S.N.)
Since fall 2012, new students are no longer accepted into the M.S.N. in nursing education or the post-master's certificate in nursing education. Admission to these program tracks has been temporarily suspended.
Nursing Education (Post-Master's Certificate)
Since fall 2012, new students are no longer accepted into the M.S.N. in nursing education or the post-master's certificate in nursing education. Admission to these program tracks has been temporarily suspended.
Nursing (D.N.P)
Marymount’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) program provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to negotiate and improve the health care system.
Acquired skills include those needed to develop evidence-based practice protocols, develop and utilize databases, and apply epidemiological methods. Students will endeavor to develop new models of care delivery and to become expert in a specific area of nursing. Further, students will expand their knowledge of health care policy and finance so as to better negotiate and influence the health care delivery system and to advocate for improved care for individuals and aggregates. Graduates with this terminal degree will be prepared for roles in direct care or indirect, systems-focused care.
Upon successful completion of the D.N.P. program, students will be able to
- develop new approaches to advanced nursing practice and health care delivery based on scientific knowledge and theories of nursing and other disciplines;
- demonstrate clinical, organizational, and systems-level leadership through design of innovative models of caring;
- design methods for evaluating clinical outcomes to direct evidence-based practice for improving health care outcomes;
- utilize knowledge drawn from epidemiological, statistical, and technological data to implement quality improvement initiatives for practice with individuals, aggregates, or populations;
- lead interprofessional teams in the analysis of complex practice and organizational issues;
- demonstrate leadership in health policy advocacy at the local, state, and federal level;
- demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability in designing, delivering, and evaluating evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes;
- apply ethical analysis when generating policy, research, and practice; and
- use conceptual and analytical skills in evaluating the links among practice, organizational, population, fiscal, and policy issues.
Students who enter with a B.S.N. as their highest credential will complete 45 credits of M.S.N. coursework, in addition to the 30-32 credits for the D.N.P. program for a total of 72-74 credits.
Doctoral Scholarly Project: The student completes a project that integrates the practice and scholarship essentials of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree. The project is designed to be completed in two semesters. Students are expected to present a summary of their scholarly project at a university, regional, or national conference.
Degree Requirements — Nursing (D.N.P.)
Degree Requirements for those entering with a B.S.N.
75 - 77 credits
NU 501 Theoretical and Ethical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice
NU 510 Population Health
NU 550 Advanced Pathophysiology I
NU 512 Nursing and Health Care Systems and Organizations
NU 550 Advanced Pathophysiology I
NU 551 Advanced Pathophysiology II
NU 552 Advanced Pharmacology
NU 590 Health Care Data Analysis
NU 591 Health Care Research
NUF 502 Advanced Assessment and Health Screening for the Family Nurse Practitioner
NUF 501 Professional Role Development of the Family Nurse Practitioner*
NUF 503 Primary Care of the Family I*
NUF 504 Primary Care of the Family II*
NU 700 Evidence-Based Practice
NU 701 Innovative Models of Care Delivery
NU 702 Epidemiology
NU 703 Research Methods and Applications
NU 705 Multivariate Analysis
NU 706 Policy and Advocacy in Health Care**
NU 707 Leadership, Quality, and Ethics in Health Care Systems
HCM 550 Health Care Finance
NU 800 Residency*
NU 801 Doctoral Project
NU 899 Independent Study
*Students must complete a total of 1,000 supervised post-baccalaureate clinical practicum hours to fulfill program requirements. Post-baccalaureate clinical hours achieved prior to entering the D.N.P. program must be officially documented. Residency hours are established in courses.
Degree Requirements for those entering with an M.S.N.
30 - 32 credits
Courses are listed in recommended sequence of enrollment. All students must have a graduate level statistics course within five years of admission.
NU 700 Evidence-Based Practice
NU 701 Innovative Models of Care Delivery
NU 702 Epidemiology
NU 703 Research Methods and Applications
NU 705 Multivariate Analysis
NU 706 Policy and Advocacy in Health Care
NU 707 Leadership, Quality and Ethics in Health Care Systems
HCM 550 Health Care Finance
NU 800 Residency*
NU 801 Doctoral Project
NU 899 Independent Study
*Students must complete a total of 1,000 supervised post-baccalaureate clinical practicum hours to fulfill program requirements. Post-baccalaureate clinical hours achieved prior to entering the D.N.P. program must be officially documented. Residency hours are established in these courses. If more than one semester is required for completion of NU 800, students may register multiple times for a maximum of 5 credits.
Catalog Contents
Academic Information and Policies
Academic Integrity Policy Summary
Dual Academic Programs or Degrees
Students Called to Military Duty
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