School of Nursing

PROGRAM GOALS

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF NURSING
Dr. Michele Dickens, PhD, MSN, RN
Campbellsville University, UPO 800, 1 University Drive, Campbellsville KY 42718
Email: mrdickens@campbellsville.edu 

MSN CLINICAL COORDINATOR
Tammy Harris, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Campbellsville University, UPO 800, 1 University Drive, Campbellsville KY 42718
Email: tbharris@campbellsville.edu
Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning; Synthesis of Advanced Practice Care of Patients in Primary Settings- Practice I; Synthesis of Advanced Practice Care of Patients in Primary Settings- Practice II

GRADUATE FACULTY AND STAFF
Faculty/Areas of Instruction/Degree

Mrs. Morgan Altman: Care of Women, Children, and Adolescents I; Care of Women, Children, and Adolescents II
BSN, Samford University; MSN-FNP, Eastern Kentucky University

Mrs. Kelli Nunn: Advanced Pathophysiology; Advanced Pharmacology
ADN, Eastern Kentucky University; BSN, Chamberlain University; MSN-FNP, South University

Mrs. Denise Simmons: Care of Women, Children, and Adolescents I; Care of Women, Children, and Adolescents II
BSN, Western Kentucky University; MSN-WHNP, Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing

 Dr. Maria Sotelo DNP, RN, CNE: Theory and Research for Evidence Based Practice, Investigative Project
ADN, Austin Community College; BSN, The University of Texas at Arlington; MSN, Western Governors University; DNP, Samford University

Mrs. Gloria Vito: Care of Adults Across the Lifespan I; Care of Adults Across the Lifespan II
BSN, MSN, Eastern Kentucky University; Post Master’s-FNP, Western Kentucky University

Master of Science in Nursing- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

PROGRAM GOALS

The mission of the MSN Program is: to prepare graduates to provide quality, evidence based, and holistic primary care to diverse communities and individuals across the lifespan. The master’s prepared family nurse practitioner will contribute to excellence in health care by leading change, promoting health, and improving healthcare outcomes. This program shapes advanced practice nurses into Christian servant leaders who excel in clinical practice while supporting a strong ethical and Christian belief foundation in keeping with the mission of CU.

MSN FNP EPSLO

1. Assimilates scientific findings to guide advanced nursing roles. (I, IV, IX) NONPF #1

2. Integrates organizational and systems leadership principles into practice. (II, IX) NONPF #2

3. Develops quality improvement and research projects to improve health care outcomes (III, I) NONPF #3 and #4

4. Facilitates the provision of nursig practice by intergrating informatics and technologies (V, IX) NONPF #5

5. Analyzes local, national, and global health policies and the relationship between policy and practice. (VI, IX) NONPF #6

6. Collaborates with other health professionals using effective communication to optimize health care outcomes. (VII, IX) NONPF #7

7. Values principles of ethis in providing health care across the lifespan. (VIII, IX) NONPF #8

8. Promotes cultural and spiritual sensitivity in providing health care to a diverse population across the lifespan. (VIII, IX) NONPF #9

9. Functions as an independent practioner using evidence-based practice to promote health and prevent and treat disease for diverse groups across the lifespan (VIII, IX) NONPF #9

(MSN Essentials)

NONPF Core and Population-Focused Competencies

*These objectives are based on the Core and Population-Focused Nurse Practitioner Competencies developed by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and included in the 2016 Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs written by the National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (NTF).  This evaluation criteria is endorsed by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

1. Application to the University- The applicant must complete one application for admission to Campbellsville University.  This application is available online at  www.campbellsville.edu.
2. BSN Degree Completion- Completion of a BSN degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
3. Official Transcripts - One Transcript from Each School Attended. Applicants must provide one official copy of all transcripts from each college or university that you have attended previously. Once you apply, you will receive a copy of our official transcript request form from your Enrollment Counselor. Please contact our online Enrollment team at 888-244-0609 or via email at online@campbellsville.edu 
4. GPA Requirement- Cumulative collegiate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
5. Registered Nurse License- Current unencumbered U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) license. A copy of a current, valid, unencumbered RN license, or listing on a state licensing board website must be submitted.  All licenses will be verified before admission into the program and every semester as long as the student is in the program. 
6. Patient Care Hours- Currently working as a registered nurse (RN) and have at least 2,000 patient care hours within the last two years.  These patient care hours must be documented.  Examples of documentation could be pay stubs or a letter from the candidate’s employer/HR department. No volunteer or non-paid hours will count towards the 2,000 patient care hours.
7. Curriculum Vitae (CV)- The applicants CV should include:
   • Educational background including institutions, degree(s) awarded, degree(s) in progress, dates of degree(s) awarded, and/or anticipated date of receiving degree(s)
   • Relevant employment history, including:
     • Job title (including unit), job description, and relevant duties performed
     • Employment dates of each position
   • Community service or volunteer experience
   • Any awards, publications, presentations, and memberships
   • Evidence of leadership and career progression
8. Professional Goals Essay- The applicant will write a 500-word essay discussing their professional goals and including the following information

• Your career goals
• How your specific clinical experiences have prepared you for the Family Nurse Practitioner role
• Why Campbellsville University is the best fit for you and how the program will assist you in reaching your professional and educational goals. The applicant’s essay will be assessed on the ability to exhibit scholarly graduate-level writing. Applicants scoring 6 or greater and meeting all other admission criteria will be granted acceptance into the MSN FNP Program.
• The applicant’s essay will be assessed on the ability to exhibit scholarly graduate-level writing. Applicants scoring 6 or greater and meeting all other admission criteria will be granted acceptance into the MSN FNP Program. 

​​     7. Three Letters of Recommendation- Three letters of recommendation are required, and all must be completed within one year of the date of submission. Applicants will instruct the chosen individuals to complete and submit the standardized reference form. These forms may be obtained from the graduate enrollment counselor.

 The following are acceptable individuals for the letters of reference:

• A current clinical supervisor, nurse, manager, or other health care provider who has direct knowledge of your skills in the clinical setting and how those skills will translate into the Family Nurse Practitioner role.
• A professor, faculty member, dean, or academic advisor who can provide a meaningful   assessment of your academic record. If you have been out of school for five years or more, a nurse educator or clinical instructor can provide the academic recommendation.
• A practicing clinical nurse professional or APRN who has served as a mentor and can address your abilities as a nurse and your potential to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. 

Applicants scoring an average of 2.5 or greater on all professional letters of reference and meeting all other admission criteria will be granted acceptance into the MSN-FNP program.

8.Student Waiver for Letters of Recommendation- The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and its amendments guarantee students access to their educational records. Students however are entitled to waive their rights to access concerning recommendations. The applicant must sign the waiver statement indicating their wishes regarding this recommendation.

9. Technical and Performance Standards Verification- Upon admission, all students must verify in writing that they are able to meet technical and performance standards with or without accommodation. A copy of this document should be completed and returned with the other required admission documentation.  The technical and performance standards are: Observational: Candidates must be able to observe demonstrations of physical and psychosocial nursing interventions. Candidates must be able to accurately assess the health status of patients. Observation and assessment of patients require the functional use of the senses of vision and hearing, as well as other sensory modalities. Communicative: The candidate must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written forms with patients and with members of the health care team. The foci of nursing communication are gathering assessment data, patient teaching and the provision of emotional support for patients and their families. Motor: Candidates must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion and other diagnostic maneuvers. Candidates must be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatments to patients. Such actions require moderate motor strength, coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and functional use of the senses of touch and vision. Intellectual: Candidates must have the ability to measure, calculate, reason and analyze; they must be able to synthesize and apply complex information. Candidates must be fully alert and attentive and free of non-prescribed controlled substances at all times in clinical settings. Behavioral/Social: Candidates must possess a level of emotional health that allows full utilization of intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the nursing diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, empathetic and effective nurse-patient relationships. Candidates must be able to function effectively under stress.Adherence to the standards of acceptable conduct as outlined in the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics and the Nurse Practice Act is required.

10. Background Check- All applicants will be required to complete a background check as the final step in the admissions process. Applicants will be admitted pending the successful completion of the background check. The background check must be completed after the admissions decision is made and will be repeated at the beginning of the 2^nd year of instruction. Applicants with felony convictions will not be admitted. This will be submitted to an online depository.

PROGRAM FORMAT 

The program will have a total of 45 credit hours with 34 of the hours assigned to didactic instruction and 11 of the hours assigned to clinical/practice instruction.  The didactic curriculum content is offered in an asynchronous, fully online format while the clinical hours can be arranged in your community. One clinical credit hour equals 60 hours spent in the clinical setting for a total of 660 clinical hours.  All the credit hours are nursing hours.  The program will be administered in eight-week bi-terms for a total of 12 bi-terms (6 semesters) for completion of the program. 

STANDARDS AND EVALUATION ACHIEVEMENT 

Each course in the MSN-FNP program has its own method for evaluating student performance. The particular methods of assessment will be explained to students and included in the written syllabus for the course at the beginning of each course. In order to progress through the MSN-FNP Program, the student must meet certain guidelines: 

1.  The student must follow the prescribed course progression listed in the program.  In order to progress through the MSN Program, the student must meet certain guidelines. 
2. It is preferred that the student earn a B or higher in each course.  However, if a grade of “C” is earned in one course, the student will be placed on academic probation and required to complete a Plan 4 Success (P4S) as outlined below. This plan must be submitted to the Program Coordinator to be placed in the student’s file.   
3. After a grade of “C” is earned in two courses, the student is ineligible for readmission and must follow the judicial process for academic appeals. 

If a grade of “D” or below is earned in a course, the student will receive an academic failure and will not be eligible for readmission. 

Faculty has adopted a course order for progression that will help to guide students through the program.  This order is suggested to ensure success of students based on recommendations of the accrediting body and on identified characteristics of the courses.  

Programs

Master of Science in Nursing

• •  Nursing, M.S.N. - Family Nurse Practitioner
• •  Nursing, M.S.N. - Health System Leadership