Department of Nursing

Miriam Ford, FNP, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Nursing
914.674.7865
mford@mercy.edu

Deborah Hunt, Ph.D., RN, Associate Dean, Nursing

Overview

The Master of Science Degree Program in Nursing prepares nurses for roles in advanced leadership and education. Graduate study in nursing is grounded in the theoretical and research bases of the discipline, which provide a foundation for advanced practice and doctoral work.

Graduate Nursing Program Goals

The graduate nursing program is designed to prepare students in nursing administration and nursing education to:

Assume leadership roles
Support and engage in nursing research
Contribute to the advancement of the nursing professions
Participate in lifelong learning
Collaborate with other disciplines to enhance the quality of healthcare
Prepare for doctoral study

Graduate Nursing Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Mercy College Master of Science Degree Programs in Nursing will be expected to demonstrate the following program outcomes:

Technology:

Students will synthesize knowledge and skills using patient care technologies and information management to deliver and coordinate care across multiple settings.
Students will be able to analyze care outcomes and communicate with individuals, groups, media, policymakers, health care professionals and the public.

Research:

Students will synthesize knowledge and skills to integrate theory, evidence, clinical judgment, research, and interprofessional perspectives using evidence-based practices to improve health outcomes for patient aggregates.

Leadership:

Students will synthesize knowledge and expertise in assessing organizations, identifying systems issues, and facilitating organization wide changes in practice delivery. Students will be able to develop leadership skills to establish and maintain effective communication and collaborative relationships with inter-professional teams.

Quality:

Students will synthesize knowledge and skills to analyze and prioritize outcomes that need to be improved, promote health, shape the health delivery system, and advance values such as social justice through policy processes and advocacy.

Students will use quality improvement and high reliability organizational principles to measure the impact of plans

Admission Requirements

Please refer to the general requirements for admission and matriculation in the Admissions section of this catalog.
Copy of current RN registration in the U.S.A.

Bridge Admission Requirements

RNs with bachelor’s degrees in a field other than nursing may apply for admission to the master’s programs. Admission and program requirements to the master’s programs must be met. The applicant must complete the following courses with a grade of B or above prior to admission into the graduate programs:

NURS 361: Contemporary Topics in Nursing (See Undergraduate Catalog for description).

Applicants accepted into the Bridge program receive a MS in Nursing. If the applicant wants a BS in Nursing, they should apply to the RN-BS-MS program (see Undergraduate Catalog for the program description).

Advisement

Upon admission, students are assigned a PACT mentor. Faculty are available to meet with students to assess the credit requirements necessary for completion of the program and to develop a long-term plan of study.

Course Load

The Master of Science in Nursing degree is a part-time program that takes three years to complete. The student is advised to take six credits per semester. Course work may be completed in 6 semesters.

Degree Requirements

Each candidate for a degree or certificate must have completed all coursework and program requirements. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all courses applicable to the degree is required for both good academic standing and degree conferral. The words “With Distinction” will appear on the diploma and transcript of any student who completes their degree with a GPA of at least 3.75. Once the degree is conferred, the academic record is finalized and cannot be changed.

Maintenance of Matriculation

It is expected that students will fulfill the requirements for their graduate degree by registering over successive sessions. For non-cohort programs, summer registration is not required. Registration is accomplished by either enrolling in classes or maintaining matriculation. The Maintenance of Matriculation fee is processed as a registration. Students who have not maintained matriculation and wish to return to their program within one year after their last course will be charged the Maintenance of Matriculation fee for each missed term. Maintenance of matriculation without attending classes is limited to one year. Activated U.S. Military Reservists are not required to pay the Maintenance of Matriculation fee.

Maintenance of Good Academic Standing

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all courses applicable to the degree is required for both good academic standing and degree conferral. A student admitted as a Special Matriculant is required to achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 after completion of six credits. Please note, certain graduate programs may have more stringent program policies. Please check the specific program regulations. Grades are subject to review by the faculty advisor and program director at the end of each term. If the academic average falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation.

Academic Probation

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all courses applicable to the degree is required for both good academic standing and degree conferral. All students who have a cumulative GPA below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. If a student will not be able to achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 within a reasonable time, the student may be subject to dismissal from the academic program of study. If a student receives a grade of F or FW in any course, the student will be subject to dismissal from the program. For all students on probation, future registrations must be reviewed and approved by the Academic Unit Head of the student’s program or graduate Associate Dean.

In all subsequent terms in which the student is on probation, the student is required to achieve a term GPA of 3.0 or higher. If the 3.0 or higher is not achieved the student will be dismissed. Students who receive a grade of less than B may be required to repeat the course. Students will be allowed to repeat a course only once.

Program Dismissal Review

In cases in which a student has been dismissed from the Nursing Program, the student may request a dismissal review when he/she believes that extenuating circumstances affected his/her academic performance in the program. The student must follow the SHNS Program Dismissal Review Policy detailed at the beginning of the School of Health and Natural Sciences section.

Time Limit

Requirements for the degree must be completed within five years from the candidate’s date of matriculation (exclusive of time spent in the Armed Forces). An exception may be made by the director of the program if the student’s request demonstrates circumstances beyond his or her control that temporarily interfere with the ability to complete the program on time.

Complaints That Fall Outside the Realm of Due Process

The Department of Nursing is committed to meeting its mission as it relates to serving our students, potential students, staff, faculty, adjunct faculty, clinical faculty and the public consumer of nursing services. To that end, we are committed to ensuring that exceptional complaints for which there is no established College, School or program policy or procedure are considered and resolved in a timely, fair, consistent and equitable manner.

Procedure: Complaint to the Program: Complaints should be addressed to the Program Director through the online form located here .
If the program director is the subject of the complaint, the complaint should be addressed to the Dean, School of Health and Natural Science.

Accreditation

The master’s degree in nursing at Mercy College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 463-6930. The program is also approved by the New York State Board of Regents.