School of Health and Natural Sciences

Joan Toglia, O.T.R., Ph.D., F.A.O.T.A., Dean
Kathleen Golisz, O.T.D., O.T.R., F.A.O.T.A, Associate Dean

HONOR SOCIETIES:

Health Sciences/Health Professions - Alpha Eta

Nursing - Sigma Theta Tau

Purpose

The School of Health and Natural Sciences is dedicated to providing premier health and natural science undergraduate and graduate educational programs to equip students with the intellectual, technical and professional competencies they need to excel and advance as science specialists, health care providers, health promotion experts and science/health educators. More than just focusing on personal careers, our goal is to prepare students to use their knowledge and abilities in the health and natural sciences to be compassionate and caring health care providers.

Mission Statement of the School of Health and Natural Sciences

The School of Health and Natural Sciences is committed to providing motivated students the opportunity to transform their lives by preparing them to achieve or enhance a rewarding career in the health and science professions. The School is dedicated to providing a high quality learning environment that fosters a spirit of scientific inquiry, life-long learning, and ethical behavior for all students.

Goals of the School of Health and Natural Sciences

The School goals establish the shared vision, mission, philosophy and guiding principles agreed to by members of the faculty and other stakeholders in the learning community. The School goals are as follows:

Students are expected to achieve entry-level proficiency and standards of excellence for their field, including:

Adequate knowledge of content
Essential competencies
Sound math skills & quantitative reasoning
Professional written & verbal communication skills
Integration of theory with practice
Application of innovate/cutting edge technology to practice

Students are expected to demonstrate professional behavior, by their ability to:

Ethically reason clinical or scientific issues
Communicate & interact with others using professional language and demeanor
Engage in self-assessment and reflection for personal and professional growth
Engage in culturally sensitive exchanges with clients and/or colleagues

Students are expected to demonstrate competency in applying methods of scientific inquiry and/or evidence-based learning to guide clinical/professional/scientific decision making.

Students are expected to demonstrate a commitment to engage in inter-professional and/or community service, including regional and/or global service, using knowledge and skills gained during their academic studies to foster diversity, interdisciplinary initiatives, and/or eliminate health disparities.

Program Dismissal Review Policy

This Mercy College School of Health and Natural Sciences Program Dismissal Review Policy applies to the following programs: Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Communication Disorders, Exercise Science, Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant and Veterinary Technology. The purpose of the SHNS Dismissal Review Policy is to provide a process for the equitable resolution of formal complaints made by a student over academic dismissal at the Program level. Separate appeals policies exist for violations of academic integrity and academic grade appeals.

Academic Dismissal from a SHNS Program

An academic dismissal from a program may occur if a student does not meet the criteria outlined by the specific program to remain in good standing. (Refer to Program Requirements for guidance on each program’s criteria). If a student fails to meet these criteria, the program’s Academic Unit Head or Program Director may dismiss the student after a faculty review. The student may appeal the program dismissal through the following steps. Before proceeding to a higher-level step, all lower-level steps must first be completed and documented in writing. To the extent that an Academic Unit Head/Program Director or Dean/Associate Dean is unavailable, a designee may be appointed for purposes of resolving such issues in a timely manner.

Step One: Academic Unit Head / Program Director – Within two weeks after the end of the semester, term, or trimester (the “academic period”) in which the dismissal occurred, the Academic Unit Head or Program Director will notify the student in writing of the program dismissal. The student may appeal the program dismissal by submitting a request in writing to meet with the Academic Unit Head or Program Director. This meeting must take place by phone or in person within two weeks of the student’s written request. Each party may bring relevant information and supporting documentation to the meeting to discuss.

The written appeal submitted by the student to the Program Director must include the following information:

1. The name, telephone number, address and e-mail address of the student appealing the decision of dismissal; and
2. The stated reason(s) the student was dismissed from the SHNS program; and
3. Identification of the (a) extraordinary and non-recurring circumstances that caused the student’s unsatisfactory academic performance and subsequent dismissal from a SHNS program; and (b) evidence that the unsatisfactory academic performance is not representative of the student’s academic ability; and
4. An explanation of why the information provided in Paragraph 3 above should result in the reversal of the decision to dismiss the student from the SHNS program.

After the meeting, the Academic Unit Head or Program Director will make a decision on the student’s appeal within one week and communicate it in writing to the student. A copy of this decision will be sent to the SHNS School Dean along with supporting documentation. If the student is dissatisfied with the outcome of this decision, a formal written appeal may be submitted by the student to the SHNS Dean within one week after receipt of the Academic Unit Head or Program Director’s decision.

Step Two: SHNS Dismissal Review Committee – In the event that the issue has not been satisfactorily resolved in Step One, the SHNS Dean will refer the appeal to the SHNS Dismissal Review Committee for review and recommendations. All parties to the appeal will be permitted to submit any documentation they believe is necessary, including written statements and documentary evidence in the meeting with the SHNS Dismissal Review Committee. The SHNS Dismissal Review Committee will hold a meeting within two weeks after receipt of the appeal documentation. All parties to the appeal will be permitted to participate in the Dismissal Review Committee meeting. The student may be accompanied by one person who is not professional legal counsel who may observe but not actively participate in the Committee meeting. The Committee will hear from both parties and may call on any witnesses to the matter and review any supplementary documentation. The Committee may ask questions throughout the meeting and may, if necessary, adjourn the meeting to obtain additional information. After all of the interviews have been completed, and documents reviewed, the Dismissal Review Committee will deliberate in closed session. The Committee will make their recommendations to the SHNS Dean which may include upholding or overturning the program dismissal.

In arriving at its recommendation, the SHNS Dismissal Review Committee shall not overrule the academic judgment of a faculty member in the program on the assignment of grades to the student. The SHNS Dismissal Review Committee will consider: (1) whether the program followed its own policies governing student performance, advancement and program completion; (2) whether the evidence supports the program’s decision; and (3) whether the student has new significant information that bears on the program’s decision that was not available to the student when that decision was made. If the SHNS Dismissal Review Committee finds that the student has significant new information, the appeal shall be referred back to the student’s program for reconsideration of the dismissal in light of that information.

Step Three: SHNS Dean – Within two weeks after receipt of the recommendations from the Dismissal Review Committee, the SHNS Dean or Associate Dean will review all of the relevant documentation. A written decision shall be sent to both the student and Academic Unit Head or Program Director within one week after the meeting The decision rendered by the SHNS Dean is final; no additional appeals will be permitted.

Any student reinstated in a SHNS Program following an initial dismissal will be subject to immediate academic dismissal effective upon the occurrence of any additional probationary event. The student’s past academic history will be considered when determining if a probationary event is warranted. Students dismissed for a second time will not be allowed to appeal to the program director or Dean for reinstatement, nor are they permitted to reapply to the program. Failure to comply with any part of this process on the part of the student will result in forfeiture of all rights of appeal as outlined.

Mercy College School of Health and Natural Sciences reserves the right to make changes to this Dismissal Review Policy as it deems necessary, with the changes applicable to all students then in attendance in an accredited health professions program.

Nursing Programs

Miriam Ford, FNP, Ph.D., Co-Interim Program Director
mford@mercy.edu
914.674.7865

Susie Moscou, FNP, MPH, Ph.D., Co-Interim Program Director
smoscou@mercy.edu
914.674.7865

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 to enact change and improve quality outcomes
Commit to lifelong learning to advance a culture of excellence.
Build, lead, and coordinate collaborative interprofessional teams
Design and implement innovative nursing practices
Navigate and integrate care services across the health care system
Translate evidence into nursing practice and disseminate knowledge
Prepared 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:

Program Outcome I
Integrate concepts from liberal arts and sciences as the basis for nursing education and the practice of professional nursing.

Program Outcome II
Demonstrate leadership strategies that promote quality improvement, client safety, and organizational effectiveness that promotes health.

Program Outcome III
Evaluate the levels of evidence that guide scholarship and evidence based practice in professional nursing.

Program Outcome IV
Explore ethical management of data, information, knowledge, and technology to facilitate professional nursing care.

Program Outcome V
Investigate healthcare policies and practices, finances, costs, and regulations that influence professional nursing and the general population while promoting advocacy and social justice particularly for the vulnerable.

Program Outcome VI
Examine the implications of interprofessional communication and collaboration in improving health outcomes.

Program Outcome VII
Examine the impact of clinical prevention on health promotion and disease prevention on population health.

Program Outcome VIII
Integrate the core values characteristic of professional nursing.

Program Outcome IX
Apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes that lead to the improvement in health outcomes while recognizing the diversity of culture, spirituality, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender, and sexual orientation of all clients.

Program Outcome X
Assess findings from nursing, bio-psychosocial fields, genetics, public health, quality improvement and organizational sciences for the continued betterment of advanced nursing practice across diverse settings.

Program Outcome XI
Develop leadership behaviors that emphasize interprofessional collaboration, systems thinking, and business and financial acumen toward the improvement of healthcare systems.

Program Outcome XII
Design advanced nursing practices that recognize regulation and national benchmarks to identify actual or potential failures in processes and systems and create a just culture which ensures continuous quality improvement and safety.

Admission Requirements

Please refer to the general requirements for admission and matriculation in the Graduate Admissions section.

Program Requirements

Requirements for matriculation and admission into the Master of Science Programs in Nursing include the following:

A completed Mercy College application
Baccalaureate transcript with a nursing major from a professionally accredited program (or for baccalaureate degrees in other fields, see the Bridge Program below)
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. All
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 363: Nursing Research
NURS 401A: Community Health Nursing: Advocacy for Population Health
NURS 502 NURS 502 - Computer Technology (cc) or NURS 510 or NURS 503 (one graduate course only)

Advisement

Upon admission students are assigned a faculty advisor. The faculty advisor or the program director/associate director is available to meet with the student to assess the credit requirements necessary for completion of the program and to develop a long-term plan of study.

Transfer Credits

Graduate courses taken at other institutions prior to admission at Mercy College may, if pertinent to the plan of study, be credited to the graduate degree. Transfer credit is limited to six credits taken within the last five years in which the student has received a grade of B or above.

Transfer courses taken prior to admission will not be computed in the quality point average.

Course Load

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

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.

Practicum Requirements

Practicum is a 120 hour precepted experience in a student’s specialty track - Education or Administration. Students should be in touch with Practicum advisor at least one semester before they are scheduled to begin. Students must be in good academic standing with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and have completed the required prerequisites, to enroll in Practicum.

Requirements:

All students must have the following in order to start the practicum. Copies must be submitted to the Nursing Clinical Coordinator in one email.

Current malpractice insurance that extends through practicum period
Current BCLS
Copy of current NY State RN license verification from New York State Office of Professions website or any other State within the U.S.A. in which you will engage in the practicum experience
Completed background check and drug screen: See clinical coordinator for website and detailed instructions.
Associated fees for these clearances must be paid by the student.
Lab report with titers for MMR Varicella Hepatitis B, C
Vaccination for Seasonal flu (Current season)
The agency may require the following additional documentation prior to starting the onsite practicum that is not requested by Mercy College:
1. Proof mask fitting; Vaccination for seasonal flu, T-Dap, Hepatitis B, pneumonia or declination, color vision screening. Note: some agency polices require mask use with flu declination.
2. Recent (Within 6 months of practicum) PPD or Quantiferon, or Negative Chest X-ray
3. HIPAA, infection control &/or corporate compliance education verification.

Maintenance of Good Academic Standing

The cumulative GPA for both good academic standing and degree conferral is a 3.0. A student admitted as a Special Matriculant is required to achieve a 3.0 average or better after completing a certain number of credits as stipulated by their respective program. 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

All students who have a GPA below 3.0 will be placed on program probation. Students have two semesters to bring the cumulative GPA to 3.0 or higher in order to be in good academic standing. If at the end of two semesters the student’s cumulative GPA is < 3.0, the student will be dismissed from the Nursing Program. If a student receives a grade of F in any course, the student may be subject to dismissal from the College. For all students on program probation, future registrations must be reviewed and approved by the Director as well as the School Dean. 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 Academic Standing and Probation

Program Dismissal Review

In cases which a student has been dismissed from the Nursing Program, the student may request a dismissal review when he/she believes that extenuating circumstances effected 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 of this catalog.

Degree Requirements

To be eligible for graduation students must complete all coursework with a GPA of 3.0 or better. The words “With Distinction” will appear on the diploma of a student whose GPA, upon meeting all requirements for graduation, is 3.75 or above.

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). 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.

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) 887-6791. The program is also approved by the New York state Board of Regents.