University Bulletin 2022-23

Print Bulletin Page

Nursing (MSN) - RN-MSN with Non-Nursing Baccalaureate

Bulletin Page Content

RN to MSN Pathway (47-68 Credit Hours)

Master of Science with Clinical Concentrations (14-21 Courses, 47-68 Hours)

  1. RN-BSN Bridge Courses (3 Courses, 11 Credit hours)

  2. Support Courses (3 Courses, 9 Credit hours)

  3. MSN/DNP Core Courses (4 Courses, 12 Credit hours)

  4. Clinical Concentrations (4 -11 Courses, 15-36 Credit hours) 

Master of Science in Nursing with Non-Clinical Concentrations (16 Courses, 51 Credit Hours)

  1. RN-BSN Bridge Courses (3 Courses, 11 Credit hours)

  2. Core Courses (4 Courses, 12 Credit hours)

  3. Non-clinical Concentration (8 Courses, 25 Credit hours)

Course Requirements

RN-MSN Bridge Courses (3 Courses, 11 Credit Hours)
  1. 14 hours:  NU 450, NU 452, NU 404

Support Courses (2 Courses, 6 Credit Hours)
  1. 9 Credit hours:  NU 518, NU 545, NU 578

MSN/DNP Core Courses (4 Courses, 12 Credit Hours)
  1. 12 Credit hours:  NU 607, NU 608, NU 610, NU 613
Clinical Concentrations (4-11 Courses, 15-36 Credit Hours)
  1. 24  Credit hours: Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner:  AHN 568, AHN 571, AHN 572, AHN 573, AHN 574, AHN 575, AHN 576, AHN 577

  2. 24 Credit hours:  Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner:  AHN 581, AHN 588, AHN 591, AHN 592, AHN 593, AHN 594, AHN 595, AHN 596, HSC 601, HSC 602, HSC 603

  3. 17 Credit hours:  Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist:  NU 515, NU 516, NU 517, AHN 516, AHN 517, AHN 518, Elective AHN 519

  4. 15 Credit hours:  Clinical Nurse Leader:  NU 535, NU 536, NU 537, NU 538

  5. 36 Credit hours: Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP): AHN 538, AHN 548, AHN 549, AHN 550, AHN 551, AHN 552, AHN 553, AHN 554, AHN 555

  6. 36 Credit hours:  Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP): NU 580, NU 581, NU 582, NU 583, NU 584, NU 585, NU 586, NU 587, NU 588

  7. 24 Credit hours:  Family Nurse Practitioner:  CMN 568, CMN 571, CMN 572, CMN 573, CMN 574, CMN 575, CMN 576 CMN 577

  8. 24 Credit hours:  Neonatal Nurse Practitioner: MCN 568, MCN 571, MCN 572, MCN 573, MCN 574, MCN 575, MCN 576, MCN 577

  9. 24 Credit hours:  Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner:  MCN 558, MCN 562, MCN 563, MCN 564, MCN 565, MCN 566, MCN 567, MCN 571

  10. 24 hours:  Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner: MCN 548, MCN 551, MCN 552, MCN 553, MCN 554, MCN 555, MCN 556, MCN 557

  11. 24 Credit hours:  Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: CMN 548, CMN 551, CMN 552, CMN 553, CMN 554, CMN 555, CMN 556, CMN 557

  12. 24 Credit hours:  Women's Health Nurse Practitioner: MCN 538, MCN 541, MCN 542, MCN 543, MCN 544, MCN 545, MCN 546, MCN 547 

Non-Clinical Concentrations (8 Courses, 25 Credit Hours)

  1.  25 Credit hours:  Executive Nursing Administration:  HSC 571, NU 539, NU 561, NU 553, NU 554, NU 565, NU 566, NU 567, NU 568

  2. 25 Credit hours:  Nursing Informatics:  ISC 550, ISC 555, NU 539, NU 553, NU 554,NU 556, NU 557, NU 558NU 559, NU 565 
Subspecialties (8-11 Credit Hours)
  1. 11 Credit hours:  Addictions Nursing: HSC 580, HSC 581, HSC 582, NU 510, NU 511, NU 512  (Elective NU 513).  May be added to any concentration.

  2. 9 Credit hours:  Advanced Forensic Nursing:  NU 500, NU 502, NU 503, NU 504, NU 505  May be added to any concentration.

  3. 8 Credit hours:  Cardiovascular:  AHN 630, AHN 631, AHN 632, AHN 633  May be added to Adult-Gerontological Acute NP,  Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP),  Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP), Family NP, Women’s Health NP, Post-Graduate Certificate Emergency NP, and any Adult-Gerontological CNS student with a strong background in cardiovascular and/or acute care nursing.

  4. 8 Credit hours:  Clinical Lipidology:  HSC 595, HSC 596, HSC 597, HSC 598  May be added to Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP,  Adult-Gerontological Acute NP, Adult-Gerontological CNS, Family NP, Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute NP), Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP), and Women's Health NP.

  5. 8 Credit hours:  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Healthcare Subspecialty:  HSC 501, HSC 502, HSC 503, HSC 504 May be added to any concentration

  6. 15 Credit hours:  Emergency Nurse Practitioner: NU 570, NU 571, NU 572, NU 573, U 574, NU 575, NU 576, NU 577 May be added to Family NP, Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP), or taken as a Post Graduate Certificate if already Family NP certified.

  7. 11 Credit hours:  Nurse Educator: NU 620, NU 621, NU 622, NU 623 May be added to any concentration.

  8. 9 Credit hours:  Palliative Care:  AHN 530, AHN 531, AHN 532, AHN 533 May be added to any concentration.

Elective Courses - (1-3 Credit Hours)
  1. 1 Credit hour: NU 509 Bioethics in Advanced Practice Nursing

  2. 3 Credit hours:  NU 597  Introduction to Scholarly Writing

  3. 3 Credit hours:  HSC 500 Addressing Gender Discrimination and Disparities in Healthcare

  4. 1 Credit hour:  HSC 573 Responsible Prescribing of Community Used Drugs

  5. 1 Credit hour:  HSC 510 Teams for Behavioral Healthcare in Primary Care Seminar

  6. 1 Credit hour:  HSC 511 Interprofessional Teams and Telehealth Delivery of Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Seminar

  7. 1 Credit hour:  HSC 512 Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Care in Interprofessional Behavioral Healthcare Seminar


Additional Information 

RN - MSN PATHWAY FOR RN’S WITH A NON-NURSING BACCALAUREATE DEGREE

This pathway is available to persons who are registered nurses and have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution in a discipline other than nursing.

Admission Criteria

  1. Graduate of an approved regionally accredited Associate Degree program with a major in nursing.
  2. Current registered nurse licensure with no restrictions. Nurses with any restrictions on their license, including participation in a voluntary disciplinary alternative program, cannot be admitted.
  3. A minimal grade-point average of 2.75 on all undergraduate work (A=4.00).
  4. Submission of a résumé which documents clinical experience. Prior to enrolling in a nurse practitioner clinical course, students are required to have at least 2 years of experience in an area appropriate to the specialty.
  5. Submission of Health Data Forms and evidence of health insurance required upon admission.
  6. Admission will be contingent on a negative drug screen and results of an acceptable background check.

Application Procedures

Admission to the program is limited and selective. Application forms and other information may be obtained from the College of Nursing's website at https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/con/msn/msnadmiss.html or by contacting the college directly at College of Nursing, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688; congradapp@southalabama.edu; Telephone: (251) 445-9400.

To be considered for admission to the RN-MSN program, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

  1. Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States of America.
  2. Current registered nurse licensure with no restrictions. Nurses with any restrictions on their license, including participation in a voluntary disciplinary alternative program, cannot be admitted.
  3. Completion of Primary and Supplemental Applications:
    1. Primary Application submitted through Nursing Centralized Application System (NursingCAS) at www.NursingCAS.org. Official transcripts of all college and university studies, regardless of the outcome of enrollment, must be sent directly from the home institution to the NursingCAS. These documents become the property of the NursingCAS and will not be returned to the applicant. Applicants are responsible for any fees required by NursingCAS for their services.
    2. Supplemental Application submitted directly to the USA Admission Office at the USA College of Nursing. This application requires a non-refundable processing fee of $100.00, a Personal Goal Statement, and a résumé /CV documenting clinical experience.
  4. Students are admitted to a specialty track and may not change their track without permission.
  5. Students must be in good standing with all academic institutions/nursing programs that they have attended in order to be admitted to the program.
  6. All degrees must be from regionally accredited institutions.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted year round, and must adhere to the following application deadlines:

  • Fall Semester Deadline is March 1
  • Spring Semester Deadline is July 15
  • Summer Semester Deadline is December 1

Academic Progression Policy

Students in the RN-MSN program must meet the following requirements to progress in the program:

  1. Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0. Any term in which a graduate student drops below a 3.0 Program GPA, the student is placed on probationary status and has a period of two terms to attain a 3.0 Program GPA or be dismissed.
  2. Students in these programs can have a maximum of two “C”s. 
  3. A maximum of two (2) courses with a grade of "C" can be counted towards a degree; however, only one (1) "C" is permitted in support or specialization courses. If a second "C" or lower is earned in a support or specialization course, the course in which the second "C" or lower is obtained must be repeated before a student may move forward with a specialty course. All corresponding specialty clinical and didactic courses must be taken in sequence. 
  4. A student earning a third "C" or lower will be academically dismissed from the program. 
  5. A student earning two grades of "F" in the program will be academically dismissed. 
  6. Failure to show good ethical and moral character including but not limited to any of the following may result in dismissal from the program: (a) conviction of a crime, (b) disciplinary action against a nursing license in Alabama or any other state, (c) positive drug test, (d) adverse background check, or (e) disruptive behavior, including online behavior.  All students must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours of any of the above stated incidents.
  7. All students must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours following an arrest. Failure to report an arrest may result in removal from the program.
  8. All students are subject to testing for controlled substances and must submit to random drug testing as requested. A positive test or refusal to submit to testing will result in removal from the program.
  9. All students are subject to a background check and must submit to additional background checks as requested. An adverse finding or refusal to submit to a background check may result in removal from the program.
  10. A student who has been academically dismissed is not eligible for readmission to the MSN program.

Graduation Requirements

The MSN program must be completed within 5 years of matriculation. MSN students who will complete all degree requirements are required to apply for graduation by the application deadline established by the Registrar’s Office.  Deadlines for each semester application are located on the Registrar’s website at https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/registrar/commencement/index.html.

 

College of Nursing Administrative Staff (251) 445-9400
Dean Heather Hall
Associate Dean for Research Faculty Development, and Evaluation Sharon Fruh
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Leigh Minchew
Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs  Shanda Scott
Director of Clinical Affairs Emily Bentley
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Shanda Scott
Director of the DNP Program Casey Elkins
Director of Special Projects & Evaluation Rebecca Graves
Professors C. Dolan, S. Fruh, J. Gunn, H. Hall, J. Harris, M. Jacobs, R. Lawson, S. Rider, E. VandeWaa
Associate Professors K. Bydalek,  C. Elkins, R. Graves, K. Hamilton, L. Hammonds, T. Harlan, T. Huey, P. Johnson, S. Lawrence, C. Lewis, A. Marass, K. McCoy, T. McMullan, L. Minchew, C. Myers, M. Nadler, J. Pittman, B. Riley, D. Swanzy, K. Williams, S. Williams, T. Wright
Assistant Professors A. Adams, J. Anderson, M. Baker, C. Baughn, E. Bentley, M. Bolton, A. Bowman, S. Brand, H. Breazeale, T. Brown, C. Butler,  L. Byrd, A. A. Campbell, A. Calvert Campbell, K. Cheshire, D. Copeland, L. Dailey, A. Davis,  S. Davis, W. Davis,  N. Dixon,  J. Ferry, A. Gilligan, M. Guy, C. Haboush, S. Harlan, S. Harris, H. Horton, P. Huffman,  D. Hutto, C. Jackson, B. Johnson, P. Johnson,  L. Jones, K. Jordan,  M. Korn, B. Lang, A. Lewis, S. Lewis, J. Lollar, C. Lynch,  C. McCarter,  K. McMurtrey, T. Meyer, K. Miller, S. Montgomery, E. Moore, L. Moore, J. A. Otts, K. Pancione, T. Platt, W. Powell, D. Reed, S. Rudolf, S. Scott, T. Sikes-Doggett, K. Stauter, W. Stuart, T. Sturm, R. Thomas,  C. Thompson-Ferrell, M. Thread, A. Townsend, N. Turnham, C. Williamitis, B. Woodmansee, A. Younce
Research Assistant Professors Candice Selwyn
Senior Instructors J. Cockrell, M. Meyer
Instructors K. Cooper, L. Emley, A. Holley, S. James, R. Johnson, ,J. Ladnier,  B. Mosley, K. Norris, C. Pierce, K. Sherpe, C. Taylor,  B. Urquhart, S. Waweru, E. Woods
Department Chair, Adult Health Nursing Theresa Wright
Department Chair, Community/Mental Health Nursing Todd Harlan
Department Chair, Maternal/Child Health Nursing Tricia Huey
Director, Academic Advising Mary Phillips
Academic Advisors Jennifer Bouvier,  Kristen Dykes, Katelyn Foster, Leigh Holland, Camry McCants, Brenda Mosley,  Kristyn Seawell, Bailey Smith, Suzan Williams
Academic Records Specialists Lisa Brock, Vickie Perkins
Clinical Placement Advising and Assessment Coordinator Kimberly McLean-Mundy
Clinical Affiliation Coordinators Elizabeth Collier, Shari Lord, Yolanda Mack

College of Nursing website
http://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/con/

The College of Nursing is dedicated to the education of professional nurses who provide the highest quality health care to the communities they serve. The practice of nursing is both an art and a science; the focus of nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems.

The College of Nursing has two locations, one is on the USA main campus, and the other is on the USA Baldwin County campus in downtown Fairhope. The resources of the University, the USA Hospitals and clinics, and the numerous clinical agencies provide excellent opportunities for students to acquire the knowledge and skills essential for professional nursing.

Mission

The mission of the College of Nursing is to provide quality innovative educational programs to a diverse student body, to participate in research and scholarly activities, and to provide service to the University, the profession, and the public. The College accomplishes this by providing a caring, engaging environment for the empowerment of student learning potential, the professional development of faculty, and the promotion of the nursing profession.

Goals

  1. Cultivate a caring, innovative, and engaging environment to facilitate teaching, learning, scholarship, and service.
  2. Deliver innovative quality nursing programs that meet the needs of a diverse student body and other communities of interest.
  3. Promote the discovery, communication, and preservation of knowledge through scholarly activities and leadership.
  4. Provide service to the University, the profession, and the public.
  5. Develop community partnerships to promote nursing and the enhancement of the health care delivery system using interprofessional approaches.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate program is approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing and the baccalaureate, master's program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program and post-graduate APRN certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education:

655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC
20001

P: (202) 887-6791
F: (202) 887-8476 

Student Responsibility

While the University of South Alabama will endeavor to provide timely and accurate advisement, it is the responsibility of the student to know and satisfy the degree requirements of the academic program, to be aware of the University calendar,
http://www.southalabama.edu/academiccalendar/index.html and to understand and comply with University academic policies and procedures.

Degrees Offered

The College of Nursing offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

Certificates Offered

Post-Graduate Certificates are awarded to students completing planned programs of study in a nursing specialty area and subspecialty areas.