General Program Information
Graduate School Contact:
Rene Palumbo; palumbo@etsu.edu; 423-439-6158
Dr. Kathleen Rayman, Ph.D., Director of Graduate Program, Clinical Nurse Leader Graduate Coordinator
207 Roy S. Nicks Hall
Box 70658
(423) 439-4589
e-mail: raymank@etsu.edu
Dr. Nancy Granberry, N.D., Master of Science in Nursing, Regents Online Degree Program Graduate Coordinator
2-300 Roy S. Nicks Hall
Box 70658
(423) 439-4874
e-mail: granberr@etsu.edu
Faculty:
Sally S. Blowers; Sandy Calhoun; Janne Dunham-Taylor; Joellen B. Edwards; Masoud Ghaffari; Lee Glenn; Nancy Granberry; Patricia A. Hayes; Susan Hossler; Frances Jackson; Amy Kaplan; Sharon Loury; Catherin Lauzon; Jo-Ann S. Marrs; Peggy McConnell; Wendy Nehring; Carolyn Merriman; Tamera Pearson; Priscilla Ramsey; Kathleen M. Rayman; Judith Rice; Jennifer Stewart-Glenn; Sharon Trumbley; Pearl Ume-Nwago; Patricia Vanhook; Joy E. Wachs; Jennie Walls.
Master of Science in Nursing Regents Online Degree Program
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is offered through the Regents Online Degree Program (RODP), and is delivered following the standard protocol established for the delivery of RODP courses and programs. The program includes four concentrations: Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, Nursing Informatics, and Advanced Practice. Courses are offered each semester (fall, spring, and summer) through all six Tennessee Board of Regents universities. The program requires completion of 34-46 semester credit hours depending on the concentration. For more information, please visit www.tn.regentsdegrees.org/msn.
Program Admission Requirements
All candidates must apply to the Regents Online Degree Program before applying to the home school. The RODP application can be found at www.rodp.org.
Admission to the program will be based on competitive selection from the pool of applicants who meet the School of Graduate Studies admission requirements from the designated home school. Additional admission requirements for the Master of Science in Nursing Regents Online Degree Program include:
- Eligibility to practice as a Registered Nurse in Tennessee or the state in which clinical assignments are completed. Appropriate licensure/authorization must be obtained during the first semester following admission to the program.
- Overall G.P.A. of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- TOEFL score of 600 if native language is not English.
- A written document prepared by the applicant that includes a resume, a discussion of prior professional experience, future career goals, and reasons for pursuing graduate study.
- Letters of recommendation from at least three persons (a minimum of one academic) familiar with the applicant’s academic and professional background and experience in nursing practice, specifying in detail the applicant’s capabilities for graduate study and for future practice as an advanced practice nurse.
- A Bachelor’s degree:
- Requirements for the RN with a BSN degree: completion of the BSN.
- Requirements for the RN with a BA/BS non-nursing degree: completion of the following 12 units RN/MSN nursing bridge sequence: NURS 4210 Healthcare Research; NURS 4211 Nursing Leadership and Management; NURS 4212 Trends and Issues in Nursing and Healthcare; NURS 4213 Community Health Nursing. RN to MSN graduates will not be awarded the BSN degree.
Documentation of the above requirements must be included with the application materials submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. All applications will be reviewed by the College of Nursing Graduate Admissions Committee. Application submitted after the application deadline will not be considered. Application deadlines are as follows: fall semester deadline is February 1; spring semester deadline is July 1; summer semester deadline is December 1.
Factors given consideration in the admission decision include the following: Grade Point Average, professional work experience, demonstration of professional commitment through continuing education, professional honors and awards, writing ability, demonstrated interest in primary care in rural settings, and references. A personal interview may be required.
Applicants may obtain a copy of College of Nursing policies pertaining to graduate students, including the substance abuse policy, clinical course requirements, and information on Core Performance Standards from the College of Nursing Office of Academic Programs and Student Services. After admission to the program, students will receive the College of Nursing Student Handbook and must sign forms indicating they have read the College of Nursing policies and agree to abide by them.
Before entrance into clinical courses, students must be licensed or authorized to practice professional nursing in the state in which clinical assignments will be completed, demonstrate evidence of professional malpractice insurance in the amount of $1,000,000/$3,000,000 coverage, have current CPR certification and a knowledge of universal precautions, and comply with the clinical requirements of the College of Nursing. A student may be asked to present evidence of physical or mental health at any time during the nursing program, and continuance in the program may be contingent upon this evidence. Students are required to provide their own transportation to clinical sites.
Progression Standards - MSN-RODP
Students in the graduate nursing program must meet the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies to remain in good standing. An overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0, “B” or better must be maintained. In addition, a student must achieve a grade of “C” or better in every required course in the graduate nursing program. A student who receives less than a “C” grade in any required graduate course will be recommended for dismissal from the program. If dismissed, a student has the option to apply for reinstatement.