Nursing
222 Sturzebecker Health Sciences Center
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2219
Dr. Mackey, Chairperson
Professors [top]
Janet S. Hickman, Ed.D., Temple University
Associate Professors
Charlotte Mackey, Ed.D., Widener University
Cheryl Ann Monturo, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Christine Thomas, Ph.D., Widener University
Brent W. Thompson, Ph.D., Widener University
Assistant Professors
Edward Mackey, Ph.D., Northcentral University
Christine Moriconi, Psy.D., LaSalle University
Cheryl Schlamb, D.N.P., CRNP, Case Western University
Marcia Welch, D.L., Widener University
Master of Science in Nursing [top]
Mission
The mission of the Department of Nursing at West Chester University is to provide high-quality professional degree education in nursing. The baccalaureate program prepares graduates for entry to nursing practice, and the master's program prepares graduates for advanced practice in public health nursing. The goal of the department is to prepare nurses for leadership and advocacy in the health promotion, disease prevention, and health restoration of individuals, families, and communities. Graduates of these nursing programs will be professionals capable of assuming leadership in present and emerging health care roles, citizens who contribute to society and are committed to life-long learning and personal development.
At the end of the M.S.N. program, the graduate will be able to:
- synthesize philosophy, theory, content, and methods of public health science and nursing science as a basis for public health nursing practice;
- demonstrate advanced clinical skills in society including culturally diverse and/or medically underserved individuals and aggregates;
- assume beginning roles in education or administration;
- design health care strategies in which nurses contribute to the health promotion and disease prevention of individuals and aggregates;
- evaluate health care issues, trends, and policies;
- pursue and evaluate professional development as a continuing professional learner;
- collaborate with interdisciplinary groups in the community for the purpose of health care planning to achieve the objectives of Healthy People 2020;
- acquire a foundation for doctoral study in nursing;
- assume the role of advocate in public health settings to promote accessibility of health care services and to enhance quality of care;
- demonstrate a philosophy of nursing that reflects commitment to social justice and the advancement of nursing science;
- participate in scientific inquiry directed to the health care needs of populations as well as individuals and families.
M.S.N. Admission Requirements
The minimum admission standards for the Department of Nursing are a B.S.N. degree from a National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited program, an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.8, a course in statistics, a course in physical assessment, current licensure as a registered nurse (Pennsylvania licensure required prior to the clinical practicum), at least two years of recent full-time experience as a nurse providing direct clinical care, and two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic and/or professional qualifications. RN applicants with a bachelor’s degree in another discipline may apply for the M.S.N. and will be evaluated on an individual basis.
M.S.N. – Emphasis in Public Health Nursing
The master of science in nursing program will prepare professional nurses for leadership roles in public health nursing through in-depth consideration of community-based health care delivery systems, preparation in a functional role, and the use of critical inquiry and scholarship to improve the practice of nursing.
The program curriculum, developed in coordination with nurse educators, clinicians, and professional societies, offers a choice of instructional focus. The student will select education, administration, or integrative health as a functional component within the public health program of study. All students pursuing the M.S.N. degree are required to earn six credits in nursing research to complete the program.
Functional Component: Nursing Education
The focus in nursing education will enhance the skills of the professional nurse in curriculum development and teaching competencies in nursing.
Functional Component: Nursing Administration
The nursing administration focus will facilitate preparation of graduate nurses for advanced public health roles in fields such as gerontology and chronic illness. This focus is designed in view of a more severely ill case mix in acute-care settings, as well as accelerated use of HMO’s, home health agencies, and other types of community-based care.
Functional Component: Integrative Health
The integrative health focus provides both content and field experience in alternative and complementary health modalities. Relevant electives (three credits) are selected under advisement.
Curriculum (39 semester hours) [top]
- Core component (18 semester hours)
NSG 501, 502, 503, 504, and 522 - Functional component (9 semester hours)
Each student will choose nursing administration, nursing education, or integrative health as a functional focus.- Nursing administration
NSG 509, 510, and relevant electives selected under advisement (3 semester hours)
OR
- Nursing education
NSG 507, 508, 511 - Integrative health
NSG 515, NSG 518, and relevant electives selected under advisement (3 semester hours)
- Nursing administration
- Research component (6 semester hours)
NSG 505, 506 - Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive examination
Special Requirements
Insurance. Students are required to carry liability insurance coverage in the amount of $1,000,000/$3,000,000 when enrolled in nursing courses having a clinical component.
CPR Certification. Students enrolled in nursing courses having a clinical component are required to be currently certified by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or other acceptable resource in life support (two-person) cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The CPR course must include resuscitation of infants and children.
Health Requirements
Students enrolled in nursing courses having a clinical component must provide the Department of Nursing with evidence of a current (within one year) health assessment performed by a physician or certified nurse practitioner. Documentation of immunity to Rubella, rubeola, measles, mumps, poliomyelitis, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis B, and varicella is required.
Substance-Abuse Policy
Students are expected to perform unimpaired. Prior to taking NSG 502, students must have a negative substance-abuse result. This policy is in addition to the West Chester University Student Code of Conduct and the Drug-Free Campus policy (Section III, Ram's Eye View).
TB Testing
In order to comply with agency requirements, a two-step tuberculin skin test will be required for all students prior to taking NSG 502 and any subsequent clinical practicum if more than 12 months have transpired.
Course Descriptions [top]
Nursing
Symbol: NSG
501 Nursing Theories and Issues (3) Exploration of a variety of theories and current issues that affect nursing practice, education, and administration.
502 Perspectives of Public Health Nursing (4) Introduction to concepts of public health and community health nursing. Includes both classroom presentations and clinical practicum in an agency of interest to the student, focusing primarily on community health care. PREREQ or CONCURR: NSG 501.
503 Principles and Practice of Public Health Nursing (6) Students will continue to refine the application of principles of public health during a second in the series of courses combining theory with practice. Continued emphasis on the political, governmental, and fiscal management aspects of public health nursing. PREREQ: NSG 502.
504 Advanced Concepts of Public Health Nursing (2) Seminar on advanced concepts of public health. No clinical practicum is associated with this course, which will be taken either prior to or together with the functional practicum. PREREQ: NSG 503.
505 Nursing Research I (3)
506 Nursing Research II (3) Critical analysis of research design and outcomes, using existing nursing research studies from the professional literature and existing computerized simulated research to develop skill in research modalities. PREREQ: NSG 505.
507 Curriculum Development in Nursing Education (3) This course is designed to examine the theory and practice of curriculum development as a group process, synthesizing basic principles of curriculum in nursing education.
508 Teaching Competencies in Nursing - Principles and Methods (3) Examination of the teaching-learning process and skills in professional nursing, with emphasis on baccalaureate or in-service education. Includes both classroom and clinical practicum teaching experience, as well as seminars with other students enrolled. Focus is community health nursing throughout. PREREQ: NSG 507.
509 Public Health Nursing Administration (3) Principles of administration, leadership, and organization related to the delivery of public health nursing care. Organizational, management, power, decision-making, motivational, and change theories will be examined in relationship to the community health nurse administrator.
510 Nursing Administration in Public Health Nursing Settings (3) Examination of management skills for nurse-administrators in a service setting in public health. Includes both classroom and clinical practicum administrative experience, as well as seminars with other students enrolled. Focus is public health nursing throughout. PREREQ: NSG 509.
511 Measurement and Evaluation in Nursing Education (3) This course will focus on the application of principles of measurement and evaluation within nursing education. Practical experiences will include the construction and evaluation of classroom tests and clinical assessment instruments, as well as interpretation of standardized tests used within nursing education. Current trends and issues related to evaluation will be discussed.
513 Nursing Informatics (3) This course will focus on the current and potential impact of the microcomputer in the nursing arenas of practice, education, and administration. Basic concepts of computer literacy will be reviewed with lab exercises to assist those who are not computer literate. The course then will proceed from the history of nursing informatics and culminate with the future of nursing informatics.
514 Human Lactation, Breast-Feeding, and Health of the Community (3) This three-credit course is for students seeking in-depth knowledge about breast-feeding and human lactation. Through various assignments, the research in lactation will be explored and critiqued. Emphasis is on understanding the physiology of human lactation and the health impact on infants and their mothers. The normal process of breast-feeding will be addressed with analysis of the barriers to breast-feeding in today's society. Using national policies and standards as the focal point, the student will analyze what local, national, and international organizations are doing to support breast-feeding.
515 Nursing Practice in Integrative Health Settings (3) An advanced practice nursing course in community-based integrative health setting(s). Includes both classroom and clinical practice as well as seminars with other students enrolled. Focus is on community health nursing throughout. One hour of class, eight hours of clinical per week. PREREQ: NSG 518 or HEA 501.
516 Cancer Nursing Practice (3) The emphasis of this course is the care of clients with cancer. This course examines the various physiological, psychosocial, and spiritual effects this disease has on clients and their families. A variety of topics will be discussed, including communication, hope, sexuality, spirituality, loss, pain, and altered body image. The focus of the course is on the role of the professional nurse in prevention, diagnosis, and client management.
518 Care of the Community Spirit (3) This course focuses on community building and spirituality. Course content includes introduction to the concept of community spirit, culture, and community; integration of health and spirit within the community.
520 Health Assessment in Advanced Nursing Practice (3) This course combines comprehensive theoretical and laboratory experience to enable the nurse in advanced practice to complete a holistic health assessment of the client. Opportunity is provided to enhance the participant's ability to collect relevant data via use of appropriate interviewing methods, developmental and physical assessment techniques, critical thinking, and psychomotor skills (two hours, lecture; three hours, laboratory).
521 Palliative Nursing Care in the Community (3) Provision of palliative care in various community settings. End-of-life issues addressed with strategies to promote change. Biopsychosocial and spiritual symptom management for individuals and families is emphasized.
522 Epidemiology (3) An overview of the epidemiological model of disease causation. Various epidemiological study designs and their applications will be presented.
523 Suggestive Therapeutics for the Practicing Healthcare Professional (3) An in-depth study of selected, current topics relevant to the development of nursing majors. This course will emphasize the critical analysis of current topics that impact professional nursing. Each student will develop a commitment to reading and critiquing nursing research in professional journals as part of the teaching-learning process.
