GRADUATE NURSING PROGRAM
General Questions Nurse Pratitioner Questions Nurse Educator Program Questions
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General Questions
1. Is the program accredited?
Yes, the program is accredited by the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education.
2. How long is the program?
The program is 44 credits of course work. If students go full time starting in the fall semester, they can finish in two academic years. If students start at some other time in the school year, it will take more than two years to complete the program. The clinical courses require three semesters in the following sequence--Spring, Fall and Spring.
3. Are there residency requirements for the program?
Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator students must come to campus for MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment, which is offered in the Winterim (the second and third full weeks of January) each year.
4. Is there a comprehensive examination at the end of the program?
No, there is not a comprehensive exam. However, students are required to prepare a portfolio and participate in a Capstone Interview. Both on-campus and distance students will be on campus the week before graduation in May for their portfolio presentation. Distance students will be scheduled at the end of the week before graduation.
5. How fast can I progress through the program?
Students may progress at a pace that is comfortable for them. However, on-campus students are on a semester system and distance students must follow the scheduled semester dates for MSN 802, MSN 830, MSN 834 and the three clinical courses. Students must finish the program within seven years.
6. Why is residency course (MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment) only offered once per year in Winterim?
The class needs to be in sequence to start the clinical course sequence in the spring semester. This course is fundamental to clinical practice and is used to determine that students are ready to begin a clinical practicum with a preceptor.
7. If I am an On-Campus student may I take a E-Learning course?
Yes
8. How are the clinical courses arranged?
The three-clinical-course-cycle is offered starting in the spring semester each year. The second course is the following fall semester and the third course is offered in the subsequent spring semester. No clinical can be done in the summer term.
9. How do I find a preceptor?
Students are responsible for networking in their communities and identifying a person willing to work with them as a preceptor. This gets students involved in networking and building skills in identifying and working with resource people.
11. Is a thesis required?
Not necessarily. All students have a choice to do a thesis for 6 credits or go on the Global Perspectives trip (3 credits) and do a Scholarly Project (3 credits).
12. What is the Global Perspectives course?
Usually during the Spring break of the last semester of the program, graduating students go on a medical mission trip with NP faculty members, a physician and/or other health care providers to a Third World country such as Mexico or India to provide health care and the word of the Lord to underserved people. There usually are some grant monies available from CUW to support part of the cost of the trip.
13. What is the Scholarly Project?
The Scholarly Project is developed to improve or impact on a clinical problem. The outcome is a scholarly paper that is submitted for publication or left for use in a clinical agency.
14. Why do I have to finish the core courses before I start MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment and the clinical courses?
A body of specific knowledge is needed to be ready to apply the knowledge and skills in the clinical courses.
15. How often does an instructor visit me in clinical?
Each student will have a clinical instructor visit him or her each semester of the clinical courses. A minimum of one visit will be done each semester. More visits may be scheduled if student performance dictates the need.
16. May I start clinical courses whenever I want?
No. Clinical courses must be done in the semester sequence as discussed previously when the core courses are completed.
17. Why do I have to wait to do MSN 830 Health Care Systems in Context and MSN 834 Nursing Theory in the fall semester?
Experience has indicated that students want to be linked together in the program to be able to discuss ideas. Therefore, the Health Care in Context and Nursing Theory courses for distance students are held simultaneously with the on-campus courses in the fall semester in order to develop a cohort of students who can work together if they like.
18. Who is my advisor?
Dr. Teri Kaul, the Program Director is the advisor for all Nurse Practitioner Students. Dr. Ruth Gresley is the advisor for all Nurse Educator Students.
19. Do you do any courses on the Internet?
The program for both on-campus and distance students uses a variety of delivery modalities. These include: print, DVD, and Internet such as WebCT and web-enhanced materials. Several of our E-Learning courses are done completely online whereas others use a combination of the Internet, DVDs, and print media.
19. Do I really need a computer for this program?
Yes, definitely! We use the Internet for e-mail communication, assignments, and Web-based courses.
20. What else do I need besides a computer?
Students need to have access to a DVD player and video recorder to view class DVDs and to record their presentations.
21. Is there any financial aid?
There are loans available for eligible students. There are no graduate student scholarships. The program does receive Advanced Nursing Education Traineeship money for student support. This money is awarded to all eligible students for the final semester of the program. Students will be given an application to apply at the appropriate time.
22. Do I have to have a BSN?
Yes.
23. How do I apply for the program?
Students may request application materials from the Graduate Admission
Office or the E-Learning Office by phone, mail or email. Students may also apply online.
24. How do I register for classes?
All students should register online. When registering, please take special note of course numbers. E-Learning course numbers always begin with an 8 and on-campus course numbers always begin with a 5.
25. How do I get my books?
Books may be purchased at the University Bookstore on campus. E-Learning students are mailed a textbook order form upon receipt of their course registration form. The textbook order form can be mailed or faxed to the bookstore.
26. How often must I come to campus if I am a distance student?
E-Learning students must come to campus for the Advanced Health Assessment course and for the Portfolio Review prior to Graduation.
27. If I am a E-Learning student may I take an on-campus course?
Yes
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Nurse Practitioner Program Questions
1. How much will books cost?
Books cost about $3000 for the program with the cost increasing every year. Students will make an investment of approximately $500 (as of January 2002) when they come to campus for the Advanced Health Assessment course plus an optional $75.00 video purchased prior to the beginning of class.
2. When is MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment offered?
MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment is offered each Winterim. The following courses need to be completed before coming for MSN 538: Health Care Systems in Context, Nursing Theory, Nursing Research, Pathophysiology, Pharmacotherapeutics, Counseling: Theory and Issues, and one of the Family courses on the approved list. If necessary, students may take either Family or Counseling in the summer between APN I and APN II.
3. Who should I ask to be my preceptor?
An appropriately credentialed master's prepared NP, physician assistant, or a physician working in the appropriate specialty (Family Practice, Internal Medicine or Gerontology) may serve as a preceptor. Students will provide the name and identifying information about the preceptor and CUW will send them a contract for the clinical practicum. Preceptors will need to provide a resume to the school for review and record keeping. The CUW faculty will review the resume to make sure the preceptor is appropriately credentialed.
4. How often does an instructor visit me in clinical?
Each student will have a clinical instructor visit him or her each semester of the clinical courses. A minimum of one visit will be done each semester. More visits may be scheduled if student performance dictates the need.
5. Why don't you do MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment and the clinical during the summer?
The summer term does not allow enough time for student learning to be accomplished. The transition to developing the clinical decision-making skills necessary for advance practice nursing requires more time.
6. How many hours of clinical do I need to do?
Nurse Practitioner students must do a minimum of 600 clinical hours to be eligible to take the recommended American Nurses Credentialing examination for certification as an NP. This requires approximately 200 hours/semester or 14-16 hours/week in a 14-week semester.
7. What is the pass rate for the students at CUW on the national NP certification examination?
Our pass rate consistently has been above the national average.
8. Do you have a post Master's degree NP track?
Yes, please see the information about the Certificate After Graduate Education (CAGE) program.
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Nurse Educator Program Questions
1. How much will books cost?
Students will make an investment of approximately $500 (as of January 2002) when they come to campus for the Advanced Health Assessment course plus an optional $75.00 video purchased prior to the beginning of class. Books for other courses will cost about $200 per course.
2. When is MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment offered?
MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment is offered each Winterim. The following courses need to be completed before coming for MSN 538: Health Care Systems in Context, Nursing Theory, Nursing Research, Human Learning & Motivation, Curriculum & Development, and Pathophysiology.
3. Who should I ask to be my preceptor?
An appropriately credentialed master's prepared clinical nurse specialist for Nurse Educator I and a Master's Prepared Nurse Educator for Nurse Educator II and III. Students will provide the name and identifying information about the preceptor and CUW will send them a contract for the clinical practicum. Preceptors will need to provide a resume to the school for review and record keeping. The CUW faculty will review the resume to make sure the preceptor is appropriately credentialed.
4. How many hours of clinical do I need?
The Nurse educator clinical component is approximately 500 hours over three semesters.
Much more information about the NE program is available on our Academic Program page. You may also contact Dr. Ruth Gresley, the Nurse Educator Program Director at 262.243.4452 or by mail at 12800 North Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, WI 53097.
