GRADUATE NURSING PROGRAM
Welcome to the Graduate Program in Nursing at Concordia University Wisconsin. Since the program uses a variety of presentation styles for teaching and learning, this orientation information is designed to provide information and help you develop the skills necessary to use these delivery methods successfully. These methods include: print, audio, DVD, WebCT and electronic media. The nursing faculty at CUW is excited to be able to offer this variety of methodologies to you.
The Master of Science in Nursing Nurse Practitioner program is a 44-credit program designed to prepare family or geriatric nurse practitioners in primary health care settings.
The Master of Science in Nursing - Nurse Educator program is a 43-credit program designed to prepare nursing educators with the role competencies and knowledge content necessary for positions in associate or baccalaureate degree nursing education programs.
The program is accredited by the Collegiate Commission on Nursing Education (CCNE).
Collegiate Commission on Nursing Education
One Dupont Circle, NW,
Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
The objectives of the program and other detailed program information can be found in the MSN Student Handbook. You may request a paper copy of the handbook from the Graduate Nursing Program secretary. She can be reached at (262)243-4464.
This orientation information has been developed to provide you with information and techniques that will make the program easier. This program uses a variety of teaching/learning strategies to facilitate your success. Some of these strategies include: synchronous on-campus classes, chat rooms and e-mail, asynchronous web-based activities, print, audio and DVD methodologies. Please click on the underlined words below to see more specific information about the topic. Please contact us if you have questions about the following material.
- COURSE PROGRESSION PLAN
Sample course progression grids are available on the Academic Program page of this website. As you enter the MSN program, you will need to think through your own personal progression and course load. Use this Blank Course Progression Plan to map out your goals for progression in the program. Once you've charted your personal progression plan, submit it to Dr. Gresley (if you are a Nurse Educator student) or to Prof. Teri Kaul (if you are a Nurse Practitioner student).
- COMING TO CAMPUS
Each of you will be expected to come to the CUW campus for two activities: 1) MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment and 2) Capstone Interview and Portfolio Review. MSN 538 Advanced Health Assessment is a two week, three credit course and is held each January usually starting Monday of the first full week. Specific dates may be found in the registration materials. Each of you will develop a portfolio of work during the course of the program that will be useful for demonstrating what you have learned when you are ready to enter the job market. Detailed instructions for compilation of the final portfolio can be found in the portfolio guidelines. All students will also develop a scholarly paper as an end product for their portfolio. A Capstone Interview is also required of each student. At this interview you will present your portfolio to demonstrate the work you have accomplished in the program. You will come to campus during the week prior to graduation in May to do your Capstone Interview and portfolio Review. Distance students are scheduled for Thursday or Friday prior to Graduation ceremonies on Saturday.
- ELECTRONIC TOOLS, LIBRARY ACCESS AND HARDWARE/SOFTWARE SPECIFICATIONS
Electronic learning tools include the on-line writing center, on-line Library access, web course access, email, and mind mapping strategies. Each of you will need to have a computer with the capacity to access the Internet. We suggest at least a Pentium level computer. You may also want to have a printer for downloading articles and materials from WebCT. You will need Microsoft Word software for word processing. That is the standard for Concordia University Wisconsin and we cannot access WordPerfect. You will also need access to a DVD player for viewing class DVDs and recording your presentations. We also strongly recommend you obtain Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat software of 6.0 version or higher. PDF documents are frequently used in WebCT for articles, powerpoints and course handouts.
- REGISTRATION
If you are an on-campus student, you must fill out a registration form each term to be approved by the MSN program advisor. You may fill out the registration form in the Graduate Office(LU201) or you may register online. Registration fees and payment schedules are available from the Graduate Office. If you are a E-Learning student, you must register for your next course using the E-Learning Graduate Program Registration Form within one month of completion of your last course. This form will be sent to the student at the completion of the previous course. It should be returned to the E-Learning Office. Registration is expected to be continuous unless the student is granted a leave of absence from the program. The registration form is also available online. A billing statement and a Concordia University Book Order form will be sent after the registration form is received in the E-Learning Office. The book order form should be returned with the appropriate book fees plus postage and handling. Books ordered from Concordia are sent UPS to the student residence. Since billings statements are mailed monthly, delays in starting a class can be avoided by sending a tuition check sufficient to cover tuition for the first class. A course may be initiated as soon as payment is received in the E-Learning Office.
- NP CERTIFICATION EXAMS
All NP students are expected to take one of the certification examinations, either the American Nurses Association Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners certification examination for the specialty they have pursued. This is a necessary part of the process to be an Advanced Practice Nurse.
- AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION STYLE GUIDELINES
The nursing program uses the American Psychological Association (APA) style guidelines 6th edition for writing papers. A brief summary of the major points of APA style are available in an appendix of the Student Handbook. It is also recommended that students purchase their own APA style handbook. For more information about APA style guidlines, visit the APA website. For assistance in scholarly writing, Concordia offers e-tutors via the on-line writing center. Additionally, the Little, Brown Handbook (2004) is an excellent reference book for correct source quotation, organizational format, writing samples, and tips for critical reading.
- RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: CLINICAL PRACTICA
The three semester clinical practicum sequence starts in the Spring semester following Advanced Health Assessment in January. Both on-campus and distance students must do the clinical practica in the 16 week semester format. The distance students will be a week behind the on-campus students because of duplication the class DVDs. MSN 551/851, MSN 561/861 and MSN 571/871 are offered in the Spring semester, MSN 552/562, MSN 562/862 and MSN 572/872 in the Fall and MSN 553/853, MSN 563/863, MSN 574/874 in the following spring. Students identify and make arrangements with an MSN prepared NP or appropriate physician to serve as their preceptor if in the NP tracks or a master's prepared preceptor if in the NE track. A minimum of 600 hours must spent in clinical practice with the preceptor over the course of the practica. The faculty members recommend doing approximately 200 hours in clinical each semester.
Dr. Ruth Gresley is the advisor for the nurse educator graduate students and Prof. Teri Kaul is the nurse practitioner student advisor. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Ruth Gresley at 262.243.4452 or Prof. Teri Kaul at 262.243.4538 according to your program track. Please let us know you have accessed the orientation by sending Dr. Gresley or Prof. Kaul an email indicating you are ready to start the program.
God's Blessings on your graduate school experience.
