The Direct Entry MSN (DEMSN) prepares second degree graduates for licensure as Registered Professional Nurses and prepares students to choose a path to a second specialty master’s degree or advanced certificate.
Admission Requirements
Institutional Requirements:
All applicants to graduate programs at Utica College must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and must complete the appropriate application forms. For students whose native language is not English a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based examination; a minimum TOEFL score of 213 on the computer-based examination; 79 on the internet-based examination (minimum of 25 on the speaking portion) is required. All students whose native or first language is not English will be required to take an English proficiency examination regardless of their TOEFL or IELTS score.
Program-Specific Requirements:
1. Baccalaureate degree in a discipline outside of nursing
2. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a GPA of 3.2 or higher across the science courses listed below
3. A grade of B or higher in each prerequisite course
4. A statement of 500 words: The statement of interest must include well-constructed responses to the following:
- Describe how your life experiences have prepared you for future education in the role which is the focus of your desired track.
- Describe your plans to alter your work, professional and /or personal obligations in order to have the time needed to successfully complete courses and clinical work.
- Identify one significant contemporary issue/problem in the current US healthcare system and discuss how members of the nursing discipline can help address/solve the issue/problem.
Required prerequisite courses (must be completed within the past 6 years):
Science Courses:
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab (4 credits)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab (4 credits)
- Chemistry with Lab (4 credits)
- Microbiology with Lab (4 credits)
Other Courses:
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Developmental Psychology (Human Development Across the Lifespan) (3 credits)
Graduates from this program will be able to:
1. Integrate the arts and sciences with nursing science to inform clinical judgement and personal and professional development in advanced generalist nursing practice.
2. Facilitate safe, evidence-based, ethical, and compassionate person-centered patient care to achieve quality health outcomes with diverse patients, situations, settings, and communities.
3. Engage in intra and interprofessional collaboration, critical reflection, and innovation to promote lifelong learning, continual improvement, and inform policy.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of current information and health care technologies and their application to advanced generalist practice.
Rules and Regulations Pertaining to DEMSN Clinical Experiences
Clinical experiences are designed to provide support and integration of the academic coursework. A nursing faculty member will provide direct, on-site supervision for clinical experiences except for selected clinical courses.
1. All students must provide their own transportation to clinical settings. Parking at clinical facilities is at the student’s expense.
2. All students must meet orientation and health requirements for each clinical prior to clinical start date.
3. NO cell phones allowed in the clinical setting.
4. Excused student absences from clinical will be evaluated by the course instructor relative to meeting course objectives. Recommended remediation will be determined conjointly by faculty and the student. Initiation of remediation is the student’s responsibility.
5. Clinical experiences are graded on a pass/fail (P/F) basis. Outcome criteria for clinical evaluation are clearly stated in the course syllabus and clinical evaluation tool.
6. A student who is found to endanger the health/welfare of a client will be considered to have engaged in misconduct. The following constitute cause for immediate dismissal from the clinical setting and failure of the clinical course, as well as dismissal from the nursing program:
1. Coming to clinical under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.
2. Emotional or physical jeopardy–Any action by the student toward a patient, family/significant other of patient, or staff member(s) such as, but not limited to the following: threat to emotional and/or physical well-being; willfully harassing; physically, verbally or emotionally abusing; use of intimidation.
7. Students who commit acts judged by the clinical instructor to be unsafe may be dismissed from the clinical setting and/or course. Examples of unsafe acts include, but are not limited to:
1. Error in medication administration.
2. Administration of a medication without having knowledge of the drug.
3. Inaccurate recording or failure to record medication administration.
4. Error in administration of intravenous fluids.
5. Failure to report changes in patient’s condition.
6. Failure to seek supervision when necessary.
7. Failure to report and document nursing care.
8. Compromising patient care by inadequate preparation for clinical experience.
9. Breach of confidentiality.
10. Neglecting personal safety.
11. Creating or causing personal safety hazards.
12. Sleeping in the clinical area.
Upon the incidence of an unsafe act by a student, the clinical instructor will:
1. Inform the student immediately of the unsafe act.
2. Provide the student with written documentation concerning the unsafe act.
3. Review the incident and counsel the student, recommending remediation as needed.
4. Place copy of incident report in student’s academic file.
5. Follow the policy for reporting an incident as required by the clinical agency or institution.
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