Nursing Direct Entry, MSN
Dean: Jill Guttormson, Ph.D., R.N.
College of Nursing website
Graduate School Graduate Nursing Program Overview website
Degree Offered
Master of Science in Nursing, students are admitted under Plan B (non-thesis option, no comprehensive examination required) but Plan A (thesis option) is also offered
Program Description
The direct entry master’s program for non-nursing graduates is designed for those individuals who hold baccalaureate degrees in fields other than nursing and who wish to become nurses. The program builds upon students' broad educational preparation and provides an intense, accelerated nursing curriculum to meet students' career goals. Graduates of this program are academically prepared to take the national licensing examination as a registered nurse (NCLEX).
There are two sites for the program: the Milwaukee campus and the Pleasant Prairie site. The former offers primarily in-person or hybrid courses. The latter is a hybrid program with online theory classes and in-person clinical and laboratory experiences. Full-time status is required for the program. Maintenance of 3.000 GPA each term and every summer session are required.
General Information
Overview
Upon acceptance to the graduate program, students must complete and submit the Graduate Student Health Status Report form. Information on CPR requirements, physical examination and immunization status, including results of a T.B. skin test and proof of Wisconsin R.N. licensure (or Indiana R.N. licensure for students in the adult-gerontology adult acute care nurse practitioner - Indianapolis M.S.N.) and a criminal background check and drug screen must be submitted to a web-based clinical data tracking program (castlebranch.com). Results of a T.B. skin test must be provided annually, an influenza vaccine is required annually, and a drug screen must be completed three months prior to beginning clinical practicum courses. Students are responsible for the cost of these services. The information is required for progression within the program.
Clinical courses in the College of Nursing are restricted to students in the degree program. Various clinical facilities in the greater Milwaukee area, throughout Wisconsin and in northern Illinois are utilized for clinical experiences. Indiana based programs have clinical experiences in Indiana. While Marquette University is concerned about the professional advancement of its students, facilitates the process of certification, and provides excellent educational opportunities, it cautions that professional success in a chosen field requires, above all else, constant development of individual abilities, personal initiative and a professional sense of commitment to fulfill all appropriate legal and technical responsibilities. Hence, the university assumes no responsibility for the success of the students in obtaining educational certification or other types of professional licensure.
Licensure in Wisconsin or eNLC state is mandatory for employment with compensation.
Progression Policy
The College of Nursing Academic Progression Policy for Graduate Students applies to all course work taken during the academic year and summer sessions. The policies of the Graduate School on academic performance, professional integrity, professional performance, academic dishonesty and student conduct are all followed by the College of Nursing. A variety of responses to problems in any of these areas may be implemented, depending on the nature of the problems encountered. Warnings, remediation plans, probation, immediate withdrawal from clinical or laboratory activities, suspension and dismissal are all possible actions under these policies. Students are bound by all Graduate School policies including those related to repeating a course. See the Graduate School bulletin for information on academic performance.
Additionally:
- Grades of F, ADW, WA, and WF are not acceptable in any course and are grounds for dismissal from the program. If the student is allowed to remain in the program, the course in which these grades were earned must be repeated with minimum grade of B-. The timing of when the course may be repeated is on a space-available basis and successful repeat of a course does not guarantee that the student will retain a space in their program.
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.000 must be maintained each term.
- For graduate students in advanced practice options, a minimum grade of B- in NURS 6030 Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice, NURS 6032 Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice, NURS 6035 Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan, and all specialty theory courses is required. Ph.D. students are required to earn at least a B- in all courses. A student who earns less than a B- in any of the above-mentioned courses is required to repeat the course. The timing of when the course may be repeated is on a space-available basis and may significantly delay program progression. The student is not guaranteed that they will retain a space in the advanced specialty program.
- Graduate students in advanced practice options who earn a grade less than a B- in a clinical course will be dismissed from the program. If a student successfully appeals the dismissal decision and is allowed to continue in the program, the student must repeat the clinical course and earn at least a B- grade. The timing of when the course may be repeated is on a space-available basis. The student is not guaranteed that they will retain a space in their program. Students in the Direct Entry M.S.N. program must achieve at least a B- in a clinical course or the course must be repeated. The timing of when the course may be repeated is on a space-available basis and successful repeat of a course does not guarantee that the student will retain a space in their program.
- A student may be removed from a clinical course and dismissed from a program at any time due to unsafe clinical performance, lack of preparedness to care for patients, unprofessional behaviors or other patient-safety related issues. See the Graduate School bulletin for information on academic performance.
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A lack of substantial and visible progress toward completion of program requirements, including failure to complete the qualifying examination, thesis, dissertation or capstone project may be grounds for dismissal.
- No more than two different courses may be repeated due to unsatisfactory grades. The student must abide by university policy governing the repeat of any courses. See the Graduate School bulletin for information on repeated courses.
Attendance
The College of Nursing follows this university Attendance policy. Students should refer to course syllabi, as each course may have additional attendance requirements.
Laboratory/Clinical Courses
Attendance at all clinical experiences (includes skills labs and simulation) is a demonstration of professionalism and accountability. It is the opportunity for the student to be evaluated by the clinical faculty in performance of clinical skills, assessment of clinical judgement and successful mastering of course objectives. Clinical attendance and completion of all clinical related course work is mandatory within the time frame of the given semester.
It is the student’s responsibility to notify the course instructor about any absence prior to the start of the clinical time. Being tardy, or not being at a clinical site on an assigned clinical day will result in an absence. Any absence may negatively impact the student’s ability to achieve course objectives thereby impacting their grade. In alignment with the university absence policy in the Graduate Bulletin (https://bulletin.marquette.edu/grad/policiesofthegraduateschool/#academicperformance), a student may be withdrawn from a course due to excessive absences. Absences that prevent a student from meeting all course objectives will result in failure of the clinical course.
Special Fees
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$60 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification (approximate fee). (This certification must be maintained throughout the student's program through biannual recertification.)
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$124 – Health requirements and criminal background check initial fee (approximate fee) and drug test. Additional costs may be required for immunizations, antibody titers and physical examinations. (castlebranch.com).
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$50 - Clinical Placement fees (Approximate fees for individual clinical site requirements; based on individual site request; may vary every term).
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$90 – A one-time clinical tracking system (Typhon) fee for M.S.N. and D.N.P. students in the specialty clinicals.
Additional Fees for Direct Entry M.S.N. Students
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$500 – Non-refundable deposit, which is then applied toward tuition, for students admitted to the Milwaukee and Pleasant Prairie locations.
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$570 – Assessment Tests, predictor examination, and NCLEX review course for the M.S.N. program for Non-Nursing Graduates. Paid in increments throughout the program. (Approximate fee. Exact amount based upon vendor costs in effect at time of registration.)
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$300 – Uniforms for the M.S.N. program for Non-Nursing Graduates. (Approximate fee. Must be purchased through a private vendor. Vendor list available from the College of Nursing.)
- $175 – Assessment Equipment for the M.S.N. program for Non-Nursing Graduates. (Stethoscope $70. Sphygmomanometer $60. Approximate fee. Exact amount based upon vendor costs in effect at time of registration. Must be purchased through a private vendor.)
- For Milwaukee based Direct Entry students, a laptop computer that meets the minimum recommendations specified by the university is required. All Direct Entry students are required to have a computer with webcam, microphone and internet access.
Program Fees for Nurse Anesthesia Students
Acceptance Fee
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The College of Nursing requires that all students accepting an offer of admission to the graduate nurse anesthesia educational program submit a non-refundable deposit of $1,000 to the Graduate School to be guaranteed a spot in the program. The deposit is then applied toward tuition and fees after the students register for the initial fall term.
Annual Fees
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Annual, nonrefundable, technology and evaluation fee of $2,761 to be paid in full at the start of each fall term.
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Annual malpractice insurance fee of $275 to be paid in full at the start of each fall term. Nurse anesthesia students are required to hold malpractice insurance coverage as identified by the program with a policy start date of 9/1 for each year enrolled in the program. This coverage must be maintained throughout the program. A lapse in malpractice coverage results in removal of students from clinical site rotations.
Additional Expenses
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Associate membership with the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) (approximately $200) Purchased in fall of the first year in the program, and membership is valid for the duration of nurse anesthesia educational program enrollment.
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BLS/ACLS/PALS certification: variable cost - Active BLS/ACLS/PALS certifications must be maintained throughout program enrollment.
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Text books and other personal instructional aids.
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Any costs incurred while on rotation to various clinical sites, attending professional meetings or external review courses.
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Scrub attire and lab coat (approximately $100). Students are required to purchase one set of scrub attire and one lab coat.
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Clinical verification process: approximately $125 first year in program; $40 in years two and three of the program. Nurse anesthesia students must maintain compliance with all clinical-related requirements for the duration of program enrollment or risk being removed from clinical site rotations.
Accreditation
The bachelor of science in nursing, master of science in nursing, doctor of nursing practice, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Marquette University College of Nursing are accredited by
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
655 K Street NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 887-6791
aacnnursing.org/CCNE;
The Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1550
Silver Spring, MD 20910-6374
(240) 485-1800
http://www.midwife.org/;
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
10275 W. Higgins Road, Suite 906
Rosemont, IL 60018-5603
(224) 275-9130
https://www.coacrna.org/
A post-master's certificate program prepares the nurse who already has a graduate degree in nursing to become academically eligible for certification as an advanced practice nurse or nurse leader.
Specific information regarding application and course requirements may be obtained from
The College of Nursing
Clark Hall
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
(414) 288-3800.