Blessing-Rieman College Of Nursing

Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing MSN College Catalog/Student Handbook 2009-2011

Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing

2009-2011

Master’s of Science in Nursing Program

College Catalog and Student Handbook

Equal Opportunity/Non-Discrimination

Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing does not practice or condone discrimination in any form against students, employees, or applicants on the grounds of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability to the extent required by law.

Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing

Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing (the College) is a private, not-for-profit institution of higher learning that offers a baccalaureate and masters degree in nursing.

The College offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN) through its own program as well as through two joint programs. Basic students earn the degree through a partnership with Culver-Stockton College or Quincy University. Both the College and the partner institution jointly confer the degree. The College provides the nursing education. Partner institutions provide the general education and liberal arts experience. Advanced placement students and RN-BSN students earn the BSN through the College’s own program.

The advanced placement track is for individuals who have a baccalaureate degree (BA or BS) and/or graduate degrees in other fields.

The RN-BSN track is for individuals who have successfully completed a diploma or associate degree program in nursing and hold a valid professional registered nurse license.

The College’s confers the Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) through its own graduate program. The purpose of this program is to prepare baccalaureate-educated nurses for roles in nursing administration or nursing education.

The College accepts LPNs who have successfully completed a practical nursing program and hold a current practical nurse license.

Table of Contents

ABOUT THE COLLEGE / 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS / 3
GENERAL INFORMATION / 6
·  Mission / 6
·  Philosophy / 6
·  Goals/Purposes / 6
·  Purpose of the MSN Program / 6
·  Overview of the Program and Curriculum / 7
·  Outcomes of the MSN Program / 7
·  President's Message / 8
·  History of the College of Nursing / 9
·  Accreditation/Institutional Memberships / 10
·  College of Nursing Board / 11
·  Administration / 12
·  Staff / 13
·  MSN Faculty / 14
·  College Address, Phone Number, Fax Number, and Web Address / 15
CURRICULM / 16
·  Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing Degree Requirements- MSN Program for Students Entering 2009-2010 / 16
·  Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing Sample Schedule- MSN Program for Students Entering 2009-2010 / 17
·  Course Descriptions / 18
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES / 22
·  Admissions Requirements / 22
·  Transfer of Credit / 22
·  Licensure / 22
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING PROGRESSION AND GRADUATION / 23
·  Progression Requirements and Policy / 23
·  Academic Standing / 23
·  Dismissal / 23
·  Graduation Requirements / 23
·  Continuous Enrollment / 24
·  Incomplete Grade / 24
·  Academic Advising / 24
·  Practicums / 24
·  Protection and Rights of Human Subjects and Participants in Research / 24
·  Application for the MSN Degree / 25
·  Enrolling as Non-degree Student/Auditing Courses / 25
·  Incomplete Thesis/Project Policy / 25
·  Request to Change Thesis or Project / 25
·  Continuous Enrollment to Complete the Thesis or Project / 26

Table of Contents, continued

FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION, TUITION, FEES AND COSTS / 27
·  Payment and Refund Policy / 27
·  Pre-registration and Financial Aid / 28
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ACADEMIC LIFE / 29
·  Academic Honesty Policy and Honor Code / 29
·  Honor Code / 32
·  Access and Release of Student Records / 33
·  Access to Students with Disabilities / 34
·  Criminal Background Check / 35
·  Leave of Absence / 37
·  Maternity Leave / 37
·  Military Leave / 37
·  Petition for Exception to Policy / 38
·  Readmission to the Program / 38
·  Unsafe Student Practice / 38
·  Withdrawal / 38
APPEAL, GRIEVANCE, AND JUDICIAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES / 39
·  Academic Grade Appeal / 39
·  Non-academic Appeal / 39
·  Hearing Procedures / 40
·  Communicating Student Concerns / 41
·  Bill of Rights for Students of Nursing / 41
·  Judicial Program / 42
·  Student Code of Conduct / 43
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING STUDENT LIFE / 44
·  Alcohol/Drug Abuse Policy / 44
·  Computer, Internet, and E-mail Usage / 45
·  Confidentiality / 46
·  Scheduling Events / 47
·  Security / 47
·  Solicitation / 47
·  Student Assistance Program (SAP) / 47
STUDENT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COLLEGE OF NURSING / 49
·  Advising and Counseling / 49
·  Copy and FAX / 49
·  Food Service / 49
·  Library and Computer Center / 49
·  Lost and Found / 50
·  Parking / 50
·  Spiritual Life / 50
·  Student Lounge / 51
·  Textbooks / 51
·  Voter Registration / 51

Table of Contents, continued

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AT THE COLLEGE OF NURSING / 52
·  State and National Student Nurse Organizations / 52
·  Alumni Association / 52
·  Sigma Theta Tau International / 52
STATEMENTS AND DISCLOSURES FOR THE COLLEGE OF NURSING / 53
·  Immuno-compromised-Student AIDS Policy / 53
·  NCLEX-RN Pass Rates, Graduation/Retention Rates, Crime Rates Disclosure Statement / 53
·  Equal Opportunity/Non-Discrimination / 1
·  Notice: Change in Catalog/Handbook Statement / 5
COLLEGE CALENDAR / 55

Notice: Change in Catalog/Handbook Statement

Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing reserves the right to change courses, requirements, and policies that are stated in this catalog and handbook without advance notice. Students will be informed of changes.

General Information

Mission

The mission of Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing is to educate persons of diverse backgrounds to acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values needed for professional nursing practice and lifelong learning. This mission is accomplished in a community of learning dedicated to excellence and caring in professional nursing education.

Philosophy

Students in the MSN program are expected to develop more sophisticated and complex skills than students in the baccalaureate program. At the graduate level, more emphasis is placed on students critically analyzing facts and theories, making independent judgments based on evidence, articulating what has been learned, and synthesizing innovative solutions to problems. All MSN students are expected to:

·  Critically and independently think.

·  Master the skills demanded in their chosen role as nurse administrator or nurse educator.

·  Understand current as well as traditional approaches to professional nursing and nursing administration or nursing education.

·  Become thoroughly familiar with the current literature in nursing, administration, and education by regular use of standard references, current journals, and professional publications.

·  Substantially contribute to their studies through discussion, projects, papers, practicums, and other learning experiences.

·  Apply concepts, principles, and ideas learned in courses to original work or application-oriented learning assignments.

·  Produce written work that demonstrates high standards of grammar, punctuation, organization, and APA style.

Goals/Purposes

The goals/purposes of Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing are to:

1. Prepare professional nurses to practice as a provider, designer, manager, and coordinator of care as part of an interdisciplinary team in a variety of settings.
2. Prepare culturally competent graduates who will practice in an increasingly diverse society.
3. Develop abilities and skills necessary to become leaders and change agents in a dynamic global environment that affects health and health care.
4. Enhance the personal and professional development of each learner.
5. Provide a foundation for advanced educational preparation.

Purpose of the MSN Program

Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing offers a graduate nursing program that leads to the Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN). The purpose of this program is to prepare baccalaureate-educated nurses for roles in nursing administration or nursing education.

Overview of the Program and Curriculum

The MSN program is part-time whereby students enroll in 5 to 7 credit hours of nursing courses per semester, completing the program in approximately two calendar years. Students choose one of two advanced roles: nursing administration or nursing education.

The curriculum incorporates two areas of core content: the graduate nursing core and the advanced role component. All master’s degree nursing students complete the graduate nursing core regardless of their chosen advanced role. The graduate nursing core is foundational content that is essential for all students who pursue a master’s education, providing course work in nursing theory; nursing science; research; health policy; professional role development; health promotion and disease prevention; and restoring, maintaining, and maximizing health. The advanced role component is the content essential for students who are pursuing a role in nursing administration or nursing education, providing didactic and hands-on learning experiences with these roles.

The curriculum reflects the College’s commitment to its curriculum framework and therefore the graduate nursing core focuses on developing an in-depth understanding of Whole Person Nursing. The curriculum also incorporates knowledge and skills identified in The Essentials of Master’s Education for Advanced Practice Nursing (AACN, 1996).

Each student is expected to transfer into the program 6 semester hours of cognate courses. These courses can be completed prior to or while enrolled in the program.

The required total number of semester credit hours to graduate is 44 for those students who chose to complete the thesis. For those students who chose to complete a scholarly project, the required total number of semester credit hours to graduate is 42.

Courses will be scheduled to facilitate the working student. While faculty may include some asynchronous learning experiences, students are expected to attend all scheduled classes as learning experiences are enhanced by group interaction. To increase diversity of experiences, students are encouraged to spend portions of their practicums in locations other than the College’s primary clinical/educational setting.

Outcomes of the MSN Program

The following outcomes are based on the assumption that graduate education builds on the student’s baccalaureate nursing education, expanding his or her knowledge in depth and scope. Therefore, at the completion of the program, the student will:

1. Use research as a basis for making educational, clinical, and organizational decisions that lead to quality health care and improved nursing practice.
2. Develop a comprehensive knowledge of how to formulate and evaluate the impact of health policy thereby influencing decisions that affect clinical practice, health care delivery, and nursing education.
3. Make high quality, cost-effective choices when providing care, making clinical decisions, and using and managing resources.
4. Use ethical decision-making to resolve conflicts of interest; deliver quality health care; and promote the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
5. Integrate new knowledge, functions, and activities into one’s professional nursing practice, implementing the role of nurse administrator or nurse educator as well as the roles of advocate, change agent, researcher, clinician, consultant, and collaborator.
6. Use a range of nursing and other related scientific theories to guide one’s role as a nurse administrator or nurse educator.
7. Exert a leadership role with defining, designing, and implementing culturally sensitive care that meets the needs of the population(s) served.
8. Incorporate theories and research into designing and monitoring wholistic plans of care as well as teaching and counseling strategies that promote health, prevent illness, maintain and restore health, and maximize function of individuals, families, and communities.
9. Demonstrate a strong theoretical foundation in Whole Person Nursing when promoting health, preventing illness, maintaining and restoring health, and maximizing the function of individuals, families, and communities.
10. Facilitate a multidisciplinary approach that empowers the whole person be it the individual, family, or community to attain, maintain, and restore health.
11. Function as a leader not only in the profession but in the health care system, advancing health and nursing care as well as influencing regulatory, legislative, and public policy in the private and public sectors.

President’s Message

It is my privilege to welcome you to Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing. You will be part of a tradition of excellence and uniqueness in nursing education, joining a nursing program that is over 100 years old.

You are joining a baccalaureate program that is distinct in its blend of tradition and innovation, offering several options for earning the BSN degree. For basic and LPN-BSN students, tradition and innovation are blended by the College jointly conferring the degree with one of two partners, Culver-Stockton College or Quincy University. Only a few baccalaureate nursing programs in the country jointly confer a degree with a liberal arts college, and ours is the only one that offers a choice of two partners. The unique benefit of a joint degree is that students experience a liberal arts education and life on a typical college campus and nursing education on the campus of a medical complex. Through our partnerships, you will experience over 250 years of quality education in liberal arts (Culver-Stockton College since 1853 and Quincy University since 1860) and nursing (Blessing School/Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing since 1891). For advanced placement and RN-BSN students, tradition and innovation are blended by the College offering its own degree program that meets their unique educational needs.

The College also offers its own masters program, conferring the Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. This program, implemented in 2007, not only meets the career goals of the community’s professional nurses but also meets the needs of area employers and nursing programs by offering nurse administrator and nurse educator tracks.

Our facilities are beautiful, located in the downtown historic district of Quincy, Illinois. Our building, built in 1991 and renovated in 1997, is on the north side of the Blessing Hospital complex. It provides classrooms, lounges, and offices for comfortable studying, research, teaching, and learning. The library and computer center are outstanding, providing an array of print and electronic resources. A nursing skills laboratory provides a quality practice setting for students.

About 20 miles northwest of Quincy in Canton, Missouri is Culver-Stockton College. Located six blocks east of the Blessing campus is the main campus of Quincy University. Both campuses offer intercollegiate sports and facilities for academic and residence life. Quincy University also offers the Ameritech Center for Communications, Franciscan Press, and WQUB public radio station.