College of Nursing

Kristen M. Swanson, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean
Debra Stauffer, MSN, RN, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
Anne Hirsch, PhD, RN, ARNP, Associate Dean for Graduate Education 

Seattle University College of Nursing was granted full accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education in 2002 and reaccredited in 2012. The Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion Program is fully accredited.

Objectives

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The Health Systems Leader Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduate is prepared for advanced levels of evidence-based practice, clinical scholarship, and leadership in healthcare systems. Students select the focus for their scholarly DNP capstone project in consultation with program faculty and mentors in an identified clinical setting.  The practice doctorate prepares advanced practice nurses to meet the demands of complex healthcare systems, the rapidly expanding scientific knowledge needed for practice, and increasing opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and leadership. After completing the graduate program of study, advanced practice nurses will be able to:

• Synthesize knowledge from nursing and other disciplines in the provision of evidence-based advanced practice nursing care
• Utilize information systems technology to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes
• Demonstrate competence in an advanced nursing practice specialty
• Exercise leadership through scholarship, advocacy, and community engagement to achieve just and equitable healthcare systems that improve health potential and reduce health disparities of vulnerable populations
• Evaluate and influence healthcare systems and health policy at local, state, federal, and global levels
• Demonstrate effective communication and interprofessional collaboration in the promotion of healthcare access, quality, and outcomes
• Evaluate beliefs, values and ways of knowing to foster lifelong personal and professional development
• Apply ethical decision-making in complex clinical situations

Master of Science in Nursing

Today’s complex health care environment requires that nurses have advanced practice nursing knowledge and skills. Graduate study offers the opportunity to deepen knowledge of clinical phenomena, develop new perspectives on old dilemmas, and acquire new roles within the health care system. Nurses prepared at the graduate level obtain the skills needed for greater career flexibility. After completing the graduate program of study, advanced practice nurses will be able to:

• Synthesize knowledge from nursing and related disciplines for advanced nursing practice
• Utilize problem solving strategies to provide care and to enable groups of clients to manage and cope with alterations in health and to attain higher levels of wellness
• Embody values essential to advanced nursing practice
• Evaluate one’s beliefs, values and ways of knowing to foster personal growth and professional practice
• Analyze health care systems and policies that influence health care for vulnerable populations
• Practice advanced nursing roles in collaboration with clients, health professionals, and community organizations to ensure quality care
• Advance the health of vulnerable populations through scholarship, leadership, and delivery of quality nursing care 

The traditional Master of Science in Nursing degree (MSN) provides experienced professional nurses with the additional education needed to function in a rapidly changing health care environment that demands new and innovative approaches to nursing and health care delivery. Graduates are prepared for positions as leaders in community organizations and institutions, or as primary care nurse practitioners. The advanced practice nursing immersion (APNI) is an accelerated path to the MSN for non-nurses holding undergraduate degrees in other fields. The APN Immersion prepares graduates to be primary care nurse practitioners, or for leadership in population-based health care, organizations and communities.

The MSN program at Seattle University is grounded in the Jesuit ideals of teaching, service, education for values, and growth of persons. Graduate faculty members are doctorally prepared and clinically experienced nurses who are also expert teachers. The curriculum focus on care of vulnerable clients actualizes the Jesuit commitment to social justice. Values-based education emphasizes the ethical, moral, and spiritual dimensions of nursing care. Attention to individual student strengths and needs produces graduates who are knowledgeable, skilled, and confident in their ability to effect change.

The MSN program offers two tracks. The Advanced Community Public Health Nursing track prepares nurses in health promotion and prevention strategies for population-based health care. The leadership and program development specialty prepares graduates to collaborate with communities and organizations to design, implement and evaluate public health programs for vulnerable populations. Clinical/field experiences are arranged to focus on populations of special interest to students. Graduates are eligible for the national certification examination in Public Health Nursing-Advanced.

The Nurse Practitioner track offers specialties in family, adult/gerontological, nurse-midwifery or psychiatric mental health. Graduates are eligible for national certification exams in the area of specialization: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse-Midwifery, Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. All of the nurse practitioner specialties require more than 500 hours of supervised clinical practice for program completion.

Full-time two-year and post-master’s certificate options are available for traditional registered nurse students in the MSN program.

The APN immersion is designed for non-nurses holding undergraduate degrees in other fields. Students first complete a four-quarter pre-licensure curriculum that confers eligibility to sit for the registered nurse licensure examination (NCLEX-RN). Upon achievement of RN licensure, students continue into specialty courses. Graduates are awarded the MSN. Students completing the nurse practitioner tracks and the ACPHN tracks are eligible to sit for certification examinations in their chosen specialty area (see above). It is a full-time, year-round program of study. Students in the advanced community public health nursing, family, adult/gerontological, and nurse-midwifery specialties complete the program in two full calendar years, plus one additional quarter. Students in the family psychiatric mental health specialty complete the program in two full calendar years of full-time study plus three additional quarters of study.

The application deadline for the APN Immersion is December 1 for entry the following June. The application deadline for the traditional MSN (RN applicants) is December 1 for entry in the fall.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice submit the following for consideration:

• Current RN licensure with no practice restrictions
• Master’s Degree in Nursing or health-related field from a CCNE or NLNAC accredited nursing program and a regionally accredited college or university
• Credit will be granted for up to 500 post-baccalaureate supervised academic clinical hours contributing to the 1000 total supervised clinical hours required for graduation from the DNP program. Each applicant’s transcript will be individually evaluated for qualifying practice hours acquired in previous academic programs.
• Letter of interest and resume/curriculum vita demonstrating academic ability, potential for leadership and clinical scholarship, and fit with Seattle University and the College of Nursing mission and values
• Two letters of recommendation (at least one from an academic source) who can speak to the applicant’s potential for success in a doctoral level advanced practice nursing program
• Completed Application for Graduate Admission and nonrefundable $55 application fee (fee waived for Seattle University alumni). 
• If English is not applicant’s native language, official English proficiency scores meeting the university’s entrance requirements must be submitted. See policy 2008-01 in Admission Policies for details. Admission through Culture and Language Bridge Program is not an option.

All applications are carefully reviewed and selected applicants will be invited to participate in a faculty interview process. A required writing sample will be collected following the faculty interview.

Applicants for all MSN programs submit the following for consideration:

• Completed Application for Graduate Admission and the $55 non-refundable application fee (waived for Seattle University alumni)
• Evidence of a four-year equivalent bachelor’s degree in nursing recognized by a national nursing accrediting agency, or an associate degree in nursing with a bachelor’s degree in another discipline, or for APNI applicants a bachelor’s degree in another discipline. Professional and academic experiences will be evaluated on an individual basis.
• Minimum grade point average of 3.00 calculated from official transcripts of all course work from all post-secondary educational institutions attended in the last 90 quarter/60 semester credits of the bachelor’s degree, including any transfer credits earned during this time, and any post-baccalaureate course work. Individuals who have less than a 3.00 GPA may be considered, given evidence of other accomplishments.
• Statement describing professional and personal goals, including reasons for choosing the MSN program and a particular specialty, as well as the fit with the Seattle University and College of Nursing mission and values.
• Résumé; two years of work experience preferred.
• Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores taken within the past 5 years. Not required for applicants holding a graduate degree from a U.S. accredited institution, including medicine and law.
• Two recommendations using College of Nursing forms that speak to the applicant’s abilities.
• Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion applicants only: Completed APNI Prerequisite Form indicating plan for required course work noted below.
• If English is not applicant’s native language, official English proficiency scores meeting the university’s entrance requirements must be submitted. See policy 2008-01 in Admission Policies for details. Admission through Culture and Language Bridge Program is not an option for the Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion program.

Applicants who do not meet all of the admission requirements will be considered on an individual basis.

Screened applicants will be invited to interview with faculty.

Applicants for all post-master’s certificates submit the following for consideration:

• Completed Application for Graduate Admission and the non-refundable $55 application fee (waived for Seattle University alumni)
• Evidence of MSN degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Copy of current RN license and ability to obtain an RN license in the state of Washington
• Professional résumé
• Statement describing professional and personal goals and reason for interest in the post-master’s certificate program
• Using College of Nursing forms, two recommendations that speak to the applicant’s clinical and academic abilities
• If English is not applicant’s native language, official English proficiency scores meeting the university’s entrance requirements must be submitted. See policy 2008-01 in Admission Policies for details. Admission through Culture and Language Bridge Program is not an option.
• Successful interview with faculty 

Prerequisites

MSN Program for Professional Nurses

• Satisfactory completion with a grade of C (2.0) or better in an undergraduate statistics course (or an acceptable equivalent) that includes descriptive and inferential statistics with computer application (a 5 quarter credit minimum) and completed within the past 5 years.

Evidence of the following must be provided to the College of Nursing prior to enrollment:

• Washington State RN licensure.
• Professional liability insurance.
• Current immunizations required in clinical sites, and other Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and state requirements. Students will be informed of these health requirements and will be responsible for compliance. Specific requirements are published in the College of Nursing MSN Student Handbook.

Non-matriculated Option

A prospective registered nurse student may take a maximum of 12 graduate nursing credits as a non-matriculated student without being admitted to the MSN program. These credits may be applied towards a master’s degree once admitted to the MSN program. Clinical courses cannot be taken without formal admission to the MSN program. Enrollment in any course requires permission of the Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies and the course instructor. Non-matriculated students who seek admission to the MSN program must successfully complete NURS 502 prior to or during their first academic term as matriculated graduate students.

APN Immersion for Non-nurses Holding Undergraduate Degrees

APN Immersion prerequisites include the following undergraduate courses:

MATH 110 or College Algebra or higher math	5 qtr credits
PSYC 120 Introduction to Psychology	5 qtr credits
BIOL 200-210 Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab	*10 qtr credits
BIOL 220 Microbiology with lab	*5 qtr credits
PSYC 322 Growth and Development	5 qtr credits
STAT XXX Basic Descriptive and Inferential Statistics	*5 qtr credits

* Must be completed within the last 5 years. All other prerequisites except chemistry must be completed within 10 years prior to application.

In addition, one year of high school or one quarter of college chemistry is also a major prerequisite.

All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to enrollment in the immersion. Official transcripts showing successful prerequisite course completion should be sent to the Seattle University Office of Graduate Admissions as soon as possible following completion of course(s). Students will not be permitted to progress if transcripts are not received by the Office of Admissions before or during the first fall quarter of the immersion. 

Transfer Credit for the DNP Program

Up to 9 credits taken at the Master’s level within the past 6 years may be applied to satisfy program requirements. This number is determined by the number of supervised clinical hours the student has previously earned and is based on review of transcripts and course syllabi. Credit must meet the criteria as outlined in the Transfer Credit Policy (Policy 77-1) and must be reviewed and approved by the College of Nursing and the University via a Petition for Exception to Policy. 

Transfer Credit for the MSN Program

A maximum of 10 graduate-level credits from an accredited institution may be accepted towards a master’s degree at SU.  Credit must meet the criteria as outlined in the Transfer Credit Policy (Policy 77-1) and must be reviewed and approved by the College of Nursing and the University via a Petition for Exception to Policy. 

MSN Program Policies

Graduate students in the College of Nursing are subject to all Seattle University academic policies published in this Graduate Catalog. Policies and procedures specific to the College of Nursing include the following as well as those published in the current edition of the MSN Student Handbook.

Clinical hours: Three contact hours are required for each credit hour for clinical courses/field work in the advanced practice portion of the MSN program for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner option. Five contact hours are required for each credit hour for clinical courses/field work in the advanced practice portion of the MSN program for the Family Nurse Practitioner, the Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, the Advanced Community Public Health Nursing and the Nurse-Midwifery options. The ratio of credit to contact hours for the MSN clinical practica is consistent with University policy.

Academic policies: Graduate nursing academic policies are described in the current edition of the MSN Student Handbook including criteria for admission, progression, probation, and dismissal. Students are responsible for reviewing the Handbook and understanding its contents.

Commencement with deficiencies: MSN students scheduled to complete program requirements at the end of summer quarter, and who have completed all degree requirements except a final clinical practicum, may participate in the preceding June graduation ceremony.

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