Graduate Programs
The Decker School of Nursing offers graduate-level, advanced practice nursing programs of study, culminating in the professional degrees of Master of Science (MS) and Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) with majors in family, community health, family psychiatric mental health or adult-gerontological primary care nursing. The Decker School also offers the terminal research degree Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing with emphasis in rural health and vulnerable populations.
In the master of science degree programs, students select one of three functional roles to pursue that include the nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist and nurse educator role.
The PhD program is available for those who hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing and wish to pursue the BS to PhD program. The post-graduate PhD program is also available for those candidates who already hold a master's degree in nursing. The advanced standing (post-graduate) DNP program is available to those who hold a master's degree in nursing and are nationally certified as a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist in an area of clinical practice offered by the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences (DCNHS).
For those students already holding a master's degree in nursing, DCNHS offers programs leading to advanced certificates as a family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontological nurse practitioner, family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner or a community health primary care nurse practitioner. Also offered are advanced certificates in nursing education, forensic health and disaster management.
Master of Science Degree Programs
The master of science programs in nursing require successful completion of 46-48 credits for award of degree. Full- and part-time program options of study are available. The curriculum has five components: core, clinical specialization, role development, supporting courses and electives. Core courses taken by all students in the program address nursing theory, advanced physical health assessment, advanced pathophysiology across the lifespan, advanced pharmacology for clinical practice, nursing research, professional issues and the healthcare delivery system. The clinical courses prepare nurses for family nursing, community health nursing, family psychiatric mental health nursing or adult-gerontological nursing. The courses address socialization and implementation of the role of nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse educator. Supporting courses are tailored to degree requirements per MS specialization of study (e.g., psycho-pharmacology is required only for those students enrolled in the family psychiatric mental health specialization). The courses in the first semester of study for all MS curricula provide the foundation for courses in subsequent semesters.
Elective course(s) may be taken either in nursing or related areas of study. Courses may be taken in other units of the University, i.e., the departments of Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, such as psychology, anthropology, political science and sociology; College of Community and Public Affairs; and School of Management. Students are encouraged to select electives that will enhance their special interests and career goals. Independent study is an option with permission from the graduate program director.
Admission
All students entering the graduate programs in nursing must satisfy the general conditions and procedures for admission to the Graduate School as stated in the Admission section of this publication.
Admission Criteria for Master’s Degree in Nursing Programs
Although each applicant is considered on an individual basis, the general admission criteria are:
- A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN, CNEA or CCNE-accredited school of nursing program
- A descriptive statistics course with a grade of C or better
- An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better
- A current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered professional nurse in the United States
- Students must successfully pass the NCLEX-RN examination prior to enrollment in the graduate program. Prior to beginning clinical experiences in a New York state clinical facility, students must submit a copy of their current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in New York, which is a requirement of the New York State Department of Education Office of the Professions.
- Two academic or professional references from individuals in a supervisory capacity only. It is expected that a professional referent is a current or former supervisor or educator to the applicant.
- Submission of a 500-word personal statement
- Résumé or curriculum vitae
- For international students:
- Proof of English proficiency (official TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic Scores); International Student Financial Statement Form; and supporting financial documentation (such as official bank statements or official scholarship or sponsorship letters).
- Proof of a current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered professional nurse in their home country.
- Proof of a current unencumbered license to practice as a registered professional nurse in the United States.
- An evaluation of the educational transcript from the student's home country must be evaluated by .
Students who have a felony or child abuse conviction are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences and/or to meet licensure requirements for nursing or advanced-practice licensure. Students who have concerns about this are advised to contact the Division of Advising and Academic Excellence office, graduate program director or the dean's office. Students are required to report felony convictions while enrolled in the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences as it may change their progression and ability to be placed in a clinical agency. To learn if felony/child abuse convictions will negatively impact their ability to obtain licensure, students should check with the in the state in which they plan to practice.
Notes regarding admission criteria above:
- A student may apply for non-degree/non-matriculated status. If admitted, a maximum of 12 graduate nursing credits may be completed as a non-degree student. Upon successful completion of up to 12 credits, students are encouraged to apply for matriculated status in the program of their choice. The director of graduate nursing programs, with input from the program coordinator, provides academic advisement regarding appropriate courses by non-degree students who are attempting to demonstrate their ability to be successful at the graduate nursing level and in anticipation of students applying for future matriculated status.
- Required letters of recommendation from professional referents may not be personal friends or family members of the applicant. It is expected that a professional referent is a current or former supervisor or educator to the applicant.
- Any U.S. applicant may be admitted as "regular admit-additional advising" ("conditional admission" in the Graduate School Manual) by the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences. By definition, this category
of admission means the applicant lacks the required application criteria.
- Students who do not advance their status from "regular admit-additional advising" to regular admission status in a timely manner (i.e., failure to meet the department's conditional admission requirements) may encounter registration restrictions and/or program dismissal.
- Students enrolling immediately after graduation from a bachelor of science program in nursing must pass the national licensing examination (NCLEX-RN) before beginning any clinical coursework. Students who are granted full-time admission in a fall semester are scheduled to take NURS 502 Advanced Physical Health Assessment in the first semester of study. As NURS 502 has a clinical component, all full time students must pass the NCLEX-RN examination and provide proof of passing the exam prior to enrollment in the graduate program.
- Prospective students with a master's degree in nursing from an accredited program may seek admission to the post-graduate program to pursue a different clinical specialty and/or an advanced practice role.
- One year of full-time employment as a professional registered nurse is recommended prior to admission to a graduate nursing program, but it is not required. Students may be admitted to begin the master's degree program on a part-time basis to allow time to gain confidence in their nursing skills while working as an RN.
- Students admitted to a graduate nursing program must possess the ability to use various software applications, use email, conduct web searches, download and upload files and communicate through web based technology such as Zoom.
- International student applicants cannot be admitted "conditionally" based on changes
to federal regulations implemented in 2016 by the United States Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
- International student applicants who have not met minimum TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic score requirements may be recommended for an offer of admission from the Decker School of Nursing, but may be granted provisional admission by the Graduate School.
- A provisional admission status related to these test scores requires the applicant to provide sufficient proof of English proficiency.
- Once sufficient proof has been provided by the applicant, the Graduate School will default the admissions decision back to that assigned by the department and the student will receive a regular letter of admission and an I-20.
- In such an admission case, the student will be required to take an English as a Second Language Institute Program (ESI) assessment exam. Exam results assist the department in determining which ESI courses must be completed by the student preliminary to, or concurrently with, core graduate nursing course requirements in the first and/or subsequent semesters, and at the discretion of the graduate nursing program director.
- Graduates of nursing programs outside the U.S. must submit
- proof of an earned baccalaureate degree in nursing or its equivalent.
- a World Education Services (WES) credential evaluation for non-U.S. transcripts with degree equivalency.
- proof of licensure to practice in the U.S.
Transfer of Credit Policy
For students in the MS program, a maximum of 6 graduate credits completed within the previous five years may be transferred from an accredited college or university and a maximum of 6 credits may be waived upon evaluation of couse syllabus and transcripts. The Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences requires that any academic credits transferred into °®¶¹´«Ã½ must be three credits or higher and must have resulted in an earned minimum grade of B. Only courses not used to satisfy a previous degree may be considered for transfer into DCNHS. Students requesting transfer credits must provide course syllabi for each course they wish to transfer and an official transcript showing successful completion of coursework (minimum grade of B). For more information, consult the Division of Advising and Academic Excellence or the Graduate School Manual. All decisions regarding transfer of credits are at the discretion of the appropriate program coordinators or director of graduate nursing programs, with final approval required from the Graduate School. Courses approved for transfer are determined on an individual basis. Requests for course transfer must be submitted using , which requires course syllabi and official transcripts to be uploaded. Transfer credits are only reviewed and considered once a student has fully matriculated into a graduate program.
Core Course Policy
The following courses are required for all advanced practice programs:
- NURS 502 Advanced Health Assessment
- NURS 518 Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Life Span
- NURS 519 Advanced Pharmacology
- NURS 520 meets the requirements for NURS 518 and NURS 519 for AG/CH educators.
Students are required to register for NURS 502 if they have not been in clinical practice as an APRN within 12 months or they completed an advanced health assessment course more than five years prior to enrolling in the program.
Essential core courses for all advanced practice nursing programs include: Advanced Health Assessment (NURS 502), Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Life Span (NURS 518) and Advanced Pharmacology (NURS 519). These courses may be considered for transfer prior to full matriculation into a DCNHS graduate program of study using the process described in the transfer/waiver of credit procedure. A transfer/waiver of credit request must be completed for evaluation by the appropriate program coordinator or graduate program director. Graduate students may transfer in a maximum of two of these core courses (NURS 502, NURS 518, NURS 519) and at least one of these courses must be completed in the DSON graduate program. If a graduate nursing student completed an advanced health assessment course more than five years prior and the student has not been in clinical practice as an APRN in the last 12 months, the student will be required to register for NURS 502 (Concepts in Health Assessment for Nurses in Clinical Practice). NURS 504 (Advanced Health Assessment Practicum) offers students an opportunity to review and refresh advanced health assessment skills. The refresher course is beneficial towards preparing students for entry into advanced clinical practice sites, which demand proficiency in conducting comprehensive health histories and physical examinations.
Examples that require completion of NURS 504 include:
- Students who completed NURS 502 (Concepts in Health Assessment for Nurses in Clinical Practice) more than 12 months prior will be required to register for NURS 504 (Advance Health Assessment Practicum) for one credit as a refresher to advanced health assessment skills prior to beginning graduate clinical experiences.
- Students who previously completed a population specific advanced health assessment course that did not provide across the life span content will be required to register for NURS 504 (Advance Health Assessment Practicum).
- Students who previously completed an advanced health assessment course for pediatrics only will be required to complete two credits of NURS 504 (Advance Health Assessment Practicum) to provide assessment skills for the adult population.
- Students who previously completed an advanced health assessment course for adults only will be required to complete one credit NURS 504 (Advance Health Assessment Practicum) to provide assessment skills for the newborn, pediatric, and adolescent populations.
Class, Clinical and ISPC Attendance Policy
The Decker School of Nursing adheres to University policy pertaining to attendance in class. In addition, attendance for all clinical, simulation, or ISPC experiences is mandatory. Students must notify their instructors if they are unable to meet this commitment because of illness or other circumstances beyond their control. All course-related assignments must be completed as indicated in the course syllabi unless prior arrangements are made with course faculty. While clinical experiences are an important part of graduate nursing education, class absences due to attending clinical is not acceptable. Clinical hours performed during regularly scheduled class time will be rejected and not counted towards required completed clinical hours during the semester.
Clinical Placement / Responsibilities of Patient Care
All DSON Graduate Nursing Students are expected to provide care to patients to whom they are assigned. Assignments/placements are based on the level of skill and knowledge of the student and the educational objectives of the learning experience. When determining student clinical placement, student preference may be taken into consideration. The Decker School of Nursing Office of Clinical Placement makes the final clinical placements based upon student, course, preceptor, agency and school needs. Students will not be placed in an educational clinical experience at their work site or where they have supervisory responsibilities, with their own personal care provider, with a relative, or significant other. Such a situation often contributes to role confusion and the potential for a conflict of interest. In health organizations with multiple sites, a placement at a site other than the student's actual work site within the employing organization may be considered and will be completed at the discretion of DSON Office of Clinical Placement.
The University assumes no responsibility for providing transportation from campus to the clinical health agencies used for student clinical experiences. Students must arrange their own transportation to clinical agencies and affiliated sites. Some clinical experiences require students to travel a distance up to 150 miles. There may be parking costs at some clinical agencies.
DSON faculty and students are expected to practice nursing in adherence to the . Student behavior in the clinical area that is identified by faculty, clinical agency or a clinical preceptor as unprofessional may result in removal of the student from the clinical placement and further investigation of the student's fitness to practice. Only when the DSON determines that the student is fit to practice will the student be permitted to resume his/her duties and responsibilities in the clinical area.
Part-Time Study
Students interested in pursuing a part-time program option are encouraged to contact their program’s coordinator before submitting a Petition for Exceptions to Graduate Decker Policies to request a change from full to part-time status.
Student Request to Change Program Role or Specialization
Students must submit a to request a change in program role or specialization 90 days prior to the first day of the next semester. and indicate the reasons for requesting a role or specialization change. Petitions will be reviewed by the appropriate program coordinators, the Office of Clinical Placement and the graduate program director within 30 days of submission. Students will be notified of the final decision by the chair of the Graduate Admissions and Academic Standards Committee. No consideration for program change will be granted when the request is made for the semester in which the student is currently enrolled. Submission of a request does not automatically result in approval.
At least three semesters include clinical experiences, which range from a minimum of 12 hours per week to a maximum of 16 hours per week. Some elective courses also have clinical practice requirements that may increase the clinical practice time. All clinical practice assignments must be coordinated through the DCNHS Office of Clinical Placements. The Decker School of Nursing will not provide opportunities for clinical experiences for students who fail to meet the requirements/responsibilities as outlined in the Decker School of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook (Policies for Student Clinical Practice).
Additional Requirements and Expenses
Graduate students of DCNHS must adhere to the following policies related to professional practice. Students should expect to incur costs for additional items related to clinical practice and preparation. These costs are in addition to the standard University tuition and fees. Included are fees for:
Nursing Simulation Lab Fee: A fee of $330 will be incurred by students enrolled in graduate nursing courses that require clinical simulation activities in the Innovative Simulation and Practice Center (ISPC). This fee is assessed once per semester regardless of the number of enrolled courses that carry the simulation fee.
Typhon: A one-time system access fee of $90 is charged to enroll in , a clinical experience management system; this is required for all graduate nursing students enrolled in clinical courses. This fee may be subject to change.
Malpractice and Liability Insurance: All students in clinical courses are billed for malpractice and liability insurance each semester. The cost of this insurance is currently $12 per semester, regardless of how many clinical courses a student is registered in. Students who have purchased their own malpractice and liability insurance policy are required to purchase malpractice and liability insurance through the University as it provides coverage for their practice as a student in clinical nursing courses. Individual policies purchased by the student do not satisfy this requirement. The malpractice and liability fee is subject to change each semester.
Health Insurance: All students enrolled in clinical nursing courses are required to submit proof of personal health insurance annually. This documentation must be submitted prior to beginning any clinical experience. Failure to demonstrate evidence of health insurance will prevent the student from beginning clinical experiences in any semester. Health insurance is available for purchase through the University for those students who do not have coverage.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Prior to beginning clinical nursing courses, all students are required to submit evidence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification (including AED training) at the professional rescuer level. The DCNHS does not accept online CPR certification. CPR certification must be completed every other year.
Health Evaluations: Healthcare agencies must comply with the New York State (NYS) Department of Health Code 405.3, which includes health requirements necessary for all persons engaged in patient contact. Agencies may have additional health requirements over and above those mandated by NYS (i.e., substance abuse screening, removal of artificial/acrylic nails). The school must comply with NYS and agency requirements prior to student placement in the clinical agency.
The health/clinical practice requirements as outlined must be fulfilled and be completed prior to beginning clinical experiences. If health/clinical practice requirements are not current, the student will not be allowed in any clinical practice setting, which will result in a Graduate Violation of Nursing Standard (VNSG) infraction. If a student attends clinical experiences and is not compliant with health requirements, the clinical hours performed will not be counted. Note that it takes five to seven days for an uploaded document to be evaluated and approved or denied. Students should allow themselves enough time for this process to occur.
Prior to enrollment in clinical nursing courses, all students are required to submit an annual health evaluation to on behalf of the Decker School of Nursing. The annual health evaluation must include:
- a physical examination documented on the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences Student Annual Health Evaluation form;
- Tuberculosis screening (to be completed by one of the three below prior to enrollment
in clinical nursing courses):
- a two-step Mantoux Tuberculin Test initially and one annually thereafter;
- QuantiFERON-TB Gold blood test and a Turberculin screening form initially prior to enrollment in clinical nursing courses and one annually thereafter;
- any students with a positive reaction are required to have a chest X-ray. The chest X-ray report as well as the tuberculin screening form must be uploaded to Castlebranch to fulfill this requirement and provide evidence of follow-up healthcare. Some agencies require a Mantoux Test, chest X-ray or QuantiFERON-TB Gold (if indicated) within six months of a student's clinical placement and students would be expected to comply with this requirement;
- documented evidence of current immunization to tetanus-diphtheria;
- documented evidence of immunization or serologic evidence of immunity to MMR (measles, mumps and rubella);
- proof of varicella (chicken pox) immunity as documented by varicella immunizations, diagnosis of history of varicella diseases or a varicella titer report, prepared by a healthcare provider;
- documented evidence of immunization to Hepatitis B, prepared by a healthcare provider. Those electing not to receive the Hepatitis B series must sign a Statement of Declination;
- documentation of the seasonal flu vaccine in the current semester in which clinical is taking place. Medical declinations will be considered and must be presented one month prior to clinical experiences. Agencies have the right to request this information from the DCNHS Office of Clinical Placement;
- As of September 2021, all healthcare facilities regulated by New York State Department of Health require that all students completing clinical experiences must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19;
- Students are required to sign a waiver authorizing the release of this information by the DCNHS. Failure to sign a release may lead to a delay/denial of clinical placement.
Professional Licensure: Evidence of an unencumbered, active license to practice professional nursing in the United States must be kept on file on . Agencies have the right to request this information and students are asked to release this information as requested. Prior to beginning clinical experiences in a New York State clinical facility, students are required to provide a copy of their current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in New York State. All clinical experiences performed outside of New York State will require that the student maintain a current active RN license in the state in which the clinicals are completed.
Training in Infection Control and Bloodborne Pathogens; HIPAA: Clinical agencies require that students have annual training in infection control, bloodborne pathogens and HIPAA. Graduate students who are employed in healthcare agencies and who have received the above training through their places of employment and can provide documentation of such, may satisfy this requirement. Some agencies have very specific training that they require the student to participate in prior to the beginning of a clinical experience and students are expected to comply with such requests. Students who are not currently employed may receive this training through the DCNHS. The Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences HIPAA policy may be reviewed online.
Professional Ethics and Academic Honesty: Students are expected to comply with °®¶¹´«Ã½ Code of Student Conduct and the policies related to professional ethics, professional practice and academic honesty as stated in the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences Graduate Programs Student Handbook.
Release of Personal Information: Some agencies, in order to protect clients, require information related to students’ past employment and documentation as to whether or not they have ever been convicted of a criminal offense, including misdemeanors and felonies. Students may be asked to respond to such questions.
Criminal Background Checks: Students who have a felony or child abuse conviction are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences and/or to meet licensure requirements for nursing or advanced-practice licensure. Students who have concerns about this are advised to contact the Division of Advising and Academic Excellence Office, the graduate program director or the dean's office. Students are required to report felony convictions while enrolled in the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences as it may change their progression and ability to be placed in a clinical agency. To learn if felony/child abuse convictions will negatively impact their ability for licensure, students should check with the in the state in which they plan to practice.
Some clinical agencies require criminal background checks for everyone working in the facility, including students. All DCNHS students participating in a clinical experience are required by clinical agencies used by the DCNHS to undergo a criminal background screening and/or drug screening. In addition, some agencies may require more stringent screening than indicated below, including fingerprinting. The student will be required to submit a criminal background screening to . This documentation will be due prior to the start of the semester in accordance with the due dates for all other clinical requirements (health forms, proof of CPR, etc.). The student is responsible for all costs associated with these requirements. The criminal background screening will be required annually while attending DCNHS. For more information about this process and its costs, see .
Results will be disclosed to the agency/clinical site to determine if the student is eligible to attend clinical within the facility. Any student who delays, fails or refuses to provide a criminal background screening to by the published due date will be unable to attend clinical, which may result in a failure for the clinical course. Positive criminal background screening results may hinder a student's opportunity for state licensure. The DCNHS recommends a student contact his/her state board of licensure to clarify any concerns regarding licensure. Should a student be convicted of a criminal offense between the first and second background screening, he/she must immediately disclose this to the DCNHS for review with the clinical site. The clinical site will determine whether the student will be permitted to continue to participate in clinical experiences. Any such incident may jeopardize the student's enrollment at the University and licensure.
Reports from the criminal background screening are stored online at a password-protected site sponsored by . After the student signs a release each year, the DCNHS will assume responsibility for releasing written verification of a clear criminal background check to the clinical agency. Again, failure, delay or refusal to sign the release allowing the DCNHS to provide the results to the agencies, will prevent the student from attending clinical, which may result in a failure for the clinical course.
Disclaimer: The Criminal Background Screening procedure does not ensure the security of students, patients, faculty or staff.
Medical Document Manager: All DCNHS health requirements are housed on . Instructions for this process can be found online.
The DCNHS will not provide opportunities for clinical experiences to students who fail to meet the above requirements/responsibilities.
Violation of Nursing Standards (VNSG) Graduate Policy
In accordance with the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences mission to prepare future providers and managers of care, the Violation of Nursing Standards Graduate Policy (VNSG) requires students to abide by the following rules and regulations while enrolled in the program:
- and the Interpretive Statements (available electronically through °®¶¹´«Ã½ Libraries)
- °®¶¹´«Ã½ Student Handbook and Code of Student Conduct
- ANA Scope and Standards of Practice (available electronically through °®¶¹´«Ã½ Libraries)
- Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences Graduate Student Handbook
- Affiliating agency policies and procedures
- Current federal, state and/or local laws
A violation may be given any time a student is not compliant with any of the bulleted items above.
Records of violations are tracked and recorded internally. Immediately following a violation, the VNSG Report will be completed and submitted by the issuer of the violation. Once a VNSG is reported, the student will receive the following to his/her official °®¶¹´«Ã½ email:
- Description of the violation
- Consequences
- Required remediation instructions, if necessary
- Instructions for submitting comments (optional)
Course faculty or administration may require remediation to address the VNSG. A student who successfully completes required remediation may be allowed to continue in the program. Despite remediation, three violations in one course will result in course failure. Five cumulative violations will result in dismissal from the Decker School of Nursing, regardless of program length. A single incident that is determined to have produced serious actual/potential harm may also result in dismissal. If remediation is required, failure to complete the assigned remediation(s) will result in more severe consequences (and may include immediate dismissal).
Dismissal from the nursing program as a result of a VNSG is final and will be recorded on the student's official °®¶¹´«Ã½ transcript. Violations of federal, state and/or local laws will result in a report to law enforcement officers. A student may initiate the DSON's Grievance Policy as a formal appeal process. Future readmission of students who have been severed for VNS/VNSG will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Questions about this policy should be directed to the graduate program director.
Programs of Study
Family Nursing
The program in family nursing prepares nurses for advanced practice with families by addressing individual and family health problems, family functioning and complex families. Students may select functional role preparation as a family nurse practitioner, or nurse educator. Clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is not an available functional role in the family nursing MS program. Nurses who have an MS degree in nursing may enroll in the post-master's family nurse practitioner certificate program.
MS in Family Nursing
| Semester I (Fall) | Credits |
| NURS 502 Concepts in Health Assessment for Nurses in Advanced Clinical Practice | 3 |
| NURS 518 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 532 Nursing and Community Health Care Delivery Systems | 3 |
| NURS 600 Advanced Methods and Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Semester II (Spring) | Credits |
| NURS 503 Scientific Inquiry: Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing | 2-3 |
| NURS 519 Advanced Pharmacology for Clinical Practice | 3 |
| NURS 521 Nursing in Family Practice I | 3 |
| NURS 553 Family NP Role I | 4 |
| Total | 12-13 |
| Semester III (Fall) | Credits |
| NURS 522 Nursing in Family Practice II | 3 |
| NURS 554 Family NP Role II | 4 |
| NURS 535 Scientific Inquiry: Application of Research Methods | 2 |
| Elective or thesis | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Semester IV (Spring) | Credits |
| NURS 596 Nursing in Family Practice III | 3 |
| NURS 555 Family NP Role III | 4 |
| NURS 570 Proseminar | 2 |
| Elective or thesis | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Total Credits | 48-49 |
Community Health Nursing
Graduates of the program in community health nursing are committed to helping community members achieve optimal health as a means of improving life. Graduates are able to assess and diagnose actual and potential health problems of the community and work with individuals, families, groups and communities to improve and maintain health. Students may select functional role preparation as a primary care nurse practitioner, or nurse educator. Clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is not an available functional role in the community health nursing MS program. Nurses who have an MS degree in nursing may enroll in the post-graduate community health primary care nurse practitioner certificate program.
MS in Community Health Primary Care Nursing
| Semester I (Fall) | Credits |
| NURS 502 Concepts in Health Assessment for Nurses in Adv Clinical Practice | 3 |
| NURS 503 Scientific Inquiry: Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing | 2-3 |
| NURS 520 Advanced Patho/Pharm | 4 |
| NURS 540 Elements of Biostatistics and Epidemiology | 3 |
| Total | 12-13 |
| Semester II (Spring) | Credits |
| NURS 600 Advanced Methods of Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| NURS 541 Community Health Nursing Practice I | 3 |
| NURS XXX* Functional Role I (CH-EDUC or CH-PCNP) | 4 |
| NURS XXX Elective | 3 |
| Total | 13 |
| Semester III (Fall) | Credits |
| NURS 535 Scientific Inquiry: Application of Research Methods | 2 |
| NURS 542 Community Health Nursing Practice II | 3 |
| NURS XXX* Functional Role II (CH-EDUC, or CH-PCNP) | 4 |
| Total | 9 |
| Semester IV (Spring) | Credits |
| NURS 543 Community Health Nursing Practice III | 3 |
| NURS 532 Health Care Delivery Systems | 3 |
| NURS XXX* Functional Role III (CH-EDUC, or CH-PCNP) | 4 |
| NURS 570 Proseminar | 2 |
| Total | 12 |
| Total Credits | 46-47 |
*Course numbers differ depending on role selected
Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nursing
Adult-gerontological primary care nursing provides students with an in-depth understanding of health and illness in the adult and older-adult populations. Students are prepared to provide advanced nursing care to well adults/elders, acutely and chronically ill adults/elders and frail older persons in community or institutional settings. Students choose functional preparation as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist and nurse educator. Nurses who have an MS degree in nursing may enroll in the post-graduate adult-gerontological primary care nurse practitioner certificate program.
MS in Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nursing:
| Semester I (Fall) | Credits |
| NURS 502 Concepts in Health Assessment for Nurses in Advanced Clinical Practice | 3 |
| NURS 518 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 532 Nursing and Community Health Care Delivery Systems | 3 |
| NURS 600 Advanced Methods and Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Semester II (Spring) | Credits |
| NURS 503 Scientific Inquiry: Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing | 2-3 |
| NURS 511 Adult-Gerontological Nursing I | 3 |
| Functional Role I* (AG-CNS, AG-EDUC or AGPC-NP) | 4 |
| NURS 519 Advanced Pharmacology for Clinical Practice | 3 |
| Total | 12-13 |
| Semester III (Fall) | Credits |
| NURS 512 Adult-Gerontological Nursing II | 3 |
| Functional Role II* (AG-CNS, AG-EDUC or AGPC-NP) | 4 |
| NURS 535 Scientific Inquiry: Application of Research Methods | 2 |
| Elective or thesis | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Semester IV (Spring) | Credits |
| NURS 513 Adult-Gerontological Nursing III | 3 |
| Functional Role III* (AG-CNS, AG-EDUC or AGPC-NP) | 4 |
| NURS 570 Proseminar | 2 |
| Elective or thesis | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Total Credits | 48-49 |
Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Graduates of the program in family psychiatric mental health nursing are prepared to provide comprehensive, client-centered mental health care to individuals, families and groups across the lifespan. Students acquire in-depth knowledge in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illness, as well as the promotion of mental health. Students are prepared in the functional role as a family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and nurse educator are not available functional roles in the family psychiatric mental health nursing MS program. Nurses who have an MS degree in nursing may enroll in the post-graduate family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certificate program.
MS in Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing:
| Semester I (Fall) | Credits |
| NURS 502 Concepts on Health Assessment for Nurses in Advanced Clinical Practice | 3 |
| NURS 518 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 532 Nursing and Community Health Care Delivery Systems | 3 |
| NURS 600 Advanced Methods and Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Semester II (Spring) | Credits |
| NURS 503 Scientific Inquiry: Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing | 2-3 |
| NURS 519 Advanced Pharmacology for Clinical Practice | 3 |
| NURS XXX elective | 3 |
| NURS 565 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Role 1; Assessment and Diagnosis | 4 |
| Total | 12-13 |
| Semester III (Fall) | Credits |
| NURS 535 Scientific Inquiry: Application of Research Methods | 2 |
| NURS 562 Psychopharmacology | 2 |
| NURS 563 Family Psychiatric Mental Health Specialization I; Acute Illnesses | 4 |
| NURS 566 Psychiatric Mental Health; Individual Psychotherapies | 4 |
| Total | 12 |
| Semester IV (Spring) | Credits |
| NURS 564 Family Psychiatric Mental Health Specialization II; Chronic Illnesses | 4 |
| NURS 567 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Role III; Family and Group Psychotherapies | 4 |
| NURS 570 Proseminar | 2 |
| OPTIONAL - Second Elective | 3 |
| Total | 10-13 |
| Total Credits | 46-50 |
Electives
In addition to electives in other disciplines, students may choose electives in nursing to meet degree requirements in accordance with professional goals and academic needs. A variety of elective courses are offered each semester. Students should consult with their assigned faculty advisor to ensure that elective course choices support academic goals.
Grading and Requirements for Graduation
In addition to the grading policies of the Graduate School at °®¶¹´«Ã½, the following requirements must be met by students enrolled in the master of science programs of the Decker School:
- The Decker School requires a grade of B (= numerical grade of 83) or better in all courses required for the MS in nursing program.
- In every course that has a clinical component, students must pass both didactic and clinical components of the course. Failure to successfully pass the clinical portion, determined by a clinical evaluation, will result in course failure.
Graduate Exam Review Policy
Examinations, papers and other projects should be graded within a reasonable time. The Decker faculty recognizes that the opportunity to review exams is part of the learning process. Feedback may be provided through group or individual meetings for students who wish to meet. Feedback may also be posted in the course as a document that addresses concepts in need of review. In order to protect the integrity of exams taken through the ExamSoft program, students may not view their actual exams or exam questions during the exam review. Faculty may provide explanations identifying rationale for correct answers or concepts missed on the exam to enhance learning. For quizzes, exams and projects completed outside of ExamSoft, it is expected that comments and corrections will be explained to students who seek explanations. The method for feedback will be at the discretion of the faculty member. All meetings will be scheduled at a time that meets both faculty and student availability. To allow a means of evaluating the work of students who ask that a grade be reviewed, instructor's grade records, test scores, syllabi and all other records pertaining to the course should be kept for two years, and graded work not returned to students should be kept for one year after course completion, in accordance with the SUNY-specific record retention policy.
MS Synthesis Experience (Paper or Project or Thesis)
All master's degree students complete a paper or a project as a final, synthesizing experience and as part of course requirements. Students are encouraged to examine and make decisions regarding these options early in their programs.
Students may alternatively elect to complete an MS thesis to fulfill the MS synthesis experience requirement. All students interested in completing the MS thesis option must contact the Graduate Program Directors Office for approval. Students then register for an independent study course through the Division of Academic Advising and Excellence Office. Credits earned by completing a thesis may be used to satisfy elective credit requirements. Students planning to pursue a PhD in nursing are encouraged to consider the MS thesis option. Thesis guidelines are found online in the Graduate School Manual. Students selecting the thesis option must seek advisement from their faculty advisor one year prior to graduation.
Doctoral-Level Programs
Doctoral students adhere to all policies of the school pertinent to professional practice, grading policies, professional ethics and academic honesty. Doctoral students are also required to adhere to all policies and procedures found online in the Graduate School Manual.
Doctor in Nursing Practice (DNP) Program Admission Criteria
International students are ineligible to enroll in the DNP program due to U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulations.
For students who intend to pursue the DNP program, the following are required and will be evaluated for admission:
Post BS-to-DNP Degree Admission Requirements*:
- A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited program
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- A current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered professional nurse in the United States is required of all applicants
- All applicants are required to have taken and passed the NCLEX-RN examination prior to the start of clinical courses and/or by a specified date as stipulated by the director of graduate nursing programs.
- Prior to beginning clinical experiences in a New York clinical facility, students are required to provide a copy of their current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in New York state. This is a requirement of the New York State Department of Education Office of the Professions.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- Successful completion of a descriptive statistics course
- Submission of a 500-word personal statement describing a problem or issue in the clinical setting the student would like to address in the DNP Program.
- One year of full-time employment as a professional registered nurse is recommended prior to application for admission to a graduate nursing program of study, but it is not required. At the discretion of the director of the graduate nursing programs, students may be admitted to begin the DNP program on a part-time basis to allow time for the student to gain confidence in their nursing skills while working as an RN.
- Résumé or curriculum vitae
- Evidence of professional productivity, scholarship, involvement in research, etc.
- Interview with graduate program director or member of the DNP Admissions Committee may be required.
*Admission to/enrollment in the post BS-to-DNP program has temporarily been suspended.
Students wishing to pursue a DNP degree must satisfy the general conditions and procedures for admission to °®¶¹´«Ã½'s Graduate School. Further, they must adhere to all policies outlined in the Graduate School Manual.
In addition, the following are required and will be evaluated for admission:
- A master's degree in nursing from an ACEN-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited school of nursing program
- A bachelor's degree in nursing from an ACEN-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited school of nursing program
- Graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Three letters of recommendation
- A current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered professional nurse in the United States
- Prior to beginning clinical experiences in a New York clinical facility, students must submit a copy of their current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in New York; this is required by the New York State Department of Education Office of the Professions
- A current, unencumbered license to practice as a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist in the United States
- Proof of current national certification as a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist
- Verification of completion of 500 master’s level nurse practitioner/CNS clinical hours
- Graduate-level statistics course taken within the past five years
- Submission of a 500-word personal statement describing a problem or issue in the clinical setting the student would like to address in the DNP Program.
- Résumé or curriculum vitae
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed to prepare nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists to respond more efficiently to changes in healthcare delivery and emerging healthcare needs for the future. The DNP program incorporates and builds on the advanced practice content and competencies currently taught in the master's program. The DNP focuses on providing graduates with knowledge and competence in health systems leadership, policy development and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve healthcare outcomes and increase healthcare access for all populations. Transforming healthcare delivery recognizes the critical need for clinicians to design, evaluate and continuously improve the context within which care is delivered.
Advanced practice nurses prepared at the doctoral level with a blend of clinical, organizational, economic and leadership skills will make a significant impact on healthcare outcomes. The DNP focuses on providing leadership for innovative and evidence-based nursing practice. This requires competence in translating research into practice, evaluating evidence, applying research in decision-making and implementing viable clinical innovations to change practice.
Students holding a master’s degree in nursing who wish to earn the DNP degree may apply, provided they hold national certification as a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist in an area of clinical practice offered by the Decker School to include family, community health, adult-gerontological or family psychiatric mental health nursing. Students may currently choose to be admitted to a master's degree in nursing program as a post-baccalaureate in nursing graduate so that they may complete nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist certification requirements and subsequently apply for admission to the advanced standing DNP program. A total of 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical practicum hours are required to complete the DNP curriculum and meet DNP degree requirements.
DNP Program Offerings
- Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist*
- Family Nursing
- Community Health Nursing
- Adult-Gerontological Nursing
- Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
*Note: The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) functional role is only available in the Adult-Gerontological Primary Care DNP program.
Post-Baccalaureate DNP Entry Program Plan*
*Admission to the post BS-to-DNP program is temporarily suspended until further notice.
| Semester I (Fall) | Credits |
| NURS 502 Concepts on Health Assessment for Nurses in Advanced Clinical Practice | 3 |
| NURS 518 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 600 Advanced Methods and Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| NURS 610 Evidence Based Practice | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Semester II (Spring) | Credits |
| NURS 519 Advanced Pharmacology for Clinical Practice | 3 |
| NURS 532 Nursing and Community Health Care Delivery Systems | 3 |
| Specialization I* | 3 |
| Role I* (CNS or NP) | 4 |
| Total | 13 |
| Semester III (Fall) | Credits |
| NURS 601 Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations of Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 540 Elements of Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 4 |
| Specialization II* | 3 |
| Role II* (CNS or NP) | 4 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester IV (Spring) | Credits |
| NURS 579 Advanced Diagnostics and Clinical Reasoning | 3 |
| NURS 651 DNP Scholarly Project I (120*) | 3 |
| Specialization III* | 3 |
| Role III* (CNS or NP) | 4 |
| Total | 13 |
| Semester VI (Fall) | Credits |
| NURS 548 DNP Organizational Behavior | 4 |
| NURS 650 DNP Practicum Experience I (180*) | 3 |
| NURS 652 DNP Scholarly Project II (120*) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 13 |
| Semester VII (Spring) | Credits |
| NURS 655 DNP Practicum Experience II (180*) | 3 |
| NURS 615 Information Systems and Technology in Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 634 Health Policy Formulation | 3 |
| NURS 653 DNP Scholarly Project III (120**) | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Total Program Credits | 77 |
*Course numbers vary depending on role
**Clinical hours required for DNP practicum courses
Advanced Standing Full-Time DNP Program Plan
| Semester I (Fall) | Credits |
| NURS 601 Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations of Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 610 Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 540 Elements of Epidemiology and Biostatistics OR NURS XXX Graduate-level elective required for students who completed a master's-level epidemiology and biostatistics course prior to admission |
1 or 4 3 |
| Total | 7-10 |
| Semester II (Spring) | Credits |
| NURS 579 Advanced Diagnostics and Clinical Reasoning | 3 |
| NURS 634 Health Policy Formulation | 3 |
| NURS 651 DNP Scholarly Project I (120*) | 3 |
| Total | 9 |
| Semester III (Fall) | Credits |
| NURS 548 DNP Organizational Behavior | 4 |
| NURS 652 DNP Scholarly Project II (120*) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 10 |
| Semester IV (Spring) | Credits |
| NURS 650 or 655 DNP Practicum Experience (180*) | 3 |
| NURS 615 Information Systems and Technology in Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 653 DNP Scholarly Project III (120*) | 3 |
| Total | 9 |
| Total Program Credits | 35-38 |
*Clinical hours required for DNP practicum courses
Grading and Graduation Requirements for DNP Students
In addition to the grading policies of the Graduate School at °®¶¹´«Ã½, the following requirements must be met by students in DNP programs of the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences:
- The Decker College will require a grade of B (= numerical grade of 83) or better in all courses required for the DNP program.
- In every course that has a clinical component, students must pass both didactic and clinical components of the course. Failure to successfully pass the clinical portion, determined by a clinical evaluation, will result in course failure.
- DNP Scholarly Project requirements are available in the DCONHS DNP Student Handbook. Students may access the DCONHS Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Handbook online.
PhD Admission Criteria
For students who intend to pursue the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program, the following are required and will be evaluated for admission:
- A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited school of nursing program
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- One paper that demonstrates the student's ability to analyze and/or synthesize nursing phenomena
- Two letters of recommendation for doctoral study
- A statement of research interests and professional goals including possible current tenured Decker School of Nursing PhD faculty member(s) whose current research may coincide with the applicant’s background and interests
- A current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered professional nurse in the United States
- Completion of a statistics course (within five years)
- Résumé or curriculum vitae including employment and education history
- A progressive record of continued development in nursing practice and scholarship
- For international students:
- Proof of English proficiency (such as official TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic Scores); International Student Financial Statement Form; and supporting financial documentation (such as official bank statements or official scholarship or sponsorship letters) are required
- International students are additionally required to provide proof of a current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered professional nurse in their home country and the U.S.
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
The PhD program in nursing is designed to prepare graduates for research and active scholarship in nursing that will extend the knowledge base of nursing and improve the delivery of healthcare for rural and other vulnerable populations. Graduates will be prepared to conduct research and develop theories related to these populations. Graduates of the program will also be able to design future practice models, direct the development of policy initiatives and effect meaningful change within healthcare delivery systems. The program includes:
- Research and Conceptualization
- Study in advanced research methods, theory development and analysis, advanced statistics for health research, conceptual analysis, instrumentation and measurement, and involvement in active research programs
- Nursing and Health Policy
- Study in the healthcare needs of rural or vulnerable populations, and the issues, strategies and policy development interventions for healthcare delivery for these populations
- Dissertation
- An independent, original research project
Students are admitted to candidacy upon satisfactory completion of the following:
- required coursework;
- University Graduate School residency requirement;
- a comprehensive examination;
- successful defense of the dissertation proposal;
- teaching requirement (if no teaching experience).
Additional information related to PhD-specific policies may be found in the DCNHS Nursing PhD Program Handbook online
Financial Assistance
Prospective students are encouraged to visit the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences website to review financial aid and scholarship information. Links to apply for consideration by application for funding and/or scholarships are available via the website.
PhD Post-Graduate Program Plan
| Year 1 | |
| Fall | Credits |
|
NURS 608 Advanced Methods and Quantitative Analysis |
3 |
| NURS 609 Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations of Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 640 Health Care Disparities Across Populations | 3 |
| NURS 690 Research Seminar I | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Spring | |
| NURS 602 Conceptual Analysis of Nursing Phenomena | 3 |
| NURS 621 Rural: Theoretical Frameworks | |
| OR | |
| NURS 622 Vulnerable Populations, Theoretical Frameworks | 3 |
| NURS 634 Health Policy Formulation | 3 |
| NURS 660 Leadership in Nursing Education | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Year 2 | |
| Fall | Credits |
| NURS 604 Qualitative Methods in Nursing Research | 3 |
| NURS 623 Theoretical Frameworks, Health Promotion | 3 |
| OR | |
| NURS 624 Theoretical Frameworks, Chronic Illness | 3 |
| NURS 633 Advanced Health Systems and Policy | 3 |
| NURS 691 Research Seminar II | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Spring | |
| NURS 603 Advanced Statistics: Multivariate | 3 |
| NURS 605 Measurement of Nursing Phenomena | 3 |
| NURS 607 PhD Dissertation Seminar | 3 |
| NURS 661 Teaching Practicum | 0-2 |
| Total | 9-11 |
| Total Credits Required Pre-Dissertation | 45-47 |
| REMAINING SEMESTERS | Credits |
| Comprehensive exam/proposal defense | 0-1 |
| NURS 698 Pre-dissertation | 1 |
| NURS 699 Dissertation (after comprehensive exam and proposal defense are complete) | 1 |
| Remaining semesters total | 2-3 |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED FOR PHD DEGREE | 46-48+ |
List of Faculty
Addendum: Nursing Simulation Lab Fee updated, 8/01/2023