Nursing, Master of Science

Application Requirements

1. Application form with non-refundable application fee
2. Personal/professional goals statement
3. A letter of recommendation from those who can attest to your potential to be successful at graduate-level work
4. Official transcripts from all institutions previously attended
5. Copy of current nursing registration/license number
6. Current resume
7. Health forms
8. Personal interview and on-site writing sample, if needed
9. Upon acceptance, an enrollment deposit of $200 is required
10. International students are also required to provide English proficiency results for TOEFL or IELTS, a Passport, and a Declaration of Finance

The Master of Science degree in nursing is designed to prepare teachers of nursing. This program has classes offered one evening a week. The last class requires successful completion of the comprehensive examination.

The nursing curriculum is based primarily on The Essentials of Master’s Education (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2011). This document highlights the core knowledge and skills necessary to address the needs of professional nursing practice in the 21st century. This core knowledge and the accompanying skill sets are incorporated into both the didactic and clinical coursework. Aligned with this AACN document are the criteria elaborated by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Philosophy of Keuka College Division of Nursing

Master’s in Nursing Program

An Integral Philosophy of Nursing

The Keuka College Division of Nursing is committed to providing an education in nursing that will culminate in practitioners who are strong in conviction, deep in knowledge, excellent in skill, appreciative of the collective nature of the universe, and well poised to lead in a world organized by multiple complex systems. The Division Philosophy is based in a holistic paradigm that recognizes four areas of experience which together, make up the whole. These four areas encompass the experience of the self as an individual, the self as it relates to another, the self as a part of a group, and the self in relation to social and organizational systems. By recognizing these four separate yet overlapping perspectives, the whole is understood as more than the sum of the individual parts. We believe that this integrated nursing perspective based in holism leads to greater awareness of self and others, along with an appreciation of the interconnection of the individual or population within the environment. The integration of these perspectives provides the basis for the nurse to fully develop the self, to relate fully and deeply with others, to practice appreciation across all cultures, and to emerge as a leader of systems change. We believe these characteristics are the hallmark of an integral nursing theory of nursing practice.

Mission

To prepare the exemplary nurses of the future by expanding their concept of self and others and their understanding of the interconnectedness of professional nursing and the world.

Vision

To be renowned as a global leader in nursing education.

With this vision in mind, the program is designed to produce future nursing educators in order to address the ongoing nursing shortage. Nursing educators are in high demand across clinical and academic settings.

Values

1. Clinical Excellence: Highly competent and compassionate clinicians delivering safe and effective care that is evidence based and holistic.
2. Self Awareness and Resilience: Self appraisal and introspection involving honest evaluation of one’s own thoughts, emotions, perceptions and actions in the interconnected universe, along with considered action aimed at nurturing and sustaining one’s physical, mental, spiritual and social well being.
3. Transformational Leadership: A dynamic and creative organizational systems approach to nursing initiatives in the global healthcare arena, encompassing a coordinated and inspired power of influence in policy-making and regulation, delegation, diplomacy, ethics, and intercultural/interdisciplinary team work.
4. Scholarship: Exemplifies the character and qualities of a scholar through demonstration and application of deep and relevant knowledge, skilled inquiry, and clear and authoritative discourse. Nursing scholarship is attained through focused study, clinical experience and academic achievement.
5. Personal, Professional, and Social Responsibility: Commitment to holding one’s self to the highest standards of behavior with a strong focus on application of personal morals, professional knowledge, and social ethics to benefit the individual and society as a whole.
6. Holism and an Integrated World View: The ability to consistently see the world in its totality without reducing it to the level of individual systems, along with understanding that the totality is generally greater than the sum of its parts.
7. Compassionate Caring: Intentional, meaningful and coherent action of caring for individuals, communities and populations with the deliberate intent to consciously acknowledge others’ distress along with a desire to alleviate that distress.

Graduate Outcomes

1. Take actions aimed at improving the diverse health care system through the delivery, education, and administration of relationship-based, compassionate and culturally sensitive care.
2. Utilize research that is both evidence- based and value based to assure the delivery of high quality, cost effective professional nursing interventions.
3. Demonstrate competency in nursing informatics to expand nursing knowledge base as educators or administrators of nursing care.
4. Build interdisciplinary community health care service learning partnerships to resolve mutually identified health related problems.
5. Expand the use of experiential learning in advanced nursing practice.
6. Acquire competency in nursing education at an advanced level.
7. Commit to life-long personal and professional development.

The M.S. in nursing prepares graduates for positions in:

• Schools of nursing at community colleges, hospitals and universities
• Staff development departments in patient care centers, health care organizations, home health organizations, seminar companies and professional membership organizations

Keuka College’s nursing students will examine how evidence-based research is used to care for patients across the lifespan, explore options for improving the global health care system and delve into the specialty educator’s track. During the program, students will participate in an internship designed by the student and in collaboration with the nursing faculty adviser. This begins with educator-track specialty courses and culminates in a capstone professional seminar course.

The program is offered in the evening. Classes are taught in a manner that is conducive to learning for adults. Cohorts creating an atmosphere of shared family, career and age interest develops camaraderie among adult students. Adult students who succeed in AOE are self-directed and goal-oriented individuals.

Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited nursing program, a minimum GPA of 3.3, evidence of “jurisdiction acceptable” unrestricted New York state licensure as a registered professional nurse and be currently working full- or part-time as a nurse. Writing skills and computer literacy will also be considered for admission.

MS in Nursing Progression Policy

In keeping with the graduate curriculum graduation policy requirement of a GPA of 3.0, the Keuka College Division of Nursing set the following guideline to assure student information needs are met as well as plans for improvement developed for students at risk for failing to meet this GPA. 

Policy:

1. Due to the nature of graduate programs, students are expected to maintain high academic standards in their course of study. To earn their degree, students must have a 3.0 GPA after completing all degree requirements. Degrees with distinction are not awarded in graduate programs.
2. Students achieving a grade of less than a B for any course will be counseled by their academic advisor and a plan for improvement will be jointly developed. This plan will include notice by academic warning.
3. Students with a GPA below 3.0 at any point in the program may be dismissed from the program or placed on probationary status.
4. Due to the need for the successful completion of core and practicum courses, students must pass each course in sequence in order to progress in the program. Extenuating circumstances may be considered on an individual basis by the nursing division faculty.

The baccalaureate and masters nursing programs at Keuka College Division of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The CCNE address is:

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530

Washington, DC 20036

Telephone: (202) 887-6791

For more information, contact the Adult and Online Education division.

The student is ultimately responsible for ensuring that all degree requirements are met satisfactorily.