Nursing

WSU-Rochester, East Hall (EA) 129-136, (507) 285-7473; Fax: (507) 292-5127
http://www.winona.edu/nursing
Nursing Chairperson: Jo Stejskal
Graduate Program in Nursing Director: Sonja J. Meiers (507) 536-5671
Graduate Faculty: D. Forsyth, C. Jenson, D. Mangan-Dankwart, W. McBreen, S. Meiers, A. Olson, J. Ponto, C. PilonKacir, C. Scherb, L. Schnepper, L. Seppanen, J. Stejskal, P. Thompson, M. Valen, M. Welhaven

Diane M. Forsyth, Professor, Nursing: BSN, Winona State University; MS, University of Wisconsin-Madison; PhD, University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, 2006-
Carole Jenson, Associate Professor, Nursing; BS, Winona State University; MS, Winona State University; DNP, Winona State University; 2009-
Deborah B. Mangan-Dankwart, Assistant Professor, Nursing: BSN, College of St. Teresa, MN; MS, University of Minnesota, MN; DNP, University of Minnesota, MN; Post-Doctoral, Hartford Foundation & University of Minnesota. 2008 -
William McBreen, Professor, Nursing; BSN, Mount Marty College Yankton, South Dakota; MSN., University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha; PhD, University of Texas at Austin; 2000-
Sonja J. Meiers, Professor, Nursing; BSN, College of St. Teresa; MS, Winona State University; PhD, University of Minnesota; 2009-
Ann Olson, Associate Professor, Nursing, BS, Winona State University; MA, St. Mary’s University-Winona; MS, Winona State University, Rochester, MN; PhD, University of Arizona; 2007-
Christine E. PilonKacir, Professor, Nursing; BS, Mercy College of Detroit; MS, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor; PhD, University of Missouri- Columbia; 1994-
Julie Ponto, Professor, Nursing, BSN, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; MS - ONC, University California, San Francisco; PhD, University of Utah,2005-
Cindy Scherb, Professor, Nursing; BSN, Mount Mercy College; MS, University of Minnesota; PhD, University of Iowa, 2001-
Lisa Schnepper, Professor, Nursing; BS, Winona State University; MSN, CNP, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; PhD University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; 2000-
Linda Seppanen, Professor, Nursing; BSN St. Olaf College; MSN, The Catholic University of America; PhD, University of Alabama; 1990-
Joanne Stejskal, Professor, Nursing; BSN, College of Saint Teresa; MSN, University of Wisconsin-Madison; EdD University of St. Thomas; 1975 -
Patricia Thompson, Professor, Nursing; BS, Winona State University; MSPH, PhD, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; 1980-
Mieca Valen, Associate Professor, Nursing, BA Augustana College, MSN. South Dakota State University; DNP, Winona State University; 2005-
Mary Welhaven, Professor, Nursing; BS, Winona State University; MSN., PhD, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; 1981-

Graduate Degrees Offered

Master of Science
Doctor of Nursing Practice - See Nursing - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Major

Nursing

Accreditation

The Graduate Programs in Nursing is accredited by: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120; Phone: (202) 887-6791; www.aacn.nche.edu.

Location

Classes for the Graduate Programs in Nursing are offered primarily on the Rochester campus with selected courses offered in Winona through ITV and/or other sites using distance education technology. For a map of the University Center Rochester campus, please visit www.roch.edu. The nurse educator (NE) and nursing and organizational leadership (NOL) programs are offered primarily online with synchronous meetings approximately once per month either on campus or online.

Purpose

The purpose of the Graduate Programs in Nursing is to prepare graduates that integrate evidence-based clinical knowledge and research with effective communication and leadership skills to enhance health outcomes for diverse persons, families, groups, communities and systems within complex environments. Students select a program of Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, or Nursing and Organizational Leadership. The programs are designed so each student upon graduation will be able to:

Employ evidence-based practice when planning, implementing, and evaluating health care for individuals, families, aggregates, systems, and organizations.
Integrate nursing theory, research, ethics and related sciences into the delivery of culturally competent advanced nursing care for diverse populations and health care systems.
Demonstrate professionalism within an advanced nursing role.
Demonstrate leadership with inter-professional teams to analyze complex practice and organizational issues
Apply knowledge and skills to enhance the quality and safety of health care in a variety of settings and for a variety of populations

Description of Program

The focus of the Graduate Programs in Nursing is to prepare graduates to work throughout the healthcare delivery system as nurse educators, healthcare organization leaders, and advanced practice registered nurses with the goal of improving health of individuals, families, and communities.

Graduates of the MS programs are prepared for a variety of advanced nursing roles (e.g. nurse educators, nurse leaders, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists). These graduates also have the foundation for continued graduate studies (i.e. DNP or PhD). Graduates of the DNP program are prepared for the highest level of clinical nursing practice.

Nursing science core courses, taken by all graduate students, build on students’ baccalaureate nursing knowledge to integrate scientific underpinnings for practice, understand nursing information management and decision making, and advocate for health promotion. Students develop evidence-based knowledge and skills to enhance the quality and safety of health care while demonstrating leadership and professionalism. Courses within the selected programs of Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, or Nursing and Organizational Leadership provide specialized knowledge and practice opportunities in each advanced nursing role. A unique feature of this program is the targeted emphasis on the nurse’s use of advanced knowledge and skills of health promotion with individuals and families in diverse populations to address health care needs within complex environments.

Clinical Experiences

Faculty and graduate students in collaboration with the clinical site coordinator select preceptors in healthcare settings and areas of nursing to meet the students’ individual learning needs. Students commonly precept in hospitals and clinics affiliated with the Mayo Medical Center in Rochester; North Iowa Mercy Health Center in Mason City; Gundersen/Lutheran and Mayo Clinic Health System Franciscan Healthcare in LaCrosse; Allina Hospitals and Clinics and Minneapolis/St. Paul and other hospitals, clinics, county public health agencies, senior citizen centers, schools of nursing, and health care agencies from a three-state area.

Admission Requirements*

Admission criteria for the Master’s Programs in Nursing include:

Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLN or CCNE accredited program;
Undergraduate coursework in physical assessment;
Undergraduate courses in nursing research and statistics strongly recommended;
Computer literacy with knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and data base programs;
Transcripts of past education with GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale (1 official copy of transcript from each institution attended);
Students with GPA less than 3.0 will be considered for provisional admission on an individual basis;
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) within the last five years for foreign students;
Minimum of one year clinical nursing experience (recommended);
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) applicants need to meet additional requirements:
1. One year critical care experience (e.g., ICU, ER, ICU/CUU, unit providing high acuity care with fast-paced decision making and complex procedures)
2. ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification
3. ECG interpretation course required prior to beginning clinical courses.
Evidence of current unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse. Minnesota licensure required for all clinical courses. Other state license also required for clinical experiences in those states;
Three professional and/or academic references from persons who can comment competently on the applicant’s background and suitability for graduate study; At least one professional reference should be a person who occupies the student’s chosen program (e.g. nurse practitioner, clinical nurses specialist, nurse administrator/leader, nurse educator) (Graduate Certificate candidates submit two references);
Statement of professional goals;
Background check (clinical requirement after admissions) (fee assessed); and
Students requesting admission to the Graduate Programs in Nursing may be required to have a personal interview with program faculty; and
Satisfactory scores on the TOEFL-test for international or non-English speaking students; and
Differential tuition costs apply to all Graduate Nursing Programs.

Admission criteria for the Graduate Certificate Programs in Nursing include:

Graduate degree from a nationally accredited graduate program in nursing; and
Computer literacy with knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and data base programs; and
Transcripts of past education with GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale (1 official copy of transcript from each institution attended); and
Students with GPA less than 3.0 will be considered for provisional admission on an individual basis; and
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) within the last five years for foreign students; and
Minimum of one year clinical nursing experience (recommended); and
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) applicants need to meet additional requirements: and
1. One year critical care experience (e.g., ICU, ER, ICU/CUU, unit providing high acuity care with fast-paced decision making and complex procedures)
2. ACLS (Advanced Cardia Life Support) certification
3. ECG interpretation course required prior to beginning clinical courses.
Evidence of current unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse. Minnesota licensure required for all clinical courses. Other state license also required for clinical experiences in those states; and
Two professional and/or academic references from persons who can comment competently on the applicant’s background and suitability for graduate study; At least one professional reference should be a person who occupies the student’s chosen program (e.g. nurse practitioner, clinical nurses specialist, nurse administrator/leader, nurse educator); and
Statement of professional goals; and
Background check (clinical requirement after admissions) (fee assessed);
Students requesting admission to the Graduate Programs in Nursing may be required to have a personal interview with program faculty;and
Satisfactory scores on the TOEFL-test for international or non-English speaking students;
Applicants for all advanced practice programs (NP and CNS) and the nurse educator (NE) programs must have evidence of completion of advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment (60 hours faculty supervised and includes diagnostic reasoning), advanced health promotion and advanced pharmacology (within last three years required in some states for credentialing);and
Differential tuition costs apply to all Graduate Certificate Nursing Programs.

Applications May Be Obtained From:

Graduate Programs in Nursing
Winona State University - Rochester
859 30th Avenue SE
Rochester, MN 55904
(507) 285-7473 or (800) 366-5418 x7473

Office of Graduate Studies
Winona State University
PO Box 5838
Winona, MN 55987
(507) 457-5038 or (800) 342-5978 x5038

Or available on the Internet at: www.winona.edu/Nursing

International students must also contact the International Student Office at (507) 457-5303

Progression

Academic Advising and Credits

1. Advising
You will be assigned an academic advisor after admission into the program. It is your responsibility to contact your academic advisor during your first semester of coursework. The academic advisor is a member of the graduate faculty. If you are a newly admitted student or a graduate special student, please contact the Graduate Programs of Nursing Office for Academic Advising ((507) 285-7473).

FUNCTIONS OF THE ACADEMIC ADVISOR INCLUDE:
    1.   Long range planning for the program of study;
    2. Short range planning, independent study, defining clinical and academic needs, transfer of credit;
    3. Support or referral for special services;
    4. Awareness of honors, awards, or financial assistance;
    5. The academic advisor may be a member of the student’s thesis/evidenced based practice project committee and may serve as major thesis/evidence based practice project advisor.

If you wish to change academic advisors, you may do so by obtaining the consent of the faulty member chosen and reporting the request to the Administrative Assistant of the Graduate Programs in Nursing.

2. Admission to Graduate Candidacy

THE APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE:

1. All courses already completed (including transfer courses);
2. Those courses needed to complete requirements for the degree and the proposed semester they will be taken;
3. Approval signatures from advisor and Program Director.

Any changes in the Plan of Study must be endorsed by your academic advisor, the Director of the Program, and the Office of Graduate Studies. You must file a “Supplement to Candidacy” form during the semester before graduation with the Office of Graduate Study. The Admission to Candidacy form must match your WSU graduate transcript.

Forms can be found at: www.winona.edu/nursing/graduate/forms.asp
Post-Master’s Students must submit a “Certificate Program Plan” form with approval signatures.

3. Intent to Return Form
Students who do not register each semester during the academic year must file an “Intent to Return” form with the Registrar’s Office the semester before planning to return.

A copy of this form may be found by visiting the Office of Graduate Studies website at: www.winona.edu/gradstudies/forms.asp.

4. Change of Program
When admitted to the Graduate Programs in Nursing, you are admitted to the specific program area. The student must complete a new application process be reviewed for admission to the new program areas by graduate nursing faculty. Students submitting a new application will be considered along with the pool of all applicants to the new program.

5. Grades
Please view the “Grade Point Average (GPA)” and “In Progress (IP) Grades” section of the Graduate Catalog for the grading method at Winona State University.

6. Students are expected to register each fall and spring semester enrolled unless a leave of absence has been approved by the advisor and the Director of the Graduate Programs in Nursing.

7. Graduate Credit
All degree requirements including credits to be earned or transferred, final examinations, thesis or evidence-based practice project, and all other program requirements must be completed within seven years of initial graduate enrollment. Six credits or more per semester is considered full-time for financial aid purposes. No graduate student is permitted to enroll for more than 12 credits per academic semester or during summer session unless permission is received from the Office of Graduate Studies.
To request permission to enroll in more than 12 credits, a Credit Overload Request form needs to be submitted. The request needs advisor and department approval before submitting to the Office of Graduate Studies for approval. Forms can be found at www.winona.edu/gradstudies/forms.asp

8. Independent Study
N685 Independent Study in Nursing provides an opportunity for you to work independently under the direction of an advisor (See WSU Graduate Catalog.) Often you will be doing a special project to enable you to register for a full load of credits. You need to have permission from the faculty person who will be working with you before you register. You also need to develop a contract that includes your learning objectives, plan for accomplishing them, and criteria for the project’s evaluation. Individual Study may be repeated for a total of nine (9) credit hours. See the Graduate Catalog for the policy on arranged classes.

9. Credit by Portfolio
Portfolio Review Process for MS Course Substitution
Portfolio Purpose: The portfolio review process is available to all MS and Graduate Certificate program students who believe that they can meet the learning objectives/competencies required of a specific nursing course within their program of study without taking and completing the course in the traditional manner. The portfolio is a mechanism used to validate the acquisition of knowledge and skills congruent with course expectations and student learning outcomes. The portfolio provides objective evidence that students have acquired the content and skills through prior learning and/or practice experiences. The decision to accept the documentation provided is based on determination of the equivalency of this prior knowledge and skills that the student would be expected to demonstrate at the completion of a specific course.

10. Conditions Leading to Dismissal from the Program

a. Students, who are admitted on probation and who do not achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.00 on the first 12 credits, may be dismissed.
b. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 will be placed on probation. Students will be given one semester to raise their GPA to 3.00. If students are placed on probation for a second time, their status will be reviewed regarding continuation in the program.
c. Violation of academic or behavioral integrity policies.
d. Inability to provide safe patient care in clinical experiences.
e. Two or more failing course grades.
f. Students who do not take classes for two (2) or more semesters who do not notify the department of their intent to return to the program.

11. Graduation Requirements
A STUDENT IS ELIGIBLE FOR GRADUATION UPON:

1. Completion of required courses found on the officially approved Admission to Candidacy Form.
2. Completion of the thesis or evidence-based practice project (EBP) a minimum of two weeks before intended date of graduation.
3. Oral Presentation of the thesis /EBP at least two weeks before intended date of graduation.
4. Evidence that all college policies for graduation are met.

The “Application for Graduation” form must be submitted at least one semester prior to graduation (may be found by visiting the Office of Graduate Study website at: www.winona.edu/gradstudies/forms.asp or from the Graduate Nursing Office in Rochester). Students who graduate spring semester must participate in commencement exercises unless excused by the Dean of Nursing on presentation of proof that attendance at commencement will cause undue hardship.

PLEASE NOTE: The Master of Science degree will not be posted on your WSU transcript until your Thesis/EBP Binding Certificate has been received by the Graduate Office.

Graduate Programs in Nursing Core and Program Requirements

General requirements of the University
Successful completion of all required coursework
Completed Thesis or Evidence-base Practice Project

Graduate Special Students

Students who have completed a baccalaureate degree in nursing and who wish to enroll in further undergraduate courses, graduate courses, or a combination of both but do not intend to pursue a Master’s degree may register as Graduate Special students.

Students may apply as a Graduate Special student to the Graduate Programs in Nursing. Students may take up to 12 credits as a Graduate student before acceptance into the program. Credits earned as a Graduate Special student can be applied toward graduation requirements as outlined in the Graduate Catalog. Courses open to Graduate Special Students include:

STAT 601 - Statistical Methods for Health Care Research

(3)

NURS 604 - Health Policy and Quality Health Care Delivery (3)

NURS 606 - Nursing Information Management & Decision Making (3)

NURS 608 - Organizational and Systems Leadership (3)

NURS 616 - Molecular, Genetic and Immune Mechanisms in Disease (3)

NURS 617 - Advanced Clinical Pharmacology (3)

NURS 618 - Advanced Pathophysiology (2)

Graduate Special applications are found on the graduate website www.winona.edu/gradstudies/forms.asp (download “Graduate Special” and “Certificate of Baccalaureate Degree” from the website). Or call the Graduate Studies Office to request an application be sent to you at (507) 457-5038.

Specialized Programs

RN to MS Professional Pathway

Winona State University is known for its high quality baccalaureate and masters programs in nursing. The nursing department now offers a unique pathway for nurses who have (1) completed an associate degree or diploma nursing program, (2) have nursing experience, and (3) plan to acquire a master’s degree in nursing. Selected individuals who meet the admission requirements and are highly motivated will substitute Master’s-level credits for Baccalaureate-level credits in the RN to BS Completion program that count toward the BS degree. Students must take 10 credits of specified 400/600 level double numbered courses thus reducing the remaining master’s level credits to 33-46, dependent upon the number of credits required in the program to which the student is admitted. Students will substitute 408/608 Organizational and Systems Leadership (3 credits), *N419/612 Advanced Health Promotion for Families (3 credits), N499/N613 Advanced Health Promotion for Families Clinical (1 credit), and N414/604 Health Care Policy/Quality Health Care Delivery (3 credits) for N465 Population Based Health Care II and N491 Professional Development in the RN to BS Completion program. Students plan their streamlined program with advisors from both the baccalaureate and master’s programs in anticipation of formal admission to the master’s program. A separate application is required for admission to the Master’s Programs in nursing.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

Please see Nursing - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)