Academics

Academics

Master of Science in Nursing

Requirements for Clinical Practice

All graduate students are advised that agency and faculty availability may require clinical attendance during weekdays, weekends, and/or evenings to assure that all who are registered for a specific course meet the course/clinical objectives during the semester of enrollment.

Professional License
RNs must provide evidence of a current RN license for practicum states.

Basic Life Support Certification
Prior to the first clinical course, each graduate Nursing student is required to present proof of certification in Basic Life Support for the Health Care Provider (American Heart Association) or Basic Life Support for the Professional Rescuer (American Red Cross). Thereafter, evidence of current recertification must be presented at the first class session of each clinical course.

Health Standards
Health evaluations must be completed and reports submitted to the College Health Services Office at the time of admission to the graduate Nursing Program and, thereafter, be annually updated.  Students are to obtain the appropriate health forms from the College Health Services Office.

The student is responsible for maintaining current health insurance and for notifying the College Health Nurse immediately of any changes in his/her status of medical insurance coverage.

These Health Standards policies apply to all students, both full-time and part-time, who have been accepted into the graduate Nursing Program.

Clearances
Students may be required to submit to substance abuse screening prior to clinical placement, or during clinical experiences, in selected health care agencies. Students testing positive will be referred to Counseling and Health Services for assistance with a substance abuse problem. Such referral, however, will not preclude the College from taking other disciplinary actions, up to and including, removal from the clinical placement (which may result in failure to meet degree requirements) and/or expulsion from the Program/College, depending upon the circumstances.  Students are responsible for costs incurred from these screenings. For additional information, please contact the Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Students are also required to apply for, obtain, and present to the Dean of the Division of Nursing and Health Sciences a completed Request for Criminal Record Check, as well as Child Abuse and Elder Abuse History Clearances prior to their participation in clinical courses. A criminal record and/or a history of child or elder abuse may prohibit clinical placement and, subsequently, result in failure to meet degree requirements.

State Boards of Nursing may deny or revoke licensure when the applicant “has been convicted, has pleaded, has entered a plea of nolo contendere, or has been found guilty by a judge or jury of a felony or crime of moral turpitude; or received probation without verdict, disposition in lieu of trial or an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition in the settlement of felony charge.” Similarly, “possession, use, acquisition, or distribution of a controlled substance or caution legend drug for other than an acceptable medical purpose” may be cause for denying application for professional licensure. (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Professional Nursing Law, Act 69, Section 14)

Transportation
Each graduate Nursing student is responsible for transportation to and from clinical practice sites through the entire Program. Transportation requires that each student has personal access to a car.