Nursing

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Doctor of Nursing Science, DNS

Contact: Tommie Nelms, RN, Ph.D., Program Director
Office: Nursing Bldg, room 248
Phone: 678-797-2088
Fax: 770-423-6627
Email: tnelms1@kennesaw.edu
Web address: http://www.kennesaw.edu/col_hhs/schoolofnursing/DNS/

The Doctorate of Nursing Science (DNS) is a research-focused applied doctorate and graduates are prepared as scholars with inquiry skills of a researcher, and the leadership skills necessary to influence health processes, outcomes, and policy.

DNS graduates are expected to engage in a variety of career options such as: faculty in schools or colleges of nursing, directors and investigators in nursing-related evaluation programs, leaders in health care delivery settings, and leaders in development of effective health care systems.

Upon successful completion of the DNS program, graduates will be able to:

• Synthesize knowledge of the theoretical foundations of nursing and related fields;
• Integrate acquired knowledge into a philosophical and intellectual frame of reference that can be applied to nursing education and practice-based solutions to health and health care problems;
• Advance the body of nursing knowledge by identifying gaps in the knowledge base of practice, conducting applied research and evaluation of nursing interventions and health care outcomes, and disseminating evidence-based solutions to problems within health care.;
• Demonstrate leadership, analytical, and collaborative strategies in the development and implementation of population-based health care models and health care responses to health disparities locally and globally;
• Demonstrate leadership, analytical, and collaborative strategies in the development and implementation of innovative and outcome focused nursing curriculum models incorporating nursing, philosophy, and education theories to facilitate student learning and success.

General Requirements for Admission to the DNS Program

DNS admission requires:

1. Official transcripts of all previous college work, graduate and undergraduate;
2. Master’s degree with a major in nursing from a nationally accredited institution;
3. Official GRE scores of 500 Verbal, 500 Quantitative, and 3.5 (minimum) analytic writing. GRE scores will be considered from applicants whose scores are more than 5 years old (GRE reporting limit), but who can produce “official documentation” of their scores;
4. A current license to practice professional nursing in the United States. (Nursing credentials of international students will be assessed individually);
5. A course in statistics;
6. A course in research at the graduate level;
7. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can address the applicant’s abilities to do doctoral level work (hold a doctoral degree or equivalent);
8. A curriculum vitae or resume;
9. A written statement of personal and professional interests and goals related to nursing doctoral study (1-2 pages in length);
10. Personal interview with program faculty.

Transfer Credit

If accepted into the program, up to 15 post-master’s graduate semester hours of comparable transfer credit for the DNS may be accepted toward completion of the requirements. Transfer credit will not be accepted for the core course requirements that are central to the program’s distinctive focus. Consequently, transfer credit considerations are typically restricted to elective courses and possibly statistics courses. Decisions about the acceptability of transfer credit will be made on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the doctoral advisor and director of the doctoral program.

WellStar Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and the Advanced Care Management and Leadership Program, MSN

Contact: Marilyn King, Program Director
Office: Nursing 242
Phone: (770) 423-6172
Fax: (770) 423-6627
Email: mking71@kennesaw.edu
Web address: http://www.kennesaw.edu/col_hhs/schoolofnursing/Masters/index.htm

The WellStar Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program and the MSN in Advanced Care Management and Leadership Program are professional degree programs that build on the background of experienced registered nurses to prepare them to function as advanced caregivers in a variety of leadership roles in the emerging world of collaborative health care.

Housed in the WellStar College of Health and Human Services, the MSN programs maintain close community ties with a variety of health care agencies and providers.

General Requirements for Admission to the MSN Programs

MSN admission requires:

1. Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited institution with a satisfactory GPA of at least 3.0.
2. A minimum of three years full-time professional experience as a registered nurse as documented in a professional résumé for the WellStar Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program applicant or a minimum of one year full-time experience as registered nurse as documented in a professional resume’ for the MSN in Advanced Care Management and Leadership Program applicant. This experience must have occurred within the last five years and have involved direct patient care. Preference will be given to those candidates with a greater amount of professional experience.
3. Current RN licensure in the state of Georgia.
4. A minimum combined total score of 800 in the verbal and quantitative categories and a minimum 3.5 in the analytical writing category on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination. Applicants may make a formal written request to waive this requirement only when the applicant has completed another graduate degree program and an appropriate transcript is transmitted in support of the request.
5. A formal statement of personal goals for the program not to exceed one typed page.
6. An undergraduate physical assessment course.
7. An undergraduate research course.
8. An undergraduate statistics course.
9. A personal interview with program faculty.

International applicants have additional requirements. See Graduate Admission  section of this catalog.

Admission decisions are based on overall evaluation of all these elements.

Transfer Credit

Up to 15 quarter hours or nine semester hours of graduate work from other accredited institutions may be transferred. This work must correspond to the Kennesaw State University MSN curriculum. Decisions regarding this transfer will be made by the program director. The credit to be considered for transfer will not be more than five years old at the time the student enters.

Course Repeat Policy

A student may repeat any individual course in the MSN curriculum only once. Earning a grade of less than B (82) in a course the second time it is taken will result in being dropped from the program.

Grades

Students must earn a grade of B (82) or better in every course in order to progress in the program.

Petition to Graduate

MSN candidates must petition to graduate at least one semester prior to the semester in which they complete their degree requirements. Petition to graduate forms are available in the program director’s office.

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