Nursing, M.S.N. Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Program Director: Sheila Pierre-Louis, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC, ACCNS-AG, CCRN-CMC, SCRN, CNEcl; [e-mail], 301-696-3152

The Master of Science in Nursing program is designed for current BSN holders who are ready to take their career to the next level. The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner track qualifies students to sit for the certification exam to become an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP). Nurse practitioners are in high demand, and in Maryland, NPs are able to practice independently in their own practices. The Healthcare leadership and Nursing Education tracks will be active in the future.

The MSN program is available on a full- or part-time basis and can typically be completed within four to six semesters. Courses are delivered online for added flexibility and convenience. Students will also complete a practicum with a preceptor.

Application Requirements

1. Bachelor's degree with a major in nursing from an accredited (ACEN or CCNE) college or university
2. Undergraduate minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0
   1.  All college coursework must be submitted
   2.  Completion of college-level statistics course, or equivalent as approved by program director, with a grade of C (70%) or higher, is preferred at the time of application and required to be completed in the first semester.
3. Hold an unencumbered and active R.N. license in the U.S.
   1.  Our program is designed for nurses in practice. Applicants must have a minimum of 1-2 years of recent full-time experience in a direct patient care role as a registered nurse (R.N.)
4. Current Curriculum Vitae/Resume to include education, work experience and certifications.
5. Essay/purpose statement (300-500 words) answering the following questions:
   1.  Why do you want to pursue your MSN?
   2.  What makes you the best candidate for our graduate nursing program?
   3.  Why have you chosen Hood College?
   4.  Why did you choose the Adult-Gero Primary Care NP track and how will this degree/certification help you better impact the community, the nursing profession, health care and society?
6. Candidate interview with Admission Committee
   1.  At the discretion of the program advisor, an interview may be required to clarify professional background and training.
7. Letters of recommendation (not required)
   1.  One to two letters of personal and/or professional recommendation

 

How to prepare for the interview:

• Review AACN Essentials
• Attend a Hood College Graduate School open house
• Consider the following information:
  • Understand the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) role and MSN degree
  • Life experiences that have influenced your interest in APRN role
  • Your strengths and how they contribute to the field of nursing
  • Challenges you've encountered in the nursing profession
  • Your persona/professional goals and commitment to the profession

Next Steps:

After reviewing and evaluating all required admission materials, including an interview of applicable, the admissions committee will deliberate and provide a decision approximately two (2) weeks after all materials have been submitted and processed.

 

Program Requirements

Foundation Requirement

Students who have not previously completed a statistics class will be required to complete this foundation course before enrolling in NUTR 502. This foundation course requirement is in addition to the total credits required for program completion. Students who have completed a statistics course will be waived from this requirement upon review of application materials.

MATH 500	Statistics	3.0
Total Credit Hours:		3.0

Required Courses

 

NUR 500	Found of Advance Pract & Role Develop	3.0
NUR 501	Healthcare Systems, Policy & Advocacy	3.0
NUR 502	Evidence-Based Practice & Research Meth	3.0
NUR 503	Leadership in Nursing Practice	3.0
NUR 504	Healthcare Informatics	3.0
NUR 530	Advanced Health Assessment	3.0
NUR 531	Advanced Concepts-Physiology & Pathophysiology	3.0
NUR 532	Advanced Concepts in Pharmacology	3.0
NUR 533	Adult Gerontology Common Health Prob I	3.0
NUR 534	Adult Gerontology Common Health Prob II	4.0
NUR 535	Adult Gero Common/Comorbid Prob III	4.0
NUR 536	Adult Gero Common/Comorbid Prob IV	4.0
NUR 596A	Advanced Practice Nurs Clin Practicum I	3.0
NUR 596B	Advanced Practice Nurs Clin Practicum II	3.0
NUR 596C	Advanced Practice Nurs Clin Practicum III	3.0
Total Credit Hours:		48.0

Graduate Nursing Program Progression Policy

Students in all graduate nursing programs must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher to progress to subsequent course in the graduate nursing program. If students fall below the 3.0 GPA, they are placed on academic warning and have 9 credits after that to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.0.  A student on academic warning who does not restore the GPA to 3.0 as required may be dismissed from the College. 

 

Grades in Graduate Nursing Courses

 

Hood College Approved Grading Scale and Corresponding GPA

Grade	Point Value	Grade	Point Value
A (100-93)	4.00	C+ (79-78)	2.33
A- (92-90)	3.67	C (77-73)	2.00
B+ (89-88)	3.33	C- (72-70)	1.67
B (87-83)	3.00	F (69-0)	0.00
B- (82-80)	2.67	U (69-0)	0.00

See Grading System in the Graduate Academic Policies section.

All graduate nursing core courses (NUR 500, 501, 502, 503 & 504) must be successfully completed with a minimum grade of C (73%) or higher.

 

Students must achieve a minimum grade of B- (80%) or higher in all NP-specialty courses (NUR 530, NUR 531, NUR 532, NUR 533, NUR 5354, NUR 535, and NUR 536, *NUR 596A, *NUR 596B & *NUR596C) to progress in the program (refer to course sequence for further details).

 

*Students must receive a satisfactory rating on all final practicum evaluation tools to meet course requirements.

 

Progression in the program depends on successfully completing prerequisite courses. If a student does not achieve the required minimum grade in a course that serves as a prerequisite, they may need to repeat the course before enrolling in subsequent courses.

 

One course may be repeated only once throughout the entire program. Students are permitted to repeat a maximum of two courses within the MSN program.

 

To earn the MSN, students must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0.

 

The Program Director will review degree progress at the end of each semester to determine if the student has met the minimum grade and GPA requirements.  

 

If the student does not reach or maintain the minimum GPA requirement for the program, they will not be able to progress in the program.   

 

Continuous Enrollment and Leave of Absence

Refer to: to previous section Continuous Enrollment and Leave of Absence

Once admitted to a graduate program at Hood College, students are expected to continue a course of study each full semester (Fall and Spring semesters) in the academic year.  Students are required to register for at least one course every semester (excluding summer).  In certain circumstances, students are permitted to take a leave of absence.