Master of Science in Nursing: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track

The AGACNP program prepares students to manage adults, including the frail elderly, who have acute, critical, and complex chronic conditions. The skills gained from the program will allow graduates to provide a spectrum of care ranging from disease prevention to acute and critical care management. This also includes stabilizing critically ill patients, preventing complications, restoring maximum health, providing palliation and end of life care. Students will complete selected clinical practica as part of this curriculum. Upon successful completion of the AGACNP track requirements graduates are eligible to apply for certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

Admission to the MSN Program

Admission to the master’s program requires approval by the Graduate Nursing Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee. Admission of applicants is based upon the following criteria:

1. BSN from a CCNE or ACEN accredited nursing program.

2. Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate course work. (Transcripts must be mailed directly from previous institution(s) to the Admission Office.)

3. Minimum GPA of 3.0 required.

4. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (if requested).

5. Language Proficiency: Language proficiency is required to ensure that students within the department of nursing are able to communicate with a diverse population.

The department of nursing accepts one of the following as evidence of required language proficiency:

• TOEFL-iBT (internet-based test) and receive a total score of 83 or higher AND a score of 26 or higher on the speaking test OR

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and receive a total band score of 7 or higher AND a speaking band score of 8 or higher OR

• Language training at an approved center. Bellarmine University recognized the following standards and centers: English Language Services level 112 (http://www.els.edu/en); Interlink Level 5 (http://interlink.edu/); Intensive Language Program at Indiana University Level 6 (http://iep.indiana.edu/); and other centers may be approved at the discretion of the Admission, Progression and Graduation committee of the Department of Nursing.

International students who are exempt from language proficiency requirements are the following. Only official score reports will be accepted:

• Students who are citizens of or have completed a degree from a TOEFL exempt country.

• Students who have a secondary or high school diploma earned in TOEFL exempt countries.

• International students who have completed at least one year of full-time university study or its equivalent (i.e., a minimum of 24 earned credit hours or its equivalent and earned a 2.0 GPA) in a TOEFL exempt country.

6. Two professional references (on form provided).

7. Goal statement.

8. Resume describing relevant work, professional, and volunteer experiences.

9. Proof of active, unrestricted license to practice nursing in Kentucky and/or compact states.

10. Additional information is required from international applicants; see the MSN admission application form for more information.

Technical Standards

Each student must be able to meet the basic technical standards of performance necessary for the practice of nursing (provided at the time of application) for admission and progression in the program of study.

The master’s degree program curriculum is designed to provide the education necessary for the advanced practice of nursing. Students build on the fundamental principles of nursing, acquire skills of critical judgment based on education and experience, and develop an ability to use principles and skills wisely in decision-making and problem-solving pertaining to their roles as nurse educators or nurse administrators or advanced nurse practitioners. Students in the Master of Science programs are expected to fulfill the following technical standards:

• Acquire information from demonstrations and experiences in the basic and applied sciences, including but not limited to information conveyed through lecture, group seminar, small group activities and physical demonstrations.

• Acquire information from written documents and computer-information systems (including literature searches and data retrieval), and identify information presented in images from paper, video, transparencies and slides.

• Use and interpret information from diagnostic maneuvers (e.g., sphygmomanometer, otoscope, ophthalmoscope, etc.), and other diagnostic representations of physiological phenomena during the course of conducting a comprehensive physical assessment of a client.

• Accurately elicit information, including a medical history and other information required to adequately and effectively evaluate a client’s condition.

• Synthesize information, problem solve and think critically to judge which theory and/or strategy of assessment and intervention is most appropriate.

• Use intellectual ability, exercise proper judgment, timely and accurately complete responsibilities attendant to the advanced practice role.

• Maintain effective, mature, and sensitive relationships with clients, students, faculty, staff and other professionals under all circumstances.

• Communicate effectively and efficiently with faculty, colleagues, preceptors and all members of the health care team during practicum and other learning experiences.

• Possess emotional stability to function effectively under stress and adapt to changing environments inherent in the classroom and practice setting.

Upon admission, a candidate in any nursing program who discloses a disability and requests accommodation will be referred to the Disability Services Office, 502-272-8480. The University will provide reasonable accommodations but is not required to make modifications that would substantially alter the nature or requirements of a program or provide auxiliary aids that present an undue burden to the University. To matriculate or continue in the curriculum, the candidate must be able to perform all the essential functions outlined in the Technical Standards either with or without accommodation.