College of Nursing and Speech-Language Pathology

Department of Associate Nursing

Department Chair: Mary Jo Kirkpatrick

Associate of Nursing Faculty

Associate Professors: Karen Nabors
Assistant Professors: Mary Jo Kirkpatrick, Brandy Larmon, Clara Rustin, Maria Stephens
Instructors: Tammy Bolton, Barbara Bryan, Allison Caston, Mary Helen Ruffin, Adrian Sligh, Pam Thomas

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the Associate of Science in Nursing Program is to prepare nurses to provide care to patients in the community with acute and chronic health care needs where policies and procedures reflect current nursing standards of care and practices. This purpose relates to the Mission of the University by providing general and specialized education for a diverse population of students, but with an emphasis on career preparation for women. The Associate of Science in Nursing Program functions within the College of Nursing and Speech-Language Pathology and the Department of Nursing to provide education which is facilitated by a personalized environment for entry level into professional nursing practice. This process prepares the graduates to assume responsibilities of a registered nurse as health needs change and research findings expand.

Philosophy

The Associate of Science in Nursing Program at Mississippi University for Women is cognizant of global health care needs and emphasizes the health needs of rural Mississippi. The program combines general and specialized education for a diverse population of students, but with an emphasis on career preparation for women. The program for the associate degree nurse prepares the graduate for entry level into professional nursing practice, which neither requires nor precludes further education.

The faculty believe that each person is a biological, psycho-social, cultural, spiritual and intellectual being. This holistic nature is in part unique to the individual and in part shared with all humankind. The person’s nature is basically good or neutral, and the individual strives to satisfy basic needs, as well as to work toward self-actualization. Interaction between the individual and the environment occurs throughout the life span, and follows a sequential, orderly pattern of growth and development. The person is of value to self, family, community and the environment as an individual, regardless of any innate abilities or differences. Therefore the individual has the right to health care opportunities that promote health behaviors, create health environments, and increase access to high quality health care, which can lead toward the realization of the person’s full potential as a human being.

Nursing is one of many professions providing health care to individuals within society as a whole. In its broadest sense, nursing is the application of arts and sciences in assisting the person to maintain and/or recover the optimum level of health or to accept death. Nursing’s functions include the performance of those activities that would ordinarily be performed by the self, if the individual had the strength, will or knowledge. These nursing interventions should be performed in a manner which reduces risk, prevents disease and promotes the patient’s health responsibility, freedom, awareness and dignity as an integral part of society.

Associate degree nursing combines nursing skills with selected principles from the biological, technological, and social sciences. The associate degree nurse utilizes these principles and skills to assess the individual’s level of growth and development and potential assets along the wellness-illness continuum. Therapeutic nursing intervention and instruction are planned and evaluated to assist the person to achieve maximum health or to accept death. The associate degree nurse is prepared to provide care to patients in the community where policies and procedures reflect current nursing standards of care and practice.

Education is a change in individual behavior which evolves from organized learning experiences through the use of critical thinking. It is the process through which a student acquires knowledge, decision-making skills, and understanding of those facts, principles and concepts that underlie a field of endeavor. The student is assisted in integrating the knowledge, communication and psychomotor skills necessary to function effectively in that field of endeavor in a complex, dynamic society.

Learning is a continuous and active process manifested by change reflected in behavior. This learning is best achieved when outcomes of learning are behaviorally defined and attainable through a sequential learning process from the simple to the complex. With recognition of the dependent nature of the student body, the learner is encouraged toward progressive independence. The learning process is facilitated by a personalized environment which re-enforces individual strengths through technological instruction, written communication, oral presentations, individual conferences, small group discussions, and specific planned activities reflecting evidence-based practice.

Associate Degree nursing education is committed to ensuring program effectiveness through strategic planning and collaborative relationships within the community. Through provision of educational opportunities, graduates are prepared to assume the roles of provider of care, manager of care and member of the discipline of nursing in a changing and diverse society. The functions and responsibilities of the associate degree nurse will change as health needs within society change and research findings expand. In preparing for this change and expansion, a learning environment which emphasizes leadership, management, individual accountability, and the need for continued professional and cultural growth is provided.

Student Learning Outcomes

The Associate of Science in Nursing Program prepares individuals to:

1. Utilize the nursing process and Maslow’s hierarchy in providing patient centered care to an individual or to a group of patients with acute and chronic health care needs.
2. Demonstrate leadership in order to provide therapeutic nursing intervention, including patient instruction, which reflects critical thinking, nutrition, pharmacology, communication theory, evidence based research findings, and the assessment of patient needs.
3. Evaluate the interrelatedness between the patient’s needs, family, community and cultural, ethnic, and social environment.
4. Utilize the patient’s level of growth and development and strengths along the wellness-illness continuum in providing care and instruction.
5. Provide safe and effective care where policies and procedures reflect current nursing standards of care and practice utilizing quality improvement processes.
6. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams in the community in managing patient centered care.
7. Demonstrate personal accountability within the ethical and legal framework of nursing practice.
8. Demonstrate the responsibility of maintaining personal, professional, and cultural awareness.
9. Incorporate technology and informatics to plan, provide, and manage effective patient centered care.
10. Demonstrate an awareness of the concept of systems-based practice in providing patient centered care.

Admission Policy

See Undergraduate Admissions  in this Bulletin for information concerning admission.

Progression Policy - A.S.N. Program

Once admitted to the A.S.N. Program:

1. All non-nursing co-requisite courses must be passed with a grade of C or above before proceeding to the next semester. The biological science courses may be repeated only once.
2. A grade of C or above is required in each required nursing course (NU 112 , NU 114 , NU 115 , NU 116 , NU 124 , NU 125 , NU 126 , NU 144 , NU 145 , NU 214 , NU 215 , NU 216 , NU 224 , NU 225 , NU 228 , NU 235 ). A student who makes a D or lower in any nursing course is automatically excluded from the A.S.N. program and must petition for readmission. A student may be readmitted only once to the A.S.N. program. If only one course component is failed it is considered as one failure. If more than one course is failed concurrently (in the same semester) it is also considered as one failure. A student who fails to make a C or above in any required nursing course, following readmission is permanently excluded from the A.S.N. program and is ineligible for readmission. See readmission policy for exception. 
3. For each theory nursing course with an accompanying clinical course (NU 114 /NU 115 , NU 124 /NU 125 , NU 144 /NU 145 , NU 214 /NU 215 , NU 224 /NU 225  or NU 235 ) a grade of a C or above is required in the theory course with a grade of C or better in the accompanying clinical course in order to progress. If this does not occur, both the theory and the clinical course must be retaken together. If only one course component (theory or clinical) is failed it is considered as one failure; if both theory and clinical components are failed concurrently it is also considered as one failure.
4. A WF in a nursing course or in a biological science course is considered as a failure in that course.
5. A student who fails a nursing course for unsafe practice, unethical or illegal conduct will be dismissed from the program and will not be eligible for readmission to any program in the Department of Nursing.

Readmission Policy-A.S.N. Program

Students may be readmitted to the A.S.N. Program only once. Students who are ineligible to return to the Department of Nursing due to two nursing failures and who have become Licensed Practical Nurses with a current unencumbered Mississippi license and with at least 2 years work experience as an LPN may be considered for a second readmission into the Associate Degree Program.

1. Students must petition in writing to the A.S.N. Readmission Committee.
2. The Readmission Committee will meet in February, May, August, and October on a date determined by the committee. Petitions for readmission for the summer and fall semesters must be submitted by the 10th of April. Petitions for readmission for the spring semester must be submitted by the 10th of September.
3. Students must obtain an MUW and an overall grade point average of 2.5 prior to readmission to the A.S.N. Program.
4. Students who have been dismissed from the program for unsafe practice, unethical or illegal conduct will be excluded from the A.S.N. Program and will be ineligible for readmission to any program in the Department of Nursing.
5. Generic students who are ineligible for readmission in the B.S.N. nursing program are ineligible for readmission into the Department of Nursing and therefore ineligible for admission into the A.S.N. program.
6. The transcript, clinical record and letter of petition for each student will be reviewed by the Readmission Committee. Within three (3) working days after review, the Committee will make recommendations and notify each student. The Readmission Committee chairperson will then inform the department chair of the committee’s recommendations.
7. If the recommendation of the committee is to readmit the student to the first semester of the generic option or the 2nd summer session  for the advanced placement option the student must compete for a place in the class.  Readmission to the 2nd, 3rd or 4th semesters will be conditional on a space available basis according to the number of faculty and availability of clinical facilities.
8. Students will be readmitted under requirements of the current Undergraduate Bulletin.

Programs

• •  Nursing Major, Associate of Science in Nursing Generic Option, ASN
• •  Nursing Major, Associate of Science in Nursing LPN to ASN Advanced Placement Option, ASN

Department of Baccalaureate Nursing

Department Chair: Tammie L. McCoy

Baccalaureate Nursing Faculty

Professors: Sheila V. Adams, Linda S. Cox, Tammie McCoy, Deborah Miranda
Assistant Professor: Joyce Pate
Instructors: Nan Anderson, Hannah Bascomb, Mike Calvery, Jolyn Cooke, Sacha Dawkins, Melesia Henry, Clara Hurd, Jessica Jeremiah, Russell King, Rosemary Marecle, Gladys Mooneyham, Sally Pearson, Debbie Ricks, Cathy Smith, Tara Sullivan, James Terry Todd, Laura Beth Turner, Dana Walker, Carol Vinzant
Emeriti Faculty: Linda S. Cox, Janice Giallourakis

Purpose

The purpose of the Bachelor of Science in  Nursing Program is to prepare a nurse generalist who is a leader in the promotion and maintenance of health and the improvement of health care outcomes across all settings at the local, state, national, and global levels. This purpose relates to the mission of the university by providing strong academic and leadership preparation to both women and men. Utilizing AACN’s The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice, and ANA Standards as guiding standards, the graduate is able to function as a provider of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care and a member of the profession. Graduates from the Baccalaureate nursing program are prepared with a liberal arts core which contributes to the acquisition of professional knowledge. In-depth preparation in the application of critical thinking skills, communication skills, knowledge acquisition, and standards of professional nursing practice enables the graduate to become a life-long learner..

Philosophy

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing faculty at Mississippi University for Women are committed to the learning process and to the professional development of students by providing programs of academic excellence. In accordance with the mission/purpose of MUW and the Department of Nursing, the faculty have developed a philosophy based on the concepts of person, environment, health, and nursing.

Person

Person constitutes a biopsychosocial, spiritual system constantly interacting with and adapting to the environment to achieve and maintain a homeodynamic state. Person is valuable, holistic and worthy of respect and concern. Person may be defined as an individual, family, community, or society and has varying capabilities for independently meeting universal needs. These capabilities are dynamically influenced by structures, gender, value systems, culture, and environments. Person is responsible for meeting health needs and has the right to make necessary decisions and to receive professional assistance in achieving health goals.

Environment

Environment includes all conditions, circumstances, and influences encountered by and affecting person. Environment may be intrapersonal, interpersonal, or extra-personal in nature. The intrapersonal environment is concerned with forces or interactive influences contained within the person. The interpersonal environment is concerned with forces or interactive influences between persons. The extra-personal environment is concerned with forces or interacting influences existing outside the person. Environment affects the continuous process of becoming, evolving, and changing. Person and environment are complementary systems so that the relationship between the two is reciprocal. Change in one system elicits response in the other.

Health

Health is defined by person in accordance with gender, culture, values, and capabilities. Health is a constantly changing state and exists on an illness to wellness continuum. Promotion and facilitation of optimal health is developed in collaboration with person, when possible, and is based on resources available to both the person and the nurse.

Nursing

Nursing, as a profession, combines concepts from the sciences and liberal arts into an applied science and a creative art which focuses on health needs. The science of nursing is an organized body of knowledge derived through scientific research and theory development and applied through critical thinking skills. The art of nursing is the creative and caring application of this knowledge. The scope of nursing practice deals with diverse populations and includes dependent, independent, and interdependent functioning of the nurse within primary, secondary, and tertiary settings. The faculty believes that the scope of nursing practice changes as health care continually evolves, thus the professional nurse must possess the core competencies and scientific knowledge to provide care across all health care settings. Ascribing to AACN’s The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice and ANA Standards, the professional nurse utilizes core knowledge skills to provide quality and safe patient care.

Teaching/Learning

Learning is considered to be a complex lifelong developmental process involving the interaction of the person with the environment. The teacher and learner share in the challenge of creating an atmosphere which stimulates intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and individual creativity. The teaching-learning process is augmented when the learner actively participates in defining outcomes and assumes responsibility for achieving these outcomes. The teacher serves as a facilitator, counselor, and resource person.

Curriculum Outcomes

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program is designed to prepare a nurse generalist:

1. Synthesize knowledge from the humanities, social and natural sciences as a basis for nursing decisions.
2. Utilize organizational and systems leadership, quality improvement, and safety principles to promote high quality and safe patient care.
3. Integrate nursing research and evidence-based practice into professional nursing practice.
4. Utilize information management and patient care technology in professional nursing practice to improve patient care outcomes and create a safe care environment.
5. Apply knowledge of healthcare policies to professional nursing practice.
6. Collaborate with healthcare providers and consumers for the improvement of patient health outcomes.
7. Provide professional nursing care across the lifespan to culturally diverse individuals, families, and communities in a variety of health care settings.
8. Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for professional nursing values and role development.
9. Utilize research and theory based knowledge in the roles of provider of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care and member of a profession.

Admission Policy

See Undergraduate Admissions  in this bulletin for information concerning admission.

Progression Policy - B.S.N. Program

Once a student is admitted to the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing:

1. A grade of C or above is required in each nursing course.
   1. Nursing courses may be repeated only once, See “Readmission Policy”.
   2. The student who fails to make a C on a second attempt of a failed nursing course or fails a subsequent nursing course is permanently excluded from the Generic Option of the Baccalaureate Nursing Program.
2. A grade of C or above is required in each non-nursing course prior to graduation.
3. A WF in any course is counted as a failure in that course.
4. For each nursing course with an accompanying clinical course, a grade of C or above is required in both courses in order to progress. If this does not occur, both the theory and the clinical course must be retaken together. If only one course component (Theory or clinical) was failed it is considered as one failure; if both theory and clinical components are failed concurrently it is also considered as one failure.
5. Students may be dismissed from the program for unsafe practice, unethical conduct, or illegal conduct. In such cases a student will receive an automatic F in nursing courses affected by the actions.

Readmission Policy - B.S.N. Program (Generic)

1. Students may be admitted to the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing only once after a nursing course failure. (Multiple course failures in one semester count as one failure.) Students who are ineligible to return to the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing due to two nursing course failures and who have become Registered Nurses may be considered for readmission in the RN/BSN Advanced Placement Option.
2. If the recommendation of the committee is to readmit the student. This readmission will be conditional on a space available basis according to the number of faculty and availability of clinical facilities. Students eligible for readmission will be ranked and chosen according to their overall GPA, total nursing GPA, and final grade in retention course.
3. A student who makes a D or lower in a nursing course is automatically excluded from the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing and must:
   1. successfully complete a retention course with a grade of C or better.
   2. petition in writing to the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing Readmission Committee following successful completion of the retention program.
   3. submit to another criminal background check and drug screen with same conditions as upon entry into the program.
4. The student must have obtained an MUW and an overall grade point average of 2.5 prior to readmission.
5. Students will be readmitted under requirements of the current bulletin.
6. Students who have been dismissed for unsafe practice, unethical conduct, or illegal conduct will not be eligible for readmission.

Readmission Policy - B.S.N. Program (Advanced Placement Option)

1. If the recommendation of the committee is to readmit the student. This readmission will be conditional on a space available basis according to the number of faculty and availability of clinical facilities. Students eligible for readmission will be ranked and chosen according to their overall GPA, total nursing GPA, and final grade in retention course.
2. A student who makes a D or lower in a nursing course is automatically excluded from the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing and must:
   1. successfully complete a retention course with a grade of C or better.
   2. petition in writing to the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing Readmission Committee following successful completion of the retention program.
   3. submit to another criminal background check and drug screen with same conditions as upon entry into the program.
3. The student must have obtained an MUW and an overall grade point average of 2.0 prior to readmission.
4. Students will be readmitted under requirements of the current bulletin.
5. Students who have been dismissed for unsafe practice, unethical conduct, or illegal conduct will not be eligible for readmission.

Application to Junior Level

The number of students admitted to the nursing program depends upon the available resources. Any student who expects to enroll in the generic nursing option must complete an application for the nursing program. This application will normally be completed during the fall semester of the Sophomore year (November). Please see “Undergraduate Admission ” in this bulletin for additional information on admission to the junior level. Admission decisions for the generic option are made in January and all required documents must be in the BSN program office by 5 pm on January 20th of each year.

General Degree Requirements

1. A minimum of 128 semester hours earned. 
2. Satisfaction of University core with a C or better (62 hours).
3. Satisfaction of Nursing courses with a C or better (66 hours).
4. Transfer students of regionally accredited community/junior colleges that transfer to MUW will be required to earn at least 50% of the semester hours required for a specific degree at a senior institution (including 25% of the semester hours at MUW) before becoming eligible for any degree.

Programs

• •  Nursing Major, Bachelor of Science in Nursing Generic Option, BSN
• •  Nursing Major, Bachelor of Science in Nursing RN to BSN Advanced Placement Option, BSN

Department of Speech-Language Pathology

Department Chair: Joy Townsend, Interim

Speech-Language Pathology Faculty

Professors: Marie Byrne, Michelle Harmon
Instructors: Donna Burlingame, Lynn M. Hanson, Joy Townsend

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the speech-language pathology undergraduate program is to provide students with a basic understanding of normal and disordered communication as preparation for entrance into graduate school. The program requires majors to have a scientific knowledge base for good decision making skills.

Accreditation

The Master’s education program in Speech-Language Pathology at Mississippi University for Women is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville Maryland 20850. 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

Facilities

The programs are taught in Cromwell Communication Center, the MUW Speech and Hearing Center, and various clinical sites in health care facilities and schools.

Programs

• •  Speech-Language Pathology Major, BS

Department of Graduate Nursing

Department Chair: Johnnie Sue Cooper Wijewardane

Master of Science in Nursing Faculty

Professors: Sheila V. Adams, Tammie L. McCoy, Patricia E. Smyth
Associate Professor: Johnnie Sue Wijewardane
Assistant Professors: Sueanne Davidson, Lorraine Gaddis, Carey McCarter
Instructors: Terri Hamill, Shonda Phelon

Purpose

The purpose of the Department of Graduate Nursing is to prepare advanced practice nurses by expanding and refining a broad base of knowledge and skills of baccalaureate education incorporating the experiential background of the professional nurse. This purpose relates to the Mission of the University by providing professional education at the graduate level that emphasizes advanced academic preparation of specialized knowledge and competencies through the process of role mastery.

Philosophy

The purpose of the Master of Science in Nursing Department is to prepare a family nurse practitioner who is a leader in the promotion and maintenance of health and the improvement of health care outcomes across practice settings at the local, state, national and global levels.  This purpose relates to the mission of the university by providing strong academic and leadership preparation to both women and men.  The graduate is able to function as a provider of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care and a member of the profession.  Graduates from teh Master’s Degree nursing program are prepared to use evidence-based strategies that contribute to the acquisition of professional knowledge.  In-depth preparation in the application of advanced management, counseling skills, knowledge application, and standards of professional nursing practice enhances the graduate to contribute further to their professional role in the world wide community.

Curriculum Objectives-Graduate Nursing Program

The Master of Science in Nursing Program is designed to prepare Advanced Practice Nurses who will:

1. Synthesize advanced knowledge of the humanities with biophysical and behavioral sciences as they influence the healthcare system and role development,
2. Integrate theoretical and research knowledge from evidence based practice into primary healthcare,
3. Conduct scientific investigation of issues relevant to primary healthcare and the advanced nurse practice role,
4. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for provision of quality healthcare,
5. Employ an interdisciplinary team approach for the improvement of healthcare delivery,
6. Self-evaluate continuing scholarship, professional growth, and role mastery,
7. Demonstrate advanced competencies for the specialized role of the nurse practitioner.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Philosophy

The purpose of the Doctorate of Nursing Practice is to prepare nurse practitioners to be leaders in the promotion and maintenance of population health and to improve health care outcomes across practice settings at the local, state, national and global levels.  This purpose relates to the mission of the university by providing strong academic and leadership preparation to both women and men.  The graduate is able to function as a provider of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care, and leader in the nursing profession.  Graduates from the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program are prepared to develop, apply, synthesize, and evaluate evidence-based strategies and their outcomes that contribute to the acquisition of professional knowledge, practice, and improved health care outcomes.  In-depth preparation in the application, analysis, and evaluation of advanced practice management, research interpretation and application, and standards of professional nursing practice enhances the graduate to contribute further to their professional role in the world wide community.