Bill & Jo-Ann Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Department of Associate Nursing

Department Chair: Mary Helen Ruffin

Associate of Nursing Faculty

Professor: Clara Rustin, Adrian Sligh
Assistant Professor: Magan Evans
Instructors: Lynsey Baker, Allison Caston, Shana Lenoir, Tina Long, Amy Shaw, Tiffany Sanders, Lisa Griffin, Kaitlyn Harmon

Mission Statement/Purpose

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 practice. This purpose relates to the Mission of the University by providing general and specialized education for a diverse population of students. The Associate of Science in Nursing Program functions within the Bill & Jo-Ann Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Services 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.  The program for the associate degree nurse prepares the graduate for entry level into professional nursing practice and neither requires nor precludes further education.

The faculty believes 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 healthy behaviors, create healthy environments, and increase access to high quality health care, which can lead toward the realization of that 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 or recover their optimum level of health or to accept death.  The practice of nursing utilizes the clinical decision-making process and 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 practice 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 and clinical reasoning.  It is the process through which a student acquires foundational 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 the field of nursing in a complex, dynamic society. 

Learning is a continuous and active process manifested by change reflected in behavior. 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 practices.

Associate degree nursing is committed to ensuring program effectiveness through strategic planning and collaborative relationships within the community.  Through provision of educational opportunities graduates are prepared to meet the Nurse of the Future Core Competencies 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 clinical judgment, leadership, management, individual accountability, and the need for continued professional and cultural growth is provided.

End of Program Student Learning Outcomes

The Associate of Science in Nursing Program prepares individuals to:

1. Incorporate clinical decision-making and prioritization to manage patient-centered care to an individual or to a group of patients with acute and chronic healthcare needs.
2. Demonstrate leadership in order to provide therapeutic nursing intervention, including patient instruction, which reflects critical judgment, 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. Integrate 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 can be failed 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

Required Nursing Course Failure

1. Students may be readmitted to the Department of Associate Nursing only once due to a nursing course failure (grade D or less including WFs). If a transfer student has failed a nursing course in another nursing program that will count as the student’s failure in terms of eligibility for readmission to the nursing program. Students who are ineligible to return to the Department of Associate Degree Nursing due to two nursing course failures and who have become Licensed Practical Nurses with a current unencumbered Mississippi license and at least 2 years of work experience as an LPN may be considered for readmission into the LPN-RN Advanced Placement Option.
2. A student who makes a D or lower in a required nursing course cannot progress in the Department of Associate Degree of Nursing. In order to be considered for readmission, the student must complete the following:
   1. Obtain an MUW and an overall grade point average of 2.5 prior to readmission.
   2. Successfully complete the nursing retention course with a grade of B or better.
   3. Petition in writing to the Associate Department readmission Committee by April 1^st for a Fall term readmission OR October 1^st for Spring term readmission. The petition letter should include justification for readmission with the following criteria:

Courses(s) failed and reason

Include your personal commitment to success to include your plans moving forward if readmission into the program occurs.

Description of any type of academic or professional counseling (such as treatment for test anxiety or request granted for testing accommodations).

The Readmission committee will meet as needed on a date determined by the committee.

The transcript, clinical record, and letter of petition for each student will be reviewed by the Readmission committee.

The Readmission Committee chairperson will then inform the program chair of the committee’s recommendations.

If the recommendation of the committee is to readmit the student, the readmission will be conditional on a space available to maintain the required student-to-faculty ratio and secure clinical facilities. If the number of students eligible for readmission is higher than the allowed faculty-to-student ratio, the students will be ranked and chosen according to their overall GPA, total nursing GPA, and final grade in the retention course.

Students will be notified via e-mail of their admission status.

3. Students will be readmitted under the requirements of the current bulletin.
4. Students petitioning for readmission who have been out of the ASN nursing program for two or more academic years will be considered for readmission to the ASN program on a case-by-case basis.
5. Students who have been dismissed for unsafe practices or unethical or illegal conduct are ineligible for readmission.
6. Generic students who are ineligible for readmission to the BSN nursing program are ineligible for readmission into the Department of Nursing and therefore ineligible for admission to the ASN Program.
7. Students are required to submit to another criminal background check and drug screen with same conditions as upon entry into the program.

Required Nursing Course “Withdrawal” or “WP”

In order for students to be considered for admission following a “W” or “WP” the student must complete the following:

1. Obtain an MUW and an overall grade point average of 2.5 prior to readmission.
2. Petition in writing to the Associate Department Readmission Committee by April 1^st for a Fall term readmission OR October 1^st for a Spring term readmission. The Petition letter should include justification for readmission with the following criteria:

Course(s) failed and reason

Include your personal commitment to success to include your plans moving forward if readmission into the program occurs.

Description of any type of academic or professional counseling (such as treatment for test anxiety or request granted for testing accommodations).

1. Students who received a “W” or “WP” in any of the following nursing courses: 112, 114, 115, 116, 144, and/or 145 are required to complete an ASN application.
2. Students are highly recommended to complete the ASN retention course.

Students will be notified via-email of their admission status.

3. Students will be admitted under the requirements of the current bulletin.
4. Students who have been out of the ASN nursing program for two or more academic years will be considered for admission to the ASN program on a case-by-case basis.
5. Students are required to submit to another criminal background check and drug screen with same conditions as upon entry into the program.

 

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: Maria Scott

Baccalaureate Nursing Faculty

Professors: Sacha Dawkins, Leigh Anne Puckett, Maria Scott, Terry Todd
Associate Professors: Elizabeth Fountain, Karen George, April Greenway, Lisa Hester, Lindsay Mitchell, Hannah Summerford
Instructors:  Haley Bailey, Katie Brown, Mike Calvery, Jordan Funderburk, Hannah Gray, Bentrice Heard, Rebecca Kelley, Trey Maddox, Amy Mobley, Gladys Mooneyham, Andrea Osbirn, Lindsey Phyfer, Tabitha Pilkington, Tara Sullivan, Robyn Talley, Kaitlynn Wheeler

Mission

The mission of the Bachelor of Science in the 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 mission 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 B 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 B 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 Enlight 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

• •  Certificate in Care of the Dying
• •  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 Health and Kinesiology

Department Chair: Irene T. Pintado

Health and Kinesiology Faculty

Professor: Chad Murphy, Irene T. Pintado
Assistant Professors: Emmanuel Ahua, Candy Grant, Tyler Muddle, Deborah Watson
Instructor:  Christina Chunn, Richard Morgan

Programs

• •  Certificate in Behavioral/Psychological Care
• •  Certificate in Community Care
• •  Certificate in Sexual Health
• •  Certificate in Women’s Care
• •  Exercise Science Minor
• •  Health and Kinesiology Minors
• •  Kinesiology Major, Exercise Science Concentration, BS
• •  Kinesiology Major, Exercise Science Health Professions Concentration
• •  Public Health Education Major, BAS
• •  Public Health Education Major, BS
• •  Public Health Education Major, Healthcare Navigator Concentration, BAS
• •  Public Health Education Major, Healthcare Navigator Concentration, BS
• •  Public Health Education Minor

Department of Speech-Language Pathology

Interim Department Chair: Catherine Cotton, Ph.D. CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathology Faculty

Professor: Hunter Manasco Ph.D. CCC-SLP
Assistant Professor: Catherine Cotton, Ph.D. CCC-SLP, Jianwen Crump Ed.D. CCC-SLP
Full-Time Instructors: Laurel Jones M.S. CCC-SLP, Jennifer Pounders M.S. CCC-SLP, 
Part-Time Instructor: Lynn McConnell M.S. CCC-SLP
Adjunct Instructorss: Janie New M.S. CCC-SLP, Rachel Huber Ph.D. CCC-AUD, Julia Ellerston SLP.D. CCC-SLP

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 Turner Hall, The W Speech and Hearing Center, and various clinical sites in health care facilities and schools.

Programs

• •  Speech-Language Pathology Major, BS