Nursing, Nurse Midwifery, M.S.N.

The James Madison University School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree with concentrations offered as:

Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Nurse Administrator (NA)
Nurse Midwifery (NMW) (in conjunction with Shenandoah University)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) (in conjunction with Shenandoah University)

All concentrations are designed to meet the Essentials of Masters Education in Nursing (AACN, 2011). Students are admitted for full-time or part-time study. Full-time students can complete the program in four full-time academic semesters. The FNP (or Family/Across the Lifespan) concentration requires 49 credits. The FNP concentration meets the competencies outlined by the National Organization of the Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Students complete 650 contact practicum hours. The AGPCNP concentration requires 46 credits. The AGPCNP concentration meets the competencies outlined by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioners (NONPF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Students complete 650 contact practicum hours. Graduates of the nurse practitioner concentrations are eligible to take the appropriate certification examination through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

The leadership options are Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), which requires 38 credit hours or Nurse Administrator (NA), which requires 32 credit hours of study for applicants who have a BSN. A transcript analysis will be completed on all students who have an associate degree in nursing (ADN) from an accredited nursing program and an undergraduate baccalaureate degree in another field to determine any gaps in meeting the Essentials of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. During this transcript review, the plan of study may include up to 11 extra credits. Graduates of the CNL concentration are prepared to provide leadership in providing direct clinical care. The NA concentration prepares graduates to assume management positions within health care organizations. Students are admitted for full-time or part-time study. The CNL option is designed to meet the competencies established by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN); and the Nurse Administrator is designed to meet the competencies established by the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE). Students complete 400 hours of practicum experience. Graduates of the CNL program are eligible to take the CNL certification examination offered by the Commission on Nurse Certification.

The Nurse Midwifery concentration is offered in conjunction with Shenandoah University. Students complete the first year of study (22 credits) at James Madison University, and the second year of study at Shenandoah University (19 credits). Refer to Shenandoah University’s Graduate Catalog for most recent information on their courses as changes to credits at Shenandoah University may occur over the next academic cycle. The JMU credits may be taken part-time or full-time. The second year of nurse midwifery courses is taken in full-time study at Shenandoah University. Upon completion of the full curriculum, students will graduate with an MSN degree from James Madison University and a Post Graduate Certificate in Nurse Midwifery from Shenandoah University.

The Psychiatric Mental Health concentration is offered in conjunction with Shenandoah University. Students complete the first year of study (22 credits) at James Madison University, and the second year of study at Shenandoah University (29 credits). The JMU credits may be taken part-time or full-time. The second year of psychiatric mental health courses is taken in full-time study at Shenandoah University. Upon completion of the full curriculum, students will graduate with an MSN degree from James Madison University and a Post Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health from Shenandoah University.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the M.S.N. program prospective students must:

Complete the online application for The Graduate School and on NURSINGCAS.
- Apply to The Graduate School.
  - After completing the Graduate School application, download a screen shot of your application fee receipt and save it as a PDF file, then upload to NURSINGCAS as directed in the instructions outlined in step 2 (below).
- Apply to NURSINGCAS.
  - Submit all required documents.
  - DO NOT submit these within the JMU Graduate School application.
Hold a current unrestricted Registered Nurse license.
Be admitted to The Graduate School.
Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) or a baccalaureate degree in another field with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 (3.0 NP concentrations/Nurse Midwifery applicants only)
Have relevant professional clinical experience.
Have taken undergraduate courses in statistics with a grade of “C” or higher.
Meet the school’s technical standards for admission.
Provide evidence of personal and professional qualifications in the form of two (2) professional recommendations.
Complete an interview upon request.
Have health documentation and CPR certification.
Foreign school graduates: Pass CGFNS Exam, R.N. License, TOEFL (Paper: 570 or higher; Electronic: 88 or higher).

* A transcript analysis will be completed on all students who have an associate degree in nursing (ADN) from an accredited nursing program and an undergraduate baccalaureate degree in another field to determine any gaps in meeting the Essentials of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. During this transcript review, the plan of study may include up to 11 extra credits.

Application Deadline

Applications are processed on a rolling admission basis until the class fills for the CNL and Nurse Administrator tracks. Nurse Practitioner applicants have a fall deadline. Full and part-time students will enter the program in the summer or fall semester of each year.

Application Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation criteria includes previous academic and scholarly work, professional experience, professional references, and a personal and professional goal statement and its relationship to the mission of the School of Nursing. Professional references will be reviewed, and an interview may be required.

Graduate Core Courses

All M.S.N. students complete the graduate core courses.

NSG 520. Advanced Health Assessment 3.00 ¹
NSG 521. Advanced Concepts in Pathophysiology 3.00 ¹
NSG 522. Advanced Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics 3.00 ¹
NSG 611. Research for the Advanced Health Professional 3.00
NSG 612. Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing 3.00
NSG 690. Epidemiology and Population Assessment 3.00
NSG 692. Health Policy for Practice and Advocacy 3.00

Total: 21 Credit Hours

Footnote

¹ NA concentration does not require NSG 520 , NSG 521 , or NSG 522 .

Nurse Midwifery Curriculum

Courses Taken at JMU

Nursing Core Courses 21 credit hours
NSG 634. Advanced Nursing Role Development 1.00

Total: 22 credit hours

Courses Taken at Shenandoah University

NM 610. Primary Care of Women 2(1) Credit Hours
NM 620. Comprehensive Antepartal Care 2(1) Credit Hours
NM 630. Midwifery Practicum (3) Credit Hours
NM 640. Comprehensive Perinatal Care 2(1) Credit Hours
NM 651. Integrated Midwifery Internship (5) Credit Hours
NM 652. Evidence-Based Practice Project 1 Credit Hours
NM 660. NM Role Development 1 Credit Hours

Refer to Shenandoah University’s Graduate Catalog for most recent information on their course listing for the NMW Post Masters Certificate.

Total: 8(11) Credit Hours

Total Credits: 41 Credit Hours

* Based on a 1:4 clinical hour/clock hour ratio. These are minimum number of hours; may be extended due to unknown number of hours needed for each birth. Clinical is interpreted in “# of experiences,” i.e. “# of deliveries.” The clinical hours should be sufficient to meet the learning needs of students. Because of the nature of midwifery practice, students may require additional hours to successfully meet the Core Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice as outlined by the ACNM. Students are informed of this unique nature of nurse-midwifery in course syllabi.

Shenandoah University – Nurse-Midwifery (NM) Courses

Students completing the nurse-midwifery courses at Shenandoah University will receive a Post Graduate Certificate in Midwifery and will be eligible to take the national certification examination from the American Midwifery Certification Board to become certified nurse-midwives. Also refer to the Shenandoah University Graduate Catalog for more information on the nurse-midwifery courses.

Descriptions from Shenandoah University’s Graduate Catalog. Refer to Shenandoah University’s Graduate Catalog for most recent information on their courses.

NM/NMLBD 610. Primary Care of Women. (Taken at Shenandoah University). 3 credits: 2 didactic and 1 clinical.

The intent of this course is to assist the student in developing and applying knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences related to the nurse-midwifery management process in the primary care of women. Prerequisites: Completion of all graduate-level core courses. NMLB 610 clinical must be taken concurrently. Includes a clinical/lab fee.

NM/NMLBD 620. Comprehensive Antepartal Care. (Taken at Shenandoah University). 3 credits: 2 didactic and 1 clinical.

The intent of this course is to assist the student in developing and applying knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences of the nurse-midwifery management process in the comprehensive antepartal care of women. Prerequisites: Completion of all graduate-level core courses. NMLB 620 clinical must be taken concurrently. Includes a clinical/lab fee.

NM/NMLB 630. Nurse-Midwifery Practicum. (Taken at Shenandoah University). 3 credits for clinical.

The intent of this course is to assist the student in applying knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences of the nurse-midwifery management process in primary care and comprehensive antepartal care. Pre/corequisites: Completion of NM 610 and NM 620. Includes a clinical/lab fee.

NM/NMLBD 640. Comprehensive Perinatal Care. (Taken at Shenandoah University). 3 credits: 2 didactic and 1 clinical.*

The intent of this course is to assist the student in developing knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences of the nurse-midwifery management process in comprehensive perinatal care. Pre/corequisite: Completion of NM 630. NMLB 640 clinical must be taken concurrently. Includes a clinical/lab fee.

NM/NMLB 651. Integrated Nurse-Midwifery Practicum. (Taken at Shenandoah University). 5 credits.*

This final clinical course in the Midwifery Program provides the opportunity for the student to integrate and influence the knowledge, skills, values, and meanings related to the nurse-midwifery management process in primary care, comprehensive antepartal care and comprehensive perinatal care. The number of clinical hours associated with this five credit course will be at least 300 hours but will be dependent upon the number of clinical experiences in full-scope midwifery practice necessary to attain competency as assessed by nurse-midwifery faculty. Prerequisite: NM 640.

NM 652. Evidence-Based Practice Project. (Taken at Shenandoah University). 1 credit.

This is the capstone course for the graduate credential in the Nurse-Midwifery Program. It provides the opportunity for students to integrate and influence the knowledge, skills, values, meanings, and experiences related to the documentation and analysis of evidence-based and interprofessional practice in primary care and comprehensive perinatal care. The Evidence-Based Practice Project will utilize perinatal case studies to analyze the relationship between evidence-based practice and the optimality of outcomes. Prerequisites: NM 640, NMLB 640.

NM 660. Advanced Nurse-Midwifery Role Development. (Taken at Shenandoah University). 1 credit.

The intent of this course is to assist the student in acquiring and applying the knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences of the professional behaviors associated with the practice of advanced/specialized nursing. Prerequisites: Completion of NM 650.