The University of Louisville School of Nursing is an essential partner of a research intensive academic health science center in a nationally recognized University serving a metropolitan community.

The School of Nursing is a community in which faculty, staff and students collaborate to promote excellence in the profession of nursing. This is accomplished through research and scholarship that inform undergraduate and graduate education, support evidence-based practice and foster advances in nursing science.

Students are prepared to demonstrate excellence in nursing science, practice and leadership in a variety of settings for the benefit of clients across the lifespan and to meet the evolving health care needs of society.

As a citizen of the larger community, the emphasis of the School of Nursing is to address the complex health needs of diverse and dynamic populations through nursing education, research, scholarship and service.

The School of Nursing offers the following degrees through the Graduate School:

Nursing - PhD
Nursing - MSN

MSN Admissions Policies - School of Nursing

Students may be admitted to the program for the fall or spring semester. Applications for each term will be reviewed and students will be contacted regarding their admission status within 4-6 weeks after the deadline.

Application deadlines:

• Fall Semester: May 1
• Spring Semester: October 1

In the case of late applications, application materials received after the deadline may only be considered for Non-Degree status and such applicants will be limited to enrolling in six credit hours on a space available basis. Therefore, all applicants are strongly encouraged to apply before the deadline. Absolute deadlines for admissions in Non-Degree status are July 1 for Fall Semester and November 1 for Spring Semester.

Health Services Fee

Every HSC student will be assessed the $87.50 Health Services Fee each semester.

Services provided under the $87.50 fee:
a. All pathogen exposure (e.g., TB, needle stick, etc.) to include outside labs, x-ray, and medications
b. All visits to the Student Health Services (Belknap and HSC)*
c. Mental Health Services*

*Medications, lab, or x-ray costs that might be associated with these visits are not covered by the $87.50 fee.

Clinical Laboratory Fee

Effective Summer 2006 all graduate students enrolled in clinical programs in the School of Nursing will be charged a clinical fee of $300. The fee will be assessed at two points during the program:

$100 at the time of enrollment in NURS 656 Advanced Clinical or NURS 629 Assessment.
$200 at the time of enrollment in the first course of the clinical sequence for their specialty (see course list below).

This fee covers costs associated with clinical laboratory instruction, including clinical laboratory supplies, clinical equipment, support of simulation equipment, preceptor placement coordination and clinical visitations.

Courses Where Clinical Fee Will Be Assessed:

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
NURS 615 Women's Health NP I
Adult Nurse Practitioner
NURS 624 Advanced Clinical Practice Adult NP I
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
NURS 633 Advanced Clinical Practice NNP I
Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist & Nurse Practitioner
NURS 645 Advanced Clinical Practice I: Psych/Mental Health
Family Nurse Practitioner
NURS 661 Advanced Clinical Practice: Family Nurse Practitioners Clinical I
Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
NURS 665 Primary Care of the Aged
Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist
NURS 622 Advanced Clinical Practice Adult CNS I
Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
NURS 672 Advanced Clinical Practice I: Oncology CNS

Course Offerings

Classes are taught on a single week day. These courses may be taught during the day or in the evening. Some courses are offered only once per year, or every two years based on demand and/or resources. Course offerings are subject to cancellation due to insufficient enrollment. Preceptorship/clinical experiences are scheduled any day based on availability of clinical sites and preceptors. Limited evening and weekend preceptorship experiences may be available. Preceptorship experiences throughout the state are also possible but not guaranteed. The office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs is responsible for student placement with preceptors, in collaboration with the Clinical Placement Coordinator and course faculty.

Criteria for Admission to the Master in Nursing Degree Program:

To be considered for admission to Degree Status, the following items must be submitted:

To the Office of Graduate Admissions:

• Completed U of L Graduate School Application, including $50 application fee (application available online at: http://graduate.louisville.edu/apply)
• Official transcripts of all college coursework with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Completion of an accredited (by NLN or CCNE) baccalaureate program in nursing must be verified.
• Official transcript verifying enrollment in or completion of a three credit-hour graduate level statistics course (applied descriptive and inferential statistics). Successful completion of this course with a grade of B or better is a requirement for admission. (Students may contact School of Nursing Office of Student Services at 852-1196 for information on graduate statistics course offerings.)
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (successful applicants usually score at 425 or above on each of the verbal and quantitative scores; and 4 on the analytic score). Revisions of the GRE test format and scoring are under consideration. Recommended score may change based on revisions.
• Two references from individuals who can speak of academic and/or professional capabilities and potential are required. References should be chosen from among: former faculty members, current or immediate past employer, or other nursing/health professionals. One reference should be from a nurse. Each person providing a reference for you must complete the UofL Graduate School recommendation form (available online at: http://graduate.louisville.edu/students/apply.html/).
• A copy of valid Kentucky registered nurse license (without restrictions) or proof of eligibility for that licensure.

To the School of Nursing, Office of Student Services:

• Completed Graduate Applicant Data Sheet (available online at: http://www.louisville.edu/nursing)

A personal interview with faculty may be required.

Students who do not meet admission requirements may contact the U of L School of Nursing Office of Student Services at 502-852-1196 for an advising appointment.  

Conditional Admission to MSN Degree Program:

Students who do not meet these admission requirements may be considered for admission in conditional status. An example might be a student with low GRE scores.

Students admitted conditionally will be reevaluated for full degree status based on criteria identified by the committee.

Applications will not be considered for Full or Conditional Degree status unless all application materials are available to the review committee by the application deadline date (May 1 or October 1).

Provisional Admission to MSN Degree Program:

Graduating BSN students: Students completing the final semester of their BSN program with a 3.0 or better grade point average may apply for provisional degree or non-degree status (refer to admission statuses in the General Information Section of this catalog.)

Criteria for Non-Degree Admission to the Gradaute Nursing Program:

Students may be admitted in non-degree status to take the pre-requisite graduate level statistics course if they meet the admission requirement.  Students must submit to Graduate Admissions:

• Graduate School Application including the $50 fee.  
• Official undergraduate transcripts of all college coursework including one verifying the completion of the baccalaureate program in nursing (or a transcript indicating that the student is in the final semester of a BSN degree program.  Student must request a final transcript verifying completion of the BSN degree prior to registration).

Students Meeting Required Admissions Grade Point Average:

Students needing the statistics course are admitted in non-degree status and it is the only course they may take.  Students admitted in non-degree status to take the statistics course with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 may continue in non-degree status for an additional 6 degree applicable credit hours upon completion of the statistics course with at least a letter grade of B.

Students Not Meeting Minimum Admissions Grade Point Average:

Students needing the statistics course are admitted in non-degree status and it is the only course they may take.  A minimum letter grade of B is required.  Students admitted in non-degree status to take the statistics course with an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 must reapply for degree status and take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).  A successful GRE score must be met to offset the GPA requirement for admissions consideration. 

Students who have satisfactorily completed the graduate level statistics course and do not meet the minimum admission standards for degree status may petition for non-degree status.  Petitions must be submitted by the appropriate deadline to the School of Nursing, Office of Student Services.

Admission in non-degree status does not guarantee admission to the MSN degree program.  Students may contact the School of Nursing, Office of Students Services at 502-852-1196 for assistance. 

Visiting students from other schools may apply each semester for non-degree status by submitting the following:

To Office of Graduate Admissions:

• Graduate School Application including the $50 fee.
• A letter of good standing from student's home school or transcripts from graduate school in which the student is currently enrolled verifying a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Important Notes:

• Priority enrollment in courses is given to graduate nursing students in Degree status.
• Non-degree students are strongly encouraged to verify financial aid requirements as non-degree status may NOT meet eligibility requirements of some financial aid sources.
• To move from Non-degree to Degree status, students must submit a NEW U of L application to the Office of Graduate Admissions indicating that they are applying for MSN degree admission by the application deadline for the semester they wish to be admitted as degree-seeking (October 1 or May 1). Application fee is waived for non-degree students who are re-applying for degree admission.
• All application materials listed above in "Criteria for Admission to the Master of Science in Nursing Program" must be received by the appropriate University offices on or before the application deadline for the semester in which the student wishes to be admitted as degree-seeking.

All applicants, regardless of their application status, are required to submit official transcripts for all college work completed. An application fee of $50.00 is required of all MSN applicants regardless of where the BSN was earned.

Academic Policies

Academic Progress in the Graduate Program

Satisfactory academic progress in a program involves maintaining the academic and professional standards expected in a particular discipline or program and may include demonstration of the ability to function as a professional practitioner. Failure to maintain these standards or demonstrate such abilities may result in the termination of the student's admission to the program.

Removal From Clinical

A student who is unsafe in the clinical area may be asked to withdraw from the program.

Transfer of Credit

Students who desire to transfer graduate credit from other academic institutions shall discuss this with the faculty advisor. Earned graduate credit may be transferred from institutions that offer advanced degrees. The maximum number of semester hours transferable, upon request, is six (6) hours. Up to six additional hours may be requested in a master's program, provided that these additional hours are not credit earned by extension and provided that the residency requirement of 24 semester hours is maintained by the addition of U of L credits to the total program. Credit earned more than six years prior to the student's application to the Graduate School will not normally be considered for transfer.

In all cases, transfer of credit is NOT automatic. Students who want courses taken at other institutions evaluated should submit the course outline (syllabus) for the course in question to the Office of Student Services. Courses cannot be evaluated without course outlines. Course equivalency should be determined before enrollment in the course to ensure the credits will transfer. Only courses in which the student earned grades of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better will be considered for transfer. Credits which have been applied to a baccalaureate degree may not be applied to a subsequent master's degree. Six hours may be transferred from previously earned master's degree toward a second master's degree subject to the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Hours earned toward a project or thesis shall not be transferable to the second master's degree. If the faculty advisor agrees that the course work contributes to the Program of Study, the student may request a Transfer of Credit form from the Office of Student Services. Graduate nursing courses may be transferred as a required nursing course only if judged by the current faculty of record as equivalent to the course taught at the University of Louisville. The decision of equivalency made by the faculty of record is final.

Drop/Add Procedures

Students wishing to alter their schedule of courses in any way must make the changes with the University's Office of the Registrar. Failure to officially withdraw from a course may result in a grade of F and tuition charges for that course.

Students may drop/add at any time during the early registration period after their first scheduled time for registration. The touch-tone or online ULink systems may be used for drop/add. See the online Schedule of Courses for current instructions for Drop/Add after classes begin.

Late Complete Withdrawal after the Deadline

Upon proper documentation of extreme circumstances, decision for approval of late complete withdrawals may be made by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Late complete withdrawals are those requested after the deadline has passed and before the instructor has assigned a grade.

Students may not withdraw from any course after the published deadline in the online Schedule of Courses without the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. This is granted only because of sickness or conditions beyond the student's control. The grade report would reflect a grade of W.

Student Health Services Requirements

Each student must comply with the current student health policy of the Health Sciences Center. All costs associated with compliance are the responsibility of the student. Because of contractual agreements with agencies and the changing needs of society, this policy is updated periodically. The current health policies are listed below. It is the responsibility of the student to maintain his/her health in order to insure safety for other students and clients. If faculty or the agency deems that any student creates a health risk, the student may be excluded from the clinical experience and/or the program.

Individual health care facilities, used as clinical sites by the School of Nursing, may have additional requirements. In this event, the student is required to comply with any additional requirements of that facility.

Note: Health policies are constantly under review by faculty based on CDC changing requirements and community expectations. Students will be notified of any policy changes, and compliance will be required.

Clinical Requirements

Before beginning the first clinical course of the MSN program, students must be in compliance with the following clinical requirements:

• submit a copy of a valid Kentucky RN license with no restrictions
• submit documentation of CPR certification (Adult, Child and Infant)
• submit proof of successful completion of UofL HIPAA Training
• submit a health screening questionnaire
• submit proof of student nurse practitioner liability insurance coverage
• submit required immunization records and proof of health insurance coverage to the Student Health Services (call 852-6446 for additional current information on requirements).

Additional information on clinical requirements is published in the Graduate Students Handbook.

Health Insurance

Students are responsible for submitting proof of health insurance. On April 26, 1999, the University of Louisville Board of Trustees approved a requirement for proof of insurance for all Health Sciences Center (HSC) students. Every HSC student will be assessed the University sponsored health insurance plan, the comprehensive plan. Students who already have health insurance that includes hospitalization coverage can waive the fee.

Repeating Nursing Courses

Students who receive a grade of C+ or below in a course must repeat the course. Students in the Graduate Nursing Program are allowed to repeat one required nursing curriculum course only one time. A student who receives a grade of C+ or below in a second course required in the nursing curriculum will be dismissed from the program. A Permit to Repeat Course form should be submitted to the Office of Student Services (OSS), School of Nursing, to ensure that only the last grade attempted will be included in the student's grade point average. Repeating a course is not an automatic privilege, and in most cases the student must petition to the Associate Dean and/or the Academic Affairs Committee for permission to repeat a nursing course. Once permission is granted, the student will be allowed to repeat the course on a space available basis.

Satisfactory Standing

Satisfactory standing in the nursing program is a cumulative program grade point average of at least 3.0.

Probation and Dismissal

If the cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation for the next regular semester. If the cumulative grade point average is not raised to a minimum of 3.0 by the end of the probation semester, the student will be dismissed from the program. The dismissal will be reflected on the student's transcript. If a student wishes to continue at the University, he/she must apply and be accepted to another unit in order to continue to enroll in classes.

Permission for Visiting Student Status

Students may apply for visiting student status should they wish to enroll in a nursing course at another institution while a student at U of L. If the course is being taken to apply toward the U of L degree requirements, it is the student's responsibility to check OSS to confirm the equivalency of the course before they enroll. Students must provide OSS with the most recent copy of the course syllabus so that U of L faculty can evaluate the course for equivalency. Once the equivalency status of the course has been determined, the applying student will be sent a letter of permission for visiting student status. Students are responsible for requesting that an official transcript be sent to the University's Registrar's Office upon completion of any transfer work.

Pre-Requisite Course

Graduate Nursing: Core Courses

Graduate Nursing Core Courses are required in addition to the specialization courses for each track.

Specialty track course requirements:

Advanced Nursing Practice Component: Women’s Health NP (includes 630 clinical hours)

Advanced Nursing Practice Component: Advanced Clinical Practice Adult NP (includes 630 clinical hours)

Advanced Nursing Practice Component: Neonatal NP (includes 630 clinical hours)

Advanced Nursing Practice Component: Psychiatric Mental Health CNS
(includes 504 clinical hours; graduates eligible for CNS or NP PMH Certification exam)

Advanced Clinical Practice: Family Nurse Practitioner (includes 770 clinical hours)

Advanced Nursing Practice Component: Adult CNS (includes 500 clinical hours)

Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist (includes 500 clinical hours)

* Basic pathophysiology knowledge and physical/health assessment skills are necessary for successful progression in Advanced Pathophysiology and Health Assessment courses. The faculty strongly recommends formal basic courses or continuing education programs in pathophysiology and physical/health assessment as pre or co-requisites to these advanced courses.

Paulette Adams, EdD, RN
Professor, Emerita

Ruth B. Craddock, DNS, RN
Professor, Emerita

Linda Freeman, DNS, RN
Professor

Marianne Hutti, DNS, ARNP
Professor

M. Cynthia Logsdon, DNS, ARNP
Professor

Kay Roberts, EdD, FAAN, FNP
Professor

Karen Robinson, DNS, APRN, BC, FAAN
Professor

Robert Topp, PhD, RN
Professor                                                                                                                          

Deborah Armstrong, PhD, RN
Associate Professor

Cathy Bays , PhD, RN
Associate Professor

Carla Hermann, PhD, RN
Associate Professor

Vicki Hines-Martin, PhD, RN, CS
Associate Professor

Ermalyn Kiehl, PhD, ARNP
Associate Professor

Rosalie O. Mainous, PhD, ARNP
Associate Professor
Acting Associate Dean for Academic Affairs 

Cynthia McCurren, PhD, RN
Associate Professor
Interim Dean

Barbara Speck, PhD, RN
Associate Professor
Acting Associate Dean for Research

Cheryl Zambroski, PhD, RN
Associate Professor 

C. Elizabeth Bonham, PhD, ARNP, BC
Assistant Professor

Mary Beth Coty, PhD, APRN, BC
Assistant Professor 

Vicki Burns, PhD, RN, ARNP-BC
Assistant Professor

S. Lee Ridner, PhD, ARNP
Assistant Professor

Celeste Shawler, PhD, RN, CS
Assistant Professor

Mary Patricia Wall, PhD, RN, BC
Assistant Professor