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.

Marcia Hern, EdD, RN, CNS, Dean

The School of Nursing offers the following degrees:

    Nursing - PhD
    Nursing - MSN

    Post-Masters Certificates are available in the following programs:
    Adult Nurse Practitioner
    Family Nurse Practitione
    Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
    Psychiatric, Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

MSN Admissions Policies - School of Nursing

Students may be admitted to the program for the summer or fall semester.  Summer is preferable and will allow for a full time program of study to be completed in two years.  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:

• Summer Semester: April 1
• Fall Semester: April 1

Criteria for Admission to the Master of Science 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.
• 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 take effect August 2011. Recommended scores will change based on revisions. The new scores will be reported on a 130-170 point scale.
• 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/).
• Verification of licensure will be obtained from the Kentucky Board of Nursing.

     To the School of Nursing, Office of Student Services:

• Completed Graduate Applicant Data Sheet (available online at: http://www.louisville.edu/nursing)
• Criminal background check submitted through Certified Background.com

     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.

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.

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 status. (Refer to admission statuses in the General Information Section of this catalog.)

Post-Masters Certificate Admissions Requirements:

Admissions Deadlines:

• Summer Semester, April 1
• Fall Semester, April 1

The following materials must be submitted for review by the Graduate Student Affairs Committee:

To Graduate Admissions Office:

• Official transcripts of all college course work including ones verifying completion of accredited BSN and MSN programs. Applicants whose prior degree(s) was from U of L do not need to send official transcripts. However, if the last degree earned was NOT from U of L, those transcripts must be submitted. All applicants are required to submit transcripts for all college work completed.
• Completed U of L Graduate School Application, including $50 application fee (application available online at:  www.graduate.louisville.edu)
• Two completed letters of recommendation for Graduate School (see U of L Graduate School Application) which address academic and professional competence. References should be chosen from former faculty member, current or immediate past employer, or other nursing/health professional.  At least one reference should be from a nurse.  These letters should accompany the reference form required by the Graduate School.

• Proof of graduation from a master's program in nursing.
• A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from MSN program.
• Copy of current valid Kentucky registered nurse license without restrictions.

To the School of Nursing:

• Completed Applicant Data Sheet available on line at www.louisville.edu/nursing
• A personal interview with faculty may be required.
• Criminal Background Check. Instructions on School of Nursing website. Cost $40.

Criteria for Admission in Visiting Student Status to the Graduate Nursing Program:

Students admitted as visiting students are non-degree. Students admitted in non-degree status  may not be eligible for some financial aid sources. 

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 Note:

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 a clinical area or research setting is subject to academic action including dismissal from the program.

Transfer of Credit

Students who desire to transfer graduate credit from other academic institutions shall discuss this option 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 School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies 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 Graduate Programs and Research. Hours earned toward a project or thesis shall not be transferable to the second master's degree. 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.

Health Services Fee

Every HSC student will be assessed the Campus Services Fee each semester. 

Services provided under the fee:
     a. All pathogen exposure (e.g., TB, needle stick, etc.) to include outside labs, x-ray, and medications
     b. All visits to the Campus 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 fee.

Clinical Laboratory Fee

Effective Summer 2006, all graduate students enrolled in clinical programs in the School of Nursing will be charged clinical fees of $300. A $100.00 fee will be assessed at the time of enrollment in NURS 656 Advanced Clinical Assessment or NURS 629 Assessment of the Neonate.  A $200.00 fee will be assessed upon registration in the appropriate track course (NURS 624, 633, 645, or 661). 

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.

Course Offerings

Classes are taught on a single week day, traditionally on Thursdays.  These courses may be taught during the day or in the evening. Some courses are offered every semester, once per year, or every two years based on demand and/or resources.  Some courses are online.  Course offerings are subject to cancellation due to insufficient enrollment. Preceptorship/clinical experiences are scheduled on any day of the week 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 Graduate Programs and Research is responsible for student placement with preceptors, in collaboration with the Clinical Placement Coordinator and course faculty.

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 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 Graduate Programs and Research. 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 Graduate Programs and Research. 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:

• verification of a valid Kentucky Registered Nurse License
• submit documentation of CPR certification (Adult, Child and Infant)
• submit proof of successful completion of UofL HIPAA Training
• submit proof of student nurse practitioner liability insurance coverage
• submit required immunization records and proof of health insurance coverage to the Campus Health Services (call 852-6446 for additional current information on requirements).
• submit proof of successful completion of Bloodborne Pathogen training.

Additional information on clinical requirements is published in the Graduate Student 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) if not already covered. 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 Graduate Student Affairs Committee and the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research 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 at Another Institution

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 with 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.

The Master of Science in Nursing Curriculum

The MSN curriculum has just undergone a revision for the following reasons:

1. To address the continuing needs of health care partners in the community.
2. To eliminate summer graduation ( all students will graduate in May).
3. To lay the foundation for a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
4. To better serve the people of Kentucky, the nation, and abroad.

Statistics has been eliminated as a prerequisite and is now part of the program.  Prerequisite for several other courses have been eliminated to allow more flexibility in student schedules.  Several courses will be online.

The goal of the graduate faculty is to prepare Advanced Practice Nurses that can function in a variety of settings and will have all of the foundational course work in place for a Doctorate of Nursing Practice.

The faculty have moved to decrease barriers, provide a climate responsive to individual student needs, and to move towards graduating the most well-prepared practitioners in the Kentuckiana area.  With the University of Louisville mission directed toward research, teaching, practice, and service, the School of Nursing is well situated to be the premier graduate program in the metropolitan area.

Marcia Hern, EdD, RN, CNS

Dean and Professor

Paulette Adams, EdD, RN

Professor, Emerita

Said Abusalem, PhD, RN

Assistant Professor

Ruth B. Craddock, DNS, RN

Professor, Emerita

Linda Freeman, DNS, RN

Professor, Emerita

Cynthia McCurren, PhD, RN

Professor, Emerita

Kay Roberts, EdD, FAAN, FNP

Professor, Emerita

Marianne Hutti, DNS, ARNP

Professor

M. Cynthia Logsdon, DNS, ARNP, FAAN

Professor

Karen Robinson, DNS, APRN, BC, FAAN

Professor                                                                                                 

Deborah Armstrong, PhD, RN

Associate Professor

Carla Hermann, PhD, RN

Professor

Vicki Hines-Martin, PhD, RN, CS

Professor

Ermalyn Kiehl, PhD, ARNP, CNS

Associate Professor                                                                                                 

Rosalie O. Mainous, PhD, APRN, NNP-BC

Associate Professor

Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research

S. Lee Ridner, PhD, ARNP, FNP-BC

Associate Professor

Barbara Speck, PhD, RN

Associate Professor

Deborah V. Thomas, EdD ARNP, PMHCNS-BC

Associate Professor

Mary Beth Coty, PhD, APRN, BC

Assistant Professor

Sandra Holmes, PhD, RN-BC

Assistant Professor

Sara Kowalczyk, MSN, FNP

Assistant Professor

Celeste Shawler, PhD, RN, CS

Assistant Professor

Whitney Nash, PhD, ARNP, ANP-BC

Assistant Professor

Myra Goldman, PhD(c), ARNP, FNP-BC

Instructor