Dec 05, 2024  
2022-2023 Endicott College Academic Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Endicott College Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

School of Nursing - Graduate Programs


Programs

Nursing
Nursing (Doctor of Philosophy)
Nursing (Master of Science)
Nursing - Fifth Year (Master of Science)
Nursing (Post-Master Certificate Programs)  


Nursing (Doctor of Philosophy)


The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program is designed to develop student’s ability to conduct research and provide leadership through scientific inquiry. Students will gain confidence in the role of nurse researcher, faculty, leader, and scholar while building a strong foundation in theory development, nursing research methods, and approaches to the development of new knowledge. Students choose a research focus based on a nursing practice problem or an educational issue.

Nurses with doctorate degrees are in high demand as our country’s population ages and increasingly complex global health nursing issues emerge. With our forward-thinking, patient-centered nursing education program, Endicott College prepares students to lead the way in nursing practice, research, and academia.

Highlights include:
• Hybrid learning model with flexible meeting schedules during evening hours and weekends
• Individualized advising
• Skilled mentoring for nursing doctoral dissertation writing

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.) Program Mission
Situated within the School of Nursing, the mission of the Ph.D. in Nursing program is to develop nursing scholars, faculty, leaders and researchers who can provide leadership through scientific inquiry. The Ph.D. program addresses the critical nursing shortage to prepare nurse scholars and researchers with the analytical skills to both enhance and develop new nursing knowledge. Graduates of the program will acquire the knowledge and skill to function as nurse leaders, scholars and researchers. Doctoral studies build upon the knowledge and skills acquired in Baccalaureate and Master degree programs in nursing. The program will emphasize and explore the interrelationships among theory, research, and nursing practice. The Ph.D. program is built upon the belief that the field of nursing can be expanded using knowledge from within and outside the discipline of nursing through the careful selection, integration, and expansion of interdisciplinary knowledge and its application to the practice of nursing with the ultimate goal to advance nursing practice.

The Ph.D. program uses the National League for Nursing (2010) Competency Model with the following defined outcomes for the Research Doctorate level:

  • Human Flourishing
  • Nursing Judgment
  • Professional Identity, and
  • Spirit of Inquiry

The four dimensions constitute the framework for the program. Program and course learning objectives are congruent with the NLN Competency Model outcomes for a Research Doctorate. In addition, Kim’s (1983; 2011) Conceptual Model for Nursing Practice helps to frame the domains of practice. Kim’s Domains of Client, Client and Nurse, and Practice provide structure for Ph.D. nursing courses that can be related to the NLN (2010) Competency Model outcomes of Nursing Judgment and Human Flourishing. The NLN Competency Model outcomes of Professional Identity and Spirit of Inquiry provide definitions and support for Ph.D. nursing courses in Philosophy, Theory Development and Research. The program graduates will be rigorously prepared to pursue careers in research environments and as leaders of the profession.

References
Kim, H.S. (2011) The Nature of Theoretical Thinking in Nursing, (3rd Edition), New York, Springer Publishing AACN, (2010) The Research-Focused Doctoral Program in Nursing: Pathways to Excellence.

Program Overview
The Ph.D. program integrates technology across the curriculum. The courses will be delivered through a blended hybrid model with online synchronous, asynchronous, and face-to-face activities at the Beverly campus using the Canvas platform. This model appeals to busy professionals who are seeking a rigorous doctoral educational experience in a convenient and modern format.

Students are expected to complete a minimum of 45 credits beyond the master’s degree. Reflecting the interdisciplinary intent of the program at least 9 credits must be taken beyond the core nursing courses in research methods. The curriculum is organized within four components of the National League for Nursing (NLN) Competency Model (2010): Spirit of Inquiry, Professional Identity, Human Flourishing, and Nursing Judgment and is designed to meet the competency for each category. Underpinning the curriculum is the synthesis of knowledge related to nursing theory, research, practice, teaching and collaboration across disciplines.

Program Components

Phase I.
Students accepted to the Ph.D. program will be admitted in cohort groups. Students will complete 45 required credits of coursework in Spirit of Inquiry that is addressed in the core required nursing courses and research methods. The nursing courses lay the theoretical groundwork for knowledge development and include courses in philosophy of science, theory basis for nursing science, and analytical approaches to reasoning. Research supporting analytical approaches will also be explored. The core research method courses, including qualitative and quantitative research, provide in-depth review of research inquiry and various methodological approaches to study phenomena. A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.3 must be maintained at all times.

Phase II.
In Phase II of the Ph.D. program, all students are required to pass a comprehensive exam that is based on the core courses. Students will take the exam when all the required courses are completed. Students must pass the exam before beginning Phase III. The Director of the Doctoral Program will write and evaluate the comprehensive exam. A student will advance to Phase III-Doctoral Candidate after successfully completing the comprehensive exam.

Phase III-Doctoral Candidate.
This is the final phase of the program and includes the completion of a dissertation. By enrolling in - NUR 760 Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Advisement and Doctoral Seminar (12 credits) for 1-12 credits a semester. The dissertation is research-based and must include original research. Students will develop dissertation proposals in consultation with their dissertation committee.

Curriculum Requirements with optional Education Courses - Total Credits Required: 51


Curriculum Requirements - Total Credits Required: 45


Required Curriculum


Year III


NUR XXX Elective/Cognate course - 3 cr. (Students will need elective approval from the Director of the Ph.D. in Nursing program)

Learning Outcomes


Upon completion of the program, students will:

  • Incorporate mastery of knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to engage in activities that extend disciplinary knowledge as a scholar and researcher.
  • Combine logical, critical and scientific thinking with ethical integrity in the design, conduct, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of nursing research.
  • Integrate the philosophical foundations of knowledge into theory and research development that contributes to improving nursing care and practice.
  • Select theories and research relevant to the care of diverse, ethnic and cultural populations.
  • Collaborate and Communicate as a scholar within nursing and interdisciplinary community in the conduct and application of research.
  • Pursue lifelong learning and ongoing personal development through excellence in scholarly activities within and beyond the discipline.
  • Embraces the diversity of opportunities for career development, professional roles and disciplinary leadership as a nurse scientist, scholar, educator or mentor.
 

Nursing (Master of Science)


There are four concentrations in the Master of Science in Nursing program. The Nursing Administration and Leadership concentration, the Nursing Education concentration, and the Global Health Nursing concentration have 33 credits consisting of 6 core courses and 4 concentration courses. The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration has 45 credits consisting of 6 core courses and 8 concentration courses. This program is designed to provide registered nurses with advanced knowledge about nursing theory, research, professional development, scholarship, legal, ethical and professional standards of practice in the student’s area of concentration. The curriculum will highlight current trends in evidence based practice. The student will develop collaborative relationships with nurses and other discipline professionals and will acquire a foundation for doctoral study. The courses emphasize individual and group learning. The curriculum will highlight the current trends in evidence-based practice.

Students must complete the program prerequisite requirements, if applicable, before enrolling in a graduate-level course. A graduate who enters the proposed program with the prerequisites completed, should be able to complete the core and concentration courses in 18-24 months. Courses are offered as hybrid courses, a mix of in-class and online learning. The classroom instruction component will be offered in the evenings at the Beverly campus or designated off- site locations.

Students are required to maintain a cumulative grade average of 3.0 during their program of study. The minimum passing grade for each graduate nursing course is a B minus (2.7). Students will be required to successfully complete an internship in their selected field of choice. At the completion of the M.S. program, students must present and submit an electronic portfolio which will be used to access their achievement of each program learning outcome.

Nursing Administration Concentration
The Nursing Administration concentration is designed to prepare nurses to assume managerial roles in diverse settings: hospitals, long term care facilities, community service agencies, ambulatory care facilities, governmental agencies and corporations. The curriculum content and processes are consistent with the American Nurses Association (ANA) (2016) Scope and Standards of Practice for Nurse Administrators. The six core courses have content based on the Essentials of Master’s Education (AACN, 2011). The courses focus on developing core knowledge related to the domains of practice such as: delivery of care; legal, regulatory and ethical issues; healthcare economics; health care environment; and professional practice. Graduates will use organizational, analytic, strategic planning, financial, human resources, and evaluation skills in the role of a nurse leader in diverse nursing and healthcare settings. The nurse leadership/management concentration focuses on organizational and leadership theories, regulatory standards, risk management, quality assurance, strategic planning and concepts of human resource management. The component of a leadership and management internship course provides the experiential opportunity to integrate knowledge and experience with a single portfolio requirement. The internship placements are arranged collaboratively with the student and the School of Nursing. The students complete a research thesis and a capstone project which is an electronic portfolio requirement where students reflect on the essence, evidence and excellence of the ANA competencies drawing from the student’s completion of selected course materials accumulated in mastering the knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrating the integration and synthesis of competencies in the domains required for the degree.

Nursing Education Concentration
The Nursing Education concentration is designed to prepare nurses to assume the advanced nursing role of educator in academic settings and in health care organizations, in staff development, continuing education, or community based education. The curriculum content and processes are consistent with the National League for Nursing (NLN) (2013) Core Competencies for Nurse Educators. The six core courses have content based on the Essentials of Master’s Education. The courses focus on evidence-based principles of the education process and accreditation issues, assessment of various learning styles, needs and characteristics of diverse learners, competency-based instruction, and inclusive of new trends innovative, creative instructional technology strategies and techniques. Emphasis is on designing dynamic curricula and programs that are relevant in a changing and challenging health care environment. The ethical, legal and leadership dimensions of the nurse educator are integrated in the curriculum. The component of an education internship course provides the teaching opportunity to integrate knowledge and experience with a single portfolio requirement. The internship placements are arranged collaboratively with the student and the School of Nursing. The students complete a research thesis and a capstone project which is an electronic portfolio requirement where students reflect on the essence, evidence, and excellence of the NLN competencies drawing from the student’s completion of selected course materials accumulated in mastering the knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrating the integration and synthesis of competencies in the domains required for the degree.

Global Health Nursing Concentration
Global Health Nursing is an area of advanced practice that appeals to nurses as they experience the changing diversity of the patient population. Global Health Nursing bridges the disciplines of nursing, public health, international health and global health. This concentration will cover content from these areas with a particular emphasis on the role of the professional global health nurse as an advocate, leader, mentor, role model, collaborator, scholar, expert clinician, educator, interdisciplinary consultant, researcher, and entrepreneur. Social, political, and economic issues and the impact on health care delivery are explored. Students will use models for global health nursing to assess a selected community and develop strategies to overcome identified health problems. Students will have the opportunity to apply advanced knowledge about the multifaceted role of the global nurse across settings, countries, and continents. Students will participate in an internship experience that provides an opportunity to integrate theory and experience in the expanding health care environment globally and/or locally. Internship placements are arranged collaboratively with the student and the School of Nursing. The student completes a research thesis and a capstone project which is an electronic portfolio requirement where students reflect on the essence, evidence and excellence in achieving program objectives. Students provide evidence from selected student papers, presentations and discussions that demonstrate mastery of knowledge, skills, and abilities for the degree.

Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration
The Master of Science Program with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner is designed to provide students the knowledge and skills to deliver comprehensive primary care to patients from infancy to adulthood. The curriculum emphasis is on interdisciplinary collaboration and strategies for meeting patients’ primary care needs through a family- centered approach to health promotion and illness intervention. Upon completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration, students are eligible for Family Nurse Practitioner Certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Students complete specialty coursework in advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology and advanced pathophysiology, health promotion, disease prevention, differential diagnosis and disease management. Students are required to complete a minimum of 600 faculty supervised clinical hours. The School of Nursing makes every effort to assist each student in securing an appropriate clinical placement, but ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to secure a site and preceptor.

Program of Study


Pre-Master’s Pathway Curriculum Requirements - Total Credits Required: 13


The Pre-Master’s Pathway is designed for applicants who are registered nurses with an Associate degree or diploma in nursing who have a Bachelor degree or higher degree in a field other than nursing. This option offers alternative methods of qualifying for admission to the Graduate School based on transfer of academic courses and course enrollment. In order to be admitted to the Pre-Master’s Pathway, students are required to have completed undergraduate professional nursing courses in nursing leadership, nursing research and concepts/practice in community health. Students may have to submit the course syllabi from other nursing schools for evaluation or enroll in courses at Endicott College to meet these requirements.

Although the Pre-Master’s Pathway does not grant a Bachelor degree in nursing, it can enable the student to meet the criteria for admission into the graduate program in nursing. The Pre-Master’s Pathway grants exemptions for the specific graduate program admission requirement of a nursing baccalaureate degree.

Once students have been accepted into the program and completed the necessary prerequisites, they will follow the Traditional Master’s course work.

If applicable to applicant, the four additional pre-requisite courses are:

Traditional Master’s Pathway Curriculum Requirements - Total Credits Required: 18


The Traditional Master’s Pathway is designed for registered nurses with a baccalaureate degree in nursing. The common course of study for each specialty includes graduate core courses in theories, research process and design, and contemporary issues and trends that influence nursing practice. The courses follow a detailed sequence needed to develop expertise in each concentration.

Nursing Education Degree Curriculum Requirements - Total Credits Required: 33


Family Nurse Practitioner Degree Curriculum Requirements - Total Credits Required 45


Learning Outcomes


Upon completion of the program, students will:

  • Integrates scientific findings from nursing and other disciplines for the continual improvement of nursing care across diverse settings.
  • Demonstrate a repertoire of skills and strategies to implement organizational and systems leadership critical to the promotion of high quality and safe patient care.
  • Applies the methods, tools, performance measures, and standards related to quality, as well as quality principles within an organization.
  • Apply research outcomes within the practice setting, to resolve practice problems, working as a change agent to disseminate results.
  • Utilize patient-care technologies to deliver and enhance care, using communication technologies to integrate and coordinate care
  • Integrates and advocates for ethical, legal and professional standards of practice and intervenes at the systems level through the policy development process.
  • Communicates, collaborates, and consults with other health professionals to manage and coordinate care within the Interprofessional team
  • Applies and integrates broad, organizational, client-centered, and ethnically and culturally appropriate concepts in the planning, delivery, management, and evaluation of evidence-based clinical prevention and population care including services to individuals, families, and aggregates
  • Influences healthcare outcomes for individuals, populations, or systems through evidenced based nursing practice as well as the ability to integrate knowledge and formulate interventions into both direct and indirect patient care. Reference: American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2011). The essentials of master’s education in nursing. Retrieved from aacnnursing.org
 

Nursing - Fifth Year (Master of Science)


Admission Requirements


Fifth Year Expedited Admissions Process

Current Endicott students are eligible to apply to Fifth Year graduate programs using an expedited admissions process. In order to be eligible for the expedited admissions process, current students must have a 3.0 or higher GPA*. Students eligible for the Fifth Year expedited admission process are not required to submit an essay, resume, recommendations or transcripts.

Students should apply for a Fifth Year program using the Current Endicott Student Expedited Masters Application form available in MyEndicott. The Graduate and Professional Studies Office of Admissions will upon receipt of this form obtain a dean recommendation/GPA confirmation and confirm a prospective Fifth Year student has a clear record with the Office of the Bursar and the Office of Student Affairs.

*Otherwise, standard admissions requirements apply.

Please note that the application fee is waived for all current Endicott students and alumni.

All other candidates must apply online at: endicott.edu/admission/information-for-graduate-students/apply

Applicants should submit the following to Graduate Admissions, Endicott College, 376 Hale Street, Beverly, MA 01915

  • Non-refundable $50.00 application fee (check made payable to Endicott College, cash or online) Application fee waived for veteran and military students;
  • Two letters of recommendation (one academic reference and one professional reference);
  • Official transcripts of all post-secondary academic work sent directly from the institution(s) including confirmation of undergraduate degree, date confirmed, and any other graduate work;
  • Essay of 250-500 words on career goals and motivation for graduate study;
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for all students whose native language is not English; minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 79 (iBT) is required. The institutional code for Endicott College is 3369. Endicott also accepts an IELTS score of 6.0 or better;
  • All admissions requirements must be satisfied in order to be formally accepted in a degree program. Students must be formally admitted to a program before the completion of six Endicott credits.
  • GPA greater than or equal to 3.0
  • Photocopy of Registered Nurse License verification, which must be current and unrestricted
  • A basic statistics course is required of all students;
  • Resume and/or curriculum vitae
  • Interview

International Applicants for Graduate Admission
Endicott College welcomes and encourages applicants from around the world. International applicants are required to hold a college or university degree equivalent to a four-year American baccalaureate degree. Educational documents in a foreign language are required to be translated into English. All transcripts and translations of transcripts must be official originals and must show courses completed, grades received, grading scale, duration of study, degree or diploma received, and the date conferred. Endicott College reserves the right to request verification of the credentials by an external agency.
International applicants must submit current TOEFL scores when their native language is not English or when their baccalaureate transcript is not from an institution where English is the language of instruction. Once students have been admitted as degree candidates, Endicott College will send detailed instructions about the process for acquiring an Endicott-sponsored student visa.

 

Nursing (Post-Master Certificate Programs)


The post-masters certificates are designed to provide master’s prepared registered nurses with advanced knowledge related to the scope of practice for academic and staff development nurse educators and nurse administrators. The courses within the certificate program emphasize the professional role of the nurse educator/administrator, leadership roles, interpersonal and communication skills, diversity, critical thinking, the application of ethical, legal and professional standards of practice, and the evaluation of forces within the health care delivery and/or academic institutions impacting the professional role of the nurse educator or nurse administrator.

The Nurse Educator certificate focuses on the role of the nurse educator and responsibilities related to teaching, scholarship, service, clinical excellence, trends in education and ethical/legal issues impacting nurse educators. Students explore a variety of learning styles, needs and characteristics of diverse learners, competency-based instruction, including new trends in creative instructional technology strategies and techniques. Evaluative processes in nursing education in the classroom, simulation, clinical and distance learning are examined. The process of designing dynamic curricula and programs that are relevant in a changing and challenging health care environment, as well as the accreditation process of nursing programs are explored.

The Nurse Administrator certificate is designed to prepare nurses to assume managerial roles in diverse settings: hospitals, long term care facilities, community service agencies, ambulatory care facilities, governmental agencies and corporations. Courses focus on developing core knowledge related to delivery of care; legal, regulatory and ethical issues; healthcare economics; health care environment; and professional practice. Students use organizational, analytic, strategic planning, financial, human resources, and evaluation skills in the role of a nurse leader. Nurse administrator courses focus on organizational and leadership theories, regulatory standards, risk management, quality assurance, strategic planning and concepts of human resource management. Students in the nurse educator and nurse administrator certificate programs complete an internship experience which provides an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and skills into the real-world setting. Internship placements are arranged individually through the School of Nursing.

The Family Nurse Practitioner certificate program is designed to provide students the knowledge and skills to deliver comprehensive primary care to clients from infancy to adulthood. The curriculum emphasis is on interdisciplinary collaboration and strategies for meeting patients’ primary care needs through a family-centered approach to health promotion and illness intervention. Upon completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner courses, students are eligible for Family Nurse Practitioner Certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). In addition to the FNP core concentration coursework students in the post- master’s FNP program are required to complete 600 clinical hours in the areas of adult, geriatric, pediatric, adolescent and women’s primary healthcare.

Nurse Administrator Certificate


Nurse Educator Certificate


Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate


Learning Outcomes


Upon completion of the program, students will:

  • Integrates scientific findings from nursing and other disciplines for the continual improvement of nursing care across diverse settings.
  • Demonstrate a repertoire of skills and strategies to implement organizational and systems leadership critical to the promotion of high quality and safe patient care.
  • Applies the methods, tools, performance measures, and standards related to quality, as well as quality principles within an organization.
  • Apply research outcomes within the practice setting, to resolve practice problems, working as a change agent to disseminate results.
  • Utilize patient-care technologies to deliver and enhance care, using communication technologies to integrate and coordinate care
  • Integrates and advocates for ethical, legal and professional standards of practice and intervenes at the systems level through the policy development process.
  • Communicates, collaborates, and consults with other health professionals to manage and coordinate care within the Interprofessional team
  • Applies and integrates broad, organizational, client-centered, and ethnically and culturally appropriate concepts in the planning, delivery, management, and evaluation of evidence-based clinical prevention and population care including services to individuals, families, and aggregates
  • Influences healthcare outcomes for individuals, populations, or systems through evidenced based nursing practice as well as the ability to integrate knowledge and formulate interventions into both direct and indirect patient care.

Reference: American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2011). The essentials of master’s education in nursing. Retrieved from aacnnursing.org/portals/42/publications/mastersessentials11.pdf