Nursing

College of Health and Human Services
Dean: Donald P. Zingale

School of Nursing
BH 371
415-338-1801
Interim Director: Karen Johnson-Brennan

Graduate Coordinator: Frank E. McLaughlin

Faculty

Professors—Baj, Ferretti, Fong, Haw, Hess, Johnson-Brennan, MacKay, McLaughlin, Moldanado, Perry, Verhey

Associate Professors—Boyle, Eaton, Johnson, Matteoli, Nichols

Assistant Professors—Gonzales, Hardie, Robertson-Beckley, Stannard

Lecturers—Bahr, Buckley, Kruse, Neilson, Smith, Spiegel, Van Dam

Programs

B.S. in Nursing
M.S. in Nursing
M.S. In Nursing: Concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner
Certificate in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Health Care
Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner

Program Scope

The mission of the School of Nursing is to (1) provide baccalaureate and graduate education in nursing for a diverse student body; (2) prepare graduates to provide quality nursing care, leadership, and advocacy to meet the health care needs of culturally diverse people in urban environments; and (3) to improve health care and nursing services through service to the community.

Goals

• To provide an environment conducive to learning for students with diverse learning styles and needs.
• To develop clinicians, leaders, advocates and change agents to function in evolving health care systems.
• To increase the numbers of nurses from groups underrepresented in nursing.
• To prepare nurses who support the use and dissemination of research in practice.
• To provide service to the community through faculty and student leadership, consultation, research, and clinical practice.

The program provides the basis for leadership and graduate education in nursing. The graduate of the Bachelor of Science program is prepared to practice in a variety of health care settings, including community health. The Master of Science in Nursing is offered with  a concentration in family nurse practitioner and emphases in entrepreneurial leadership, clinical care management, and public health/community nursing. The MSN is designed to meet a critical need of the health care system for qualified nurse entrepreneurial leaders; clinical care managers in acute care, long term care, community and home health agencies; and/or family nurse practitioners.

The School of Nursing is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, is accredited by the National League for Nursing, and has preliminary accreditation by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. It is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing; the California Association of Colleges of Nursing; and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, (212) 363-5555.

Career Outlook

Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The graduate has an opportunity to choose from the following first level professional nursing staff positions: maternity, pediatric, medical-surgical, psychiatric/mental health, community health, and home health care nursing.

Master of Science in Nursing. Graduates of the entrepreneurial leadership emphasis of the MSN will be prepared to manage and administer health care services in managed care systems, long term care agencies, nursing centers, faculty practices, clinics and mental health centers, and acute care institutions, in environments both entrepreneurial and traditional, at the regional, national, and international level. Graduates of the clinical care management emphasis will be qualified for positions as care managers in hospitals, long term care facilities, community and home health care agencies. Graduates of the case management in primary care emphasis will be qualified as Family Nurse Practitioners. Graduates of the public health/community nursing emphasis will be eligible for positions as program planners, managers, and evaluators of public health programs and community nursing services, and as case managers for specific at-risk populations. Graduates of all emphases are eligible for positions in quality improvement, program planning, and evaluation and are eligible for advanced study at the doctoral level.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

The School of Nursing reserves the right to make changes in the curriculum based on the evaluation process. Students will be advised and assisted in making adjustments to these changes.

NOTE: The School of Nursing has impacted status. All applicants to the BSN program must apply for admission to the major from November 1–November 30 for the subsequent Fall semester. Students will be admitted to the major based on GPA in the prerequisite courses that are listed below and the supplemental criteria:

• Second language proficiency
• Multicultural community experience
• Underrepresentation in Nursing
• Health-related work/volunteer service

Applicants should address inquiries to the School of Nursing, (415) 338-1801.

Applicants with No Prior Nursing Background

Freshmen applicants, who apply as nursing majors, are admitted to the university in undeclared status. Prospective students may select another major on the application for admission. Freshmen are never admitted to the nursing major. Freshmen and sophomore students interested in the nursing major must seek advisement from the School of Nursing regarding prerequisite requirements and the potential change of major to nursing. Transfer students should take courses comparable to the prerequisite courses listed below.

Change of major and transfer students must complete the prerequisite courses by the end of the Spring semester prior to consideration for admission to the nursing major. Qualified students who are admitted to the nursing major will be randomly assigned to begin nursing courses in either the Fall or Spring semester. Those who are admitted to the Spring nursing class must register and enroll in NURS 111, Professional Nursing Concepts, the previous Fall semester.

In addition to the lower and upper division nursing courses, students must meet General Education and all other graduation requirements.

Applicants with Previous Nursing Background

Applicants who are Licensed Vocational Nurses, Emergency Medical Technicians, Psychiatric Technicians, and/or Corpspersons may request placement in the baccalaureate nursing program by following these procedures:

• It is important to identify the status after the name in the application for admission to the university; LVN, EMT, Psychiatric Technician, or Corpsperson.
• In addition to the university application, a separate application that includes official transcripts must be submitted to the School of Nursing.
• The supplemental application is available from the School of Nursing.
• Individual assessment and counseling are given to each student in order to assure proper placement.

Applicants to the Advanced Placement Option for Registered Nurses

• It is important that Registered Nurses include RN after the name on the application for admission to the university.
• In addition to the university application, a separate application that must include official transcripts must be submitted to the School of Nursing. The supplemental application is available from the School of Nursing.
• Applicants must have graduated from an accredited program in nursing with at least a grade of C in all nursing courses and an overall 2.5 GPA in the nursing program.
• RN’s must complete the prerequisite courses prior to graduation from the university.

Online course descriptions are available.

Students seeking to major in nursing must meet the following criteria and prerequisites. Completion of the following courses with a minimum of a B– in anatomy and physiology; a minimum of a C in each of the other prerequisite courses; and a cumulative GPA in the eight courses of 2.5 or better. A C– grade is not acceptable. A student may repeat only one of these courses one time only.

Program Plan for Registered Nurses

• It is possible to receive credit through challenge examinations for certain lecture courses. Associate degree RNs may challenge NURS 114, NURS 333, and NURS 556. In addition to these courses, diploma students may also challenge NURS 111 and NURS 112. Validation of curricular content may occur as a result of documentation, evaluation, or examination.
• Associate degree RNs may transfer up to eighteen (18) nursing units from their program content to:
  NURS 111 Professional Nursing Concepts
  NURS 112 Healthy Aging (1)
  NURS 113 Nursing Practicum I (4)
  NURS 222 Nursing of Adults
  NURS 223 Nursing Practicum II
  NURS 224 Technical Skills Laboratory
  NURS 225 Pharmacology
• Associate degree RNs may receive sixteen (16) upper division units of credit from the Nursing Mobility Profile Exam II for the following:
  NURS 334 Family Assessment and Maternity Nursing
  NURS 335 Nursing Practicum III
  NURS 336 Nursing Care of Ill Children (2)
  NURS 337 Nursing Practicum IV
  NURS 444 Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (2)
  NURS 445 Nursing Practicum V
• Diploma nurses may receive the same credits by taking the same examinations. In addition, diploma nurses may earn lower division credit for NURS 222 and NURS 223 through challenge examinations.
• Working nurses may opt for part-time study and complete the program at their own pace.
• It is possible for full-time students to complete the nursing major courses in one calendar year.
• Students must meet General Education and all other requirements for graduation.
• Students are expected to satisfactorily complete all courses prescribed for each level before progressing to the next level.

RN's will earn units in the nursing major at San Francisco State University by satisfactory completion of the following courses. RNs may earn unit credit for NURS 114, NURS 333, and NURS 556 through challenge examinations.

Special Requirements: All nursing students are required to carry professional liability insurance, personal health insurance, and to meet the health requirements of the school at the beginning of each academic year. Students at the senior level must have use of an automobile for the community health nursing experience.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

Graduate Advisers—Baj, Boyle, Ferretti, Fong, Gonzales, Hardie, Haw, Hess, Johnson, Mackay, McLaughlin, Moldanado, Nichols, Perry, Robertson-Beckley, Stannard, Verhey

Admission to Program

There are three pathways for entry into the program: R.N. with a B.S. in Nursing; R.N. with baccalaureate in another field; non-nurse with baccalaureate or higher degree.

Specific admission requirements include the following:

1. An applicant must meet the general requirements for admission to graduate study at San Francisco State University.
2. An applicant must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) in the last 60 units of study.
3. The School of Nursing Program Application Form (available from the graduate secretary, School of Nursing) must be completed and submitted by the established deadline date.
4. An applicant must be a graduate of a NLN accredited baccalaureate nursing program or its equivalent. R.N.s with baccalaureates in other fields will be evaluated for equivalency to the B.S. in Nursing. Non-nurse applicants may enter the program by completing undergraduate prerequisite and nursing courses. (Contact the School of Nursing for information.)
5. Students whose primary language is not English must earn a minimum of 550 on the paper Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 213 on the computer-based TOEFL.
6. R.N. applicants must have current licensure in the U.S.A. and be eligible for licensure in California.
7. A statement of purpose that outlines goals and objectives for the pursuit of graduate study must be submitted with the School of Nursing application.
8. Applicants must provide at least three references: one from a former instructor, one from a work supervisor, and one from a work colleague.
9. Courses in inferential statistics and nursing research must have been completed within the past seven years.
10. Applicants must submit a three- to ten-page sample of writing skills.
11. Applicants to the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration must have at least one year (2,000 hours) of recent relevant nursing practice experience.

Application Deadlines

Special Requirements. All graduate nursing students are required to carry professional liability insurance, personal health insurance, and to meet the health requirements of the university at the beginning of each academic year. It is advisable to have an automobile for ease of transportation to practicum assignments. All M.S.N. students must be licensed as a RN or possess an interim permit before enrolling in NURS 801.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: certified through passing the Graduate Essay Test (GET) prior to entrance to the graduate program. The GET must be completed with a full passing score before enrolling in graduate nursing courses. Students who fail the GET must enroll in EDUC 614, CHS 514, BUS 514, or obtain a private tutor to strengthen writing skills and retake the GET. Level Two: satisfied by demonstration of English competency on the final paper for NURS 794.

Advancement to Candidacy

The student must clear any admission conditions as soon as possible after beginning the graduate program. The Graduate Approved Program (GAP) should be completed and filed in the Graduate Division after the student has completed 24 units. The Proposal for Culminating Experience form must be completed and filed before he/she enrolls in the culminating experience course, either NURS 895 or 898.

Prerequisite courses may be challenged or waived for those students who have extensive professional experience and have participated in mandatory continuing education programs for R.N. licensure. Information regarding the sequence in which required course work should be completed will be provided by the graduate adviser.

Online course descriptions are available.

CERTIFICATE IN FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER

This certificate is offered through the College of Extended Learning. Once admitted to the program by the School of Nursing, students enroll in classes through Open University. The certificate program will be offered over four semesters on a part-time basis.

The Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate is a 30-unit course of post-graduate study designed for nurses with master’s degrees or doctorates in nursing and is a core part of the existing M.S.N. degree emphasis in Family Nurse Practitioner. Completion of the certificate verifies to the California Board of Registered Nursing that the students meet all requirements for licensure as nurse practitioners and also provides documentation to professional organizations that all requirements for national certification examinations were completed.

Graduates of the certificate program are eligible for positions as family nurse practitioners in primary care settings.

Admission Requirements

• Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing.
• One year (2,000 hours) of recent relevant clinical nursing experience.
• Completion of a physiology or pathophysiology course within the last seven years.
• SFSU approved preceptor(s) and clinical sites for all clinical practica in primary health care.
• Current RN licensure in the U.S.A. and be eligible for licensure in California.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

It is assumed that graduates of master’s or doctoral programs in nursing in the United States are proficient  in English. Graduates of international nursing programs must demonstrate English proficiency through an example of a written scholarly paper and a minimum score of 550 on the paper TOEFL or 213 on the computer-based TOEFL.

CERTIFICATE IN ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP IN HEALTH CARE

This certificate is offered through the College of Extended Learning. Once admitted to the program by the School of Nursing, students enroll in classes through Open University.

Purpose

The purpose of the Entrepreneurial Leadership in Health Care Certificate is to offer an integrated program in the emerging field of community-based management. This program will offer students the opportunity to become proficient in both managed care and quality management from a nursing organizational leadership perspective. The target populations are baccalaureate prepared registered nurses (RN’s) and master’s prepared RN’s pursuing career transitions. The certificate program offers a skill mix package that includes marketing, program resource allocation, strategic planning, organizational development, budget and fiscal planning for managed care systems, quality improvement, and an emphasis on managing multicultural workforces in the community.

Curriculum

The Certificate in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Health Care includes three components:

• Content covers diverse theoretical perspectives.
• Strategies for empowerment of health care workers and consumers to improve health care access and quality and to control costs.
• Internship with outstanding health care organization mentors.

Admission to Program

• An applicant must be a graduate of a NLN accredited nursing program with the B.S. in Nursing or its equivalent as determined by the School of Nursing.
• The School of Nursing Certificate Application form must be submitted by the established deadline date.
• An applicant must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 overall.
• An applicant must have current RN licensure in the U.S.A. and be eligible for licensure in California.
• The application must include a statement of purpose that outlines the applicant’s goals and objectives for the pursuit of the certificate program.
• One reference from a work supervisor and one reference from a professional colleague must be submitted with the School of Nursing application.

Written English Proficiency Requirements

Level One: certified through passing the Graduate Essay Test (GET) prior to entrance to the program. The GET must be completed with a full passing score before enrolling in graduate nursing courses. Students who fail the GET must enroll in EDUC 614, CHS 514, BUS 514, or obtain a private tutor to strengthen writing skills and retake the GET. Level Two: satisfied by demonstration of English competency on the final paper for NURS 802.