2024-2025 Graduate Catalog
John and Nevils Wilson School of Nursing
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 Return to: Robert D. & Carol Gunn College of Health Sciences and Human Services
Robin Lockhart
Chair, John and Nevils Wilson School of Nursing
Catherine Pankonien
Graduate Coordinator
| Graduate Faculty: |
Halberg, Mercer, Moriarty, Pankonien, Wetendorf |
| Emeriti Faculty: |
Sportsman, Tickle |
The Master of Science in Nursing
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at Midwestern State University is a professional program of study offered in concert with the mission and purpose of the University, and building upon the foundation of undergraduate nursing education. Master’s education includes the development of refined analytical skills, broad-based perspectives, enhanced abilities to articulate viewpoints and positions, as well as the ability to integrate theory with practice and to utilize research findings in advanced practice roles. MSU’s MSN program offers two options: Family Nurse Practitioner and Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The master’s programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
The Family Nurse Practitioner program prepares the student for practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner, meeting the requirements for advanced practice nursing established by the Texas Board of Nursing. Graduates are eligible for national certification examinations. The Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program prepares the student for practice as a Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, meeting the requirements for advanced practice nursing established by the Texas Board of Nursing. Graduates are eligible for national certification examinations.
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Wilson School of Nursing to prepare nurses who will provide competent and compassionate health care to individuals, families, groups, and communities. The nursing faculty values teaching/learning in an individualized, collegial environment inclusive of a variety of teaching methodologies. Building on a liberal arts foundation, this approach to both undergraduate and graduate nursing education develops students as leaders through collaborative identification of issues and the implementation of innovative creative solutions to the provision of health services.
Program Objectives
The graduate of the Master of Science in Nursing program will be able to
- Synthesize knowledge from a variety of theoretical perspectives in the provision of comprehensive client-focused nursing services;
- Analyze clinical and non-clinical problems and constructively critique them related to professional literature as a foundation for matriculation to post-master’s and/or doctoral programs;
- Integrate current research methods and findings into advanced practice nursing;
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of health care issues as a foundation for participation in the advancement of health care policy and the discipline of nursing;
- Integrate ethical-legal principles in the analysis and practical resolution of health care dilemmas;
- Evaluate the multi-faceted roles of the advanced practice nurse in light of relevant theory, legislation, professional standards of practice, and social mandate;
- Achieve national certification as an advanced practice nurse (Family Nurse Practitioner, Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner); and
- Engage in scholarly activities including oral and written communication.
Admission to the MSN Program
Consideration for admission to the MSN program at MSU requires completion of the following:
- A completed application to the MSN Program which can be found online at http://www.msutexas.edu/admissions/apply;
- A completed application to the Billie Doris McAda Graduate School at MSU which can be found online at https://msutexas.edu/academics/graduate-school/how-to-apply.php;
- Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, which are to be sent directly to the Graduate School, 3410 Taft Boulevard, Wichita Falls, TX 76308; and
- Description of goals related to graduate study, which is the final section of the MSN application.
Admission Requirements for Students Holding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The Wilson School of Nursing endorses the Admissions Policy as set forth in the Midwestern State University Graduate Catalog. Refer to the section titled, “Admission to the Graduate School ” for admission requirements.
In addition to the Graduate School requirements, the Wilson School of Nursing adds the following criteria for unconditional and conditional admissions.
- Unconditional Admission
May be granted to an applicant who has the following:
- An earned baccalaureate degree in nursing from a Department of Education recognized accrediting body of nursing programs. The Billie Doris McAda Graduate School must receive an official transcript, including one on which the bachelor’s degree is posted, directly from each institution the applicant has attended.
- A GPA of at least 3.0 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work exclusive of credit hours awarded by a two-year college.
- Personal Interview with program coordinator and/or graduate faculty.
- Satisfactory score on the professional goal statement essay located on the MSN application.
- Conditional Admission
A student who does not meet each of the above admission criteria may be conditionally admitted by review of the Graduate Curriculum and Standards Committee if the applicant has the following:
- An earned baccalaureate degree in nursing from a Department of Education recognized accrediting body of nursing programs. The Graduate School must receive an official transcript, including one on which the bachelor’s degree is posted, directly from each institution the applicant has attended.
- An undergraduate background judged by the Graduate Curriculum and Standards Committee to be adequate for success. The Graduate Curriculum and Standards Committee may require additional undergraduate credit for unconditional admission to be granted. If so, the student must make a grade of no less than a “C” in undergraduate nursing leveling course work, or
- A student who is conditionally admitted must remove the condition by earning a grade of “B” or better in each of the first four graduate courses (which total at least 12 SCH) applicable to the student’s graduate major (FNP, PMHNP). These courses must be completed as designated in the degree plan, with no drops or incompletes. Courses may not be repeated. Exceptions for severe, extenuating circumstances may be granted jointly by the Chair of the Nursing Department and the Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services. A student who is assessed additional undergraduate leveling work must complete that work at the direction of and to the satisfaction of the Graduate Curriculum and Standards Committee.
Certificate Programs
An applicant who has earned an MSN or an MS in nursing from an institution accredited by a Department of Education recognized accrediting body for nursing programs may be accepted into the Family Nurse Practitioner or Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program in pursuit of a certificate. The program consists of advanced nursing practice courses mandated by the Texas Board of Nursing.
Specific Program Requirements
- Current RN license to practice in any compact state and/or any other state relevant to student’s clinical experiences.
- Basic undergraduate statistics course (3 semester hours).
- Personal interview with the graduate and/or program coordinator.
- Compliance with the State and Program mandated immunizations before enrollment in the first clinical course. Refer to the Wilson School of Nursing Immunization Policy at http://www.mwsu.edu/Assets/documents/academics/hs2/nursing/pdf/immunizations.pdf.
- Current liability insurance purchased through MSU is required by students in the clinical setting in advanced practice student roles.
- Documentation of current health insurance.
- Documentation of current CPR/BLS Health Care Provider Certification.
- 10 panel drug screen.
- Background check.
- Prospective students must present evidence of basic physical assessment content in their undergraduate program or completion of approved physical assessment content. Students may be required to demonstrate competence in physical assessment skills if most recent content exposure and clinical experience occurred more than three years prior to admission.
Full-time Status
The Wilson School of Nursing MSN program considers 6 credit hours per semester as full-time status in Family Nurse Practitioner and Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Progression Policy
Satisfactory progression in MSU graduate nursing courses is defined as a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and no grade lower than a “B” (80-89%) in the nursing courses.
- If a grade of “C” or lower is earned in any graduate nursing course, the course must be successfully repeated the next regular academic semester during which the course is offered. Failure to achieve the minimum grade of “B” when repeating a course will result in dismissal from the program. Students may petition the Graduate Curriculum and Standards Committee to accept a repeated course from another university in advance of enrollment for the course; however, the original grade will remain on the transcript and will be calculated into the CGPA. The only way to remove the grade from the GPA calculation is to retake the course at MSU.
- A student who fails to successfully complete a nurse practitioner major clinical course either by dropping the course during the semester or by earning less than a “B” will be required to register for and satisfactorily complete (minimum grade of “B”) a one semester credit hour special topics course for each semester until retaking the dropped or failed course. The purpose of the special topics course is to maintain clinical competence. The course will consist of 64 clinical hours under the direction of an FNP or PMHNP faculty member. Clinical hours that were earned during the dropped or failed course will be forfeited. Clinical hours earned during the special topics course will be in addition to the minimum required clinical hours for the FNP and PMHNP programs.
- A student who earns lower than a “B” in any two graduate nursing courses either the same course twice or two different courses, will be dismissed from the program. Readmission will be considered by the Graduate Curriculum and Standards Committee on an individual basis.
Students making unsatisfactory progress in the program are not eligible for assistantship positions.
A student who is in the process of appealing a course grade through the Academic Appeals Committee may not enroll in any subsequent nursing courses for which the course under appeal is a prerequisite. If the student has already registered, he/she will be administratively withdrawn from those courses.
Exceptions to the Progression Policy: The MSN program’s Graduate Curriculum and Standards Committee (GCSC) can make exceptions to the above due to extenuating circumstances. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the Graduate Coordinator and GCSC with a written request (accompanied by appropriate documentation) for exceptions to the progression policy. The student will be notified in writing of the GCSC’s decision within ten (10) working days.
Grading Scale
| 90 - 100 |
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A |
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| 80 - 89 |
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B |
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| 74 - 79 |
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C |
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| 65 - 73 |
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D |
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| 64 or below |
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F |
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Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Nursing offers two programs with different curricula that focus on the roles of family nurse practitioner or family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Each student must complete an evidence-based project (EBP).
Admission to Candidacy
Admission to candidacy will occur when the graduate student successfully presents the proposal for an evidence-based project. At this time, the student will be approved to complete the thesis or project required for the MSN degree. The student’s EBP course faculty will complete the form at the time of the presentation and file it with the Chair of the John and Nevils Wilson School of Nursing. The student will receive a copy at the conclusion of the proposal. Requirements for the EBP can be located in the MSN Graduate Student Handbook on the Wilson School of Nursing homepage. http://www.mwsu.edu/Assets/documents/academics/hs2/nursing/pdf/graduatehandbook_2010.pdf.
Comprehensive Oral Examination
The comprehensive oral examination will be completed during the final presentation of the EBP. The criteria for the comprehensive examination are included in the MSN Graduate Student Handbook. Successful completion will demonstrate the student’s ability to integrate theory and research with practice, as evidenced by the EBP and its oral defense/presentation.
Program Completion Time Limit
The Master of Science in Nursing must be completed within seven calendar years from the date of enrollment in the first course applied to the degree. FNP students who do not graduate at the end of the semester in which they complete NURS 5372 - Advanced Practicum II , must remain continuously enrolled in NURS 6911 in which 64 clock hours of advanced practicum must be completed each semester.
Distinguished Professorships
John and Nevils Wilson Distinguished Professorship of Nursing
The John and Nevils Wilson Distinguished Professorship of Nursing was established in 2003 to support the teaching and research of a professor in the John and Nevils Wilson School of Nursing.
Minnie Rhea Wood Distinguished Professorship of Nursing
The Minnie Rhea Wood Distinguished Professorship of Nursing was established in 2005 to support the teaching and research of a professor in the John and Nevils Wilson School of Nursing.
Programs and Courses
ProgramsMajorGraduate CertificateCoursesNursing
Return to: Robert D. & Carol Gunn College of Health Sciences and Human Services
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