Master’s Entry Program in Nursing (M.E.P.N.)

Interim Director of Nursing/Associate Professor: Joyce O'Reilly
Assistant Professors: Lisa R. Chicko, Wendy J. Varnum, Catherine Cuchetti

Successful graduates will receive a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) degree and a Healthcare
Administration Certificate. As a pre-licensure registered nursing program, the M.E.P.N. program
accepts applicants who have completed the following: 

Application Requirements for the Masters Entry to Practice Nursing (M.E.P.N.)
Application materials must be submitted and reviewed prior to acceptance. These materials include the following:
• Completed Franklin Pierce University Graduate Admission application
• Resume
• Essay stating goals and objectives for applying to the MEPN program
• Receipt of all official transcripts from colleges and/o universities previously attended
• Achievement of minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) admission exam with a passing score of 80%
•  Interview with nursing faculty

Students must complete the following prerequisite college level courses with a letter grade of B or better prior to starting the M.E.P.N. program:
• lAnatomy and Physiology I (4 credits with lab)
• Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits with lab)
• General Chemistry (4 credits with lab)
• Microbiology (4 credits with lab)
• Statistics (3 credits)
• Human/Lifespan Development (3 credits)
• Nutrition (3 credits)

---

M.E.P.N. Mission Statement
The Master’s Entry to Practice Nursing Program (M.E.P.N.) is committed to preparing ethical “leaders of conscience who demonstrate sound critical thinking and clinical judgement, promote health and healing, and who make significant contributions to the local and global communities. The curriculum prepares students to utilize scholarly inquiry to provide care that is patient centered and rooted in evidence. Graduates will be prepared to practice in diverse health care arenas to effect improvements in patient outcomes through leadership in health care delivery systems. 

Expected Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the M.E.P.N. program, students will be able to:
• Demonstrate critical thinking and decision-making based on biopsychosocial and organizational sciences to improve healthcare quality and outcomes in a variety of settings.
• Integrate organizational and systems leadership to guide and direct clinical decision making and evaluation of patient outcomes and safety.
• Advocate for ethical and culturally sensitive strategies in the design of high quality and cost effective healthcare delivery.
• Apply clinical scholarship and implementation of best practices for the improvement of healthcare delivery.

• Incorporate technology to support and coordinate delivery of high quality, safe patient care.
• Demonstrate advocacy strategies to influence healthcare policy to improve health of the public.
• Collaborate with the inter-professional team to influence the shared goals of disease prevention, health promotion, and patient-centered care to diverse populations.

The M.E.P.N. program prepares the graduate to:
• Utilize professional codes and standards of professional nursing practice.
• Demonstrate autonomy in critical thinking and decision making to guide care to patient across the lifespan.
• Function effectively within interprofessional healthcare teams, utilizing evidence-based practice to deliver high quality safe patient care and promote positive patient outcomes.
• Apply leadership skills as a change agent within the healthcare system to promote equity and culturally sensitive care

The M.E.P.N. program:
• Prepares the student to take the NCLEX-RN upon completion of the program
• Consists of six consecutive 12-week terms over 18 months
• Is a full-time program; students are discouraged from working

Dismissal and Termination
The M.E.P.N. Program is a master’s level professional education program. Students enrolled in the program must demonstrate achievement in academic and clinical competencies necessary for professional practice as a registered nurse and meet academic criteria consistent with degree programs at the graduate level. Students are held to both the M.E.P.N. Academic Standards Policies identified in the Nursing Student Handbook as well as the Academic Catalog.

Students in the M.E.P.N. program are expected to earn grades of a B or better to remain in good academic standing. Final course grades of less than a B in a 700-level course will result in program dismissal. In accordance with the current academic standing policy graduate students cannot have more than two grades below a B- in any 500-level courses during the program.

Students in the M.E.P.N. program must abide by all policies in the Student Code of Conduct, the Nursing Student Handbook, and all University policies as defined in the current FPU Academic Catalog. Additionally, M.E.P.N. students must abide by the Code of Ethics set forth by the American Nurses Association.

1. Performing duties and/or assuming responsibilities without adequate preparation, competency, and/or supervision.
2. Diverting supplies, equipment, or medications for personal or other unauthorized use. Ignorance will not be accepted as justification.
3. Falsifying or otherwise altering client, clinical agency, or University records or documents.
4. Misrepresenting his/her clinical hours or providing any false documentation or other written or verbal inaccuracy related to clinical rotations and/or clinical hours.
5. Abusing, neglecting, or abandoning clients and/or families, or violating privacy regulations, laws or rules.
6. Displaying conduct that is unbecoming to a FPU nursing student, or which may be detrimental or dangerous to the health or welfare of the client, family, public, self, or the University.
7. Being charged with or convicted of the commission of any act that is classified as a relevant misdemeanor or any felony under N.H. law.
8. Failure to abide by and/or commission of acts or behaviors that violate University and/or School of Nursing requirements, policies, and procedures as identified in the Nursing Student Handbook or the N.H. Board of Nursing Nurse Practice Act.
9. Inability to perform required essential skills and functions due to chemical, mental, physical or medical impairment.
10. Positive result on any drug test.

M.E.P.N. Program Requirements 
Foundational pre-licensure course work is front loaded in the program with master’s level content scaffolded throughout. Foundational concepts and health assessment/management across the lifespan are paired with clinical learning experiences throughout the program. Students’ studies will culminate with NR790 which requires them to develop a quality improvement project as well as an immersion leadership practicum.

Curriculum Plan
Term 1   
NR501 R.N./M.S.N. Bridge  3 Credits
NR580 Pathophysiology for the Advanced Generalist      3 Credits
NR700 Foundational Concepts of Professional Nursing (lecture)     3 Credits
NR701 Foundation: Introduction to Nursing Interventions                 3 Credits
Practicum/ Health Assessment across the lifespan for the Advanced Generalist (Lab)
Term 1 total: 184 Hours 12 Credits

Term 2   
NR575 NR575 Pharmacology for the Advanced Generalist      3 Credits
GM592 Health Policy           3 Credits
NR710 Nursing Management of Common Health Alterations   Across the Lifespan  3 Credits
NR711 Nursing Management of Common Health Alterations  Across the Lifespan Practicum (clinical/lab)   3 Credits
Term 1 total: 136 Hours 12 Credits

Term 3   
GM594 Healthcare Payment Systems     3 Credits
GM520 Legal and Ethical Issues in Business Organizations 3 Credits
NR750 Maternal/Child Nursing (lecture)    2 Credits
NR751 Women's Health Practicum (OB/Gyn clinical/lab)   1 Credit
NR752 Pediatrics Practicum (Peds clinical/lab)   1 Credit
Term 3 total: 112 Hours 10 Credits
   
Term 4   
GM596 Quality Improvement Models in Healthcare       3 Credits
NR730 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing (Lecture)      3 Credits
NR731 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Practicum (clinical)  1 Credit
NR 740 Community Health Promotion Practicum (clinical)    1 Credit
Term 4 total: 112 Hours 9 Credits

Term 5
GM510 Seminar in Leadership 3 Credits
NR720 Nursing Management of Complex Health Alterations Across the Lifespan (Lecture) 3 Credits
NR721 Nursing Management of Complex Health Alterations Across the Lifespan Practicum (clinical/lab) 3 Credits
 Term 5 total: 136 Hours 9 Credits
   
Term 6   
NR760 Immersion Advanced Generalist Practicum (clinical) 3 Credits
NR790 Capstone 6 Credits
 Term 6 total: 216 Hours 9 Credits

 Degree total: 896 Hours 60 Credits