.png)
Academic Programs
The undergraduate program is comprised of two tracks, both culminating in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and preparing graduates to continue their education at the master's level. Which track a student pursues is determined by her or his previous academic preparation. All undergraduate students are able to utilize a variety of agencies for clinical experiences.
NOTE: At this time, the College of Nursing is located on the Atlanta campus only. Although nursing courses are not currently offered on the Mercer-Macon campus, the College of Nursing will continue to evaluate the feasibility of offering the nursing curriculum on the Mercer-Macon campus. Students interested in applying to nursing at Mercer are highly encouraged to complete their first two years of core undergraduate general education coursework as a Mercer University student in Macon. Consider applying for Fall Semester 2013 to Mercer- Macon pre-nursing!
The undergraduate program consists of the BSN prelicensure track and is suited for prelicensure students who are not yet recognized nurses and who are pursuing initial professional nursing education. Satisfactory completion of the generic track entitles the graduate to take the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN) and, with a successful exam score, become a registered nurse prepared for general practice in hospitals, community agencies, and other health care environments. View the Curriculum for Undergraduate (pre-licensure) Students.
The RN-BSN Completion track is for registered nurses who have graduated from an accredited associate degree or diploma nursing program, who have successfully completed the National Council Licensure Exam for RNs (NCLEX-RN), and who are currently licensed to practice nursing in the state of Georgia.
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is for registered nurses who have graduated from an accredited baccalaureate nursing program, are currently licensed to practice as a registered nurse in Georgia, and have a minimum of one year work experience as a registered nurse. The MSN program offers three areas of concentration. Graduate students may select either (1) nursing education; (2) acute/critical care clinical nurse specialist; or (3) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). A student may also choose the clinical nurse specialist or the family nurse practitioner and compliment this specialty with another focus in nursing education. The Family Nurse Practitioner track graduated the first class in August 2012 with 100% of students successfully completing the certification examination on their first attempt!
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program focuses on the three major categories of practice: (1) direct care for individual clients, (2) health care for aggregates, communities, and populations, and (3) management of health care through roles in administration, policy development, and quality assurance. The purpose of the DNP degree program of study is too build upon the foundation of advanced nursing skills, to prepare nurses for leadership roles in health care delivery, and to propose solutions for the improvement of health care outcomes for individuals and for society.
The Ph.D. in Nursing program combines the flexibility of online instruction. This rigorous program prepares nurses at the Ph.D. level to educate the next generation of nurses and assume leadership positions in administrative, research, clinical and entrepreneurial settings. Students will be able to tailor their coursework and individualize their research to focus on one of three areas of concentration: ethics, clinical scholarship, or education.
The nurse educator certificate courses are for nurses who have earned a master's in nursing degree and are now seeking specific coursework to prepare for the role of nurse educator in an academic setting. Nurses working toward a Nurse Educator Certificate enter as non-degree post graduate students. Candidates for the certificate may complete course and clinical work in as little as a single semester and a summer session, or they may take up to two years to complete their studies.
The College of Nursing utilizes various settings for clinical experiences, including Atlanta area hospitals and community-based facilities. The College is committed to providing quality education in both theory and clinical areas.