Overview
Dr. Colleen Donegan, Program Director
Mission of the Wegmans School of Nursing Graduate Program
The mission of the educational programs leading to the Master of Science in Nursing at St. John Fisher College is to provide a stimulating milieu of academic and clinical excellence that challenges the professional nurse to acquire the theoretical and clinical scholarship needed to assume expanded nursing roles in interdisciplinary health care and/or academic settings upon graduation.
The school offers the following degree programs at the master’s level:
- Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner (PCFNP), which qualifies the graduate to seek certification and employment as a family nurse practitioner.
- Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS), which qualifies the graduate to seek certification as a clinical nurse specialist in the adult/gerontology clinical specialty.
- Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), which qualifies the graduate to seek certification and employment as a nurse practitioner in this primary care specialty.
- Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), which qualifies the graduate to seek certification and employment as a nurse practitioner in this acute care specialty.
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), which qualifies the graduate to seek certification and employment as psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
Post-master’s certificates are available in all five certification areas noted above.
Study of any of these programs prepares the student to continue on to doctoral study, if that is a career goal. The Wegmans School of Nursing offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program, which builds upon the master’s programs.
Admission Requirements
Applicants who present satisfactory evidence of their ability to perform at the graduate level are considered for admission to the graduate nursing program at St. John Fisher College. The Enrollment Management Committee of the graduate nursing program and the graduate program director review the qualifications of the applicants.
In addition to the materials and credentials outlined in the general admission requirements, the following are required:
- Two letters of recommendation submitted by individuals who are qualified at the master’s or higher level in nursing; individuals should note their highest degree with their signature
- Official transcript showing completion of a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program
- Evidence of current unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse in New York state (copy of the registration certificate from the University of the State of New York Education Department Office of the Professions)
- Proof of a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0; 3.3 or higher for those who desire priority enrollment
- For the AGACNP program, active certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and current acute care experience
- Official transcript indicating successful completion of undergraduate courses in statistics, nursing research, and undergraduate health assessment (physical examination) with grades of “B” or higher
- A completed Health History and Immunization form submitted to the College Health and Wellness Center. Health information must be current and valid for the academic year in which the student intends to enter St. John Fisher College. Prior to beginning their first clinical course, students must document and maintain current CPR certification and submit the passing score achieved on the hospital R.N. Medication Administration Competency exam. Students will not be assigned a preceptor until they are in compliance with all of these clinical documentation expectations.
- Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (optional); taking the GRE may strengthen a graduate application
- Post-master’s certificate students must present evidence (official transcript) of completion of a master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program.
Scholarships may be available for full- or part-time study.
For more information regarding application and admission to the nursing program, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at (585) 385-8064 or by email at grad@sjfc.edu.
For specific information regarding the Master of Science in Nursing, please contact the program director, Dr. Colleen Donegan, at (585) 899-3788 or cdonegan@sjfc.edu.