The Doctor of Nursing Program (N.D.) is an innovative academic program designed to prepare leaders in nursing. This is a four-year program leading to both a Masters of Science in Nursing and Nursing Doctorate degrees. The Doctor of Nursing program is designed with multiple entry points to accommodate students with diverse prior educational backgrounds. The sixteen month prelicensure portion is designed for baccalaureate prepared college graduates from a variety of disciplines ranging from the social and natural sciences to the humanities and arts. The post licensure portion is designed for entry of B.S.N. and M.S.N. prepared nurses and prepares advanced practice nurses. The Doctor of Nursing program is characterized by educational depth and emphasis on advanced practice, nursing inquiry, management, and policy required for clinical leadership in nursing. Upon successful completion of the prelicensure portion of the N.D. program, the student receives a Certificate of Professional Nursing that qualifies them to sit for the professional nursing licensing examination (NCLEX-RN). A Masters of Science in Nursing and a Nursing Doctorate are awarded after successful completion of the post licensure portion of the N.D. program.

Students who enter the Doctor of Nursing Program at the prelicensure level must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or above in all courses taken for credit as a N.D. student at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing to be awarded the N.D. degree. Students who enter the Doctor of Nursing Program at the postlicensure level must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above in all courses taken for credit as a N.D. student at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing to be awarded the N.D. degree.

When a student receives a grade of F for a required course, the student must register for that course the next semester in which the course is available. Doctor of Nursing degree students who receive two failing grades indicating unsatisfactory performance (F, NP, or U) in required courses will be excluded from the School of Nursing.

The grade of incomplete (I) will be given at the discretion of the instructor for work not completed in the semester. A grade of I must be removed by the end of the semester following the one in which the course was taken or before the student enrolls in a course for which the initial course is a prerequisite. No credit is given for an I grade. The I will remain a permanent part of the transcript if the student fails to complete course requirements within the next semester.

N.D. students must complete degree requirements within seven years from the prelicensure level, five years from Level III, and four years from Level IV.

Thesis Defense
The thesis is an independent research study designed by the student in collaboration with a 3-member thesis committee approved by the Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Associate Dean of Research of the School of Nursing. The thesis must be a significant contribution to existing nursing knowledge and suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal or a book. Students must prepare their own thesis, and joint theses are not permissible. The procedures and written thesis must conform to the regulations of the Bolton School of Nursing. The student must pass a formal proposal approval process before applying for IRB approval and implementation of the thesis.

Students must successfully defend their thesis in an oral examination with their thesis committee members who are also responsible for certifying that it meets acceptable scholarly standards. The thesis defense is open to University faculty and students, but the chair determines whether the defense is open to others outside of the University.

The thesis committee determines the adequacy of the oral examination and written thesis. A student will pass if two or more of the committee members agree that the student successfully responded to questions during the examination and the written thesis met scholarly standards.

Candidates for the Doctor of Nursing degree must complete all required courses, including the courses required in their master level clinical major. Post licensure students will be awarded a Master of Science in Nursing if they meet the degree requirements for this degree. However, if the student completes NURS520 and NURS521, they do not need to complete NURS503 to be awarded M.S.N..

Non-nurses enrolled in the N.D. program must complete the program within 7 years of initial enrollment. B.S.N. graduates must complete the post licensure portion of the program in 5 years. M.S.N. graduates must complete the program within 4 years. If not completed, the student’s record will be re-evaluated in terms of the curriculum in effect at the time of review. The student may be required to take additional course work to graduate.

Students entering the N.D. program in the prelicensure portion, must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all courses taken for credit as a N.D. student at the Bolton School. Students who enter the program at the post licensure portion of the N.D. program must achieve a GPA of 3.0 or above in all courses taken for credit as an N.D. student at the Bolton School. In addition, the student must successfully pass the thesis defense.

The first two years of the Nursing Doctorate Program is the prelicensure portion that includes all course work required to sit for the professional nursing licensing examination (NCLEX-RN) required to practice nursing. During this portion of the program, the student receives instruction in nursing theory, clinical skills, and the nursing sciences. At the successful completion of this portion of the Nursing Doctorate program, students receive a Certificate of Professional Nursing. After passing the NCLEX, the student may practice as a registered nurse (RN) while completing the post licensure portion of the N.D. program.

A student in a college with a formal arrangement with the Bolton School may enroll in the Senior Year in Professional Studies. Students whose undergraduate institutions do not have an agreement with the Bolton School may arrange a Senior Year in Professional Studies on an individual basis. Information about arranging this program is available from Office of Student Services. Students earn a B.A. or B.S. from the participating college or university upon successful completion of the first year of the N.D. program.

Progression from one semester to the next in the Prelicensure Component of the N.D. Program is contingent upon passing grades in all courses taken in the preceding semester.

Note: Successful completion of all prelicensure courses is necessary to sit for the Professional Nursing Licensing Examination (NCLEX-RN). The School of Nursing has the right to determine a student’s readiness to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination and the right to restrict testing until the student demonstrates a readiness to pass this examination.

After completing the prelicensure portion of the N.D. program, students select an advanced practice specialty. Students with a B.S.N. or a M.S.N. enter in this portion of the N.D. program. For those entering with a B.S.N., course work consists of master level courses in the chosen specialty, N.D. core courses and a N.D. thesis. For those entering with a M.S.N., course work consists of N.D. core courses and N.D. thesis. After successful completion of the course requirements for masters clinical track, the student receives a Masters of Science in Nursing degree and is eligible to sit for national certification examinations in advanced nursing practice. The Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthetist specialties have requirements for clinical experience before entering these clinical tracks (See descriptions of each specialty requirements in the Master of Science of Nursing section). The N.D. core requirements prepare the student in nursing management and nursing inquiry, and an independent research study, N.D. thesis, is a component of the post licensure portion of the program.

Nurse practitioners promote optimal health, detect illness and facilitate restoration and maintenance of health. They often function independently in a variety of settings. One specialty is available for acute care nurse practitioners and six specialties are available in primary care. One year of experience in acute care is required for the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (Adult) and one year of experience in neonatal intensive care is required for the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. These programs contain at least 500 hours of clinical experience. Graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examines for these specialties.

The following courses may be taken in addition to complete a flight nurse concentration:

Note: Courses listed under the area of Professional Development, Scientific Inquiry and Advanced Practice Core may be taken alone or with Clinical Nursing Courses, and may be taken during any semester offered. Advanced Practice Core courses are co-requisites or pre-requisites for the clinical nursing courses. Clinical Nursing Courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.

Note: Courses listed under the area of Professional Development, Scientific Inquiry and Advanced Practice Core may be taken alone or with Clinical Nursing Courses, and may be taken during any semester offered. Advanced Practice Core courses are co-requisites or pre-requisites for the clinical nursing courses. Clinical Nursing Courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment

For those wishing dual certification as GNP and Gerontological CNS, add the following to the GNP major:

Note: Courses listed under the area of Professional Development, Scientific Inquiry and Advanced Practice Core may be taken alone or with Clinical Nursing Courses, and may be taken during any semester offered. Advanced Practice Core courses are co-requisites or pre-requisites for the clinical nursing courses. Clinical Nursing Courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.

Note: Courses listed under the area of Professional Development, Scientific Inquiry and Advanced Practice Core may be taken alone or with Clinical Nursing Courses, and may be taken during any semester offered. Advanced Practice Core courses are co-requisites or pre-requisites for the clinical nursing courses. Clinical Nursing Courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.

Note: Courses listed under the area of Professional Development, Scientific Inquiry and Advanced Practice Core may be taken alone or with Clinical Nursing Courses, and may be taken during any semester offered. Advanced Practice Core courses are co-requisites or pre-requisites for the clinical nursing courses. Clinical Nursing Courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.

Note: Courses listed under the area of Professional Development, Scientific Inquiry and Advanced Practice Core may be taken alone or with Clinical Nursing Courses, and may be taken during any semester offered. Advanced Practice Core courses are co-requisites or pre-requisite for the clinical nursing courses. Clinical Nursing Courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.

Nurse-midwifery focuses on the clinical and scientific areas of women’s health maintenance. A nurse-midwife is primarily responsible for direct care in the areas of gynecologic health, antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, family planning and parent education. Students work one-on-one with a clinical preceptor and select and work in birth centers, health maintenance organizations and private practices. Graduates are eligible to sit for the certification examination for nurse midwifery from the American College of Nurse Midwives.

Note: Courses listed under the area of Professional Development, Scientific Inquiry and Advanced Practice Core may be taken alone or with Clinical Nursing Courses, and may be taken during any semester offered. Advanced Practice Core courses are co-requisites or pre-requisites for the clinical nursing courses. Clinical Nursing Courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.

Two specialties are in the clinical nurse specialist track in the masters program. Medical-surgical nursing focuses on the care of patients recovering from illness and living with chronic illness. The student selects a specialty in critical care, oncology, or other specialty adult medical-surgical areas. The student then does clinical practicum in these areas. The focus of the Community Health program is on mobilizing and empowering the community to act on its own behalf in matters affecting health and well being. Interventions are designed in collaboration with the community and interdisciplinary personnel. A concentration in infection may be taken along with the community health courses. Graduates of these tracks are eligible to sit for certification examinations as a clinical nurse specialist.

Note: Courses listed under the area of Professional Development, Scientific Inquiry and Advanced Practice Core may be taken alone or with Clinical Nursing Courses, and may be taken during any semester offered. Advanced Practice Core courses are co-requisites or pre-requisites for the clinical nursing courses. Clinical Nursing Courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.

A concentration in infection control can be completed with the addition of the following classes:

Note: Courses listed under the area of Professional Development, Scientific Inquiry and Advanced Practice Core may be taken alone or with Clinical Nursing Courses, and may be taken during any semester offered. Clinical Nursing Courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.

The Ph.D. program is a post baccalaureate degree program designed to prepare scientists who initiate and conduct research relevant to nursing. Expertise in clinical nursing and competence in research are required to prepare scholars to disseminate knowledge into clinical practice and nursing education. To achieve excellence in the academic program, students engage in activities consistent with the areas of research excellence of the faculty. Moreover, the faculty is committed to the intellectual growth of the student, which is achieved through mentorship and collaboration in scholarship.

The Ph.D. student concentrates on the organization and development of knowledge requisite to nursing practice for service to a population. The population may include: age group (children, adults), focus of service (individual, family, or community) and position on the continuum of health (health and wellness, acute and chronic disruptions in health). Ph.D. students are culturally diverse, and many develop and apply knowledge relevant to global health needs.

Applicants to the Ph.D. program in nursing apply to the School of Graduate Studies. Applications and information for admission are available from the Bolton School. Application requirements are:

To register for NURS 701, the academic advisor and Associate Dean of Academic Programs must provide written permission that is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. Students who have not been advanced to candidacy status (successful completion of course work and candidacy examination) may register for not more than 3 credit hours of NURS 701 per semester. They must maintain continuous limited registration for NURS 701 until advanced to candidate status. A maximum of 9 credit hours may be taken prior to advancement to candidacy. After advancement to candidacy, students can register for up to 9 credits of NURS 701 per semester. When students complete 18 credits of NURS 701, they may subsequently register for a minimum of 1 credit hour a semester.

Students who have been advanced to candidacy and have met all course work requirements, including 18 credit hours of NURS 701, and are within their five-year time limit for completion of the degree, but have not completed the dissertation, can register for Dissertation Fellowship (NURS 702) upon recommendation to the School of Graduate Studies. Students may take NURS 702 for a maximum of four consecutive semesters. Students are considered to have full-time appointment (9 credit hours of 702), and tuition is charged at the rate of one credit hour. If the dissertation is not completed and defended in the fourth semester of the fellowship, the Ph.D. candidate must register for a minimum of one credit hour of NURS 701 each semester.

Students may petition to transfer credit from another institution towards their degree at Case Western Reserve University by completing the Petition for Transfer Credit Form. An official transcript from the institution must accompany the form. Transfer credit of course work must be requested in the student’s first academic year, and appropriate for the student’s Planned Program of Study. The course work must be graduate level with a grade of B or better, and it must be in excess of previous degree requirements. No transfer credit will be awarded toward the Ph.D. degree except by approved petition and no dissertation research credit may be transferred from another university. All course work must have been completed within five years of matriculation at Case Western Reserve University. The academic advisor and department chair are responsible for reviewing the course(s) and approving the transfer prior to final review and approval from the School of Graduate Studies.

Research Practicum
A research practicum is required before taking the candidacy examination (described below). The research process is complex and course work provides the student with only theoretical understanding. The integration of research concepts and their application can best be learned through practical experience. The research practicum provides the hands on experience in the daily functioning of a research study. Often presentations and publications with faculty are outcomes of this experience.

The student works with a faculty mentor on that faculty’s research for 240 hours in a 12-month period. The academic advisor, student and faculty mentor who the student will be working with will develop objectives for the research practicum. It is recommended that the practicum begin during the first year of study. The practicum must be completed before the student will be advanced to candidate status.

Dissertation
The dissertation is an independent research study designed by the student in collaboration with a 4-member dissertation committee approved by the Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Associate Dean of Research of the School of Nursing. The dissertation must be a significant contribution to existing nursing knowledge and suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal or a book. Students must prepare their own dissertations, and joint dissertations are not permissible. The procedures and written dissertation must conform to the regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.

Academic Performance and Progression
A student who receives a grade of F for a required course must register for the course the next semester it is offered. If the student receives a grade of F or unsatisfactory performance (F, U & NP) in two courses, he/she will be separated from the Bolton School.

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be maintained. If the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. If the student does not raise the GPA to 3.0 or above in the next semester enrolled, the student will be separated from the University.

Students must maintain continuous registration throughout their degree programs unless granted a leave of absence. Students who do not register for an academic term will be automatically withdrawn from the program. They must then petition for reinstatement to continue graduate study. The Director of the Ph.D. Program and the Dean of Graduate Studies must approve the petition before students may register for further course work. In each case of readmission with full standing, the student will receive a letter stating the terms of readmission, including future time limits for the degree program and the past course work that will be credited toward the degree. If more than 24 months have elapsed since the last registration, the Office of Graduate Studies may request more information.

Advancement to Candidate Status
To advance to candidate status, Ph.D. students must pass an oral candidacy examination and provide a written research proposal at the time of the examination. The examination and proposal are evidence of the student’s knowledge and ability to synthesize and apply research methodologies and existing knowledge. The oral examination focuses on the nursing discipline, research methods, statistics, and substantive knowledge. The candidacy committee consists of three doctorally prepared Bolton School faculty members.

The candidacy committee determines the adequacy of responses to the oral examination and the research proposal presented at the time of the examination. A student who fails the candidacy examination may be permitted within one year of the failing the examination to retake it, provide a written response to questions from the committee or submit a revision of the proposal. The committee may also require additional course work. A student who fails the examination a second time will be separated from the Bolton School of Nursing.

A student who is not advanced to candidacy may not undertake further study for credit towards a Ph.D. within the Bolton School. With the approval of Ph.D. Council and the School of Graduate Studies, the student may take additional course work to complete a masters degree or enter the graduate program of another University academic department.

Dissertation Defense
Students must successfully defend their dissertation in an oral examination with the dissertation committee who are also responsible for certifying that it meets acceptable scholarly standards.

The student must provide a copy of the dissertation to committee members at least 10 days before the defense. The dissertation defense must be scheduled with the School of Graduate Studies three weeks prior to the defense. The time and place of the dissertation defense must be announced within the University. The dissertation defense is open to University faculty and students, but the dissertation chair determines whether the defense is open to others outside of the University.

The dissertation committee determines the adequacy of the oral examination and written dissertation. A student will pass if no more than one voting member dissents.

Degree Requirements
A student will be awarded a Ph.D. degree upon completion of all required course work in their curriculum as detailed in their Program of Study. All students must complete 36 semester hours of course work at the University. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above in all courses taken for credit (excluding grades of S) as a Ph.D. student at the University is required for awarding the Ph.D. degree.

Graduate students are considered to be in residence when they are fully engaged in academic work. Ph.D. students must be registered for a minimum of six consecutive academic terms (fall, spring and /or summer) from matriculation to a period not exceeding five years after the first credited hour(s) of dissertation research (701). The time period in which a leave of absence is taken does not count towards the residency requirement. Within the context of continuity of registration, departments may enact other restrictions. In such instances, the departmental requirements take precedence and must formally be disclosed to the student at matriculation. Continuous registration is mandatory for all graduate students unless on an approved leave from the School of Graduate Studies.

Special Students
Special students are those who take a specified course of study designed to meet an individual’s needs. They must meet the admission requirements for the program where the majority of class work will be done. Their status and satisfactory performance will be reviewed after one year. Students completing M.S.N. courses to obtain a certificate in any advanced practice nursing major will be admitted as special students.

If a special student decides to pursue a graduate degree, the approval of the Associate Dean of Academic Programs must be obtained. Entrance into the degree program will be considered the date when the student enrolled in the first course work as a special student. These courses must have been taken within the last five years. If more than five years have elapsed since the course work as special student was done, the student must meet the current academic requirements for the major selected.

International Students
International students may enroll in the masters, nursing doctorate and Ph.D. programs. They must meet the admission requirements for the program that they select. In addition, application should be submitted approximately one year before the desired date of enrollment. English translations of transcripts are required.

Educational Testing Service (ETS)
TOEFL/TSE
PO Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
609-951-1100
www.toefl.org

Students whose native language is English are exempt. For those whose native language is not English, a score of 550 on the paper test or 213 for the computer test is desired. Students must take English courses at the English Language Services Center (ELS) at the University and students must complete English courses through the 109 level or its equivalent. Students who demonstrate English language proficiency may request to be exempt from these courses.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing
676 N. St. Clair Street
Suite 550
Chicago, Illinois, 60611-2921
Telephone: (312) 787-6555.

Once admitted to the Bolton School, an application form for a student visa will be sent to the student. Upon enrollment at the university, the student must subscribe to the Student Medical Insurance Plan that is required by the University Health Service.

The following is a brief description of the financial aid opportunities available to students at the Bolton School of Nursing. Undergraduate students can find a more detailed description of undergraduate aid in the pamphlet, Financial Aid at Case Western Reserve, obtained from the University Financial Aid Office. Some types of aid are not available to all students, and the awarding of some grants and scholarships may make you ineligible to receive other grants or scholarships. If you have questions or would like more information, contact either The Bolton School of Nursing or Case Western Reserve University Financial Aid Offices.

Undergraduate students, those enrolled in the B.S.N. and RN-B.S.N. programs have a variety of financial assistance available, including federal and state need-based aid, and merit-based grants and scholarships.

The Bolton Scholarship
All full-time students in the B.S.N. or RN-B.S.N. programs are awarded the Bolton Scholarship. The scholarship is for at least 40% tuition and may be renewed each year (maximum of eight semesters for B.S.N. students and 4 semesters for RN-B.S.N. students) that the student remains full-time in the B.S.N. or RN-B.S.N. programs. An amount in addition to the 40% may be awarded on a financial-need basis.

Merit-Based Aid
The University offers several full and partial-tuition merit—based scholarships. These are generally renewable for all four years of study if high academic performance is maintained. To be eligible for University scholarships, students apply by February 1st and submit SAT I or ACT scores and be admitted to the University. Contact the University Financial Aid Office for more information.

Need-Based Aid
For all need-based aid, students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and register with the Financial Aid Profile Service (FAP) by February 15th (or as soon after as possible). From this information, and the CWRU Financial Aid Application, a student’s family contribution is determined. This is calculated solely on the financial circumstances of the student’s family, and does not take cost of tuition into consideration. Once the family contribution is calculated, it is subtracted from the estimated cost of attendance (tuition, room, board, fees, books, transportation and miscellaneous expenses) to calculate the student’s financial need. The financial need is the amount that may be covered by University’s financial aid programs. A student’s financial aid award or "package" may consist of up to three different components: grants, loans and employment.

Graduate programs at the Bolton School of Nursing are the M.S.N., N.D., Ph.D., RN-M.S.N., and the joint degree programs (M.S.N./M.B.A., M.S.N./M.P.H., and M.S.N./M.A.).

Full- and Half-Time Students
Full-time enrollment is at least 9 credit hours Fall and Spring semesters, and at least 6 credit hours, Summer semesters. Half-time enrollment is 5-8 credit hours Fall and Spring semesters, and 3-5 credit hours Summer semester. To be eligible for financial aid for summer semesters, the student must also be eligible for aid in the following Fall and/or Spring semesters.

Federal Loans
All students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Information from this form and