Freshman Entry Criteria

• High School Core GPA 2.50 or higher
• Cumulative ACT score of 20 or higher

A limited number of freshmen are admitted on an annual basis and a deposit is required by May 1.

Transfer Entry Criteria

• Transfer GPA 2.50 or higher
• Cumulative ACT score of 20 or higher

Transferring students are admitted on a space-available basis in the fall and spring semesters. The deadline for deposits is July 1 for fall admission, and December 1 for spring admission.

Background Checks

All nursing students must complete a department-specified criminal background check prior to entering clinical nursing courses.

Program of Study

Qualified freshmen are identified as nursing majors. As long as they maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or above and C’s or higher in all nursing and nursing support courses, these students have a place reserved in subsequent nursing courses. (plan of study for freshmen)

Qualified transfer students are accepted on a space-available basis. If a transfer student has enough credit hours, they may be able to complete the nursing program in three years. (3-year plan of study for transferring students)

Descriptions for the courses listed in these plans are included in the MacMurray College Catalog

Nursing Skills Laboratory

Prior to applying skills in the clinical setting student must practice and demonstrate competency with nursing skills. This is accomplished in the Nursing Skills Laboratory in the Nursing Department. The lab is designed to simulate the acute care clinical setting with a variety of manikins and models available for practice. During the sophomore level, students receive a nursing skills pack that includes a stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, and disposable sterile equipment necessary for skills development. This pack is purchased through the nursing student lab fees that are included with tuition.

Clinical Experiences

Students begin clinical practice during the sophomore level. Clinical experiences throughout the curriculum include exposure to the nurse’s role in the following settings:

Medical-Surgical	Adult & Adolescent Behavioral Health
Intensive Care	Maternal-Child
Emergency Room	Pediatrics, NICU & PICU
Burn Unit	Antenatal High Risk
Coronary Care	Public Health
Telemetry	Nurse Practitioner Clinics
Perioperative	Community Mental Health

Specific hospital and agency clinical sites include:

- Cass County Health Department, Virginia & Beardstown
- Memorial Medical Center, Springfield
- Passavant Area Hospital, Jacksonville
- St. Francis Health Clinical, Beardstown
- St. John's Hospital, Springfield
- Triangle Center, Springfield
- Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois, Jacksonville

Program Outcomes

• NCLEX-RN pass rates for first-time takers were 91% in 2005 and 87% in 2006.
• Since 2000, 100% of our graduates have been employed within six months.
• 100% of 2007 graduates agreed or strongly agreed that:
• The nursing program provided adequate opportunities to help them develop the knowledge, values, and competencies necessary for nursing practice.
• 100% of 2007 graduates agreed or strongly agreed that the nursing faculty helped them learn by serving as positive role models, fostering independent learning, guiding them in development of critical thinking skills, respecting their individuality, mentoring their development as nurses, and teaching them how to apply classroom learning to the clinical setting.
• 100% of 2007 graduates agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the education they received at MacMurray College.
• When asked to identify the best features of the nursing program, 2007 graduates said:

“The excellent faculty.”
“The relationship with professors.”
“Definitely the professors. Each one cares for the students and Mac is a family.”
“Wide array of clinical experiences.”
“Small classes.”
“Supportive instructors.”
“The commitment of all the professors. They challenged me to go beyond what I thought I could do and be.”
“The staff’s desire for us to do well and their concern over our education.”
“Small enough program that instructors know you.”
“The FACULTY! Any time I had questions or concerns they were promptly and adequately addressed. Excellent role models, too.” “Small class sizes, personal. Closeness of teachers and students. They know me.”

Full-time Faculty

Jo Ellen Brannan, PhD, RN
Director and Professor of Nursing

Marilyn Boatman, MS, RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing

Doni L. Frost, MS, RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing

Sonnie S. Hoover, MSN, APRN, ANP
Assistant Professor of Nursing

Kelly J. Ruppel, PhD, RN
Professor of Nursing

Christine Staake, MS, RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing

Part-time Faculty

Mary Anthony, MSN, RN
Associate Professor Emeritus

David Jansen, MS, RN
Adjunct Professor of Nursing

Marianne Scannura, MS, RN
Adjunct Professor of Nursing

Staff

Shannon Killday
Nursing Department Secretary

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