Nursing
The Division of Nursing at MacMurray College will prepare you for an exciting career as a baccalaureate-prepared nurse. The bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree at MacMurray College provides you with the knowledge, values, skills, and competencies necessary to provide nursing care to patients in today's complex health care system.
A career in nursing can take you in many directions and the demand for baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses is immense. Please check these links for information in Illinois as well as nationally:
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/FactSheets/NursingShortage.htm
http://www.nursing.illinois.gov
At MacMurray, your nursing coursework and clinical experiences will begin at the sophomore level. The integration of nursing coursework and general education courses allows you to work collaboratively with other disciplines, examine your own beliefs, articulate your thoughts, and apply knowledge from other fields when making decisions. Upon graduation from the nursing program, you will be prepared to take the NCLEX-RN, the national licensing exam.
MacMurray College graduated its first group of bachelor's prepared nurses in 1983. The nursing program is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and accredited by the Commission on College Nursing Education.
Mission of the MacMurray College Division of Nursing
The MacMurray College Division of Nursing is among the few professional nursing education programs in central Illinois providing baccalaureate nursing education within a liberal arts institution. Students enter the program from diverse geographic and social backgrounds, bringing their unique contributions to the study of nursing. The MacMurray College Nursing Program prepares graduates for professional nursing practice, graduate education, and ongoing career development within a nursing curriculum that is supported by an integrated liberal arts core. This integration of liberal education promotes sound interpretation of new knowledge, clear articulation of thoughts, interdisciplinary connections, and discrimination in making judgments about factors that influence the human condition. Baccalaureate nursing education at MacMurray College prepares students to enter the nursing profession with the knowledge, values, and competencies necessary to provide, design, manage, and coordinate nursing care for diverse groups in a variety of settings. Consistent with the mission and goals of MacMurray College, the Division of Nursing stresses excellence in teaching, service, and scholarship among its faculty.
Admission to the Nursing Program
Freshman Entry Criteria
- High School Core GPA 2.50 or higher
- Cumulative ACT score of 20 or higher
Students who enter as freshmen, maintain a 2.50 cumulative GPA, and earn grades of C or better in all nursing support courses are guaranteed placement in sophomore-level nursing courses.
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.
LPN to BSN Entry Criteria
Licensed practical nurses are admitted under the requirements for transfer students. Following enrollment, up to 15 hours of credit are awarded on submission of the LPN license to the Registrar’s Office.
RN to BSN
- Transfer GPA 2.50 or higher
- Registered Professional Nurse License
RN 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.
Health and Safety Requirements
Prior to entering sophomore nursing courses, all students must complete:
- A program-specific criminal background check
- A program-specific 10-panel drug screening
- Healthcare provider CPR certification through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross
- Specific immunizations and a 2-step TB test
Please contact the Division of Nursing if there are questions about these requirements.
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.
Descriptions for the courses listed in these plans are included in the MacMurray College Catalog.
Barnum Randall Nursing Education Technology Center
Prior to applying skills in the clinical setting students must practice and demonstrate competency with nursing skills. This is accomplished in the Barnum Randall Nursing Education Technology Center in the Norris Education Building. The Center provides opportunities to work with state-of-the-art computerized "patients" in a safe setting, promoting greater confidence for MacMurray nursing students as they enter the hospital setting and eliminating the risks associated with practicing skills on live patients. At the beginning level, students learn various assessment and patient care skills with our two moderate-fidelity simulators. As students progress through the program, they are introduced to SimMan, a life-size computerized manikin that can be programmed to simulate various medical conditions. Clinical scenarios allow students to further develop their psychomotor skills as well as the critical thinking and decision making skills they will need in nursing practice. In addition, an IV simulator provides students with visual and tactile practice in initiating intravenous therapy. At the senior level, students are introduced to our maternal-child simulator that demonstrates the stages of labor and delivery and the nursing care that corresponds to these stages. During the sophomore level, students receive a nursing skills pack that includes a stethoscope 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:
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Some of the 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
- Since 2000, 100% of our graduates have been employed within six months of graduation.
- 100% of 2007-2009 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 2007-2009 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 2007-2009 graduates agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the education they received at MacMurray College.
- 100% of 2007-2009 graduates indicated that they would recommend MacMurray’s nursing program to friends.
- When asked to identify the best features of the nursing program, 2008 and 2009 graduates said:
- "You’re not just a number, you get to know the director and professors."
- "Variety of clinical experiences.
- "Great staff. All classes tied into each other.
- "Student to teacher ratio.
- "The small classes."
- "Faculty truly want you to succeed.
- "The instructors."
- "Teachers were great and met good friends."
- "Able to go to three hospitals for clinicals."
- "Faculty personalization of education."
- "You’re known and not just a number."
- "Small ‘community’ like environment that feels like home. The staff/professors take personal interest in students and provide fantastic support and encouragement."
Employment and Financial Aid Opportunities
The following links provide a sample of opportunities available to nursing students and graduate nurses.
http://illinois.campusrn.com/
http://www.aftercollege.com/career-networks/macmurray-college/nursing-program/
http://www.discovernursing.com/
Apply for the CampusRN - Illinois Nursing Scholarship
Visit CampusRN to apply for the $2500.00 regional scholarship.
Full-time Faculty
Jo Ellen Brannan, Ph.D., R.N. |
Marilyn Boatman, M.S., R.N. |
Director and Professor of Nursing A.D.N., Lewis and Clark Community College Email: joellen.brannan@mac.edu |
Assistant Professor of Nursing B.S.N., Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Email: marilyn.boatman@mac.edu |
Mikel Hand, Ed.D., R.N., O.C.N., N.E.-B.C. |
Sara Miles, M.S.N., R.N. |
Assistant Professor of Nursing P.N./A.D.N., Wabash Valley College Email: mikel.hand@mac.edu |
Assistant Professor of Nursing B.S.N., Illinois State University Email: sara.miles@mac.edu |
Kelly J. Ruppel, Ph.D., R.N. |
Christine Staake, M.S., R.N. |
Professor of Nursing B.S., Bradley University Email: kelly.ruppel@mac.edu |
Assistant Professor of Nursing Diploma in Nursing, Passavant School of Nursing Email: christine.staake@mac.edu |
Part-time Faculty
Mary Anthony, M.S.N., R.N. |
Martha Templin, M.S.N., R.N. |
Associate Professor Emeritus Email: mary.anthony@mac.edu |
Associate Professor Emeritus Email: martha.templin@mac.edu |
Staff
Shannon Killday
Division of Nursing Secretary
Email: shannon.killday@mac.edu