Kent State University (Nursing) - Overview
The University
Founded in 1910, Kent State University is classified among RU/H: Research Universities (high research activity) by the Carnegie Foundation and is one of the largest public universities in Ohio. The eight-campus system throughout northeastern Ohio enrolls nearly 34,000 students. The Kent campus offers baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral study in the Colleges of Arts and Science, Business Administration, Communication and Information, Education, Fine and Professional Arts, and Nursing and the School of Technology. Offered at the seven regional campuses are associate degrees in technical, business, and health fields as well as lower-division baccalaureate study.
The University's primary concern is the student. It has a commitment to providing an academic atmosphere and curricular and extracurricular activities that prepare for a vocation, stimulate curiosity, broaden perspective, enrich awareness, establish disciplined habits of thought, and help realize potential as an individual and as a responsible and informed citizen.
The College of Nursing
The Kent State University College of Nursing, established in 1967, offers the most comprehensive program of study in nursing in Ohio, ranks in the 98th percentile in size in the nation, and enjoys a reputation for excellent academic performance, clinical knowledge, and leadership ability of its students and graduates. The associate degree in nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Both the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) and Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Since its founding, nursing at Kent State University has enjoyed continued growth, and today it is the largest college of nursing in Ohio. The mission of Kent State University College of Nursing reflects a commitment to furthering nursing knowledge, to excellence in instruction, and to preparing graduates who are able to address changing societal needs. The College of Nursing offers an academic atmosphere that fosters intellectual curiosity, develops professional and personal values, and facilitates the acquisition, interpretation, utilization, and expansion of nursing knowledge for the discipline and for professional practice.
Kent State University's faculty members, skilled in the scholarship of teaching, discovery, application, and integration, foster the intellectual life of the University. The College of Nursing's faculty members, who number more than 123, are active and creative contributors to the advancement of nursing knowledge and to the improvement of health-care delivery through teaching, research, and service activities at the local, regional, national, and international levels.
Programs of Study
The College of Nursing offers associate, baccalaureate, master's, and Ph.D. degree programs in nursing. The baccalaureate degree program accommodates general as well as second-degree, licensed practical nurse, and registered nurse students. In addition, an accelerated option is available for second-degree students. B.S.N. students who qualify may apply to the M.S.N. program and begin taking graduate-level courses in their junior year under the B.S.N.-to-M.S.N. Bridge Option. The master's degree nursing program offers clinical concentrations in nursing of adults, family, gerontology, psychiatric'mental health nursing, women's health, and pediatrics as well as functional concentrations in nurse practitioner clinical specialization and administration. Post-master's nurse practitioner certificate programs are also available in acute, family, gerontology, and primary care as well as women's health, pediatrics, and psychiatric--mental health nursing. A Web-based certificate program in nursing education is also offered. In addition, dual-degree M.S.N./M.P.A. and M.S.N./M.B.A. options are available. A Ph.D. in nursing program is offered jointly with the University of Akron's College of Nursing.
An associate degree in nursing program is offered at four regional campuses (Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, and Tuscarawas). The associate degree program prepares practitioners to assume responsibility for the provision of technical nursing care. For further information, students should contact the respective campus directly.
The baccalaureate nursing program is an undergraduate program leading to the B.S.N. degree and is offered at the main campus as well as four of the regional campuses. The curriculum includes courses in the humanities and biological and social sciences as well as theoretical knowledge and clinical practice in the discipline of nursing. Both generic students and nontraditional students (second-degree, RNs, and LPNs) are eligible for the program. Currently, nearly 1,500 students are enrolled in the baccalaureate program. An accelerated program is available for students who hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree.
The master's program is an accelerated graduate program leading to the M.S.N. degree. The purpose of this program is to prepare specialists for leadership and advanced practice roles in professional nursing. Enrollment in the master's program is more than 250, with approximately 85 percent of these students pursuing graduate study on a part-time basis.
The purpose of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program is to develop scholars in nursing who are informed about the many dimensions of scholarship with balance and synthesis among research, practice, and teaching. This program is conducted in collaboration with the University of Akron's College of Nursing and rests on the belief that strength can be achieved through strong linkages among faculty members and students and among the diverse units of both universities. The program consists of five components: nursing knowledge; research methods, designs, and statistics; cognates; health-care and nursing policy; and the dissertation. Both full- and part-time students are accommodated in this program.
A program of continuing nursing education is also offered. The College of Nursing is an Ohio Nurses Association--approved provider of continuing education and awards continuing education units (CEUs) for program offerings.
Affiliations with Health-Care Facilities
The College of Nursing has established affiliations with more than seventy-five health agencies throughout northeastern Ohio for clinical learning experiences. These include large urban medical centers, such as The Cleveland Clinic Foundation and University Hospitals of Cleveland, as well as small rural hospitals and clinics. The College of Nursing is also affiliated with a variety of long-term and community health-care agencies.
Academic Facilities
The College of Nursing is located in Henderson Hall. It contains a SIM lab, classrooms, faculty offices, conference rooms, study areas, nursing multipurpose and computer laboratories, a learning resource center, a nursing research center, and a 250-seat auditorium. In addition, the excellent services and resources of the entire University are available. The twelve-story open-stack library is a member of the Association of Research Libraries and holds more than 1.5 million volumes, including an extensive collection of nursing and medical references. The basic science complex of Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine is located 6 miles from the Kent campus and is an integral part of Kent State.
Location
Located in Kent, Ohio (population approximately 30,000), the Kent campus is situated on a beautiful 2,264-acre tree-covered area. Close by are the metropolitan areas of Cleveland (35 miles), Akron (15 miles), Canton (35 miles), and Youngstown (35 miles). The seven regional campuses are located in communities 35 to 80 miles from the Kent campus. The most populous of Ohio's four quadrants, northeastern Ohio is an area rich with cultural and recreational activities. Among these are Kent's Porthouse Theatre and Blossom Music Center, summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Student Services
A comprehensive array of student services is available through the College of Nursing Office of Student Services and the University's Michael Schwartz Student Service Center. In addition to academic services, health services, counseling and guidance, career planning and placement, financial aid, residential service, recreation, and student activities programming are provided. More than 200 undergraduate and graduate student organizations on campus welcome members from throughout the University. Students can also participate in a variety of intercollegiate sports.
The Nursing Student Group
Kent serves a talented, culturally rich student body from Ohio and around the world, including historically underrepresented and nontraditional students. Students in nursing reflect a microcosm of the University student body.
Students for Professional Nursing (SPN) provides opportunities for development of leadership skills, promoting health-care activities on campus and facilitating socialization into the professional role. In addition, a chapter of the Ohio Nursing Students Association (ONSA) at Kent is active. Graduate students can take an active role in the University Graduate Student Senate and the Graduate Nurse Student Organization (GNSO).
Costs
Kent State's tuition is set by the Board of Trustees. For current tuition information, students should visit the Bursar Office's Web site at http://www.kent.edu/bursar.
Financial Aid
Kent State University has developed a financial aid program to assist students who lack the necessary funds for a college education. This program consists of scholarships, loans, grants-in-aid, and part-time employment. Registered nurses may find additional financial assistance through the clinical agencies with whom they are employed. Federal traineeships, graduate assistantships, scholarships, and special awards such as the Ohio Board of Regents Scholars program are additional sources of financial assistance for graduate students.
Applying
Applicants to the B.S.N. program need to submit a Kent State University application at http://www.kent.edu/admissions; a high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores (for students under 21 years of age); an official transcript from each college, university, or school attended; and a $30 application fee.
Students completing prenursing requirements with a GPA of 2.5 or higher and a 2.5 average or higher in the first-year science prerequisite courses are eligible to apply to the nursing sequence program, which begins in the second year. Registered nurses and persons holding a non-nursing degree are admitted directly to the College of Nursing after completing all prerequisites required by the College of Nursing.
Applicants to the master's program must have current Ohio licensure as a registered nurse, have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited program, achieve a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from the undergraduate program, and have completed an elementary course in research methodology. In addition to an application form, $30 application fee, and official transcripts, prospective students are asked to submit three letters of reference and an essay not exceeding 300 words describing previous education and experience, future professional goals, and reasons for seeking graduate nursing education. A satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examinations is required for applicants with a GPA below 3.0. A preadmission interview is recommended.
Admission to the Joint Ph.D. in Nursing Program (JPDN) is determined by a review committee of JPDN faculty members. Each applicant must provide evidence of successful completion of a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's degree in nursing or health-related field at an accredited program with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; evidence of current licensure in the United States or, for international students, evidence of legal ability to practice in their country of origin; acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examinations within seven years of application; a statement of the applicant's clearly defined career goals; a sample of written work that indicates logic and writing skills (an essay, term paper, thesis, published article, or professional report); and three letters of reference from professionals or professors who can adequately evaluate the applicant's previous work and potential for success. The review committee may also request a personal interview to assess research interests and motivation for successful completion of doctoral study. A minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for international students. Accepted applicants must register for courses within two years of acceptance into the JPDN.
Correspondence and Information
Office of Student Services
College of Nursing
216 Henderson Hall
Kent State University
P.O. Box 5190
Kent, Ohio 44242-0001
Phone: 330-672-7911
Fax: 330-672-2061
Web site: http://www.kent.edu/nursing