College of Nursing

Overview

 

Introduction

This booklet contains material specific to the College of Nursing, including policies regarding progression and retention. It is provided to supplement the information contained in the University Bulletin and the UM-St. Louis Student Guide and Academic Planner. You are encouraged to review these manuals as well as the Student Services Handbook to obtain important information, which is designed to assist you in planning and implementing your program of study. Please feel free to contact the Office of Student Services (516-6066) for further clarification. 

History

The University
The University of Missouri-St. Louis (UM-St. Louis) is one of four campuses that constitute the University of Missouri, ninth largest university in the United States. Founded in 1839, the University of Missouri became a land-grant institution in 1862. The St. Louis campus was established in 1963, becoming the largest university serving St. Louis and third largest in the state.
 
The College
 Nursing was initiated at UM-St. Louis in 1981. The original program was designed to provide an innovative upper division program leading to the baccalaureate degree, specifically designed for registered nurses that had graduated from hospital diploma or community college associate degree nursing programs.

In 1987, the first students were admitted to the Cooperative Master's in Nursing Program. This program was a cooperative endeavor between the St. Louis and Kansas City Schools of Nursing within the University of Missouri System. The program offers advanced study in Nursing Care of the Adult, Nursing of Children, and Women's Health. The program also prepares nurses to function as administrators, educators, or clinical specialists and practitioners in family, pediatrics, neonatal, and women's health.

A Cooperative PhD in Nursing was added in 1994 with inter-campus activities offered between the St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City Schools of Nursing. The emphasis areas include Health Promotion and Protection, Health Restoration and Support, and Health Care Systems.

The School of Nursing was formally designated a College in 1994 with the addition of a well-established basic undergraduate nursing program to the University. The basic undergraduate program leads to the baccalaureate degree in nursing. In 2000, an accelerated track was added to the basic baccalaureate nursing program. Along with the University of Missouri-St. Louis accreditation of the Higher Learning Commission, the College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The pre-licensure tracks of the baccalaureate program are fully approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing. 

Mission

The mission of the College of Nursing at the University of Missouri-St. Louis is to shape the future of nursing practice through education, research, and service. Our goals are to:

1)develop nurses who are dedicated to excellence and leadership through innovative baccalaureate, masters, doctoral, and professional programs; and,

2)leverage strategic partnerships to generate, translate, disseminate, and apply knowledge that will improve health within our metropolitan region and beyond.

Core Values


Diversity
We recognize, celebrate and incorporate the value of the diversity in thought and culture in our environment.

Intellectual Discourse & Rigor
We encourage excellence and continuous improvement along with free and open discussion, dialogue and debate of ideas.

Caring
We offer ourselves through empathy, nurturing and mentoring.

Professionalism
We hold ourselves accountable to the standards of professional performance, practice and ethical behavior.

Mutual Respect and Support
We respect the importance of individual strengths and contributions, and support each other to ensure the success of our mission. We have an abundance mentality that drives us to work together to create the future vision we desire.

Transparency
We maintain open and honest organizational and interpersonal communication.

Vision 2012

 
  Constituents

As the only college of nursing in a public research university in the St. Louis region, we are recognized for providing stellar education for our students and cutting edge research to improve practice.
We are recognized nationally as a premier metropolitan research college of nursing that responds to the needs of diverse learners and other constituents.
The pre-licensure undergraduate program has grown substantially to support the growing need for nurses in the region.
The Advanced Nursing Practice programs will have evolved into a Doctor of Nursing Practice program that is recognized for its excellence and innovative approaches to educating leaders for nursing practice.
A Clinical Nurse leader program has been implemented in partnership with clinical agencies and provides outstanding advanced generalist nursing education.
We have a thriving research enterprise that provides excellent learning opportunities for PhD nursing students and expands interdisciplinary linkages with the UMSL campus and with institutions in the St. Louis region and across the UM system.
Our collaboration with health care providers, institutions and businesses has created new opportunities for our students, faculty and staff members, and graduates while making an impact on advancing the practice of nursing.   

Financial
Our growing research enterprise is supported by significant extramural funding including federal funding.
Grants for education and practice, and intramural funding have increased by 500%.
Private funding through alumni and donor contributions has grown to support achievement of the College's mission.

Operational
Policies that define the expected norms and procedures are clearly communicated.
Facilities have been transformed to support the changing needs of a college that provides educational excellence.
The criteria to attract, admit, and graduate students continue to yield an academically excellent and diverse student body.Residencies, fellowships, externships and other creative programs are providing our students with experiential learning opportunities that enhance their transition into the profession.
Faculty members who wish to practice as part of their roles have opportunities to do so and to contribute to developing new practice models through their roles.

Culture / Organization
The values of the CON are evident in all of our interactions, both internally and externally.
We recruit, develop and retain top quality professionals who are dedicated to the College's mission, values, and vision.
Non-tenure track, tenure track, and adjunct faculty members, and staff have been added in the right mix to contribute to the evolving programs. 

Philosophy

The philosophy of the nursing faculty at the College of Nursing is congruent with the missions of the College of Nursing and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Faculty and staff are dedicated to providing nursing education that prepares graduates as professionals to practice in generalist nursing roles, advanced nursing roles, and as nurse scientists in all health care systems. All academic programs reflect the faculty's beliefs about nursing, clients, health, environment, and nursing education.

The faculty believes that nursing is a profession and an academic discipline possessing a scientific body of knowledge that requires critical thinking, problem solving, and informatics. The primary function of nursing is to educate and assist the client to promote, protect, maintain, restore, and support health, or, to provide for a peaceful death. As a profession, nursing encompasses moral, ethical, legal, and scientific dimensions. Nurses are accountable to society for their practice and responsible for functioning within economic, legal, and moral/ethical parameters. Nursing practice is both theory and evidence based, using theories from nursing and other related disciplines. Nurses synthesize and apply knowledge from the arts, sciences, and humanities in nursing practice utilizing interpersonal communication to meet the complex and multidimensional needs of the client in a variety of health care settings throughout the metropolitan area and beyond. Through leadership and strategic partnerships, this knowledge is further integrated into nursing as research is conducted, disseminated, and used to guide nursing practice, improve healthcare outcomes, and to advance nursing science.

Each human being is unique and complex, with physiological, psychological, spiritual, and sociocultural developmental characteristics. Individuals respond to their environment differently based on these characteristics, as well as their personal attitudes, values, beliefs, and perceptions. Nurses provide care to the client (individuals, families, communities, and populations) during all of life's phases. Therefore, nursing practice requires rigorous education with focus on provision of evidence-based, holistic and culturally competent care.

Health is a multidimensional state that requires adjustment to environmental stressors and balance of the physiological, psychological, spiritual, and sociocultural developmental characteristics. It consists of both subjective and objective components and may be viewed differently by health care providers and clients. Health care involves those activities designed to promote, protect, maintain, restore, and support an optimal state of health though the life span.

Teaching and learning are both dynamic and interactive processes of education. Learning is the active, continuous process of acquiring knowledge and skill that brings about actual or potential changes of behavior. It includes both formal and informal experiences. Learning builds on previous experiences. It is facilitated when the goals and purposes of the new knowledge are clear and relevant to the learner. The goals of learning are defined mutually by the learner and the teacher.

Teaching involves using a curriculum that fosters effective communication and knowledge acquisition. In the rapidly changing health care system, new, innovative, and technologically competent curriculum models are designed to meet the needs of a global society, including the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, the state of Missouri, and beyond. Effective teachers guide, direct, mentor, and evaluate learning while encouraging critical thinking, self-direction, creativity, and independence.

Nursing education guides the learner to attain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to practice professional nursing. It is designed to meet the needs of students who have unique and diverse backgrounds. Nursing education best occurs in a non-threatening, supportive environment that fosters student growth and professional development. Preparation for nursing practice includes providing health care experiences to clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, across the life span, and in a variety of settings.

Professional nursing education is a life long endeavor, consisting of formal and continuing educational strategies and should be available to individuals with diverse cultural, experiential, and academic backgrounds. Baccalaureate education prepares the nurse generalist for professional nursing practice. Master's education focuses on the integration of advanced knowledge and skills within a particular practice context to improve the health care of individuals and populations through the provision of nursing care that is scientifically, ethically, and holistically grounded. In addition to a mastery of their specialty content, master's level nurses are critical thinkers who have advanced knowledge and skills in the areas of leadership, informatics, health care policy, and research utilization for evidence based practice.

Doctoral level nurse scientists use theory and implement research methods to improve nursing practice and science. Doctoral level nurse clinicians improve health outcomes through the translation of research into advanced nursing care of patients, families, communities, and populations. 

College Governance

The By-Laws of the Faculty Association provide the mechanism for faculty governance of the college. Standing Committees have various functions, and all work to assure that appropriate policies are in place to maintain strong academic programs. 

 

College Committee

  1. Executive Committee:facilitates faculty development and addresses faculty issues and concerns.
  2. Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee: addresses matters related to faculty promotion and tenure.
  3. Curriculum Committee: addresses matters related to all aspects of curriculum planning and development.  
  4. Evaluations and Outcomes Committee: addresses issues related to total program evaluation.
  5. Student Affairs Committee: addresses student issues related to admission, progression, appeals, events and activities, and awards and scholarships.

    <Student Participation in College Committees

     

    Students are encouraged to participate on college committees. Those who are interested in serving on the Curriculum Committee, Student Affairs Committee, Dean's Advisory Council, or Evaluation and Outcome Committee should contact the Office of Student Services. Committees meet monthly. Students may address concerns to specific committees by contacting the chair of the committee.

     

    Missouri Nurse Practice Act

     The State of Missouri Nurse Practice Act governs the practice of professional nurses in Missouri. Section 335.066 pertains to refusal to issue or revocation of license. It is important that students become familiar with this section of the Act. In Missouri, refer to sections 335.066 and 335.046 (http://www.pr.mo.gov/nursing-rules-statutes.asp).

     

    Missouri Revised Statutes

    Chapter 335
    Nurses
    Section 335.046
    August 28, 2007

     

     

    License, application for--qualifications for, fee--hearing on denial of license.
    335.046. 1. An applicant for a license to practice as a registered professional nurse shall submit to the board a written application on forms furnished to the applicant. The original application shall contain the applicant's statements showing the applicant's education and other such pertinent information as the board may require. The applicant shall be of good moral character and have completed at least the high school course of study, or the equivalent thereof as determined by the state board of education, and have successfully completed the basic professional curriculum in an accredited or approved school of nursing and earned a professional nursing degree or diploma. Each application shall contain a statement that it is made under oath or affirmation and that its representations are true and correct to the best knowledge and belief of the person signing same, subject to the penalties of making a false affidavit or declaration. Applicants from non-English-speaking lands shall be required to submit evidence of proficiency in the English language. The applicant must be approved by the board and shall pass an examination as required by the board. The board may require by rule as a requirement for licensure that each applicant shall pass an oral or practical examination. Upon successfully passing the examination, the board may issue to the applicant a license to practice nursing as a registered professional nurse. The applicant for a license to practice registered professional nursing shall pay a license fee in such amount as set by the board. The fee shall be uniform for all applicants. Applicants from foreign countries shall be licensed as prescribed by rule.
    2. An applicant for license to practice as a licensed practical nurse shall submit to the board a written application on forms furnished to the applicant. The original application shall contain the applicant's statements showing the applicant's education and other such pertinent information as the board may require. Such applicant shall be of good moral character, and have completed at least two years of high school, or its equivalent as established by the state board of education, and have successfully completed a basic prescribed curriculum in a state-accredited or approved school of nursing, earned a nursing degree, certificate or diploma and completed a course approved by the board on the role of the practical nurse. Each application shall contain a statement that it is made under oath or affirmation and that its representations are true and correct to the best knowledge and belief of the person signing same, subject to the penalties of making a false affidavit or declaration. Applicants from non-English-speaking countries shall be required to submit evidence of their proficiency in the English language. The applicant must be approved by the board and shall pass an examination as required by the board. The board may require by rule as a requirement for licensure that each applicant shall pass an oral or practical examination. Upon successfully passing the examination, the board may issue to the applicant a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse. The applicant for a license to practice licensed practical nursing shall pay a fee in such amount as may be set by the board. The fee shall be uniform for all applicants. Applicants from foreign countries shall be licensed as prescribed by rule.
    3. Upon refusal of the board to allow any applicant to sit for either the registered professional nurses' examination or the licensed practical nurses' examination, as the case may be, the board shall comply with the provisions of section 621.120, RSMo, and advise the applicant of his or her right to have a hearing before the administrative hearing commission. The administrative hearing commission shall hear complaints taken pursuant to section 621.120, RSMo.
    4. The board shall not deny a license because of sex, religion, race, ethnic origin, age or political affiliation.
    (L. 1975 S.B. 108 § 8, A.L. 1981 S.B. 16, A.L. 1995 S.B. 452, A.L. 1999 H.B. 343)

    © Copyright Missouri General Assembly

    Missouri Revised Statutes

    Chapter 335
    Nurses
    Section 335.066

    August 28, 2010


    Denial, revocation, or suspension of license, grounds for, civil immunity for providing information--complaint procedures.
    335.066. 1. The board may refuse to issue or reinstate any certificate of registration or authority, permit or license required pursuant to chapter 335 for one or any combination of causes stated in subsection 2 of this section or the board may, as a condition to issuing or reinstating any such permit or license, require a person to submit himself or herself for identification, intervention, treatment, or rehabilitation by the impaired nurse program as provided in section 335.067. The board shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the refusal and shall advise the applicant of his or her right to file a complaint with the administrative hearing commission as provided by chapter 621, RSMo.
    2. The board may cause a complaint to be filed with the administrative hearing commission as provided by chapter 621, RSMo, against any holder of any certificate of registration or authority, permit or license required by sections 335.011 to 335.096 or any person who has failed to renew or has surrendered his or her certificate of registration or authority, permit or license for any one or any combination of the following causes:
    (1) Use or unlawful possession of any controlled substance, as defined in chapter 195, RSMo, or alcoholic beverage to an extent that such use impairs a person's ability to perform the work of any profession licensed or regulated by sections 335.011 to 335.096;
    (2) The person has been finally adjudicated and found guilty, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, in a criminal prosecution pursuant to the laws of any state or of the United States, for any offense reasonably related to the qualifications, functions or duties of any profession licensed or regulated pursuant to sections 335.011 to 335.096, for any offense an essential element of which is fraud, dishonesty or an act of violence, or for any offense involving moral turpitude, whether or not sentence is imposed;
    (3) Use of fraud, deception, misrepresentation or bribery in securing any certificate of registration or authority, permit or license issued pursuant to sections 335.011 to 335.096 or in obtaining permission to take any examination given or required pursuant to sections 335.011 to 335.096;
    (4) Obtaining or attempting to obtain any fee, charge, tuition or other compensation by fraud, deception or misrepresentation;
    (5) Incompetency, misconduct, gross negligence, fraud, misrepresentation or dishonesty in the performance of the functions or duties of any profession licensed or regulated by sections 335.011 to 335.096;
    (6) Violation of, or assisting or enabling any person to violate, any provision of sections 335.011 to 335.096, or of any lawful rule or regulation adopted pursuant to sections 335.011 to 335.096;
    (7) Impersonation of any person holding a certificate of registration or authority, permit or license or allowing any person to use his or her certificate of registration or authority, permit, license or diploma from any school;
    (8) Disciplinary action against the holder of a license or other right to practice any profession regulated by sections 335.011 to 335.096 granted by another state, territory, federal agency or country upon grounds for which revocation or suspension is authorized in this state;
    (9) A person is finally adjudged insane or incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction;
    (10) Assisting or enabling any person to practice or offer to practice any profession licensed or regulated by sections 335.011 to 335.096 who is not registered and currently eligible to practice pursuant to sections 335.011 to 335.096;
    (11) Issuance of a certificate of registration or authority, permit or license based upon a material mistake of fact;
    (12) Violation of any professional trust or confidence;
    (13) Use of any advertisement or solicitation which is false, misleading or deceptive to the general public or persons to whom the advertisement or solicitation is primarily directed;
    (14) Violation of the drug laws or rules ad regulations of this state, any other state or the federal government;
    (15) Placement on an employee disqualification list or other related restriction or finding pertaining to employment within a health-related profession issued by any state or federal government or agency following final disposition by such state or federal government or agency;
    (16) Failure to successfully complete the impaired nurse program.
    3. After the filing of such complaint, the proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 621, RSMo. Upon a finding by the administrative hearing commission that the grounds, provided in subsection 2 of this section, for disciplinary action are met, the board may, singly or in combination, censure or place the person named in the complaint on probation on such terms and conditions as the board deems appropriate for a period not to exceed five years, or may suspend, for a period not to exceed three years, or revoke the license, certificate, or permit.
    4. For any hearing before the full board, the board shall cause the notice of the hearing to be served upon such licensee in person or by certified mail to the licensee at the licensee's last known address. If service cannot be accomplished in person or by certified mail, notice by publication as described in subsection 3 of section 506.160, RSMo, shall be allowed; any representative of the board is authorized to act as a court or judge would in that section; any employee of the board is authorized to act as a clerk would in that section.
    5. An individual whose license has been revoked shall wait one year from the date of revocation to apply for re-licensure. Re-licensure shall be at the discretion of the board after compliance with all the requirements of sections 335.011 to 335.096 relative to the licensing of an applicant for the first time.
    6. The board may notify the proper licensing authority of any other state concerning the final disciplinary action determined by the board on a license in which the person whose license was suspended or revoked was also licensed of the suspension or revocation.
    7. Any person, organization, association or corporation who reports or provides information to the board of nursing pursuant to the provisions of sections 335.011 to 335.259* and who does so in good faith shall not be subject to an action for civil damages as a result thereof.
    8. If the board concludes that a nurse has committed an act or is engaging in a course of conduct which would be grounds for disciplinary action which constitutes a clear and present danger to the public health and safety, the board may file a complaint before the administrative hearing commission requesting an expedited hearing and specifying the activities which give rise to the danger and the nature of the proposed restriction or suspension of the nurse's license. Within fifteen days after service of the complaint on the nurse, the administrative hearing commission shall conduct a preliminary hearing to determine whether the alleged activities of the nurse appear to constitute a clear and present danger to the public health and safety which justify that the nurse's license be immediately restricted or suspended. The burden of proving that a nurse is a clear and present danger to the public health and safety shall be upon the state board of nursing. The administrative hearing commission shall issue its decision immediately after the hearing and shall either grant to the board the authority to suspend or restrict the license or dismiss the action.
    9. If the administrative hearing commission grants temporary authority to the board to restrict or suspend the nurse's license, such temporary authority of the board shall become final authority if there is no request by the nurse for a full hearing within thirty days of the preliminary hearing. The administrative hearing commission shall, if requested by the nurse named in the complaint, set a date to hold a full hearing under the provisions of chapter 621, RSMo, regarding the activities alleged in the initial complaint filed by the board.
    10. If the administrative hearing commission refuses to grant temporary authority to the board or restrict or suspend the nurse's license under subsection 8 of this section, such dismissal shall not bar the board from initiating a subsequent disciplinary action on the same grounds.
    (L. 1975 S.B. 108 § 12, A.L. 1981 S.B. 16, A.L. 1995 S.B. 452, A.L. 1999 H.B. 343, A.L. 2007 H.B. 780 merged with S.B. 308)
    *Section 335.259 was repealed by S.B. 52 § A, 1993.
    (2000) Allegation of violation of drug laws requires State Board of Nursing to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that a nurse knowingly and intentionally possessed controlled substances. State Board of Nursing v. Berry, 32 S.W.3d 638 (Mo.App.W.D.).
    (2001) Statements made in incident report by hospital to State Board of Nursing about nurse were not, in absence of actual proceedings pending against that nurse, entitled to absolute immunity from nurse's libel claim. Haynes-Wilkinson v. Barnes-Jewish Hospital, 131 F.Supp.2d 1140 (E.D.Mo.).
    © Copyright Missouri General Assembly 

    Non-discrimination

     It is the policy of the University of Missouri to provide equal opportunity for all enrolled students and applicants for admission to the University on the basis of merit without discrimination on the basis of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age or disability, or Vietnam era veteran status. Sexual harassment shall be considered discrimination because of sex. This policy shall not be interpreted in such a way as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or military organizations associated with the Armed Forces of the United States of America.