Nursing

Graduates of the Master of Science (MS) in Adult-Gerontological Health Nursing, both Clinical Nurse Specialist and Primary Care Nurse Practitioner roles, are eligible for certification as specialists in adult-gerontological health nursing through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and other certifications offered by ANCC and nursing specialty organizations. Graduates of the CNS option are also eligible for certification through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) for the ACCNS-AG certification. Graduates of the CNS and NP option are also eligible for licensing and/or certification from New York State Education Department-Office of the Professions.

These programs are designed to meet health care workforce needs and to provide opportunities for graduate-level education. Nurses who successfully complete the programs are prepared to meet the needs of culturally diverse individuals, families, and communities and will have a competitive edge in the changing environment of health care.
 

Degree Requirements

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Option (42 credits)

The program requires 42 credits with a minimum of 500 supervised hours toward development of clinical competencies for adult-gerontological population with a specialty practice focus.  Requirements include a graduate core of 15 credits, an advanced practice core of nine credits, specialty (CNS role) courses of 12 credits, and six credits of elective courses.

Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (NP) Option (42 credits)

The program requires 42 credits with a minimum of 500 supervised hours toward development of clinical competencies for primary care of the adult-gerontological population.  Requirements include a graduate core of 15 credits, and advanced practice core of nine credits, specialty (NP role) courses of 12 credits, and six credits of elective courses.
 

Students in the CNS and NP programs may attend on a full-time or part-time basis.  Completion of the program requires a minimum of one and a half years of full-time study; part-time study may take three years or more.

Admissions Requirements
 

• Bachelor’s degree with a major in Nursing from an accredited school and at least one year full-time experience in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in another field with three years’ full-time experience in nursing, and completion of required undergraduate courses
• Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the nursing major
• Evidence of successful completion of undergraduate courses (or comparable learning experiences approved by the Admissions Committee) in nursing research, statistics, health assessment and physical examination; community health nursing, management in nursing, general chemistry, and pharmacotherapeutics
• A minimum of one year full-time experience or its equivalence as a registered nurse
• Current Registered Nurse license to practice in New York State
   

The DNP programs are designed to meet health care workforce needs and to provide opportunities for the preparation of advanced practice nurses at the doctoral level to provide the highest level of nursing practice in the clinical setting.

Nurses who successfully complete the programs are prepared to meet the needs of culturally diverse individuals, families, and communities and will have a competitive edge in the changing, complex environment of health care. Graduates of the DNP programs are eligible for certification as specialists in adult-gerontological health nursing through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and other certifications offered by ANCC and nursing specialty organizations and are also eligible for licensing as Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialists and/or Primary Care Nurse Practitioners through New York State Office of the Professions State Education Department.

Degree Requirements

DNP - Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Option (75 credits)
The program requires 75 credits with a minimum of 1,000 supervised hours toward development of clinical competencies for adult-gerontological population with a specialty practice focus and implementation of an integrative practice project in the clinical setting.  Requirements include a nursing science, research and leadership core of 18 credits, an advanced practice core of nine credits, specialty (CNS role) courses of 12 credits, doctoral core of 18 credits, six credits of elective courses, and the integrative practice project of 12 credits.

DNP - Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (NP) Option (75 credits)
The program requires 75 credits with a minimum of 1,000 supervised hours toward development of clinical competencies for primary care of the adult-gerontological population and implementation of an integrative practice project in the clinical setting.  Requirements include a nursing science, research and leadership core of 18 credits, an advanced practice core of nine credits, specialty (NP role) courses of 12 credits, doctoral core of 18 credits, six credits of elective courses, and the integrative practice project of 12 credits.

Admissions Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with a major in Nursing from an accredited school and at least one year full-time experience in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in another field with three years of appropriate full-time clinical experience as determined by the doctoral
• nursing faculty, and completion of required nursing, science, and mathematics undergraduate courses
• Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale in the nursing major
• Evidence of successful completion of undergraduate courses (or comparable learning experiences approved by the Doctoral Admissions Committee) in nursing research, statistics, health assessment and physical examination; community health nursing, leadership and management in nursing, general chemistry, and pharmacotherapeutics
• A minimum of one year full-time experience or its equivalence as a registered nurse
• Current Registered Nurse license to practice in New York State
   

The Department of Nursing offers two Post-Master’s Advanced Certificates in Adult-Gerontological Health Nursing. These certificates prepare nurses who have Master’s degrees in Nursing to meet the requirements for certification as Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialists or Primary Care Nurse Practitioners of New York State and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Students in the two certificate programs take courses that focus their course assignments and clinical hours on the role of choice – as clinical nurse specialists in the adult-gerontological population from wellness through acute care and beyond or as primary care nurse practitioners in the adult-gerontological population across the life span.

Degree Requirements

Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate in Clinical Nurse Specialist (12 credits)

• Advance Practice Nursing with Adults in Community Settings
• Role Practicum: Adults in Community Settings
• Advanced Practice Nursing with Adults in Acute Care Settings
• Role Practicum: Adults in Acute Care Settings

A minimum of 500 hours of supervised practice is also required.

Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate in Nurse Practitioner (12 credits)

• Primary Health Care Adult-Gerontology
• Primary Health Care Adult-Gerontology II
• Role Practicum: Primary health Care I
• Role Practicum: Primary Health Care II

A minimum of 500 hours of supervised practice is also required.

Admissions Requirements

• Master’s degree in Nursing
• Evidence of successful completion of graduate courses in pathophysiology, health assessment, and pharmacology. Candidates who do not have the required master’s-level courses may take them before beginning the required Clinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Practitioner courses  
   

All supporting documents (e.g. official transcripts, recommendations, personal statement, etc.) can be emailed to graduateadmissions@csi.cuny.edu
 

Graduate Application:

The application must be completed online at Graduate Application.

Transcripts:

Applicants must request official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.  If you are currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution, have one transcript sent now and another sent when you complete the courses that you are taking. Applicants who have been enrolled at CSI do not need to request a CSI transcript; the Office of Recruitment and Admissions will obtain a copy. If you attended a school outside of the United States, please refer to the instructions outlined on our "International Admissions" page, for details on how to submit your credentials.

Application Fee:

A $75.00 non-refundable application fee (mailing address below) is required of all applicants. Please make your check or money order payable to the College of Staten Island. Veterans are exempt from paying the application fee. Veterans must provide proof of their Veteran/Military status in order to be waived from paying the application fee.

Personal Statement:

Submit a two- to four-page personal statement that answers a predetermined set of questions.  The personal statement should be 300 words, double-spaced with one-inch margins, in 12 point font. 
Access the MS Nursing Personal Statement Form. Access the DNP Personal Statement Form.

Letters of Recommendation:

Two letters of recommendation supporting the applicant’s potential for completing graduate studies; one must be from a current nursing supervisor or recent professor who can speak to clinical performance. Recommendation should be on business/professional letterhead.

Curriculum Vitae:

Submit a curriculum vitae (CV) demonstrating appropriate clinical experience as evidenced by at least one year of full-time practice as a Registered Professional Nurse.

NYS Nursing Certification:

Proof of Current Registered Nurse license to practice in New York State

English Proficiency Examination:

The TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE exam is required of students for whom English is a second language.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Minimum required score is 79 (Internet). For additional information or to register for the exam, please visit the TOEFL website at www.ets.org. Our institutional code is 2778.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): We will only accept the academic exam scores. The minimum required score is 6.5 (overall band).  For additional information or to register for the exam, please visit the IELTS website at www.ielts.org.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Minimum required score is 53. For additional information or to register for the exam, please visit the PTE website at www.pearsonpte.com.

Mailing Address:

Office of Recruitment and Admissions, Graduate Unit
College of Staten Island, CUNY
2800 Victory Boulevard, Building 2A, Room 103
Staten Island, NY 10314
718-982-2019
graduateadmissions@csi.cuny.edu