I. ACADEMIC PROGRAMS A.Pre-licensure – Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP

I. ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

A. PRE-LICENSURE – GRADUATE ENTRY PATHWAY (GEP)

Interim Director: Akwasi Duah PhD, RN Location: Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing E-mail: Akwasi.Duah@umassmed.edu

The Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP) program is designed as an alternate pathway into advanced nursing practice for applicants who have the minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing and seek a graduate degree in nursing as a professional registered nurse (RN), nurse practitioner or nurse researcher. The GEP program responds to the growing need for welleducated professional nurses and faculty. This is a full-time program that prepares professional nurses for initial licensure by examination in Massachusetts as a registered nurse and generalist, entry– level RN. The GEP program establishes the foundation for safe and competent professional practice as an RN with required practice hours.

Requirements for GEP Certificate of Completion

As per state law CMR 244-6.03, a Certificate of Completion can be granted to students who have met the academic and clinical qualifications to sit for NCLEX-RN as part of their graduate program of study. • Successful completion of the pre-licensure courses • Enrollment in required 600 or 700 level courses

ATI NCLEX Predictor Test

GEP students will take the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) RN Comprehensive Predictor exam at the end of the summer semester. The expected benchmark is a ‘predictor score’ (certainty of passing the NCLEX exam) of 95%. Students are strongly encouraged to prepare for the exam with the use of texts, online testing tools, and other sources.

Students who do not achieve the benchmark will develop a remediation plan with their advisor or a designated member of the faculty and complete it prior to taking the NCLEX exam.

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