Advanced Neonatal Nursing Admission Requirements

Acceptance to this Graduate Diploma program follows the established procedures and standards for admission to the Master of Science in Nursing degree program at McMaster University. Application materials and an explanation of procedures are provided here; The Diploma Program is available to both full- and part-time students admitted from the Nursing M.Sc. Program (Category 1) or Post-Master's Degree students (Category 2).

Nursing students must have completed at least three quarters of their course work requirements for the McMaster M.Sc. degree prior to admission, since the Diploma requirements are additional to those requirements for the M.Sc. degree. Students may apply and register in this Diploma Program while completing their M.Sc. thesis research. However, a separate application and tuition fee are required for enrolment in the Advanced Neonatal Nursing Diploma Program. The tuition fee for 2008/9 is $ 10,816.00 plus incidental fees when applicable (fees are subject to change).

Students in the M.Sc. program in Nursing must complete with at least a B- standing the following required courses: NUR *701, *709, or HRM *701 or *702, HRM *721, HRM/NUR *745, and one additional course selected by the student in conjunction with the supervisor or supervisory committee.

For the Graduate Diploma Program in Advanced Neonatal Nursing, at least two years' experience in neonatal critical care will be required in addition to specific requirements of the M.Sc. degree program in Nursing.

The Graduate Diploma Program is also open to qualified applicants who have already completed or are currently enrolled in a relevant Master's degree having successfully completed at least three quarters of the course requirement, either at McMaster or at another University. In this case, admission to the Diploma program as a post-degree student does not guarantee subsequent admission to McMaster's M.Sc. or Ph.D. program in Nursing. The tuition fee for 2008/9 is $10,816.00 plus incidental fees when applicable (fees are subject to change). The following materials are required for enrolment in the Graduate Diploma in Advanced Neonatal Nursing Program:

Completed or currently enrolled in a Master's degree in a clinical nursing specialty with at least a B+ standing
Evidence of eligibility to be registered or licensed in her/his own province/country
Minimum of two years' experience in neonatal clinical care
Current curriculum vitae
Two clinical letters of reference
Two academic letters of reference
Autobiographical letter
Original post-secondary transcripts
Foreign applicants whose native language is not English are required to supply evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language (e.g. TOEFL score of 92 (iBT), 580 (paper test) or 237 (computer test)).
Completed application form and $90.00 application fee (Canadian currency)

For both Category 1 and Category 2 students, the Ontario Public Hospitals Act requires that all persons working in a hospital setting meet certain criteria regarding surveillance for infectious diseases. In order for the requirement of the legislation to be met, once students have been enrolled in the Program, they must complete Pre Clinical Communicable Disease Screening annually through the Student Health Services. More information will be sent to specific applicants prior to registration. Specific questions can be directed to the Office of the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (Health Sciences).