Detroit Mercy’s white coat ceremony ushers in second semester of MEAGN Program

Twenty University of Detroit Mercy students who are currently enrolled in the Master’s Entry Advanced Generalist Nursing (MEAGN) program received white coats during a late October ceremony inside a classroom at the University’s Novi Campus facility.

The 20 students are part of the first cohort of the MEAGN program at Detroit Mercy, which is the first of its kind in Michigan. The white coat ceremony signifies the beginning of their clinical learning experiences in the hospital and other agency settings.

The ceremony was significant for the students of the MEAGN program, but also significant in marking a new era for Detroit Mercy with the opening of the Novi Campus facility.

The facility in Novi, located at the intersection of Twelve Mile and Meadowbrook Roads, was recently approved for instruction and use by the Michigan Board of Nursing.

“This is our first opportunity to really bring Nursing, particularly the MEAGN program, to this part of the city,” said Janet Baiardi, interim dean and professor of the College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing. “Having the opportunity to put these students at the bed side and educate them at this facility is a tremendous opportunity. We think that our location, close to several suburban hospitals, is an important linkage for students to begin to develop their skills and work in those various areas.”

The facility offers a variety of instructional classrooms, including laboratory and simulation areas for hands-on experience. The space also offers offices, study areas and lounges and more for both students and faculty. The Novi Campus facility will begin use in January 2022.

Going forward, it’s anticipated other programs out of College of Health Professions, in addition to others from the University, will utilize the 40,000 square foot facility.

“As the McNichols Campus and College of Health Professions develops some of its own renovations, we are looking to redevelop our own simulation area and make that state of the art and be able to connect students from McNichols directly to Novi,” Baiardi said. “By doing that, we will be able to enhance professional opportunities for nurses who work in urban settings, suburban settings and rural areas to share some knowledge and expertise as we educate them.”

Besides being one its kind in Michigan, Detroit Mercy’s MEAGN program also has an educational partnership with St. Joseph Mercy Oakland.

“Students in the MEAGN program are integrating entry level and graduate core courses that include evidence-based practice, population health, health policy and leadership within a framework of Mercy and Jesuit values,” said Lori Glenn, a clinical associate professor in the McAuley School of Nursing. “Students will benefit from a combination of robust clinical experiences, a final semester preceptorship that focuses on the student’s future goals and an invitation to join the SJMO nursing residency program upon graduation.”

The MEAGN program offers students completion in less than 17 months from start to finish, with entry terms both during the summer and winter. MEAGN graduates receive preferred admission status at Detroit Mercy for post-graduate nursing certificate programs or the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program.

Learn more about Detroit Mercy’s Master’s Entry Advanced Generalist Nursing (MEAGN) program.