Salem State University Nursing School Review
Salem State University (SSU) was incepted in 1856 and has a century and a half history of bringing higher education to the people of North Shore and the whole of Massachusetts regions. It was started off an exclusive women’s college offering teaching programs. By then, the college was known as Salem normal school but later changed the name to Salem state college after extra non-teaching programs were introduced in the catalog.
Currently, Salem State College is known as Salem State University and is a co-ed public institution of higher learning, offering a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs among them nursing.
School of Nursing at Salem State University
The nursing school at Salem State University caters for the nursing education needs for high school graduates, career advancers and even career shifters. With eight distinct and well structured nursing programs under its mandate, the school strives to offer what most nursing students would require for a better career. Starting from the lowest point, the nursing programs available at Salem state university are:
LPN to BSN
This program enables students to receive six advanced sitting credits for the LPN license. Prerequisites are that the student must have a current Massachusetts LPN license. The credits must however come from a college level experience otherwise, they will not be accepted. Initially, students start off as part time students while taking the general education courses and transfer to the day program only occurs when nursing courses start. The program awards the student a BSN with the eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.
RN to BSN
For RNs wishing to get a BSN, the RN to BSN program is the ideal program at Salem. It is an exclusive part time evening program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. For this particular program, classes are offered at both Salem state and Northern Essex Community college. Selected courses are offered online. Cohorts start at November and March and proceeding for two academic years.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The program takes the traditional four-year baccalaureate format and is designed for entry level students and non nursing degree holders who wish to have a nursing degree. At the end of the program, students sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses.
MSN
The program takes students from accredited bachelor degree colleges and non nursing degree holders. For the non- nurses, they must pass the National League for Nursing Baccalaureate Achievement Exam. The program covers 39 credits with two nursing specialties; nurse education and nurse administration.
MSN/MBA
This is a combined degree program that enables registered nurses with experience in management to take two concurrent degrees; the Master of Business Admin and the MS in nursing. The nursing specialty taken is nursing administration
RN to MSN
This is an integrated program designed for RNs who do not hold a BSN but have an RN education from a nationally accredited diploma or associate. It is important to note that the program does not award two degrees ie BSN and MSN; therefore, students who want to get the two degrees must take additional courses out of this track to be awarded the two degrees concurrently.
Direct Entry MSN
This is a highly tight program that allows non nurses to get a second career in nursing. After 15 months of full time day, evening and weekend classes, students are expected to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. They must also practice for another six months as RNs before re-instating to continue with the MSN track in either Education, Administrator of Nurse practitioner options.
Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education
Advanced practice nurse i.e. those with a minimum of a master level degree are welcome to enroll for this program.
Contact:
Salem State University
352 Lafayette Street,
Salem, MA 01970
