Washington MSN Programs

WGU University Washington: RN to MSN Program Review
WGU Washington, 1001 Fourth Avenue, Suite 3827, Seattle, WA 98154-1101
The full name of WGU Washington is Western Governor’s University Washington. WGU Washington is an online not-for-profit university based in Seattle. The college was established in the state of Washington in 2011 and is affiliated with Western Governor’s University which is located in Utah. Western Governor’s University system was founded in 1997.

Two concentrations are offered in the nursing masters degree programs at WGU Washington: 1) MS Nursing Education, 2) MS Nursing Leadership

Both programs are also offered in an RN to MSN program for nurses without a bachelor of science degree in nursing. Students in the nursing masters program will complete 30 credits of study and a 40 hour clinical experience practicum. The MSN program can generally be completed in two years of study. Students can complete the program in less than two years, as the program is competency based.

For admission to the nursing masters degree program, applicants should be residents of Washington and possess a valid Washington RN license. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is also required for admission. As for testing requirements, applicants must complete WGU Washington’s Readiness Assessment. Applicants to the nursing masters program should hold a nursing license and be currently employed in a clinical nursing setting.

Gonzaga University: RN to MSN Program Review

Gonzaga University
502 E Boone Ave
Spokane, WA 99202

Gonzaga University was established in 1887. The university is affiliated with the Catholic faith and was named for the Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. More than 7,500 students are educated at the 100+ acre Gonzaga University campus.

Gonzaga University offers several entrance options for the online nursing masters degree programs. In addition to the traditional nursing masters degree for nurses with a BSN, an RN to MSN program for nurses without a bachelors degree and a Second Degree Masters Program for nurses holding a MSN seeking a masters degree in a different nursing specialization. The nursing masters program offers Nurse Educator and Health Systems Leadership specializations. A Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner focus are also offered in the second degree MSN program.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredits Gonzaga University’s MSN programs.

The nursing masters degree program can be completed in two years plus one additional semester of study. The course is delivered online in its entirety, though students make one campus visit towards the program’s completion. Students complete clinical practicum requirements in their local area. In addition to submitting transcripts, applicants to the MSN program should submit Miller Analogies Test scores, a personal essay, two letters of recommendation and resume.

Pacific Lutheran University: RN to MSN Program Review

Pacific Lutheran University
12180 Park Ave S

Tacoma, WA 98447

Pacific Lutheran University is a private university serving over 3,000 students. The university is based in Parkland, which is located near Tacoma, Washington.

The following masters degree specializations are offered at Pacific Lutheran University:

MSN Care and Outcomes Manager

MSN Family Nurse Practitioner

MSN/MBA (Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration) joint degree program

In addition to the traditional nursing masters degree program for bachelors prepared nurses, a Master’s Entry Level program is offered for college graduates without prior nursing education or work experience. The nursing masters entry program, prepares students to become RNs with a masters degree in nursing. The RN-B to MSN is for Registered Nurses with a bachelors degree in a field other than nursing.

In order to apply to the traditional nursing masters program, nurses should have a bachelor’s degree earned with a 3.0 or above GPA. A prerequisite course that covers descriptive and inferential statistics completed with a B or better is also required. Applicants to the RN-B to MSN and Entry-Level MSN should have a bachelors degree earned with a 3.0 or above GPA. Prerequisites, which must be completed with a “B” or better include Statistics, Human Anatomy and Physiology (I and II), Developmental Psychology and Intro to Microbiology.

Seattle Pacific University: RN to MSN Program Review

Seattle Pacific University
3307 3rd Ave W

Seattle, WA 98119

Seattle Pacific University is a private Christian university that offers liberal arts education. The university is based in the Seattle neighborhood of Queen Anne Hill. The university serves approximately 4,000 students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Seattle Pacific University was founded by Free Methodists in 1891 as Seattle Seminary.

The following core concentrations are offered in the nursing masters degree program:

Nurse Administrator

Nurse Educator

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Nurse Practitioner (Family or Adult primary care)

The Nurse Administrator and Educator concentrations are interdisciplinary. Students in the Nurse Administrator program enroll in courses at the School of Business and Economics, while students in the Nurse Educator course enroll in courses at the School of Education. In addition to bachelors prepared nurses, the RN to MSN programs also accept nurses with a bachelors degree in a non-nursing field.

Applicants to the Master of Science in Nursing degree program should have a bachelors degree and Registered Nurse license. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 45 credits of the nursing program is required for admission. Applicants to the CNS and NP programs should have at least two years of clinical nursing experience before applying to the nursing masters program. In addition to meeting requirements above, MSN applicants should submit a resume, essay and letters of recommendation along with their application. In some cases, an admission interview may be required.

Seattle University: RN to MSN Program Review

Seattle University

901 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 9812

Seattle University is a private Catholic university based in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. The university was founded in 1891 in the Jesuit denomination.

Seattle University offers the following nursing specializations in their masters program:

Family Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with Addictions focus

Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Midwifery

All of the nursing masters Nurse Practitioner specializations focus on primary care. In addition to the traditional RN to MSN programs, an Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion program is offered for applicants without nursing experience or credentials and a bachelors’s degree. The program prepares students to earn both the BSN and MSN and is offered full-time.

Applicants to the Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion program should have a bachelors degree earned with a 3.0 or above GPA. Scores for the Graduate Record Exam are also required. In addition to the application, a personal statement, two letters of recommendation and a resume are also required for admission.

For admission to the traditional nursing masters degree program, applicants should have a bachelors degree in nursing and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. In general, applicants should have at least two years of experience working in a clinical nursing setting. Applicants who do not meet admission requirements will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

University of Washington: RN to MS Program Review

University of Washington

E Columbia Rd

Seattle, WA 98105

The University of Washington is located in Seattle. Additional branches of the university are based in Tacoma and Bothell. The University of Washington was established in 1861 and serves nearly 50,000 students.

The University of Washington offers both Master in Nursing and Master of Science degree programs.

Applicants to the MN program should have an undergraduate degree in nursing earned with a 3.0 or better GPA. Nurses without a bachelors degree may be accepted to the nursing program, but must complete essays related to Leadership and Community Health Nursing. When applying the program, MN applicants should have a valid US RN license, but must obtain a Washington state RN license prior to beginning the graduate nursing degree clinical coursework. The following specializations are offered in the MN program:

Master of Nursing/Master of Public Health joint degree program

Community Nursing with one of the following specialties:

Cross-Cultural and Global Health

Healthy Aging

Occupational and Environmental Health

Rural Health

Communities for Youth

A Clinical Informatics and Patient-Centered Technologies specialization is offered in the MS Program. Entrance requirements to the MS program include a GPA of 3.0 or above in the last 90 quarter credits of the undergraduate degree program. A current US RN license is also required if the program includes clinical coursework. A prerequisite course in statistics, three letters of recommendation and answers to the written response questions on the application are also required. The RN to MS program can be completed in 6 semesters of full time study, though part-time study is also available.

University of Washington Bothell: RN to MN Program Review

University of Washington Bothell

18115 Campus Way NE

Bothell, WA 98011-8246

The University of Washington Bothell, also referred to as UW Bothell, is part of the University of Washington system with additional campuses in Bellevue, Mt. Vernon, Everett, Seattle and Tacoma. The university serves over 4,000 students and was established in 1990.

The nursing masters degree program is for RNs with a BSN and RNs with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. MSN courses meet weekly at the University of Washington Bothell campus. Prior to being accepted into the nursing masters program, a nurse may earn up to 12 credits as a non-matriculated student. The RN to MN program is designed to be completed part-time. Students can choose from a seven or eleven quarter plan. The MN program has been offered since 2002 and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Applicants to the Master in Nursing program should have a bachelors degree from a CCNE or National League for Nursing (NLN) accredited program. A statistics course covering descriptive and inferential areas is the only requirement. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above is required in the last 60 semester of 90 quarter credits of the nursing program. Nursing experience and a Washington RN license are also required for admission to the nursing masters program.

University of Washington Tacoma: RN to MN Program Review

University of Washington Tacoma

1900 Commerce St

Tacoma, WA 98402

The University of Washington Tacoma was founded in 1990 and is part of the University of Washington system along with the Seattle and Bothell campuses. Nearly 4,000 students are enrolled at the Tacoma campus. The Academic Ranking of World Universities names the University of Washington the 16th university in the world.

A Master of Nursing in Communities, Populations and Health, Nurse Educator or Leadership in Healthcare is offered at the University of Washington Tacoma. The Master in Nursing program is flexible and designed to accommodate working nurses. The MN program is not delivered online in its entirety, but does offer online course components. The nursing masters program can be completed in five semesters of full time study or seven to eight semesters on a part-time schedule.

In order to apply to the nursing masters degree program, applicants should have a bachelors degree in nursing from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or National League for Nursing (NLN). A prerequisite statistics course and Washington RN license is also required. Applicants without a BSN may petition the admission committee for acceptance to the RN to MN program. Students are encouraged to meet individually with a nursing program advisor.

Washington State University: RN to MN Program Review

Washington State University
PO Box 641227

Pullman WA 99164

Washington State University was established in 1890. The university serves over 20,000 students and is one the largest universities in the state of Washington. The main campus of Washington State University is located in Pullman, with additional campuses in Spokane, Vancouver, and Richland. Washington State University was originally named the Washington Agricultural College and School of Science.

A Master of Nursing with an Advanced Population Health focus is offered at Washington State University. Students can choose from a general MN APH focus or further specialize into Nursing Leadership, Nurse Education or an Individualized Study option. Applicants to the nursing masters program are accepted in spring and fall. The program is delivered in a hybrid format, with courses held on-campus and online components. The amount of on-campus time varies according to the student’s nursing track.

A bachelor’s degree in nursing earned with a 3.0 or above GPA is required for admission to the nursing masters degree program. Applicants are required to submit a personal essay, three letters of recommendation and scores for the Graduate Record Exam in addition to meeting the academic requirements above. An undergraduate course in statistics is also required for admission consideration. Applicants are advised to provide contact information for references from both professional and academic settings.