Concordia College Nursing Program Review

Concordia College, part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church was dedicated to providing higher education to the residents of Minnesota, N. Dakota and Montana from 1891. It was an idea conceived by Norwegian missionaries who were settling in Minnesota and started off with about 12 students offering English and Piano Classes. The college later advanced to offering liberal arts courses and a fully functional departmental system of the college was formed in 1913. Since then, it has been academic advancement all the way to the big College of the Lutheran Heritage.

Nursing at Concordia College

The department of nursing at Concordia College offers two programs; leading to the award of Bachelor of Arts in nursing degrees.  The two programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved to do so by the North Dakota and Minnesota Boards of Nursing.

Degree in Nursing

The program aims at training nurses at entry level wishing to become professional nurses. Students are expected to take four years of study to complete the program just like the usual Bachelor of Science degree program. Students take prerequisite courses for the first year after admission in Concordia. Students who have completed the prerequisites are expected to apply for the competitive selection criteria in the nursing major.

All nursing major courses start off during the spring semester of each year. Unlike most church affiliated colleges that offer Christian courses as part of the prerequisites courses, Concordia College does not follow that tradition. Usually, the prerequisites are general education courses ranging from Science, biology, anatomy among others. Successful completion of a total of 86 to 90 credits lead to the award of the Bachelor of Arts in nursing degree in addition to the eligibility to write the NCLEX-RN exam.

Accelerated Nursing

Admission to the accelerated program at Concordia College requires students who have already completed a baccalaureate program from another non-nursing field from a recognized school. It takes 18 months to complete the nursing majors inclusive of one semester to fulfill prerequisites courses. Intake is in May every year running through to December of the next year. A total of 48 nursing credits are needed for the award of the second major in nursing and eligibility to write the NCLEX-RN exam to become a registered nurse.

Parish Nursing Certification

This program is meant for those who wish to serve in their congregation as nurses. The program aims at shaping nurse educators, counselors, volunteers and integrators of faith at the church level. It is in this program where Christian teachings are incorporated into the nursing curriculum. Students wishing to graduate with this certificate apply for additional credits related to religion and Christian teachings. It is not a distinct program but one which the regular second majors or the traditional Bachelor of Arts students apply for during their final year.  Completion of the additional certificate credits leads to students graduating with the arts baccalaureate degree and parish nurse certificate.

Contact:
Concordia College- Moorhead
901 8^th St, S. Moorhead,
MN 56562

Crown College Nursing Program Review

Established in 1912 as ministerial school, Crown College has outgrown that small name into a big regional college it is today. St Paul’s Bible Institute it was but expanded its curriculum to include other non theological majors. This expansion led to the change of the name and the outlook of the college to Crown College, offering degree programs beyond its initial capacity on all major academic fields. The private co-ed higher education center is dedicated to serve and bring education that follows the teachings of Christ to residents of West Minneapolis and Minnesota at large.

Nursing at Crown College

Nursing programs at Crown College (CC) are offered under the department of nursing. The department together with the two nursing programs has been approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The two nursing programs lead to the award of a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.

Bachelor of Science Nursing Pre-licensure

The department of nursing offers this program for new students who have never had any prior nursing experience. The curriculum of this program consists of Christian studies as one of the core courses to provide biblically based nursing education. The program also incorporates a strong aspect of missionary nursing hence, takes a cross cultural perspective. The curriculum also incorporates a hybrid format of study where some selected courses are offered online.

A total of 66 credits are taken during the freshman and sophomore years. Christian studies and doctrines including intensive study of the New and Old Testament comprise of 18 credits out of the 66. At the junior and senior years, students start on the nursing and some few biblical courses which total up to 56 credits. Out of these, 9 are directly based on the bible and Christian teachings. The program prepares students for the first licensure into registered nursing by taking the NCLEX-RN exam. Precisely, it is inevitable to get transformed into Christianity after taking their nursing program.

Nursing, Bachelor of Science Completion

This program from Crown College aims at building on prior nursing experience by admitting already registered nurses or those who have completed a two-year or a nursing diploma. Just like the earlier nursing program, courses integrate faith into evidence based nursing practice. The program is excellent for those who do not wish to lose their day jobs during the period of study. This is because the curriculum is delivered in flexible online and classroom instructions. Most of the courses required for completion of the program are offered online.

Unlike the traditional BSN, this nursing program targets adult students and is offered by the department of nursing with collaboration with the adult and Graduate Studies section of the college. The program does not demand a lot of commitment from students to campus visits. It is also the program that accepts transfer students from community colleges or other universities. Crown College boasts to have one of the top ten online nursing programs among Christian universities and colleges.

Contact:
Crown College
8700 College View Drive, Saint Bonifacius,
MN 55375

Inver Hills Community College Nursing Program Review

Dating back to 1970, Inver Hills Community College (IHCC) offers a serene learning environment in the 90-acre wooded-hill campus. As a community college, Inver Hills is dedicated to offering its education services to the locals but also welcomes students  from nearby states.

One fascinating old fact about Inver Hills is that close to half of its students, in any given time, are part-time or adult learners who attend college for evening, weekend or part time classes. It is therefore an excellent college for working professionals who wish to work and study at the same time.

Nursing Programs at Inver Hills Community College

IHCC offers a number of nursing programs all of which are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. The nursing programs focus on a philosophy of holism, healing and health as the core points of practical nursing. Top on the list of the programs offered is the traditional 2-year Associate of Science degree in Nursing (AS in Nursing). Also offered are mobility/ advanced placement options for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) & Paramedics and a short Certificate in Nursing Assistant (CNA) course. Together with Metropolitan State University and 6 other community colleges, IHCC offers its nursing programs under a consortium. This consortium; the Minnesota Alliance for Nursing Education (MANE) allows students to complete the Associate degree and later on, complete the curriculum for the baccalaureate nursing degree.

Associate of Science in Nursing

The AS in nursing is a 75-credit program designed to take two years; 1 semester of a sequence of liberal arts courses and 3 semesters of nursing coursework. A Certificate as a Nurse Aide is a prerequisite for admission to this track. Upon completion of the 4 semesters of required coursework, students become eligible to write the NCLEX exam to become Registered Nurses.  This track falls under the MANE program and as such, offers interested students Dual Enrollment with Metropolitan State University. The dual enrollment option: rolled out in the fall of 2013/2014 academic year, enables a student to complete the associate degree, earn the RN license and continue to take additional courses for a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. This program forms the objective of the MANE program which is to make baccalaureate nursing education accessible to all across the state.

Licensed Practical Nurse/ Paramedic Mobility Track

These advanced placement programs are designed for those interested in becoming registered nurses. Candidates must have an active LPN status from any state in the US or a Certification as an Emergency Medical Technician for the case of paramedics. Additionally, applicants of these accelerated tracks must meet other nursing admission requirements which include state registration as a Nursing Assistant and completion of the NLN Pre-Admission Exam. Classes for these two tracks start in the summer semester where students take the Transition to Professional nursing course prior to starting the AS in Nursing Curriculum. In addition to courses waivered in lieu of former qualification, students must complete a total of 75 credits to be eligible for graduation. Graduates are also welcome to take the MANE option and complete the baccalaureate in nursing degree.

Nursing Assistant Certificate

Besides being a prerequisite requirement for admission to the Associate degree in nursing program, the CNA course is designed to offer employability skills to entry-level learners. It is a short 5-credit curriculum inclusive of 24-hour supervised practical experience in long term care facilities. Upon completion, graduate become eligible to apply entry in the State’s CNA Registry.

Contact:
Inver Hills Community College
2500 East 80^th St, Inver Grove Heights
MN 55076

Globe University/ Minnesota School of Business Nursing School Review

As the name suggests, Globe University/ Minnesota School of Business is truly a global university. The university has a very diverse local and international network. With over 11 satellite campuses in Minnesota alone and additional campuses in Wisconsin and South Dakota, the university has actually strived to have a global outreach. The university started as Minnesota business School, one of the oldest business schools in the state. Back in 1885, a German scholar conceived the idea of the business college which later evolved to the current Globe University; offering an array of bachelors, master and associate degree programs besides business.

Globe University Nursing

Approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the only nursing program at Globe University lead to a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. The Program is offered at the auxiliary section of the university: Minnesota School of Business at its Richfield campus.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree Program

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Globe University is a pre-licensure program, open to new students entering the nursing profession. The curriculum is delivered from the Minnesota School of Business at Richfield campus. The program takes a holistic approach to nursing practice in molding nurses who are able to serve beyond the hospital walls.

The curriculum focuses on major nursing courses in addition to the underserved nursing concepts, philosophies and end of life nursing skills.  Usually, the program takes the form of an accelerated study mode where, the four year curriculum is covered in three academic years or thirty six months. The relatively short period is attributed to the fact that the courses are offered all year round in three semesters.

Admission to the program requires all applicants to show prove of having attended a nursing assistant class within the last five years. As such, the program allows students to start on experiential and co-operative in health agencies around the twin cities from as early as the last quarter of the freshman year. Admission to the program is on two occasions annually; semesters starting January and July.

Successful completion leads to the award of a Bachelor of Science in nursing and eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to become a registered nurse.

Important Notes

Globe University was offering an online program of an RN to BSN completion program. The program was offering a chance to already registered nurses to advance to a bachelor’s degree in a flexible and convenient way. However, the university has suspended offering that program and the reason for halting admissions into the program is review of the curriculum. This was the program that used to accept transfer students and on this note, Globe University is not currently accepting nursing transfer credits. Students willing to get into this program are advised check regularly with the university’s academic register on the possible re-instatement dates for this program. But the university does not guarantee the re-instatement of the said program.

Contact:
Globe University/ Minnesota School of Business
80 South, Minneapolis,
MN 55402

Gustavus Adolphus College Nursing Program Review

Gustavus Adolphus College (GAC) is a church college deeply rooted and maintaining the values of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Its history started unfolding in 1862, hence has a decade and a half of higher education services to the people. It is a Christian, private co-ed institution which is guided by the Swedish and Lutheran heritages.

Nursing at Gustavus Adolphus College

Nursing at Gustavus Adolphus College is through a consortium with other colleges in Minnesota. It is a baccalaureate program that takes a minimum of four years to complete. Accreditation is through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Nursing Program Structure

The nursing program is offered by two colleges; Gustavus Adolphus and St. Olaf College. The Minnesota Intercollegiate Nursing Consortium ensures students receive the experience of learning in two distinct campuses towards the same goal. Students take nursing and general education courses on a predetermined sequence from Olaf and Gustavus.

During the first year, student nurses take prerequisites courses and general education courses. These courses also continue for the whole of the sophomore year. At the junior and senior year, students start on nursing courses together with liberal arts courses. The program takes a holistic approach to nursing and liberal arts make-up a substantial percent of the junior and senior year’s courses.

Twenty courses must be completed for students to be eligible to graduate with a Bachelors degree from the college. The breakdown of the courses results to 11 upper division nursing and liberal arts courses, 8 prerequisite courses and 1 supporting course.  Even though the program is via a consortium, students must first apply to the program from their mother college ie Gustavus Adolphus College and the rest follow smoothly.

It is also important to note that, the college does not accept transfer students coming out of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Nursing Consortium. Transfer students can only be taken from either Gustavus or Saint Olaf College and  students who have completed prerequisites courses outside these two are advised not to apply. Most students in the nursing program complete an interim- study abroad program. For students who choose international programs, nursing courses may not be completed in the set four years and additional time maybe required to complete the program

Concurrent Majors

Students may also apply for special consideration to earn another major program alongside the nursing major. This consideration is for highly performing students and leads to graduation with two bachelor degrees.  In this case too, students must be ready to commit about five to six years in college.

Similarly, students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree from another major from Gustavus may also apply for a Second Major in Nursing. It is easier to get the second major in nursing at Gustavus Adolphus since the almost all prerequisites courses of the earlier major will be recognized by the admissions office of the nursing department. This plan in both cases is referred to as double majors; only applicable to students of Gustavus and not those of St. Olaf College.

Contact:
Gustavus Adolphus College
800 West College Avenue, St Peter,
MN 56082

Metropolitan State University Nursing School Review

Metropolitan State University (Metro State) does not have a very long history; as it was started in early 1970s. The need to bring higher education to the communities led to the legislature of the State to vote towards its founding. The university, set in the urban area of the Twin cities, started off serving communities from many areas including other colleges as a university without walls until it got its own grounds. Currently, the university has four campuses in St Paul, Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis and Midway in Minnesota. It is a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) .

Nursing Programs at Metropolitan University

Nursing programs at Metro State University are under the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. They range from completion baccalaureate to doctoral nursing programs. They have been approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and the baccalaureate accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

Nursing (RN-BSN)

This program is meant to build on prior nursing experience for RNs who already hold a diploma or associate degree. The same curriculum is delivered in the main campus at St Paul and in other five locations in community colleges.  Students can therefore take classes at North Hennepin CC, Anoka Ramsey CC, Normandale CC, and Inver Hills CC or at Century CC. All nursing courses are taken on a part time format in all locations for five semesters. Learning is through cohorts that meet once weekly for all semesters.

 Master of Science in Nursing

The college of nursing and health sciences at Metro State University offers BSN prepared nurses a path to become advanced practice nurses. There are two tracks from which students can choose i.e. Nurse Educator or Nurse Leadership & Management tracks. Both programs can be completed in either full time or part time study modes. For full times students, the programs can be completed in two years and additional summer semester. On the other hand, part times students are expected to complete the programs in about three academic years and two summer semesters.

Curriculum delivery of a hybrid nature, including web enhanced courses, online instructions and face to face classroom instructions. The master programs have been accredited separately by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

MnSCU Consortium Doctor of Nursing Practice

The university, together with other four state universities in Minnesota has come together to offer this consortium of DNP. The participating universities are Metropolitan state university and Minnesota State universities- Moorhead & Mankato and Winona State University. This collaborative program is specifically meant for masters prepared students.

On a further note, the university has plans underway to introduce an independent DNP program within its mandate. As such, the program will have two routes towards the DNP. On the first option, a curriculum that helps BSN students to get a Doctor of nursing practice has been developed. Students will have to take the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration as a master level nurse specialty.  The second route will be for the usual MSN prepared students who took specialties in nurse leadership concentrations.  In view of this, the first cohort of students at the independent Metro State University DNP program kicked off in the fall 2012.

Contact:
Metropolitan State University
1501 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis,
MN 55403

Minneapolis Community and Technical College Nursing Program Review

Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) is a metropolitan based college right in the heart of Minneapolis. It is a relatively young public two-year community college founded in 1996. The coming to life of the college was a result of mergers between an open enrollment college and a technical vocational institute. The college is dedicated to providing career entry programs as well as transfer programs for those aspiring to proceed to four year universities. Continuing Education courses and lifelong learning also make a good part of the college commitment to bring higher education closer to the community.

Nursing at Minneapolis Community and Technical College

Despite the recent founding of the college, there are quite a number of nursing programs that have been developed. Two of the programs lead to the award of an associate degree, one diploma and one certificate program. The five nursing programs have been approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Program offerings are fully expounded below:

Nursing Mobility Program

i)        Practical Nursing Diploma

As the name suggests, this is a career mobility program that has two distinct portions. This mobility program carries three of the nursing programs offered at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. To start with, students enroll for the nursing mobility and are expected to finish one year of 25 nursing and 11 general education credits. After successful completion of this section of the program, students can exit and by so doing, earn a Diploma in Practical Nursing. Students who wish to exit at the first year level are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam to become licensed practical nurses in Minnesota.

ii)      Option A: Nursing Mobility A.S Degree

Progression into the second year leads to the second portion of the program, which basically lead to the award of an associate of Science in nursing. During the second year of progression, first year LPN students (unlicensed) of MCTC take an additional 37 credits to complete the requirement for the associate degree. Completion of the whole mobility program makes the students eligible to write the NCLEX-RN and (or) PN exam for double licensure.

iii)    Option B: Nursing Mobility A.S. Degree

The second option of the mobility program enables licensed practical nurses from any other college to complete the curriculum towards becoming registered nurses. In this option, students receive 22 advanced standing nursing credits and up to 11 general education credits from the PN diploma. Students get into the program at the second year level and take the remaining nursing and general education credits needed for the AS degree at MCTC. Two LPN to RN transition courses must be taken prior to starting on the nursing courses at MCTC.

Nursing Assistant/ Home Health Aide

Minneapolis Community and Technical College also trains students who wish to get into nursing as nurse aides/ nursing assistants.  Three options of the nursing aide certificate exist namely:

• Nurse assistant certificate requiring one course of five credits
• Nursing Assistant Extended Hour Certificate requiring one course of six credits
• Nursing Assistant- Acute care option requiring three credits

Continuing Education Course for Nurses

The college also offers four continuing education courses for nurses including a nursing refresher for RNS and LPNS.

Contact:
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
1501 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis,
MN 55403

Minnesota State University – Mankato Nursing School Review

From the humble begging as a Normal School, Minnesota State University (MSU) has come a long way to its current state. 1868 was when the history of this state university starting unfolding. Two and three year programs were introduced to the Mankato Normal School which warranted the change of name to Mankato State Teachers College.  Further in 1956, the school started offering four-year degrees changing name again to Mankato State College. By the year 1999, the school finally settled to the current name. The university is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System (MnSCU).

College of Allied Health and Nursing- Minnesota State University Mankato

The college of Allied health and Nursing is mother to the school of nursing at Minnesota State University Mankato (MSU, MSU-M, Minnesota State Mankato).  Programs under this school range from undergraduate to the terminal doctorate degree in nursing. Accreditation for the program is by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing education and they are also approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. A full description of the nursing programs offered in the university is given below.

Basic Nursing Program

This program leads to the award of a Bachelor of Science with a nursing major degree. The Curriculum is designed to meet the needs of pre-licensure students who do not have any nursing experience. Students take a total of 120 credits 59 of which are for the nursing major portion while the remaining are prerequisites and general education bracket. 

The curriculum for the program requires four traditional academic years of full time study. During the first and sophomore year, students take the general education courses while nursing major course are only offered at the sophomore 2^nd semester onwards. Transfer students from community colleges and other smaller colleges are also welcome to apply for the program. For them, only two years are required to complete the program on a full time basis. Students have a great experience of preparing for the NCLEX-RN exam in their journey to becoming registered nurses.

RN Baccalaureate Completion Program

The Bachelors degree in nursing for RNs targets RNs who consider completing a Bachelors degree. Although the program is designed for full time study, students wishing to take part time classes must apply to the school of nursing for consideration, although the school does not guarantee part time classes. Students from other BS or BA programs can also progress into a second nursing degree under this program.

Master of Science in Nursing

Under the graduate nursing programs, there are two tracks for those who want to get into advanced practical nursing. The two tracks are Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator tracks. The Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum consists of 53 nursing credits while the Nurse Educator option require 52 credits for completion. Both programs take 9 semester of year round study i.e. fall, spring and summer semesters. However, the Nurse Educator students have the option of completing the program in eight semesters although the 9 Semester plan is the basic plan of study. Two post-masters Certificate programs are also available for each of the two concentrations

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Under the terminal nursing degree program, students have two entry options. On the first option, Master prepared students who have nursing specialties as Nurse Midwives, Nurse Anesthetist and Nurse practitioner, and Clinical Nurse Specialists are welcome to enroll. On the Second option, BSN prepared students can enroll to undertake the DNP but the completion period is prolonged. It is a distance learning program and courses are delivered using online and web based modalities.

Contact:
Minnesota State University – Mankato
122 Taylor Centre, Mankato,
MN 56001

Minnesota State University – Moorhead Nursing School Review

Minnesota State University- Moorhead (MSUM) started as a normal school training teachers in Red River County. That was back in 1988 after a bill was passed by the legislature of Minnesota to establish an institution of higher education in Red River. The college started awarding bachelor degrees in education and hence became Moorhead State Teachers College. Expansion of the catalog led to dropping of the name “teachers” to Moorhead State College. The name changed again to Moorhead State University and finally to Minnesota State University- Moorhead in the year 2000.

Nursing at Minnesota State University- Moorhead

Nursing at the university is under the School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership. The school offers undergraduate and graduate nursing programs which are approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. They are also accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Students should note that the nursing programs at the university are completion degrees hence do not take in fresh/ pre licensure students.

RN to BSN Track

This program is a completion program that admits only registered nurses who wish to complete a baccalaureate program in nursing. Students must have completed a total of 21 liberal arts credits from another school to be eligible for admission. After transfer courses are taken into account, the remaining 30 nursing majors must be completed in Moorhead. A total of 120 credits are required to complete the program hence, 80 of them are of the Minnesota Transfer curriculum, and prerequisites courses.

It is good to note that the RN to BSN program from Minnesota State University- Moorhead is an exclusive online program and all courses are delivered in an online version.

Master of Science in Nursing

A master of science with a major in nursing is available at Minnesota State University- Moorhead. This graduate program takes in BSN or BAN prepared nurses from programs that have been accredited by either CCNE or National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and prepares RNs to become advanced practice nurses. Applicants must also show prove of an active registered nurses licenses and proof of recent working experience. There are two tracks for which students can choose towards getting the Master of Science in nursing namely:

• Master of Science in Nursing- Nurse Educator
• Master of Science in Nursing- Adult Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist

The program, just like the RN completion program is offered online and can be completed in either a full time and part time basis. Usually, the full time program takes 2 years to complete while the part timers can proceed for a maximum of seven years. As an online program, the students can chose their location for the clinical sessions at locations near their neighborhoods.

Minnesota State University- Moorhead Master of Science in nursing accepts transfers students for as long as the transfer credits are for the two nursing specialties offered. A maximum of 12 MSN credits can be accepted from other accredited universities towards the two nursing programs. The applicable credits must however have a minimum of a grade B.

Contact:
Minnesota State University- Moorhead
1104 7^th Ave South, Moorhead,
MN 56563

Normandale Community College Nursing Program Review

Normandale Community College (NCC) was established in 1968 to bring the mission of community colleges. It is a two- year college that serves the communities around the southwest parts of the Minneapolis and St. Paul’s twin cities. As a community college, Normandale offers career entry programs and transferable programs to four years universities.  It also fosters the mission of community colleges of offering continuing education and lifelong non-credit courses to the community it serves.

Normandale Community College Nursing

The nursing department at Normandale offers two nursing tracks leading to the award of associate degree in nursing as well as certificate program in nurse assistant. The three programs have been approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and also have accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission.

AS- Nursing

The AS- nursing at Normandale Community College is designed to meet the educational needs of students as an entry level in nursing. Students who do not have prior nursing experience are the candidates for this program. Students are admitted in cohorts each fall semester. A total of 61 credits, which are designed to be covered in four semesters of two academic years, must be completed. Precisely, students take 32 credits of nursing courses and 31 credits of general education courses on a full time basis. Completion of the program makes the students eligible for the NCLEX-RN exam and licensure to become a registered nurse besides graduating with an Associate of Science in nursing degree.

AS- Nursing PN Mobility

The requirement for this program is different from the traditional AS nursing program. Unlike the AS program, students get admission in the summer semester preceding the fall semesters of the traditional AS. During this period, students take 12 credits of a PN mobility Transition course. After completion of this transition course, students join the other traditional class at the fall semester. The merge is at the second year class of the associate program and the program continues for another one year to completion.

The candidates for the program are Licensed Practical nurses who hold active Minnesota LPN licenses. There is advanced standing of up-to 25 credits in recognition of the LPN license. Completion of this mobility program awards the student an associate of science in nursing degree in addition to having eligibility to write the NCLEX-RN exam.

Certificate-Nursing Assistant

This certificate program trains nurses to work in long term care facilities and other health care agencies as a nurse aide. One nursing course is required to complete the program whereby, students are placed on the nursing assistant registry after passing the National Nursing Assistant Training and Competency Test.

Metropolitan State University RN to BS Partnership Program

Normandale Community college has a partnership with Metropolitan State University to allow students take the RN-BSN nursing program. The program is a direct transition from Normandale to Metro University- St Paul’s Campus. The partnership allows students to take nursing major courses towards the completion of a BSN from their College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Contact:
Normandale Community College
9700 France Ave South, Bloomington,
MN 55431

North Hennepin Community College Nursing Program Review

North Hennepin Community College (NHCC) is a Co-ed two year college that serves the people of the North Hennepin and Minnesota at large. It opened its doors for higher education in 1966 as a junior state college. After starting on two years degree programs, the college changed its name to the current name to reflect the community college it is today. The college has undergone tremendous development in terms of programs offered, college locations and infrastructural development.

Nursing- North Hennepin Community College

North Hennepin Community College has nursing programs that lead to the award of an associate degree in nursing. The Associate degree is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. The programs details are explained below:

Nursing – Two Year Option (AS)

This standard nursing program leading to an associate degree in nursing is one of the two nursing programs at North Hennepin Community College. It is specially designed for students who have never had any nursing experience. It trains students to become professional nurses by preparing them to take the NCLEX-RN exam.

The curriculum for this program includes a total of 64 credits which have a 50-50 share between liberal arts courses and nursing courses. The good news is that this program is available in both day and evening/weekends options. For the day option, students attend nursing courses classes throughout the week Monday through Friday full day. Clinical classes are not predictable and may be scheduled outside the normal day hours.

On the other hand, the weekend-evening program is designed for the working or busy students. All courses are offered for two days in a week during the evening hours. For the clinical experience, students go to health agencies only on weekends i.e. Saturday and Sunday. Students must note that it is not possible to change between the two options and the student should follow the option they choose from the beginning to the end.

The weekend-evening attendance option students can also take their nursing courses from St Cloud Hospital in an online version. Clinical sessions are held on Saturday and Sunday at the hospital premises 9 hour per day.

Nursing Program- Mobility Option (AS)

The mobility program takes in licensed practical nurses from Minnesota and all other LPNS from other states as long they hold active licensure from their states. Prior to admission to the program, students must take a five weeks transition course from North Hennepin Community College during the summer preceding the start date.

Following admission to the program, students will take 32 liberal arts courses and 20 credits for nursing courses. Just like the standard associate degree program, students have three options of completing the program; the day option at Brooklyn Park campus, the evening-weekend option at Brooklyn Campus and the St Cloud’s Hospital online option for theory and hospital attendance for clinical sessions.

RN-BSN Completion Programs

Graduates of the North Hennepin Community College have the chance to transfer to a four year nursing baccalaureate program, thanks to articulation agreement with the following 7 universities:

• Bethel University
• Minnesota State University- Bemidji
• Minnesota State University- Moorhead
• Minnesota State University- Mankato
• Metropolitan University
• University of Wisconsin- Green Bay
• Winona State University

Contact:
North Hennepin Community College
7411 85^th Avenue, North Brooklyn Park,
MN 55445

Ridgewater College Nursing Program Review

Ridgewater College has experienced many twists from 1961 when it was founded. The college has had numerous changes in name, quite a number of mergers, growth of programs, methods of education delivery and many more. Ridgewater College serves the community in Hutchinson and Willmar in the capacity of a technical and community college. It has many higher education opportunities from career entry programs to transfers options and technical training opportunities.

Nursing at Ridgewater College

Nursing programs at Ridgewater College (RC, or RWC) have been accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. The three nursing programs have also been approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. Two of the programs are certificate awarding programs and one lead to an associate degree in nursing. The associate degree is a mobility degree and allows students to transfer to any Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Nursing- Associate Degree

The program is an occupational degree that welcomes first time nursing students and trains them to become registered nurses and practice professional nursing immediately. The curriculum prepares students to take the NCLEX-RN exam. This career entry program requires 64 credits to complete and is offered in both Willmar and Hutchinson campuses of Ridgewater College.

Nursing Mobility- AS Degree

The nursing mobility is meant for licensed practical nurses who wish to advance their nursing to bachelors’ level.  It allows LPNS to receive 22 credits as advanced standing for the LPNs licenses.  To be eligible for transfer, students must complete two courses comprising of 6 credits for the states transfer curriculum. After admission to the nursing program, students complete 46 nursing credits to complete the associate degree requirement. In total, students take 73 credits inclusive of the advanced and bridging courses to earn the ADN via the mobility program.

Pre-Nursing

At Ridgewater College, students can take an exclusive transfer curriculum to enable them transfer to a four year nursing program within Minnesota. The Program takes two years to complete and includes pre nursing courses required for a Four year nursing degree. Students taking this program from Ridgewater must be aware that there are no nursing courses offered at this point. Courses included here are psychology, biology, philosophy, chemistry and math and are offered only in Willmar campus. A student is not able undertake any nursing activity after completion of the 64 credit program; it is just a way of completing the first two years of baccalaureate nursing program.

Nursing – Practical Nursing

Completion of this 37 credits program makes students eligible to write the NCLEX-PN exam to become licensed practical nursing. The program awards a diploma in practical nursing and courses are offered in Hutchinson and Willmar campuses.  Students who complete the program can choose to go directly into nursing practice and there is a chance for Ridgewater College LPN graduates to continue to the Nursing Mobility Program. Special and smooth transition consideration is given to graduates of Ridgewater during selection of the entrants to the nursing mobility program.

Nursing Assistant

This program trains students to become home health aides by taking one nursing assisting course which focuses on nursing assistance in long term nursing care facilities.

Contact:
Ridgewater College
2 Century Avenue, SE Hutchinson,
MN 55350

Riverland Community College Nursing Program Review

Riverland Community College (RCC), founded in 1996 was born by a merger of numerous older colleges and vocational institutes including South Central Technical and Riverland Technical Colleges. Since establishment of the community college, it has acquired three campuses in Albert Lea, Austin and Owatonna in its mission to bring higher education to the community. Riverland Community College offers two year programs as occupational entry programs and transfer programs. Diploma and Certificate programs are also offered in addition to lifelong learning and continuing education opportunities.

Nursing at Riverland Community College

A total of five nursing programs are available at Riverland Community College under the department of nursing. One program is a mobility program that encompasses two nursing programs i.e. a one year diploma and a progression option for the same to an associate degree. An entry level program for new students leading to an associate program is also available in addition to two certificate nursing programs.

Professional Nursing

This program at Riverland Community college is a two in one upwards nursing mobility program. This means that the program has two exit points; one for a diploma and a progression to an associate degree as outlined below:

• Practical Nursing

This is the starting point of the upward mobility program. During the first year of this two-year program, students take 38 credits and have three options. First, they can decide to exit the program and sit for the NLCEX-PN exam for licensure to practice as practical nurses. Secondly, students may take the NCLEX-PN exam and still continue with a second year of the upward mobility program. Thirdly, students may decline to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam and continue directly and flawlessly into the second year.

• Associate Nursing

The program is a continuous program from the practical nursing. It takes only graduates of the first year portion who wish to progress into professional nursing. To fulfill the requirements for the associate degree, students take extra 32 credits to reach the 72 required for the Associate. Upon successful completion of the second year, the student will be in a position to write the NCLEX-RN exam and become registered nurses.

PN Mobility

Licensed practice nurses who are not graduates of Riverland Community College may enroll for the PN mobility program to become registered nurses. Candidates for the program must have active and current practical nursing licenses for the state of Minnesota. LPNs receive advanced standing in recognition of their LPN licenses and must have completed 30 general education credits before starting on the nursing courses of the associate degree. A total of 72 credits including the advanced standing credits must be completed within one year to be eligible for the NCLEX-RN exam.

Nursing Assistant/ Home Health Aide

This program consists of 2 lecture and 2 lab sessions of 4 nursing assisting credits. Focus is on nurse assisting in long term care facilities and home health care. Upon completion, a certificate is awarded and eligibility to take the Nurse Aide Competency exam, hence being placed on the States nursing Assistant Registry.

Note

All nursing programs at Riverland Community College are offered in a hybrid format of web-based, online and at Austin Campus.

Contact:
Riverland Community College
2200 Riverland Dr, Albert Lea,
MN 56007

Rochester Community and Technical College Nursing Program Review

Following a merge of a number of state community colleges and technical colleges, Rochester Community College came into being. The college has been offering two year programs from 1996 under its new name and status as a community and technical college. It serves higher education needs for students in Minnesota but more so to Rochester; the third largest metro city of Minnesota. Areas of study include credit and non credit programs, which are can be used for career entry, transfer or career development purposes.

Nursing Programs at Rochester Community College

Three nursing programs are available at Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC); an associate program, a diploma and a certificate program. The three programs have been accredited by the National Leagues for Nursing Accrediting Commission and approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. Details of the programs are given below:

Nursing- Associate Degree Program

The program admits cohorts every spring and fall semesters. Candidates must complete a total of 64 credits in a four-semester plan spanning two years of full time study. Of these, 30 credits are general education courses required for transfer by the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. The remaining 34 are nursing courses taken during the second year of the program.

Completion of the 64 credits leads to the award of the Associate of Science in nursing and eligibly to take the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses. Rochester Community and Technical College has a unique articulation agreement with Winona State University for the nursing program to allow students transfer into their BSN program. This program is known as the “Path to Purple “and ensures the smoothest transition into a four-year BSN.

Nursing- Practical Nursing Program

The practical nursing diploma program from Rochester comprises of 39 credits; 12 general education and 27 practical nursing credits. The general education courses can be completed on a full time or part time basis. Basically, the program is designed to be completed in one year if students take all the 39 credits on a full time basis. Completion of the program leads to a diploma in practical nursing besides attaining eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-PN to become a licensed practical nurse.

Nursing- Nursing Assistant Program

The college offers this program to help entry students start their journey into nursing. The program accepts several admissions of student to this certificate program including summers offered several times hence, there are always no waiting lists. Courses include nursing assisting theory and clinical and home health aide nursing assistant credits.

Additional Program/ Degree Options for Nursing

Rochester Community and Technical College has an option for students to take all the nursing programs in an upward career mobility mode. On this note, students can take a career path that starts at the Nursing Assistant program. Students completing the nursing assistant program may exit or continue with the practical nursing diploma. A choice of exiting is also available or a progression to finish the 64 credits for the associate program and finally, students can get into the ‘Path to Purple’ program to complete a BSN at Winona State University.

Contact:
Rochester Community and Technical College
851 30th Avenue SE, Rochester,
MN 55904

St. Olaf College Nursing Program Review

Saint Olaf College (SOC) is a church college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America founded in 1874. It has programs grounded in a vibrant faith tradition which fosters development of a holistic person in terms of mind, body and spirit alongside academics. Despite is affiliation to the church; the college accepts students from all walks of life without discrimination in regards to religion and creed.  The college offers four- year degree programs with each curriculum having a substantial number of liberal arts as lower division credits.

Saint Olaf College Nursing Program

Nursing at Saint Olaf College is offered as a collaborative effort between St. Olaf and Gustavus Adolphus College. Programs are delivered in both colleges and students have great learning opportunities by interacting with students from another college. Students attend classes offered by faculty professors of the two colleges; blending to one goal of nurse training. The nursing program is under the Minnesota Intercollegiate Nursing Consortium and is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

The Nursing program

The program leads to the award of a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing is offered by both Gustavus and St. Olaf Colleges of the Lutheran church. Before progression into the nursing majors, students must complete prerequisite and general education course during the freshman and sophomore year.

Nursing courses are taken starting from the junior year. As church colleges, liberal arts courses take a good portion of the upper division courses. In this case, students take the liberal arts courses alongside the nursing major courses in the junior and senior years. For clarification, the lower division courses are offered in respective colleges while the upper division courses are delivered by faculty of both colleges.

Registered nurses holding diplomas or associate nursing degrees are also welcome to apply to this program and as such, must complete at least eight general education one supporting course at St. Olaf. Credits eligible for transfer to St Olaf will be evaluated by the nursing department recognized towards the Bachelor of Science degree.

Special Nursing Programs

• Study Abroad

Study abroad semesters are available for willing students of both colleges. The semesters are taken during the junior or senior years and may delay the usual program time needed for completion. In this case, students must add additional time to cover-up for the time spent abroad for the nursing majors.

• Second Majors in Nursing

A second majors program is also available for students wishing to graduate with double majors. Students from another major program can apply for consideration for the double majors program after approval by both the incoming department and the nursing department.  Earning a second major mean that student will need extra time to cover the majors for both programs.

The second major in nursing is also open for already graduated students of St. Olaf College. These students can come back to college, take a few prerequisite courses prior to being enrolled for the nursing major. Enrollment chances will depend on performance from the prior major.

Contact:
Saint Olaf College
1520 St. Olaf Ave, Northfield,
MN 55057

Saint Paul College Nursing Program Review

Saint Paul College (SPC) opened its doors as a small Boys Vocational training centre in 1910. Fifty six years down the line, the college expanded its mission and academic programs and this followed the change of name to Saint Paul college; a two year college offering associate of science and arts degrees as a way of getting into professional careers and also a starting point for the transfer to four year baccalaureate degree programs. Certificate and diploma programs are also part of the program catalog at St. Paul College; a community and technical college.

Nursing at Saint Paul College

The Health and Services division offers the nursing programs at Saint Paul College. The programs have been accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. There are two nursing certificate programs and one practical nursing program that has both a diploma and an associate in applied science in practical nursing component.

Practical Nursing AAS Degree

The rather unusual program leading to an associate applied in science degree in practical nursing requires 63 credits to complete. Students take about 25 general education credits and 38 practical nursing and health core credits. The program is aims to cover most of the general education credits usually required in a nursing mobility program, hence the unusually high number of credits as compared to the usual practical nursing diploma.

Courses can be offered in a full time day option and a flexible part time option which is done during the evening. However, students must note that a number of courses for the evening program can be offered during the day. On completion, students are eligible to write the NCLEX-PN exam and become practical nurses.

Practical Nursing Diploma

The diploma takes the same number of practical nursing credits like the practical nursing AAS degree. The only variation between the two is the number of general education credits needed. The practical nursing AAS is geared to offset the general education workload needed for a nursing mobility transfer but this option is meant to career entry. On this track, students take 13 general education credits as compared to 25 of the former program.  The mode of study is similar ie full time and part time with completion leading to eligibility to write the NCLEX-PN exam besides awarding the Diploma in practical nursing.

Nursing Assistant/ Home Health Aide Certificate

This is a certificate program that meets the educational needs of students who wish to have an entry point in nursing. The program comprises of two courses; nurse assistance course in home health aiding carrying four credits and a nursing assistance for clinical experience equivalent to one credit. Completion of the five credits makes the student eligible to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment program and be entered in the state’s Nursing Assistant Registry.

Nursing Station Technician Certificate

This certificate program is a kind of advanced program that includes all the five nursing assisting credits and an additional 19 credits including three general education credits. The outcome of the program is to prepare a nurse technician who can work as a nurse aide, health unit coordinator, one who can process physician’s orders and one who understands diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Contact:
Saint Paul College
235 Marshall Avenue Saint Paul,
MN 55102

St. Cloud State University Nursing School Review

St. Cloud State University (SCSU), located along the Mississippi river in Minnesota is a public institution of higher learning serving Minnesota and US as a whole. It has an intriguing history from when it started in1869 as a small normal school giving training to teachers. The university received its current status in 1975 and journey of numerous academic opportunities for its students. It boasts to be the second largest university in the state and one among the top universities with the highest number of international students.

Nursing Programs- St. Cloud State University

The nursing department at Saint Cloud University has two programs for offer to interested candidates. Both programs lead to the award of a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing. The department is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. It is worth noting that St Cloud does not have a master or doctoral program in the nursing department. However, there is a master of science in gerontology offered by a different department of the university. A detailed view of the nursing programs is given below:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing-Generic / Traditional Program

The traditional baccalaureate in nursing program at St Cloud is a four year program that admits both new and transfer students from other colleges. New students must have applied to St Cloud and completed the set of general education and prerequisites courses. There is double admission each year in spring and fall semester. After successful completion of this portion, students can apply to be admitted into the nursing major program.

The nursing major portion requires 71 credits to complete for students to graduate with a BSN degree. Completion of the nursing major program takes about two and half academic years. The first portion of 41 liberal arts credits takes about three to five semesters bringing it to a total of about 4 to 5 years.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing- Accelerated Nursing Program

This program is designed for students with non nursing degrees from recognized universities and colleges. It is an intense- highly paced program that takes only 16 months to complete with admission a single admission annually. The curriculum includes a rigorous combination of theory and clinical experience. Curriculum delivery is via a blended mode of both online and classroom instructions.

Students graduating from this program are awarded a second degree bachelor of science in nursing degree. Graduates are also well prepared and eligible to write the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses. It is a great fast track opportunity for career shifters from other fields to get into professional nursing.

Master of Science in Gerontology

Although the program is not offered through the department of nursing, it is a common master specialty in the nursing field. The department of Gerontology delivers the curriculum in full time and part time study formats. Students are expected to work in health agencies or any other facilities working with the elder populations. It is therefore recommended that students who would wish to get a Master of Science in Nursing-Gerontology from St Cloud to consider taking the MS- Gerontology.

Contact:
St. Cloud State University
720 4^th Avenue South St. Cloud,
MN 56301

University of Minnesota Nursing School Review

The University of Minnesota (U of M) is set in a completely urban area of the twin Cities and has four satellite campuses located within St Paul and Minneapolis.  The University has a long history and has offered higher education and professional workforce in metro Minnesota from 1851. It is a public co-ed university heavily involved in research within an environment rich in culture, diversity and experiential learning. University of Minnesota Duluth, Morris, Rochester and Crookston are the other major campuses of the flagship university in Twin Cities.

Nursing Programs in University of Minnesota

The school of nursing offers the nursing programs in University of Minnesota. The programs have full accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Programs offered are bachelor, master and PhD programs and classes held are in both University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Rochester campuses.

BSN Program

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is meant for first time nursing students who to get into professional nursing. The program prepares students to write the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses. It is a full time day program delivered in the main and Rochester campuses. Students start with prerequisite courses in the freshman year and progression from the sophomore year with nursing majors. A minimum of 120 credits of general education and nursing credits and extensive clinical practicum at Mayo Clinic and the university based medical centre are required for students to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.

MN Program

The Master of Nursing degree is a rather peculiar one as it only takes in non-nursing Bachelor of Science graduates. Unlike most common master of nursing programs, University of Minnesota does not take BSN prepared candidates. On this note, the curriculum includes the essentials of a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree in addition to graduate studies.

The program is taken on a full time mode incorporating web based, online and classroom instructions curriculum delivery methods. It is an accelerated direct entry program with a curriculum completion time of 16 months of four semesters. A total of 54 credits are required to graduate and the number is increased by the incorporation of the BSN essentials into the curriculum. As part of achieving the advanced practice nurse status, students take Public Health Nursing as a master’s level concentration.

PhD Program

The PhD program is the highest nursing program at University of Minnesota. It is available in both full time; taking three years and a part time option taking a maximum of six years. Candidates for the program can either be BSN or MSN prepared.

Continuing Professional Development

As part of lifelong learning, the university offers a number of nursing professional development courses. These courses are accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Centre and can be used towards fulfilling contact hours required for license renewal. Some of the courses include:

Minnesota Emergency readiness education and training

Leaders in nursing

Tele-health nurses presenter

Nursing informatics

Children with special healthcare needs

Contact:
University of Minnesota
231 Pillsbury Drive, S.E. Minneapolis,
MN 55455

Walden University Nursing School Review

Walden University is one of the universities in the world which has a global outreach. It has excelled exceptionally well to become the best online university globally. Walden University has evolved from a one program university in 1970 to the respected virtual university it is today.  It has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to offer undergraduate, master, and doctoral programs; most of which are delivered online.

Nursing at Walden University

The School of nursing at Walden is under the College of Health Sciences. Nursing programs under the school range from bachelor to doctoral degrees and post-masters certificates.  Because the programs are offered in an online version, the best candidates for the nursing programs are those who already have some nursing experience, hence registered nurses.  Accreditation is by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Completion Program

Completion of the RN to BSN program requires 180 quarter credits and students can apply up to 50 credits in recognition of their associate or diploma in nursing. Candidates for this program must also have active RN licenses and relevant current experience. Of the 180 quarter credits, students can be allowed up to 135 from general education, elective and lower-division courses. However, it is mandatory to finish the last 45 nursing major courses at Walden University.

Due to the flexibility of this online program, students can finish the curriculum after a minimum of two years but the exact completion time depends on the number of credits transferred from the Associate or Diploma.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

The Master of Science in Nursing at Walden University (WU) is Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) -accredited. All the programs are offered online and as such, students receive flexible curriculum schedules. They are best suited for working nurses who wish to keep their day jobs as they study. The master’s program features two tracks depending on the student’s prior experience as follows:

• BSN to MSN

This track is specifically designed for BSN-prepared registered nurses who want to gain advanced practice nursing.

• RN to MSN

This, on the other hand, is meant for registered nurses who hold a diploma or associate degree in nursing. It is also the track that allows students with other bachelor’s degrees other than the BSN to become advanced practice nurses and get a master of science in nursing. For BSN-prepared nurses, 35 credits are needed while the RNs and non- BSN candidates take 59 credits. Regardless of the track, students pick one of the three areas of concentrations below:

• MSN Nursing Informatics
• MSN Education
• MSN Leadership and Management

Postmasters certificates are also available for each of the MSN concentrations listed above.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

This online terminal nursing degree is meant for advanced practice nurses who hold any nursing specialty. It takes 47 to 53 credits with each practical nursing credit carrying an equivalent of 72 practicum hours. Practicum hours can be completed at the students’ location of choice with supervision by the university’s appointed supervision/ preceptor. The same case (for clinical locations)  applies to all the other nursing programs.

Contact:
Walden University
100 Washington Avenue South
Suite 1210
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401

Winona State University Nursing School Review

An evolution from Winona Normal school to a State teachers College, a state College and finally to Winona State University is what makes-up the university history. Back in 1958, the university opened its doors to the first small group of students who wanted to become teachers. A long history in between resulted to the highly diverse state university with five distinct colleges and three campuses namely Winona, Rochester and Winona West Campuses.

Nursing and Health Sciences College- Winona State University

The college of Nursing and Health sciences is one of the five well structured colleges in Winona State University (WSU). Programs are offered at both the main campus in Winona and its large graduate campus at Rochester.  Two tracks that lead to a bachelor of science in nursing are offered, six master level nursing tracks and one Doctorate program. Accreditation of the programs has been granted by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.  The baccalaureate programs have also been approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

Undergraduate Programs

• Bachelor of Science With a Major in Nursing- Generic Option

The program admits fresh nursing candidates who want to have an entry point into professional nursing. Students are admitted in two semesters per year; the fall admission takes students to study in both Winona and Rochester campuses. The spring group is only admitted to the main campus at Winona. General education courses kick off in the freshman and sophomore years while nursing major courses start at the junior year. 59 nursing major credits must be completed during the 3^rd and 4^th years to be eligible for graduation and to write the NCLEX-RN to become registered nurses. All courses are offered full time within a period of four years.

• RN to BS Completion Program

This program requires candidates who hold active licenses from any of the US states. The Program is available in part time and full time options only in Winona State University- Rochester.  Following admission to the program, students receive 24 credits in recognition of their RN diplomas or associate degrees.  For nurse graduates from non- accredited schools, a nursing competency test must be passed before admission. Inclusive of the transferred credits, nurse must take the total number of credits equal to those of the generic option.

Graduate Programs

Graduate nursing programs at Winona State University are offered at Rochester campus only. Six areas of master level advanced practice nursing are offered namely:

• Nurse Educator Program -48 credits
• Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program-54 credits
• Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Program- 52 credits
• Nursing and Organizational Leadership Program- 43 credits
• Adult-Gerontology or Family Nurse Practitioner Program-56 credits

Two plans of study can be followed full time option taking two years and a part time option taking three years. In addition, post-master nursing certificates at available for all the six master tracks listed above.

RN to MS Pathway

RNs can complete a Masters degree without necessary having a BSN during admission. Students who opt for this pathway must complete a total of 128 credits, some of which will be transferred from the RN status. An additional 40 to 49 credits must be completed for the advanced practice nursing package.  Part time and full time options can be chosen to complete this RN to MS pathway program.

Important Note- Doctor of Nursing Practice

Winona State University had been offering the DNP program under a consortium of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities in Rochester campus. However, the program was suspended in late 2011 for reasons of developing a Winona State University independent program that will have both BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP pathways. This is a promising program and interested students should keep checking on when the program will start being offered exclusively at the university.

Contact:
Winona State University
175 West Mark Street, Winona,
MN 55987

Andrews University Nursing School Review

Andrews University is deeply rooted Christian university of the seventh day Adventist denomination. It derives its name from one of the most prominent seventh day Adventist thinkers of the 19^th century Nevins Andrews.  Its learning programs are entwined in the mission of affirming faith to transform the world. Andrews University (AU) claims to be the best Adventist University of higher learning in the world over. It is very obvious that students who wish to study in Andrews must be ready to go parallel in terms of learning and spiritual development along the way.

Andrews University-Department of Nursing

The department of nursing at this strong Christian university has nursing programs ranging from undergraduate to graduates programs. The university is fully accredited and approved to offer nursing programs by the Michigan Board of Nursing and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. The department offers two degrees at undergraduate level and two graduate level programs; a degree and a certificate program.

Undergraduate Nursing

At undergraduates, two degree routes lead to the Bachelor of Science in nursing and they are presented as:

• BSN-Pre licensure

The pre licensure program is designed for entry level students who are getting into nursing for the first time. The focus on this route is to prepare the student to sit for their first NCLEX-RN exam. The curriculum includes general education, nursing and liberal arts courses. The program requires a minimum of eight semesters to complete with a full time study basis. The outcome is the award of the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree and eligibility towards the NCLEX-RN exam.

• BSN-Completion for RNs

This as the name suggests is directed to registered nurses who already hold nursing licensure. For this program, international registered nurses students are not allowed as the licensure is strictly considered for US RNs only. The program builds upon prior nursing knowledge and practicing experience leading to the award of the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.

It is also important to note that the program does not accept RNs who have gained their licensure via a nursing diploma. It takes two years of full time study and clinical experience to complete the curriculum for this program.

Master of Science in Nursing

At Andrews University, the Master of Science program is designed for RNs who have a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Unlike the BSN, this program accepts international students who have gained RN licensure via an accrediting authority equivalent to the NLNAC or CCNE.  For five semesters students engage in graduate nursing courses that lead to the award of the Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nurse Education. It is also important to note that this is a distance education degree program taken under distance and online learning modes.

Post-Masters: Nursing Certificate

The focus of this graduate certificate program is on nursing education, just like the MSN. It only requires 6 credits to complete the certificate program and the study mode is as well distance and online. Current licensure and a MSN from US or the country of residence is required for admission eligibility.

Contact:
Andrews University
8975 Old-US 31, Berrien Springs,
MI 49104

Bay de Noc Community College Nursing Program Review

Bay de Noc Community College (BayCC), commonly known as Bay College is situated at the heart of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Its history dates back to 1962 where it started off as a very small college with a very small curriculum too. During its founding years, it suffered a lot in offering technical programs especially nursing. Later on, donations from well-wishers enabled the university to have infrastructural developments to become the community college it is today. It has since developed well structured associate degrees that enable students advance from two-year program to four year transfer programs into major colleges and universities.

Nursing Division-Bay College

The nursing division is one of the seven academic divisions at Bay College. The division offers two part-hierarchy nursing programs. The programs curriculum is designed to prepare the students to transfer to four –year programs in other universities with which it has articulation agreements with. For accreditation and program approval, the nursing division has been accredited approved by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and the Michigan Board of Nursing respectively.  The mobility program is if offered in two parts as explained below:

Part I Licensed Practical Nurse

This is a 43 credit- certificate program under Bay college. The program is part I is designed such that students earn a certificate as a Licensed practical Nurse in the state of Michigan. The certificate program is offered in two options, a full time program at Dickson and Delta Campuses of Bay College and a part time option offered only at Delta campus. Ultimately, the student practical nursing students are expected to sit for the NCLEX-LPN exam for which they will receive a LPN license.

Part II-Associate of Nursing Degree

The part two nursing program at Bay College enables students to gain licensure as registered nurses. The program is designed to stand on its own by having the capacity to train entrance level students who wish to become registered nurses. On the other hand, the program can take in the Bay college graduates of the Part I and help them get an associate degree in nursing. The latter students receive credit transfer from their LPN licensure and hence take a shorter time to complete the program than fresh entrants.

The program is offered as a part time plan for students taking classes at Delta and West campuses of Bay College and a part time option is also available at Delta Campus.

Health Careers Certificate

Still under the division of nursing at Bay de Noc Community College, the health career certificate is not a specific certificate program. As such, it offers nursing foundation courses and other healthcare related courses. The health careers certificate requires that students take a total of 25 credit hours as a requirement for the award. At Bay College, the certificate credits can be used towards the enrollment in the licensed practical nurse certificate or towards the Associate degree in nursing. It is an advantage to take these courses as they will form part of the ADN prerequisites requirement in addition to getting a certificate from them only at Bay de Noc Community College.

Contact:
Bay de Noc Community College
2001 North Lincoln, Escanaba,
MI 49829

Calvin College Nursing Program Review

The Calvin College is a part of the Christian Reformed Church denomination of United States. It is deeply rooted into the teachings of the holy bible hence it is inevitable for students attending the college to miss out on being transformed into Christianity. The college was first founded as a seminary; offering theological teachings only back in the mid 1850s. Since then, Calvin College (CC) operated as a seminary center until 1900 when the college started to offer its fist pre-professional degrees.  The College then moved to Burton at Knollcrest campus where it stands today.

Nursing Department- Calvin College

The goal of the nursing department at Calvin College is to mould nurses who will uphold the Christian Reformed Church vision of serving God; which is serving the community. It trains nurses to be compassionate, faithful, just and having empathy. The teaching takes a holistic approach with the curriculum having a very high percent of liberal arts courses. There is only one undergraduate nursing program at Calvin College which is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. The program is divided in a complex manner as explained below

The Nursing Program Details

The nursing program at Calvin College is a two-part training hierarchy whereby, students take foundational nursing courses and later furthering to the upper part to finish a four-year Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. On the first part of the nursing program, the nursing students take a total of nine nursing courses and 12 liberal arts core courses. It is also mandatory for the students to have a foreign language from as part of their high school transcripts.

The second part of the program requires students who have taken the first nursing courses and the liberal arts courses in the first program. The upper division is a sequential continuation of the first program. It is at this point where students engage in nursing courses and practicum lessons.  A total of thirteen nursing courses are required for the completion of the program. At this point students take only nursing major courses unlike the trend observed in other BSN programs.

The program takes a full time study mode for about four additional semesters totaling to 8 semesters for the two segments. Graduates of the program are awarded a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree and will consecutively be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam.

Transfer Students Information

Transfer students at Calvin College must receive two semesters of liberal arts courses before being eligible to join the rest of the students at the second segment level. However, students who are wishing to transfer to the program are only accepted if there is available space after Calvin College segment one students are all enrolled.

As complex as it seems, the nursing program at Calvin College is determined to bring out the most competent nurses who will serve their communities and highly participating in holistic nursing and giving Christian teachings in the process.

Contact:
Calvin College
3201 Burton SE, Grand Rapids,
MI 49546

Davenport University Nursing School Review

The history of Davenport University is really fascinating. It dates back to 1866 when it was operating as a business college under the name Grand Rapids Business College. Since then, that pioneer college changed names countless times until 1910 when it was on the verge of closing due to mismanagement. A teacher at the school; Michael Davenport took over the school and named it after his name and that is what we have as Davenport University today. It is one of the largest not-for-profit private universities in Michigan with a total of 15 satellites campuses. One of its colleges offers nursing under the department of nursing.

College of Health Professionals

The department of nursing at Davenport University (DU) is under the college of Health Professionals. The department offers two undergraduate and two diploma nursing programs. For all the nursing programs at Davenport University, accreditation and approval is granted by NLNAC and the Michigan Board of Nursing.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degrees

The Bachelor of Science in nursing at Davenport University takes two courses: a pre-licensure track and a completion program.

Bachelor of Science-Pre-licensure RN

The BSN program is meant for first time nursing students who want to get the skills of professional nursing. The program takes four years to complete and students are awarded the BSN degree after successfully completing a minimum of 126 credits

Bachelor of Science-Completion for RNs

The program is specially designed for registered nurses who hold a diploma of an associate of science degree for licensure. Students are expected to cover a minimum of 120 credits in a period of two years. Because the program builds on prior nursing experience and knowledge, students receive credit transfer for their RN licensure hence reducing the number of courses to be taken. For eligibility, students must show prove of their current RN licensure which must be unencumbered and unrestricted.

Practical Nursing Diploma

Unlike the trend in many colleges and universities to offer a certificate in practical nursing, Davenport University offers a Diploma. The diploma focuses on training on caring of patients of all age groups, ie infants, children and adult nursing care. With completion of 47 credits, students will be in a position to sit for the NCLEX-LPN exam for licensure in Michigan. As much as it is unique, in terms of offering a diploma in place of a certificate, the program is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

Phlebotomy Diploma

Just like the licensed practical nurse diploma, Davenport also offers the relatively rare Diploma in Phlebotomy. The diploma is geared towards competent training entry level nursing students in blood drawing techniques. With a total of 3 credits and extensive clinical experience in blood drawing and venipunctures, students are usually eligible to sit for many phlebotomy certification exams including the phlebotomy Technician Certification exam.

Pre- Health Professional Courses

The college of Health professions at Davenport also offers some short courses in the nursing field. The courses are meant for undecided future nursing students and can be used towards fulfilling the admission requirements of the other major nursing programs at Davenport university Department of nursing.

Contact:
Davenport University
6191 Kraft Avenue S.E, Grand Rapids,
MI 49512

Delta College Nursing Program Review

As a community college, Delta College is committed to bringing higher education close to the community as part of the mission of all community colleges. The future of Delta College started in late 1961 whereby, it started offering its first higher education programs. The target for this community college is giving higher education to the residents of Bay, Saginaw and Midland counties. From high school leavers, adult learners and in between, Delta College (DC) has programs for everyone via its three campuses in Saginaw, Midland and Bay.

Nursing Programs at Delta College

The nursing programs at Delta College are fully approved and accredited by the Michigan Board of Nursing and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission respectively. There are a total of three nursing programs at Delta College; all of which lead to the award of the Associate of Science in nursing degree. The breakdown of those nursing programs is:

Nursing ADN- Associate in Applied Science

This program is designed for entry level first-time nursing students. It equips the students with all the skills of professional nursing required in the modern day nursing. The program takes two years to complete and the curriculum is delivered in two options ie part time and full time.

For full time students, classes are taken consecutively for the 2 major semesters ie fall and winter to total of four semesters while on the other hand, part time students take classes in fall, winter and summer.

However, the department reserves the right to assign part time clinical classes to students who have enrolled for the full time track in demanding circumstances. The part time students also complete in two years given that they are in session all year round. For future students, it is important to note that admission occurs in fall and winter for the full time and only in fall for the part time track.

Associate in Applied Science-Paramedic to RN Transition

This is a special ADN track that enables paramedics to get into professional nursing. The program takes currently licensed paramedics who have been licensed in Michigan. In addition to the license, the program requires the paramedic candidate to show prove of a minimum of one year working experience. In total, paramedics ought to take a total of 65 credits most some of which can be waivered from the paramedic license and completed within a period of three years-part time basis.

Associate in Applied Science-LPN to RN Transition

Just like the Paramedic to RN transition, the LPN to RN transition at Delta College takes three years on a part time basis. Students planning to be enrolled for this program must be holders of unrestricted licensed practical nurse licenses for Michigan. One year working experience is also required for this program as part of admission eligibility. Both the Paramedic to RN transition and the LPN to RN transition will lead to the award of an Associate degree in nursing with eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.

Contact:
Delta College
1961 Delta Road, University Center,
MI 48710

Eastern Michigan University Nursing School Review

Eastern Michigan University (EMU) can be traced back to Michigan State Normal School, offering teaching programs in 1849. Over the years, the school merged with other schools while changing names at the same time. In 1956, it became a college and finally in 1959, it became Eastern Michigan University. The school offers good interaction of school life, recreation, research and cultural diversity due to it proximal location to the Detroit metropolitan area. Since becoming a university, the university expanded its academic outreach to include other programs besides the education route. The College of Health and Human Services at Eastern Michigan University was part of that expansion program.

Eastern Michigan University-School of Nursing

The school of nursing is under the larger college of Health and Human Services and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. Under the school, there are three undergraduate programs and one graduate level degree. Below is detailed and expounded information pertinent to those nursing programs:

Undergraduate Nursing Programs

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Students enrolling for this program ought to complete 124 credits to be allowed to graduate. The credits cover general education courses, sciences and nursing major courses.  It is designed for entry level students who wish to get into the nursing profession. Students are awarded the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree upon completion and are hence eligible to sit for the NCLEX_RN exam.

Bachelor of Science-RN to BS Completion

This program is offered to registered nurses who come to Eastern Michigan University as a result of articulation agreement with other community colleges. The program does hesitate from admitting students in this program who are not part of the articulated colleges while giving preference to the latter lot. If one is planning to enroll to this program, they must check that their former school; which awarded the associate in nursing degree, has articulation agreements with Eastern Michigan.

Second Degree-BSN

This is a degree program that allows students with non nursing baccalaureates to take a second degree in the field of nursing.  It takes the form of a highly paced nursing program with students earning their bachelor of science in nursing degree within 16 months of full time study. Upon graduation, students are able to sit for the NCLEX_RN exam to become licensed as registered nurses. All other requirements for this program mirror those of the traditional BSN including credits, prerequisites and clinical experience.

Graduate programs

Master of Science in Nursing

The masters program at Eastern Michigan University prepares advanced practice nurses who will serve the community by choosing one of the following nursing specialties:

• Master of Science in Nursing-Adult health Clinical nurse specialist
• Master of Science in Nursing-Adult health and concentration
• Master of Science in Nursing-Adult health clinical nurse specialist and concentration

Students can choose individualized study, gerontology, teaching in health care systems and quality improvement in healthcare systems as part of the concentration.  For any of the concentration options, students need extra hours to complete the courses involved.

Contact:
Eastern Michigan University
1000 College Place, Ypsilanti,
MI 48197

Ferris State University Nursing School Review

Ferris State University (FSU) is named after the governor who served in Michigan State for two years, Nathan Ferris. It history dates back to 1884 and was initially started off as  private institution of higher learning known as the Big Rapids Industrial school. By the year 1950, Ferris was changed to become a state owned college and later on upgraded to a state university in 1987. Since then, Ferris state has been a fast growing public university with a great network of 19 satellite campuses all over Michigan in addition to the main campus at Big Rapids. For this expansion, the university is often referred to as the “Statewide University”

Nursing at Ferris State University

In the college of Allied Health Sciences is the school of nursing at Ferris state university. The school offers five of the over 180 programs in the university. The school of nursing aims to prepare professional nurses at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Formerly, there was an Associate in nursing degree but was later replaced to become the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A concise breakdown of nursing programs at Ferris state University will take the form of:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing-Pre-licensure Program

The program takes-in fresh students who are entering nursing most preferably for the first time. The program has a very intensive curriculum that aims at molding competent nurses in a period of two years. It is a full time commitment that enrolls every fall and spring and a part time option if available for students who will be taking nursing as a second degree.

The latter second degree in nursing is an extremely high paced option with admission taking place every summer. The curriculum for the second degree option takes one calendar year to finish, which is one of the fastest such degrees in Michigan. The short duration for completion is attributed to the all year round classes for both programs. Students are then able to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam after successful completion of the required nursing and general education credits at Ferris University.

RN to BSN Completion Program

The completion program is highly dynamic to meet the needs of working nurses, hence alleviating the need of giving up their day work. The program is also offered in almost all the 16 campuses of Ferris state university to ensure accessibility to class. In addition, the program is ideally delivered in a 50-50 basis for both online and site based instructions.

The site based classes are offered only in the evening and require one attendance/ week. There is an exclusive online option that is open to all students or those who cannot reach the site based locations. This program accepts transfer students from about 8 colleges and community colleges in Michigan.

RN to MSN Accelerated Program

The program is designed for RNs who do not hold a BSN degree and would like to get to the MSN level. The application must first be started at the above RN to BSN level at Ferris with an indication to progress to the MSN level. The student is then expected to complete a RN to MSN bridgework of 59 credits after which they will enter the MSN level. In addition to the bridging, students applying for this accelerated track must show prove of two years full time working experience.

Master of Science in Nursing

The MSN program at Ferris State University is adult learners-oriented meaning they are designed to cover the curriculum in an online mode. Almost all the nursing courses required to cover the requirements for graduation are offered in an online option. Only a few exceptions of the courses require site based instruction; for the MSN-nurse informatics specialty, which are also quite flexibly offered on Saturdays. The MSN students at Ferris are free to choose from:

• MSN –Nursing Informatics
• MSN-Nursing Administration and
• MSN-Nursing Education

Contact:
Ferris State University
1201 S. Street, Big Rapids,
MI 49307

Finlandia University Nursing School Review

Finlandia University was founded in 1986 first as a college and later on advancing into a university. It is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Hancock. The university has two campuses; the main one at Hancock and the satellite one just at close proximity to the main and is known as the Jutila Campus. With the opening of the Jutila Campus, the college was renamed to Finlandia University (FU). In terms of academics, the university has four colleges among them the college of health sciences that hosts the school of nursing.

College of Health Sciences

The college has the vision of delivering high quality university education to the rural areas of Michigan. Under the nursing school at Finlandia university are two nursing programs; which have been accredited and approved by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Michigan Board of Nursing in that order. The two programs are of undergraduate level. At the moment, the university does not offer graduate level nursing programs.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

This program at Finlandia University is relatively new dating back to 2007 when it received the first accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Despite the age, the program is very popular and is specifically designed to cater for educational needs of students getting their first nursing education experience. The program takes the form of the traditional four year curriculum upon which, students are expected to graduate.

The successful completion of the programs leads to the award of a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree together with eligibility to it for the NCLEX-RN exam.  In total, a minimum of 126 credits are required to graduate from this program; 70 nursing and 56 general education courses. However, students can add on to this mandatory courses hence taking-up to five years to complete the program.

RN to BSN –Completion Program

The program is carefully designed to meet the needs of career advance for already practicing registered nurses. It calls for enrollment for nurses who already have a diploma or two-year degree in nursing. This is because the curriculum only builds on prior nursing experience from the start.

The program is designed to ensure learners do not; at the most cases drop their day jobs. It therefore, has incorporated both face to face classroom instructions with online teaching technologies to ensure the delivery of the curriculum. The university has high enrolment of adult learners, hence, adopted a faculty- independent-study design to meet the needs of every individual students.

Students also have options to take the curriculum on a part time or full time basis depending on their daily commitments. Due to credit transfer from the RN license, the full time students can fulfill the 126 credits towards a BSN in three to four semesters while the part time period depends on courses taken by the student. Students can choose to take the program in any desired amount of time but not exceeding seven years. For this program too, the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree is awarded upon successful completion of the degree requirements stipulated by Finlandia University.

Contact:
Finlandia University
601 Quincy Street, Hancock,
MI 49930

Grand Rapids Community College Nursing Program Review

The Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) is one of the Michigan community colleges dedicated to delivering higher education right at the community level. The college has its history back in 1914 when the University of Michigan proposed the need to have a junior college to train residents at the community level. Later on in 1991, taxpayers of Kent County passed a vote to change the college from a junior college to Grand Rapids Community College. Since then, the college has been offering many liberal arts and professional programs.

Nursing at Grand Rapids Community College

As a community college, the nursing programs offered at Grand Rapids are a maximum of two-year degrees. The programs are fully approved and accredited by Michigan Board of Nursing and NLNAC. Two associate of nursing routes exist and one nursing certificate program as follows:

Associate Degree in Nursing

The associate degree is a five and a half semester program which leads to the award of an associate degree in nursing. Students must take a pre-admission semester whereby they take prerequisite and general education courses. The five remaining semesters are exclusively geared towards nursing courses.

 Grand Rapids nursing department starts off its nursing students on nursing courses from the first semester hence, students receive intensive and dedicated nurse training throughout the period of study with the exemption of the pre- nursing semester. Students must take a minimum of 72 credits to be eligible for graduation and the NCLEX-RN exam and passing the state NCLEX-RN exam gives the students a chance to practice as a registered nurse.

Advanced Standing LPN to RN

Grand Rapids Community College offers interested licensed practical nurses a chance to become registered nurses via the advanced placement for RNs. The program allows the LPN student to use their licenses to earn credits required towards the associate of science in nursing degree. After the bridging coursework is taken, LPNs are able to progress into the ADN and become eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exams for RNs licensure.

For admission into this program, students must provide proof of LPN licensure in Michigan and official transcripts sent from the school that conferred the LPN certificate.  The LPN license should also be clean and unencumbered but students do not necessarily need to have working experience. After transfer credits are added, the total number of credits is similar to those of the traditional ADN.

Practical Nursing Certificate

Department of nursing at Grand Rapids offers the Certificate Program to enable students prepare for the NCLEX-PN exam. The certificate in practical nursing trains students to offer basic and bedside care to patients under the supervision of RNs. It takes students twice a year at fall and winter semesters whereby, students start-up on a pre nursing semester. After the pre-nursing semester, students must attend full time classes for an additional three semesters to enable completion of the clinical and theory segments of the program.

Career advancement opportunities also exist for Grand Rapids Community College graduates of the LPN program. As such, LPNs are allowed to enroll for the advanced placement LPN to RN program to enhance their quick transition to becoming registered nurses. The college also has articulation agreements via the Michigan Association of Collegiate Registers and Admission officers to allow transfer of the 2-year GRCC to 4-year BSN programs.

Contact:
Grand Rapids Community College
143 Bostwick Avenue, Grand Rapids,
MI 49503

Grand Valley State University Nursing School Review

Grand Rapids State University (GVSU) was founded in response to the need of establishing a four-year university at Allendale, one of the largest metropolitan areas in Michigan. To that need, the university opened its door to students in 1960, at an ample location of 1300 acres of land. The university has expanded to be among the largest in terms of academic space and number of degree programs (over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs), among them nursing.

Grand Rapids State University- Nursing Programs Overview

Nursing at Grand Rapids State University consist of an appreciable number of programs all under the Kirkhof College of Nursing. There are three distinct nursing programs at the university: one at undergraduate and two beyond the undergraduate level. The three programs are fully accredited by NLNAC and approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. Below is a breakdown of all the respective nursing programs offer:

Undergraduate Nursing Programs

At this level, the Kirkhof College of Nursing has three options for students to choose from. All the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree options lead to the award of the BSN and eligibility for the students to take the NCLEX-RN exam for licensure as registered nurses.

Traditional route

This is the traditional four year bachelor’s degree in nursing that welcomes new entrants into the nursing profession. The program requires students to cover a total of 126 general education and nursing credits. For this program, admission is strictly limited to high school graduates and hence, adult and transfer students are required to enroll for other options of the BSN.

Second Degree in Nursing

At the university, this program is offered as part time and full time study plans. It is specially designed for persons with a first baccalaureate degree from a non nursing field. It is the best fit for adult learners who want to have some time off for work. It takes the form of an accelerated study plan that allows students to complete their BSN requirements in very short time, usually below two years. Students are able to use their former degree transcripts to request credits transfer.

RN to BSN Completion

This option of the BSN allows registered nurses who hold diploma or associate degrees to progress to the BSN level. In this option, most students are transfer students who are admitted from articulated colleges and community colleges. RNs are able to use their licenses in receiving advanced standing towards the BSN. Just like the 2^nd degree option, this route is also available in part time and full time study plans. RNs who are interested in getting a master level degree should consider enrolling for the RN to MSN program over the RN to BSN.

Graduate and Doctorate Nursing Degrees

Grand Rapids State University has two graduate level nursing programs:

Master of Science

At this level, the Kirkhof College of nursing trains registered nurses to become competent advanced practice nurses. The program does not have any nurse specialties to choose from and takes the form of a generalist advanced practice approach. It s both BSN and RN to MSN students who are willing to go into a general approach to advanced practice but on a slight incline to clinical nurse  leadership. It is also important to note that all MSN courses at Grand Rapids are taken via a blended online and face to face format.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

This post BSN program is taken in a blended web enhanced format to allow enrollment of distance students. At this level, students are able to choose from three tracks of concentration:

• Advanced practice adult specialty
• Advanced practice adolescent specialty
• Nursing administration and health care systems

For the two advanced practice tracks, students take 94 credits for twelve semesters while the administration option requires 79 credits covered in about 10 semesters. It is rare for Grand Rapids State University to take MSN students for this program but those who wish to do so, get individualized plans different from those of the post BSN. This dictates different number of credits and completion time.

Contact:
Grand Valley State University
1 Campus Drive, Allendale,
MI 49401

Henry Ford Community College Nursing Program Review

Since Henry Ford was named a community College in 1949, it has strived to offer higher learning to residents of Southeastern Michigan, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. It offers entry level two-year accredited programs which are fully transferable to four year colleges. With about 100 associate and certificate programs to choose from, Henry Ford Community College is the place to kick-start your higher education dreams; either for immediate employment prospects or for future career outlook.

Nursing at Henry Ford Community College

The nursing program at Henry Ford Community College (HFCC) is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. Two Associate in Applied Science lead to the two-year nursing degree.

Associate in Applied Science- Nursing

This is a two year program which leads to the awards of an Associate degree in nursing. The program is offered in Henry Ford’s East campus on a full time basis. Students are expected to complete the 65 credits required for graduation and eligibility for NCLEX-RN exam.  All students are expected to complete all their general education and nursing courses in a maximum of three year beyond which, dismissal is possible.

Students interested in the program must also be ready to take non-consistent clinical placements at either early mornings or evening classes. The school of nursing registry advises students who cannot meet these inconsistent clinical classes’ variations not to apply to the program.

Advanced Placement LPN to RN

Licensed practical nurses who wish to pursue their associate degree in nursing are welcome for the advanced placement program at Henry Ford’s community college school of nursing. The program takes-in licensed practical nurses that are accredited in Michigan State and have current-active such licenses. Just like the normal associate degree in nursing, the school of nursing requires that students finish the program within three years from time of admission.

Students are able to earn credit transfers from their LPN licenses from the total 66 credits needed for the completion of the program. Successful completion lead to the awards of an associate of nursing degree from Henry Ford Community College and eligibly to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam towards becoming a registered nurse.

Nursing Aide Certificate

The program is designed to be competed in five weeks after which, the student is able to become a certified nurse aide/ certified nurse assistant. The program is a combination of extensive 40 hours of classroom nursing theory and 50 hours of clinical practice.  For those interested, it is good to know that classes are offered full time from 9 to 3 pm-four days in a week.

Henry Ford Community College Transfer Information

Nursing students from Henry Ford are welcome to take advantage of transfer opportunities to four-year degree programs. The university has established articulation agreements for nursing students with the following universities:

• Wayne State University
• Oakland University
• Eastern Michigan University
• Michigan State University
• Madonna University
• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
• University Of Detroit Mercy

Contact:
Henry Ford Community College
5101 Evergreen Road, Dearborn,
MI 48128

Hope College Nursing Program Review

Hope College is located in the great lakes region of Holland; around Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa. It is right in the heart of Holland’s central business district, hence an excellent composition of diverse student cultures. Hope College is a church institution of higher learning; strongly affiliated and part of the Reformed Church in America. The college offers about 80 programs leading to several BA and BS degrees among them the Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Hope College Nursing

The only nursing program in Hope College (HC) is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. The hope college-nursing program is encompassed in Christian faith and has a curriculum that incorporates a balanced liberal arts and nursing courses. The faculty of nursing train professional nurses who are strongly inclined to believe of nursing an altruistic vocation that should give Christ-like care. The Godly providence of health care and care to the people is what drives the Hope College nursing program.

The Nursing Degree

The nursing department offers this program and it takes the form of a full time mode. The curriculum is broad and encompasses general education credits, which must be completed in the first and sophomore year. The number of both general education and pre and co-requites courses taken during the first year must total to a minimum of 76 courses and take up the better part of the program.

During the second semester of the sophomore year, students start off with the nursing theory and practicum classes. In total, 48 nursing credits are required which include a large component of clinical experience. It is also good to note that classes are only offered during spring and fall and only a few courses are offered in summer in special circumstances only. The final outcome is the award of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the eligibility to sit for NCLEX-RN exam.  Besides the preparation on the core duties of registered nurses, Hope College is known to produce nurses who are excellent in offering nursing practices in a holistic and in a Christian approach.

Admission Into The Program and Transfer Information

The nursing program at Hope College generally invites high school graduates who will usually have a direct entry admission to the program if they meet the requirements for admission. For transfer students of Associate and Diploma nursing programs, direct transfer is not accepted. The college does not have articulation agreements with other colleges and as such, no direct transfers are made.

However, the said students can still apply to the program but be ready to take 12 credits in Hope College before being accepted into the Bachelor of Science with a concentration in nursing. It is important to note that Hope College department of nursing only accepts 10% of the total sitting capacity during any one semester as transfer students. The excess is always rejected and selection is based on passing the required 12 credits. Guarantee is not given for all students who pass the 12 credits required for application.

Contact:
Hope College
69 E 10th St,
Holland, MI 49423

Lake Michigan College Nursing Program Review

Lake Michigan Community College became a community college in mid 1963 following a vote by the residents of Berrien County. It had been operating as a technical institute and junior college since 1946 before then. The college sits on serene, 50 acre land where the main campus; Napier Avenue Campus is located. It is a two-year college which has well structured certificate and associate degree programs to meet the educational needs of the Berrien County residents and beyond.

Nursing Programs at Lake Michigan College

There are only two nursing programs offered by the nursing department of this college. They are both approved and accredited by the Michigan Board of Nursing and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. They are an associate degree in nursing and a ladder-practical nursing certificate program.

Associate Degree in Nursing

At Lake Michigan College (LMC), this program is offered on a two-year full time basis. However, this is only possible when students follow the stipulated sequence of taking course starting each fall semester. However, students can be allowed to choose their own sequence of handling their courses which often, extends the period of study from two to three years. Nursing classes for the associate program are held in two semesters; fall and winter including practical experience classes. 

The college has a nursing education centre at the main campus (Napier Avenue), where all practical and nursing course instructions are held. But for other general education and prerequisites courses, students are free to take lessons from other satellite campuses including South Haven and Bertrand Crossing campuses. Having completed the required 65 credits outlined by the department of nursing at Lake Michigan College, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to facilitate their licensures are registered nurses. Students also graduate with an associate in applied Science degree in nursing.

Practical Nursing Certificate

The practical nursing program is a rigorous program that trains entry level students who want to get into the nursing profession. The program is meant to be completed in one academic year running for four semesters; summer, spring, winter and fall. Students are however welcome to ease the rushed program by taking two years of completing the courses if they follow their own sequence of taking prerequisites and nursing credits. The program needs 45 credits to complete leading to eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam for licensure in Michigan.

On a further note, Lake Michigan College PN trainees attend the same lectures with those who have enrolled for the associate in applied science nursing program. For a whole year, the PNs and RN students meet for the same classes at winter and fall. It is basically a ladder program which calls for students who wish to continue into the associate program.

Transfer Options at Lake Michigan College

As part of encouraging and supporting career mobility, Lake Michigan’s College department of nursing has formed articulation agreements to facilitate the transfer of both the LPN and Associate degrees into four year universities. Such schools in this streamline of LPN to RN and RN to BSN with Lake Michigan are:

• Andrews University
• Western Michigan University
• Ferris State University and
• Grand Valley State University

Contact:
Lake Michigan College
2755 E. Napier Ave, Benton Harbor,
MI 49022

Lansing Community College Nursing Program Review

Lansing Community College (LCC) was founded as part of the need to reach the community in providing higher education. As a Community College, Lansing spreads its services to the Lansing community by giving affordable yet quality industrial workforce training. Since 1957, it has been doing the noble profession of offering certificate and associate degree programs that help students kick start their career ladder; for employment or for career advancement prospects.

Nursing at Lansing Community College

Nursing at Lansing is quite complex in terms of how the programs are designed. There are three distinct nursing programs; all accredited and approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing and NLNAC. The complexity of the programs comes in where, they are offered in different tracks for each program. There are two certificates and one associate program which is quite complex.

The Associate of Nursing Options

The degree is offered in what the nursing department call a career ladder option. It has the usual traditional and nontraditional modalities of delivering the curriculum as follows:

Traditional track

This is the usual two year associate of nursing degree track. At Lansing, the program is offered in fall and winter semesters and is completed on a full time mode.

Non-traditional tracks

In the first track, the program is designed to take three years to complete with students taking only taking classes 2 days a week.

The second option is for LPNs who want have been considered for advanced placement. It is also open for paramedics who are interested to become registered nurses. For the cases, candidates must show certification from the previous programs and have active Michigan licenses for respective fields.

On the third choice of the associate, students with baccalaureates other than nursing have the ability to go back to school and earn a lesser degree. The track is meant for career changers who want to get into nursing within a period of one year.

All program choices use both online and classroom instruction for curriculum delivery.  All the programs lead to the awards of an associate of science in nursing degree and eligibility to sit for NCLEX-RN exam for licensures are a registered nurse.

Certificate of Achievement- Practical Nursing

A practical nursing certificate is offered at Lansing community college. The LPN certification allows nurses to complete 44 credit hours for which they are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam. Just like the associate degree, it is taken in three tracks, 1-year and a 2 year or 3-year option for part time students. A choice is available for those who want to take a 2^nd degree accelerated PN certificate which takes 6 months to complete. All the courses are also offered in online and site-based classroom methods graduates are eligible for advanced placement mentioned above.

Nurse Aide Certificate

The last program on the list of nursing programs at Lansing Community College is the nursing assistant/ nurse aide. The program is relatively short and requires only 6 credits to complete.  Successful completion the 6 credits enable the student to be eligible for the State Competency Evaluation Nurse Aide Exam where, passing labels the nurse as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Contact:
Lansing Community College
419 North Washington Square, Lansing,
MI 48901

Lake Superior State University Nursing School Review

Lake Superior State University (LSSU) is located between the two Sault twin cities of Michigan and Ontario. Starting as a military camp, Lake Superior state university has come a long way to its current status.  From 1946, the school operated as a state college and was granted the charter to become a fully pledged university in 1987. As a former military fort, the campus; sitting on 115 acres has great historic landmarks hailing from the war era. Currently, the university has a wide range of programs to choose from, from liberal arts to technical programs like nursing.

School of Nursing- Lake Superior State University

The school of nursing at Lake Superior State University offers two and four year undergraduate nursing programs. All the programs are approved and accredited by the Michigan Board of nursing and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission respectively. In total, there are five nursing programs falling within certificate, associate and bachelor degree categories. However, there are various routes through which students can enroll to be awarded the bachelor of nursing degree. A breakdown is provided below:

Bachelor of Science

• Bachelor of Science- Pre Licensure

The program is designed to meet the needs of fresh nursing entrants; preferably high school graduates and prepares them to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain licensure as RNs. Students are expected to complete prerequisite courses from the university for to be eligible for admission. In this route, students take a total of 125 nursing and general education credits.  Usually, it takes four years to complete the work study curriculum to be eligible for graduation with a Bachelor of Science nursing.

• RN to BSN-Completion Program

This program is meant to build on prior nursing experience for registered nurses wishing to take a bachelors degree in nursing at Lake Superior from other colleges. Students are expected to have active RN licenses to be eligible for credit transfers into the nursing school.

Just like the traditional BSN, students will be required to complete a total of 125 credits for eligibility to graduate including those credits that will be applicable for transfer. All the courses for this BSN route are available in various forms of study and students can choose to take the program in either an online, traditional classroom or as an interactive TV mode of study. The program takes two years and two summers to complete.

RPN to BSN Program

At Lake Superior State University, registered practical nurses can apply to this program. This program is open to Canadian students only and requires a total of 90 credits to complete.  After three years, students are usually eligible to sit for the registered nurses exam.

Associate of Applied Science Degree

This is a two-year degree with a concentration in nursing which the school of nursing offers to students who wish to get into the nursing field fast. With only four semesters on nurse training comprising of at least 74 credits, students are able to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to become RNs. This is a great program for students seeking articulation to a four-year BSN at a future date. The special aspect of this program is that students are awarded a Practical nursing certificate besides the Associate degree.

Certificate in Practical Nursing

This certificate nursing program at Lake Superior State University aims at training practical nurses that are able to provide bedside and basic patient care. At the end of the program, students are in a position to write the NCLEX-PN exam. Students have the choice of taking the program on a two-year part time program or a full time option with four semesters including one summer.

Contact:
Lake Superior State University
650 W. Easterday Avenue, Sault Ste Marie,
MI 49783

Madonna University Nursing School Review

Madonna University (MU) was founded in 1937 under the common goal of Felician Sisters of Livonia to offer higher education to residents of Livonia and Michigan at large. That goes without saying that the university is strongly rooted to the Catholic Church faith. The college had started off as a small college offering liberal arts and later developed to the large university it is today. Currently, the university offers numerous degree programs; from undergraduate, graduate to doctoral program in a wide area of careers.

College of Nursing and Health

The college of Nursing and Health is currently accredited by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. Under the school, there are various tracks of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The pool of nursing programs is:

Undergraduate Nursing Programs                                       

The Madonna university college of nursing and health offers two programs which lead to the awards of a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The BSN program at Madonna University takes the form of the traditional 4-year program.  The curriculum is set on a strong covenant of caring which stresses spirituality. Prior to admission to the BSN, students must complete 12 mandatory credits at Madonna.  Completion of all required courses enables the students to be eligible for NCLEX-RN exam for registered nurses.

RN to BSN Completion Program

Designed for RNs who hold a diplomas or an associate nursing degree, the program enables career advancement of RNs to bachelor level. The college readily admits transfers students from two-year colleges and takes them through nurse training that builds on their prior RN experience. Since the program is a career mobility ladder, it is offered through a combination online and face to face site based instruction. A total of 8 nursing courses are required for students to graduate and be awarded the BSN degree.

Graduate Programs

RN to MSN Accelerated Track

The RN to MSN track at Madonna is unique in that, it allows RNs who have a diploma or associate to earn two degrees after completion. Unlike many RN to MSN programs, theirs awards the students a bachelor and master degree at the same time. The format of curriculum delivery is by both online and site-based classroom instruction, hence excellent for working RNs. Via the accelerated RN to MSN track, RNs can choose from the nursing specialties listed below:

• Nursing Administration
• Adult Health
• Nursing Administration/ MBA

Master of Science

The masters level nursing programs at Madonna University are designed to prepare advanced practice nurses in the following nurse specialties:

• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Dual MBA/MSN
• Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with Hospice and Palliative care
• Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner- Hospice and Palliative

It is interesting to note that students taking the RN to MSN track can end up with three degrees if they took the MBA/MSN option during their MSN specialty. Madonna university also offers a second MSN for advanced practice nurses who already have another MSN; a very rare phenomenon.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The program combines online and site based teaching modalities to deliver the two-year terminal degree in nursing curriculum. It takes advanced practice nurses who are willing to specialize in health policy, nursing administration or leadership.

Post-Masters Certificates

At Madonna University, MSN nurses are offered the chance for career enrichment with the following graduate certificate programs:

• Adult advanced palliative care certificate
• Adult primary care certificate
• Adult acute care certificate
• Business strategies for Advanced practice nurses certificate

Contact:
Madonna University
36600 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia,
MI 48150

Macomb Community College Nursing Program Review

Macomb Community College has its history dating back to 1953, when it was founded after the Public Instruction Superintendent of Michigan approval. The college was then known as South Macomb Community College. Later on, several larger universities in Michigan helped come-up with a comprehensive curriculum for a number of programs. In 1962, the legislature of Macomb County passed a vote to transform the college into a community college of the county. Macomb community college (MCC) as it is known today took form from that vote.

Nursing at Macomb Community College

The department of nursing at Macomb community college is mandated in offering the fully accredited and approved nursing degree. With only one nursing program, it is accredited and approved by the NLNAC and Michigan Board of Nursing.

Associate Degree in Nursing

It is the only program offered by the department of nursing hence, it receives full attention and commitment from all faculty members. The program is offered at Macomb’s main campus also known as the centre campus. It is an entry level nursing program that strives to provide learners with all the essentials of making a professional nurse.

Students must take a minimum of 69 credits to be allowed to graduate from the program. Upon successful completion of the above credits, an associate of applied science in nursing degree  is awarded.  The completion also gives the students eligibility to apply and sit for the NCLEX-RN exam after which they become licensed nurses in Michigan.  Normally, two consecutive academic years are required to finish the program as outlined in the curriculum on a full time basis at the center campus

Clinical Affiliations

Macomb’s department of nursing arranges clinical classes for the nursing students with many clinical agencies all over Macomb county and Michigan at large.  However, students must be aware that they are expected to cover expenses that culminate from the clinical experience visits. Such includes transportation to and from the clinical sites. Such include healthcare facilities like Henry Ford Group of hospitals, William Beaumont hospital group and the children’s Hospital of Michigan.

Transfer Information

Students are encouraged to enroll for the Associate of nursing degree at Macomb community college since articulation agreements exist with a number of major universities. The articulation enables the students to transfer their two-year nursing courses to a four-year program.  The articulation needs for each university are different and as such, students must contact the office responsible for transfers to ensure they take the required courses to facilitate the transfer .This ensures smooth and easy career ladder mobility towards earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. The mobility agreements are between Macomb and:

• Saginaw Valley State University
• University of Detroit-Mercy
• Drexel University
• Kaplan University

Students applying for transfer credits to Kaplan and Drexel universities must be aware that the BSN will be offered in an online option only.

The college has a strong and effective non-discrimination policy and therefore, it welcomes students from all walks of life to apply to the nursing program.

Contact:
Macomb Community College
16000 Hill Road, Clinton Township,
MI 48038

Michigan State University Nursing School Review

Michigan State University (MSU) is a land- grant institution founded as an agricultural college back in 1855. The university has had numerous change of name as an Agriculture College over the 1.5 century period. The current name was coined in 1964 and up-to date, the college stopped being an exclusive agricultural college to a university offering over 200 undergraduate and post graduate programs. It is one of the largest universities in the US with over 5200 acres of land and an additional 15000 acres dedicated to the initial line of programs; agriculture.

Michigan State University- College of Nursing

The College of nursing at Michigan State University is one of the 19 colleges of the university. The college offers degrees ranging from undergraduate to graduate and doctorate degrees. It is approved to offer the above mentioned programs by the Michigan State Board of Nursing and is further accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

In addition to degree awarding programs, Michigan States University College of Nursing is also renowned to offer continuing education courses to RNs. These are meant for providing RNs with contact hours for licensure or keeping nurses abreast of the changing nursing trends. Below are the programs under the college of nursing at the university:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

At Michigan State University, students can enroll for any of the three routes towards earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree:

• Traditional BSN

This program is designed for new nursing students who want to prepare to become registered nurses by taking the NCLEX-RN exam. The program is offered full time for a period of four years or in four semesters for students who have already completed 56 prerequisite credits from the college of nursing.

• Accelerated Second Degree in Nursing

This option is specially designed for students who already hold recognized bachelor degrees in other art or science programs.  As the name suggests, the program takes an accelerated full time study mode in preparing students for the NCLEX-RN exam. Within a period of 14 months, students in this route for their BSN are ready to sit for the licensure exam and be awarded the BSN as a second degree.

• BSN for Registered Nurses

At Michigan State University, active registered nurses have the chance of advancing their career through this flexible, exclusively part time BSN route. RNs receive 30 credits for their associate degrees and work the remaining credits for the BSN in a maximum of five semesters. It is also worth noting that students are expected to take the classes online and plan for their own clinical practical sessions at places of their convenience; preferably at their places of work.

Master of Science in Nursing Programs

Three tracks of advanced practice nursing programs are available and are accredited by the Center for Credentialing Nursing Education and Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education. Options include:

• MSN- Nurse Practitioner (Family Nurse Practitioner and Gerontology Nurse)
• MSN-Clinical Nurse Specialist (Nurse Educator)
• MSN- Nurse Anesthesia

While the NP and CNS tracks are offered in a hybrid of online and site based instructions, the nurse anesthesia program is exclusively offered as a full time program.

PhD in Nursing

The nursing PhD program at Michigan State University has two routes for which students can assume studies. In the first option, BSN students can apply for the PhD in nursing program during their BSN period and hence get what they call a fast-Track PhD option. Here, students will not need to have MSN degree.

The second option takes the form of the traditional PhD in nursing; admitting MSN students only. For any PhD route chosen, students must be ready to take scholarly direction in gerontology, cancer or obesity.

Continuing Education Courses

In addition to the degree courses, Michigan State University also offers about 11 continuing education courses for RNs. This also includes RN refresher and RN to Community Based Practice Transition certificates.

Contact:
Michigan State University
101 Angell Bldg, East Lansing,
MI 48824

Monroe County Community College Nursing Program Review

In pursuit of fulfilling the higher education needs of the residents of Monroe County, the Monroe County Community College came into being. From 1964, the community college has been offering two-year degree programs for the residents of Monroe and Detroit.  The college has great expansion on educational infrastructure on its 215 acre land on Raisinville Road and a satellite campus at Temperance, Michigan.

Health Sciences Division

At Monroe County Community College, the division of health sciences has one two-year nursing degree program and three certificate nursing programs. The programs have been approved and accredited and by the Michigan Board of Nursing and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission respectively. Detailed information about the nursing programs at the community college is as follows:

Registered Nursing Two-Year Associate Degree

This program aims at training professional nurses on a full time basis as part of their preparation in taking the NCLEX-RN exams. Students are expected to complete a total of 72 credits including general education courses. During the course of the study, students are expected to participate in clinical practicum sessions held in health agencies in Michigan and Ohio.

 It is important to note that since the college does not have onsite nursing labs, students are expected to undertake all their practical sessions outside the college at designated sites. In this case, students must cover the costs of their clinical sessions in terms of commuting to and from clinical facilities. The college also accepts LPN transfer students who wish to have advanced placement for this associate of Science in nursing degree.

Practical Nursing Certificate

The program prepares students to work under registered nurses by offering basic patient and bedside care training. It requires 38 credits to complete so that students can be eligible for NCLEX-PN exam and licensure in Michigan. For nurses who are coming-in as certified nursing assistants, two credits are exempted in recognition of the CNA certificate.

Nurse Aide Certificate

At Monroe County Community College, students have the chance to take one course; entailing 5 credits to become nurse assistants. Completion of the credits and 48 clinical hours place the students in a position to sit for certification exams to become certified nurse aides.

Phlebotomy Certificate

The program aims at providing training to students wishing to get fast entrance into nursing. Students are trained on blood drawing techniques including venipunctures, specimen transportation and storage. Students must be aware that the program may be offered during the day and evening for the practical sessions depending on health agencies schedule. The practical sessions takes 40 hours per week while the classroom theory portion is 20 hours per week. A total of nine credits must be completed for students to be eligible for the phlebotomy technician exam.

Just like the registered nurses program, certificate programs students must cater for their own transportation to health care agencies in Ohio and within Michigan. The costs of this are not included in the fees for the programs.

Contact:
Monroe County Community College
1555 S. Raisinville Road, Monroe,
MI 48161

Mott Community College Nursing Program Review

Mott Community College (MCC) is named after the donor who donated towards its establishment back in 1950. The college was then known as Flint Junior college and remained so until a vote by the residents of Genesee County decided to change it into a community college in 1973. The college offers higher education programs to residents of Genesee County at a minimal cost envisaging the vision of community colleges. It is also strongly affiliated to university of Michigan- Flint in offering some of the academic programs and offering articulation agreements.

Mott Community College- Health Sciences Division

The health sciences division at the college offers five nursing programs: two of which are associate degrees in nursing tracks and three certificate programs. The programs are accredited and approved by NLNAC and Michigan Board of Nursing.

Associate Degree Nursing

The program prepares students who wish to get into professional nursing by becoming registered nurses. Students undertake 67 credits distributed between general education and nursing courses. The program goes on for a maximum of two years with four semesters all year round. Upon completion, students are eligible for the NCLEX-RN exam and are also awarded the Associate of Applied Science degree-Nursing.

LPN to ADN Articulation

This route of getting the associate in applied science degree is open to active, licensed practical nurses that have unrestricted Michigan LPN certification. The program also requires LPNs who can show prove of at least 1 year working experience in a health agency. Students complete a transition clinical course and afterwards given an advanced standing towards the traditional associate program at the second year level.

The program accepts both Mott Community College LPN graduates and transfer students from other nursing institutions. Completion leads to the awards of the associate of applied science degree in nursing and eligibility for the NCLEX-RN exam.

Practical Nursing Certificate

The program is a rather unique one because all the courses required for eligibility into the NCLEX-PN exam are those taken in Associate in applied Science- nursing degree. This precisely means that the practical nursing and the registered nurses students receive the same training and attend the same classes but exit after the first year. This place Mott Community College LPN graduates at a better chance for the ADN articulation program from the previous ladder.

Nurse Aide Preparation

This is a non- certificate program that prepares students to work as nursing assistants in health care centers. The program is relatively short and requires only 4 credit hours and 6 contact hours. Students must be fully aware that there is no certificate awarded for this program as it is an alternative training nursing program. The program is approved by the Michigan department of community health and places students at a better chance in enrolling for Certificate in Nurse Aide training.

Phlebotomy

Just like the nurse aide preparation program, the phlebotomy program does not award a certificate of completion. Instead, the program is a preparatory alternative training program that helps student perform very basic blood drawing tasks.

Transfer Information

Nursing students from Mott Community College have the advantage of direct transition into four-year BSN programs. Transfer options are available in University of Michigan at Flint and Oakland University.  Students only require a single admission from Mott and the transition to the two universities is direct.

Contact:
Mott Community College
1401 East court St, Flint,
MI 48503

Muskegon Community College Nursing Program Review

From Muskegon Junior College, a legislative vote by the residents of Muskegon County formed Muskegon Community College. The college dates back in 1951 with the three changes of names from the junior college to Muskegon County Community College to the current name it has today. The college upholds the mission of community colleges by bringing higher education to the people at affordable costs. It offers academic programs that help students get into employment or transfer into four-year degree programs.

Department of Nursing at Muskegon Community College

The department of nursing at Muskegon Community College (MCC) offers three nursing programs which form a career advancement ladder. Due to the curriculum ladder design of the nursing programs, students can choose to exit at some point and earn a certificate of complete the entire ladder to earn an associate of science in nursing degree. The three exit programs are approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission has accredited the programs.

The Nursing Program

It takes the form of a career ladder where all prospective nursing students start at the same point. Students enrolled into the nursing program take similar courses and students wishing to exit the program after the first year are awarded a diploma in practical nursing. The first year exit students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam for licensure as practical nurses in Michigan.

As part of the continuation ladder, students who continue to take a total of six semesters of nurse training are also free to exit from the program; hence being awarded the Associate in applied science degree in nursing as an occupational oriented degree. These students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses.  Students who exit at this point are those who wish to get into practice fast. On the third level, students who have achieved the six semesters can add on one semester in pursuit of transfer options to a four year BSN program.

Students who add the extra semester to a total of seven semesters are awarded the Associate in Science and arts degree and are also eligible for the NLCEX-RN exam to become registered nurses. Because the last part is primarily a transfer degree, Muskegon Community College therefore only provides articulation agreements for the ASA degree and not the Associate in applied Science degree.

For the breakdown of the nursing ladder, students can take up to 84 credits. In this case, students exiting at the diploma in practical nursing level take a total of 40 credits. For the associate in applied science exit, 72 credits are required and an extra 14 credits giving the maximum number of 84 credits for the associate of science in nursing degree.

Advanced Placement for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)

Muskegon Community College also welcomes licensed practical nurses from the state of Michigan for advanced placement into the either of the two associate degrees exits. To be eligible for this enrollment, students must have an unencumbered licenses with prove of at least six months working experience as a practical nurse.

Contact:
Muskegon Community College
221 S. Quarterline Road, Muskegon,
MI 49442

Northern Michigan University Nursing School Review

Northern Michigan University is located in the southern region of Lake Superior and serves the residents of Marquette and the state as a whole. The university started as a small Normal school in 1899 training teachers but was later granted a university status in 1963. The university is also privileged to be a university that serves the role of a community college in Marquette as well as public four-year coed center. With 180 degree programs and counting, Northern Michigan University is a one stop higher education center.

Nursing Programs in Northern Michigan University

Like stated earlier, the university serves the role of a community college and a university. This therefore translates to the availability of certificate nursing programs all the way to masters of Science in nursing programs. The university nursing programs including the practical nursing certificate have has been approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. In addition, the bachelors and masters programs have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

This is a full time traditional nursing baccalaureate program designed for fresh entrants of professional nursing. The program requires completion of 129 credits and runs full time on fall and winter but students can choose to take selected courses during summer. The program takes a relatively short period to complete: five semesters to cater for students with other non- nursing bachelor degrees. For practical sessions, the university has a site based simulation nursing lab that caters for clinical practicum. Students are awarded a bachelor of science in nursing degree and are thereafter eligible for the NCLEX-RN exam.

LPN to BSN program

At Northern Michigan University, licensed practical nurses are given the chance of advanced standing in recognition of their practical nursing certificate. In this case, students are expected to take all the credits of the traditional BSN but receive advanced standing with exemption of up to 12 credits towards the BSN. As a prerequisite, students are expected to have an active and unrestricted LPN licenses from Michigan State. Just like the traditional BSN, the courses start full time on fall and winter with few selected courses being offered in summer.

RN to BSN

This program is specially meant to build on prior nursing skills and therefore, most suitable for adult students. It takes in transfer students from community colleges that are in pursuit of higher nursing education. It is offered both as a full time and part time program and has no set period of completion. The completion of the program depends on the number of transfer credits accepted from the two-year RN training and the workload the student wishes to take for the part timers.

It is also a great program for RNs looking for work as the university strives to place the students in paid employment in affiliated health agencies around Marquette. This initiative makes this particular program an attractive one for RN to BSN students.

It is also important to note that the Northern Michigan University used to offer a fast track BSN meant for non- nursing students. However, from the fall of 2011, the department of nursing has discontinued that program and redesigned it to the traditional BSN.

Master of Science in Nursing

The masters program at Northern Michigan University is designed to train advanced practice nurses who wish to take Family Nurse Practitioner as their area of clinical specialty. The program has a three year timeline with courses being taught on three semesters per academic year. It is a flexible program that uses a hybrid curriculum delivery format with both online and classroom instructions being used. For the site based classes, students are expected to go to campus once per week while the 720 clinical hours can be completed at student’s convenient locations.

Certificate Programs

In the role of a community college, northern Michigan University has been offering two certificate programs in nursing. The clinical assistant nursing certificate program is still on but the practical nursing certificate had been temporarily suspended as of fall 2011. Any students interested should frequently check on the program for a date of re-instatement.

Contact:
Northern Michigan University
1401 Presque Isle Ave, Marquette,
MI 49855

Oakland Community College Nursing Program Review

By the vote of the electorate of Oakland County, this community college came into being. The College opened its doors for two-year programs in 1965 serving the residents of Oakland County and beyond. Oakland community college (OCC) prides itself in being the largest community college in the state offering close to a 100 two-year degree programs and about 50 certificate programs.  With five campuses all over Oakland, the college promises to deliver higher education right at the neighborhoods of Oakland.

Department of Nursing- Oakland Community College

The department of nursing is located in the Highland lakes campus; one of the satellite campuses of Oakland Community college. The department has four nursing programs approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing and also accredited by the NLNAC. Three of the programs lead to an associate in applied science degree while one is a certificate program.

Associate in Applied Science- Nursing

This is an occupation-oriented nursing program that prepares students to get into the nursing field. It trains students to be ready to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses. For completion, students must take and pass 72 credits distributed between practical nursing and classroom instruction. The program takes a full time study mode but students who have completed all prerequisites courses before admission are allowed to take part time classes.

Transitional LPN to AND Track

The program takes in licensed practical nurses that have active unrestricted Michigan licenses. Prior to admission, students must complete a bridging transition course. Just like the ADN, students can choose the full time or the part time mode if they have completed the general education units prior to admission.  Classes for this particular program commence only in summer semesters. The program leads to eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and an award of an Associate in applied Science degree.

Practical Nurse Education Modified Career Ladder

This program is a form of a career ladder that basis its foundation from the usual associate degree. Students enrolled for this program take the same classes with the ADN track students. The only difference is that students can choose to exit after the first year of study having completed 42 credits. At this level, the students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam and be awarded a certificate of completion.

Second Year Nursing Completion

For Oakland Community college graduates of the practical nursing education, they have the chance to apply for this program. The program picks from the exit point of the above named ladder program i.e. first year of the ADN and students continue to complete their 31 credits required for the usual ADN track. Since this program is only available for former Oakland graduates, the program may not be available in all academic years due to lack of quorum. The kick-off of the program entirely depends on the number of students who are interested in coming back to Oakland for the ADN. The mode of study is similar to that of the other nursing programs; full time or part time for those who have completed general education courses.

There is also a phlebotomy certificate program; not specifically designed for nurses, but for any health- field students who wish to take a medical assisting program.

Contact:
Oakland Community College
2480 Opdyke Road, Bloomfield Hills,
MI 48304

Saginaw Valley State University Nursing School Review

The history of Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) dates back in 1963, established to seal the need of a four-year institution of higher learning. The college has intriguing history starting off as a simple college under the roof of another college in Tri-City. It could only afford to be located at a basement in the then Delta College. Community fundraising helped the then Saginaw Valley College acquire land of what is today the big, well established Saginaw Valley State University.

Nursing at Saginaw Valley State University

The department of nursing at the university offers undergraduate and graduate level nursing programs. All programs have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. The programs are both direct entry and nursing education advancement programs.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

This nursing program at Saginaw Valley State University takes in fresh nursing students. It prepares students to sit and pass the NCLEX-RN for licensure as registered nurses. Usually, students take 4 to 4.5 years to complete the program. Students study in cohorts and each cohort must strive to complete the general education and non-nursing courses in a period of 1 to 1.5 years. Students only take nursing courses starting from the second year of study.  The cohort students are exclusively full time students while students can choose a part time program where they work on their own.

RN to BSN

This is a transfer program where the university accepts registered nurses holding associate degrees or diplomas for their RN licenses. The program is quite flexible as it is offered in a hybrid of online and site based instruction. Transfer students from colleges having articulation agreements with Saginaw Valley State University receive up to 31 credits in recognition of their associate degrees.

The program is also available in full time and part time study modes with classroom instruction being awarded only one day per week. Students must be aware that they are responsible for their commuting expenses to and from designated clinical sites.

RN to MSN

This program invites students who wish to have advanced practice nurse status without having to take the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. The RNs undergo two steps of the RN to MSN program:

In the first step, students receive up to 31 transfer credits for their associate degree and take a further 101 undergraduate credits. Completion of this step enables the students to be eligible for admission into the step-2 of the RN to MSN. In the second step, students take only 10 credits. Just like the other programs, the format of study is hybrid of online and site based instruction.

Master of Science in Nursing

At Saginaw Valley State University, BSN prepared graduates are welcome to enroll in any one of the five advanced practice nursing roles. The programs come in two concentrations; nurse practitioner where students can take the Family Nurse Practitioner track and on clinical nurse specialist concentration, students can choose from Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, Nurse Leader or the Dual Administrator/Educator tracks.

There are also two post-masters certificates for those wish to expand their nursing experience in Family nurse practitioner and in all the clinical nurse specialist areas mentioned above.

Contact:
Saginaw Valley State University
7400 Bay Road, University Center,
MI 48710

Spring Arbor University Nursing School Review

As part of the Free Methodist Church, Spring Arbor University is immensely tied to Christian values. The University has history dating back to 1873 after its inception as a seminary academy. The small academy became a college in 1950 and dropped the secondary and primary school programs. Spring Arbor College operated as so until recently in 2001, the university was granted the status of a fully pledged university; changing its name to Spring Arbor University (SAU).

Nursing Programs at Spring Arbor University

The nursing profession at Spring Arbor University is viewed as one of the best ways to take-up the caring way of Christ by serving suffering people. The programs are holistic and Christian faith oriented in the aim of eliminating suffering to ailing. Like all programs in this university, the nursing programs constitute a large portion of liberal arts courses in addition to the nursing courses. The programs have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The nursing programs are offered in the school of professional and graduate studies are there is no fresh entrance option for nurse students.

Bachelor of Science-RN to BSN Program

This is a completion program that takes only transfer students who have already completed an associate of science in nursing degree. For eligibility into this program, students must have 58 transferable credits from their earlier two-year degree program.  Students must also provide prove of at least one year experience of working as a registered nurse. Students who fulfill this requirement are expected to complete an additional 42 credit hours from Spring Arbor University to be awarded the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.

The 42 additional credits taken at the university mainly focuses on faith integration into the community and gerontology. The program is also available in both part time and full time study modes to cater for the working adult RNs.

Master of Science in Nursing

The Masters of Science in nursing programs at Spring Arbor University are all online based programs. Students are only expected to attend site based residency instruction lessons during the start of each academic year. There are three areas of concentration in the advanced practice nursing from which students can choose from namely:

• MSN-Nurse practitioner– This program takes three years to complete the 62 credits and 500 hours of practical sessions. The track allows nurse to be eligible for certification as adult or gerontology nurse practitioners.
• MSN- Nurse Education– This track is meant for nurses who wish to get into nursing faculties. The program only requires 38 credit hours to graduate. Unlike the nurse practitioner track, this program takes two years to complete.
• MSN/MBA– This is a dual degree program; one of the few of its kind in Michigan State. It trains nurse on two master-level tracks after completion of 63 credit hours. The program awards the student two degrees concurrently: the Master of Science in Nursing and the Master in Business Administration.  For Completion of both degree programs, students requires three academic years.

Contact:
Spring Arbor University
106 E. Main St, Spring Arbor,
MI 49283

University of Detroit Mercy Nursing School Review

The University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) is a result of consolidation of two distinct higher education institutions; Mercy College of Detroit and the University of Detroit. The former was founded in 1941 and the latter in 1877 but the union took place in 1990 to form the current university. The university is consecrated in the catholic faith and it prides itself to be the largest Catholic university in the State of Michigan. Following this strong affiliation to the Catholic Church, it is largely sponsored by the Religious Sisters of Mercy.

McAuley School of Nursing

The McAuley School of nursing; a school of the University of Detroit Mercy is committed to producing highly competent undergraduate and advanced practice nurses. The school has a number of programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and also approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing.  Programs in offer are:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

At the McAuley School of nursing, students can follow three distinct but converging routes to earn a bachelor of science in nursing degree as outlined below:

• BSN-Traditional Track

This track is specifically designed to train new nursing students. The program takes four years of full time study to complete and aims at preparing students for the NCLEX-RN exam. Students take a total of 130 credits with 1 or 2 credits for each extra summer semester.

• Second Degree BSN

This program is meant for students with another baccalaureate degree in fields other than nursing. The program is highly accelerated and intensive; taking only 12 months to complete. Due to the intensity of learning, the program is available on full time study mode only. After completion of 58 credit hours, students graduate with a BSN degree and are eligible for write the NCLEX-RN exam.

• RN to BSN Completion Program

This is a highly flexible program that welcomes adult RNs to take their education a notch higher. The program is offered in all the three campuses of the university and is also available as an online option.

This particular program is also offered in partnership by University of Detroit Mercy and Macomb Community College. In this plan, students get a direct transition from Macomb to UDM. All transfer students receive 35 to 38 credit hours in recognition of their associate degree or diploma and only take 90 credits at the university to be eligible for graduation.

There is also a partnership with the university, St Mary’s Health care and Aquinas College to offer the residents of Grand Rapids the chance of the RN to BSN completion. This program is unique in that, RN students receive paid employment co-operation in St Mary’s during the course of their program.

Master of Science in Nursing

There are a total of four master-level advanced practice nursing programs at University of Detroit Mercy namely:

• MSN Clinical nurse Leader
• MSN-Health Systems Management
• MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner
• MSN-Nursing Education

The clinical nurse leader track is offered both as a full time and part time program requiring 42 credit hours. Some courses are also offered online while the site based classes are held late in the evenings. The Nurse Educator option requires 46 credits offered exclusively online with both part time and full time provisions. The full time option is designed to take two years while the part time can take three year but students can be allowed for up to 5 years.

The family nurse practitioner and health system management tracks require 44 and 38 credits respectively and are available on part time and full time modes. No online options are available for these two programs.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

This terminal nursing degree requires 36 credits culminating in a clinical capstone project. The curriculum is delivered in a hybrid of online and site based classes of both part time and full time study. The site based classes are held in late evenings on one day/week for 16months of the full time study but a longer period for part timers.

Post-Graduate Certificates

• Post-Master Certificate- Adult Health Clinical nurse Specialist (online program)
• Post Baccalaureate Certificate- Financial Management and Nursing Leadership
• Post Baccalaureate Certificate Nursing Education
• Post Baccalaureate Certificate- Outcomes in Performance Management

Contact:
University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Road, Detroit,
MI 48221

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Nursing School Review

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor prides itself to being the oldest state university in the state of Michigan.  Its history is a long story from 1817, established even before Michigan became a state. The university serves as a flagship of other numerous state Universities of Michigan and has grown to be a world class university.

School Of Nursing- University of Michigan- Ann arbor

The University of Michigan ((UM, U-M, Umich or U of M) was the first American university to establish a university-hospital in 1861; so medical degrees in the university have a rich history.  The school of nursing was opened to train the increasing demand for nurses in the already well established medical school under the university hospital. The nursing school programs are fully accredited and approved by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Michigan Board of Nursing. The School of nursing has over 20 nursing programs distributed in undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels.

Undergraduate Programs

As a foundational level, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor has designed two tracks of nursing degrees both of which lead to the award a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree:

• Traditional BSN

The program is meant for either new nursing students joining from high school level or transfer students from community colleges.  Transfer students join the program at sophomore level having completed the required prerequisite courses. All Students must complete a total of 128 credits in a period of eight semesters to be allowed to graduate and sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.

• Accelerated Second Career BSN Program

The program is designed for highly motivated and bright students who already have a first bachelor’s degree from other fields of study. The program takes a period of 12 months to complete and students are expected to commit full attention to the program. It is highly paced and intensive and rigorous full time study and clinical contact is expected as part of covering the curriculum. Like the traditional BSN, students graduate with a BSN degree and are eligible for the licensure exam.

Master of Science in Nursing Programs

Masters programs at the University of Michigan School of nursing take the highest percent of nursing programs. There are about 20 master-level nursing programs offered at the university including dual degree programs and sub plans for each advanced practice nursing track chosen as explained below:

Acute Care Advanced Practice Program

Under this program, students are trained on handling complex health issues under two master sub plans:

• MSN Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• MSN Acute Care Clinical nurse Specialist (CNS)

Community Health Nursing Program

Under community health nursing, students can choose from the following sub- tracks

• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Adult Nurse Practitioner
• Occupational Health nursing
• Community/ Public Health/ Home Based Nursing

Psychiatric- Mental Health Advanced Practice Program

Nurses who wish to be trained on mental health at an advanced level can choose between:

• Psych-Mental Health CNS
• Psych-Mental Health NP

Nursing Business & Health Systems Programs

This masters program awards degrees related to business and nursing. It is also under this program that the school of nursing offers the dual degree programs. Sub plans in this program include:

• Quality and Patient Safety
• Nursing Education
• Nursing Informatics
• Nursing Management
• Nursing Entrepreneurship
• Nursing Health care Policy
• Nursing and Informatics MS/MSI
• Nursing and Business Administration MS/MBA
• Nursing and Health Services Administration MS/MHSA

Parent- Child Nursing Program

Master of Science nursing degree programs under this bracket at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor include:

• Pediatric Nurse Midwife
• Certified Nurse Midwife
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Midwife

It is also worth noting that post master certificate programs are available for all the aforementioned nursing sub plans above.

Doctorate Programs

The two terminal nursing degree programs are available and as such students can chose from the practice based or research based Doctor of Nursing Practice or PhD respectively.

Contact:
University of Michigan- Ann Arbor
1011 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor,
MI 48109

University of Michigan-Flint Nursing School Review

The University of Michigan- Flint (UM-Flint) is a university under the flagship of the larger University of Michigan- Ann Arbor. Its history started course in 1944, many years after the founding of the main University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The board of education in Flint requested the formation of higher education institution in Flint and so came into being the UM-Flint.

The university initially operated as a two-year college where students could complete studies for transfer to the main UM at Ann Arbor. The two-year college; then known as Flint College was re-organized to become the current UM-Flint leaving the grounds of the college of what currently known as Mott Community College.

Department of Nursing – UM Flint

The department of nursing at University of Michigan Flint has been approved and accredited by the Michigan Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Nursing degrees range from undergraduate to doctorate programs as outlined below:

Undergraduate Nursing Programs

At undergraduate level, the University of Michigan Flint offers students three distinct routes leading to the award of Bachelor of Science in nursing degrees.

• Basic BSN

The program is for entry-level nursing students who do not have any prior nursing experience. The curriculum of a minimum of 120 credits is designed to be completed in four academic years with the aim of preparing students to write the NCLEX-RN exam. Students are awarded the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.

• Accelerated Second Degree

For four full time semesters of intensive work and compressed curriculum, students with other non- nursing degrees are welcome to be trained to be RNs at UM Flint department of nursing. For 16 months, students engage in rigorous nurse training in both clinical and classroom instructions. Students are basically trained to complete the NCLEX-RN exam as part of their ambitions to become registered nurses.

• RN/BSN Program

This program is meant for already registered nurses who wish to advance their nursing and complete a Bachelors of Science in nursing program. Basically, the program targets the adult learner and as such, the curriculum is designed to be flexible. On this note, students getting into this program have the options of completing their nursing courses via exclusive online, campus or as a hybrid of the two. This is the nursing program at UM-Flint that welcomes transfer students from articulated colleges.

Accelerated MSN Program

The Master of Science in nursing at UM- Flint offers only one track of concentration towards becoming an advanced practice nurse; Adult Nurse Practitioner. The program is designed to be completed in a full time- online based format of study. Students are therefore expected to come to campus on only four days per semester. Due to the flexibility of the program, students are able to attend clinical sessions at their local neighborhoods.  At the end of the program, 43 credits must be completed in about 16 academic months.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The doctor of nursing practice program takes the form of distance learning program utilizing online format for curriculum delivery. The program can be taken by either BSN or MSN prepared students by following the two tracks outlined below:

BSN to DNP

This program takes up to four years to complete after taking 82 credit hours. The program takes in BSN graduates and helps them through the program without taking the MSN degree.  Students taking this DNP program can major in one of the following three concentrations:

• Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Adult Nurse practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner

MSN to DNP

For MSN prepared students, this 36 credits DNP track at University of Michigan-Flint is the best option. The program takes between 2 to 4 years to complete and welcomes applicants who have a MSN degree as CNS, Nurse Anesthetists, NPs or Nurse Midwives. Both DNP tracks are offered as a part time option of distance learning with only single campus visits per academic year.

Contact:
University of Michigan-Flint
303 E. Kearsley Street, Flint,
MI 48502

Washtenaw Community College Nursing Program Review

After establishing an immediate need of a community college, the legislature of Washtenaw County voted for the establishment of Washtenaw Community College (WCC). Back in 1965, the history of this community college began to unfold. Washtenaw Community college has a mission of bringing affordable higher education to the residents of Southeastern Michigan and the Country at large. For career starters or lifelong learning, the college will meet your educational needs.

School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Washtenaw community college school of nursing and health sciences offers two-year and certificate level nursing programs. The programs are designed for students who want to get an entry level point into the nursing profession or those seeking transfer to four-year programs at major universities. The programs have been accredited by the National League on Nursing Accrediting Commission and approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. The programs offered are broadly explained below:

Nursing, Registered Associate in Applied Science

This is an occupational based nursing program route that leads to the award of an associate degree. The program trains students for five semesters to be in a position to write the NCLEX-RN exam upon which they can become registered nurses. It is a full time program that requires a minimum of 72 credits to complete. The program has articulation agreements with the University of Michigan-Flint and Eastern Michigan University BSN degrees.

Nursing Transfer (EMU School of Nursing)

This is basically a transfer degree program from Washtenaw community college that enables students have a smooth transition to the Eastern Michigan University. The most peculiar aspect of this program is that students are not eligible to write the NCLEX-RN exam until full completion of the Baccalaureate program from EMU. It is therefore important for students to note that no licensure will be granted until then. The program requires a total of 77 credits hours of full time curriculum coverage, upon which, students graduate with an associate of applied science degree and an immediate transfer to EMU for completion. Students who get the transition into EMU continue with third-year nursing students of EMU.

NB

Washtenaw Community College had a similar nursing program articulation with the University of Michigan- Flint where students did not receive licensure as RNs until completion of the UM BSN. The program has however been discontinued and the last lot of that program will be of 2012 fall semester.

Nursing Assistant Skills Training

This is a relatively short- three week training program covering 4 credits of basic nursing skills. The program trains students to work as Certified Nurse Aides via intense clinical and lab exposure. The nursing department requires 100% mandatory physical classroom and clinical sessions’ attendance for both the weekend and full time students.

Lifelong Learning

At Washtenaw Community College, registered nurses have the chance of earning contact hours essential for their license renewal. Students seeking their 25 contact hours for Licenses renewal in Michigan can do so by enrolling for the 13 CEUs at the college. It is also worth noting that the college has RN refresher courses meant for RNs who want to advance their nursing skills or those making a comeback after a long break. For those interested in phlebotomy as an entry point in nursing, the Lifelong Learning Centre at Washtenaw can help you earn a certificate in phlebotomy.

Contact:
Washtenaw Community College
4800 East Huron River Dr,
Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Wayne State University Nursing School Review

Wayne State University (WSU) is a public university in the heart of metropolitan Detroit. The university boasts to have culture diversity due to its urban location. It has excelled as a public university heavily involved in educational research especially in science areas. From 1868, the university has being doing the same noble job of delivering high quality higher education not only in Michigan but also in the United States of America and internationally.

Wayne State University-College of Nursing

The college of nursing at Wayne State University has a rich history from its inception in 1930 as a small department into an independent college of the university. The college offers nursing programs from the undergraduate level up to the terminal nursing degree. The programs have been approved and accredited by the Michigan board of nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Nursing programs at the college are:

BSN Traditional

The program is designed for recent high school graduates who want to get an entry into professional nursing. Basically, the curriculum for this program takes four years to complete with students being required to cover a total of 126 credit hours. Courses are taken on a 50-50 full time and part time basis for all semesters. The program does not accept transfer students from community colleges; however, the university has advanced placement for high school graduates who take nursing courses at their final high school year.

BSN Second Career

It is designed for students who have baccalaureates degrees in fields other than nursing. The program takes the form of an accelerated study mode where students finish the nursing courses in 16 months of full time study. Students receive recognition of their former credits and are only expected to take 6 courses at Wayne state University for their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and eligibility for the NCLEX-RN exam.

MSN

The Master of Science in nursing at Wayne State University offers BSN graduates to undertake advanced practice nursing study towards becoming a clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner. The program runs on both full time and part time modes and students have up to six years to complete 37 to 47 credit hours depending on the area of concentration chosen from the 10 listed below:

• Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
• Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult Acute and Critical Care Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Midwife
• Clinical Nurse Specialist in Community Health Nursing
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner- Acute care
• Psychiatric Mental Health-CNS & NP
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner- Primary care
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

PhD

The PhD nursing program is open for both BSN and MSN prepared registered nurses. For the BSN graduates, they can opt to take extra courses to be awarded both the MSN and the PhD or choose to complete the PhD only. The program has therefore three distinct paths towards the PhD:

• BSN to MSN to PhD (128 credit hours )
• BSN to PhD (96 credit hours)
• MSN to PhD (90 credit hours)

DNP

The doctor of nursing Practice is also available for both BSN and MSN students who or who don’t have clinical specialty. As part of the DNP program, BSN and MSN graduates who don’t have a clinical specialty must take one therefore, increasing their study time as opposed to specialized MSN graduates. It is possible to complete the program either on a full time or part time study format.

Graduate Certificates

Wayne State University has six graduate certificate programs under the school of nursing as outlined below:

• Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Pediatric Primary Care Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education
• Graduate Certificate in Pediatric Acute Care Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery

Contact:
Wayne State University
42 W, Warren Ave, Detroit,
MI 48201

Western Michigan University Nursing School Review

From a small regional teachers training college, Western Michigan University (WMU) grew to become one of the most respected and internationally recognized university. It started off as Western Michigan College in 1903 and later upgraded to a fully pledged university in 1957. The university has expanded to have six satellite campuses all over the state of Michigan in its bid to take higher education to the people. With over 200 undergraduate, master and doctoral degree programs, there is almost everything for everyone to study.

Nursing at Western Michigan University

Nursing at the university is under the College of Health and Human Services. In particular, the nursing programs are offered by the Bronson School of Nursing and trains students to become competent nurses at undergraduate and master level. The nursing programs have been fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and also fully approved by the Michigan Board of nursing. The programs offered are as follows:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing-Traditional

The traditional Bachelor of Science program has been designed to meet the educational needs of entry level high school graduates. The program requires students to take 127 credits in nursing and general education courses which run for eight full time semesters. At the end of this pre-licensure program, students are eligible to write the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses and are also awarded a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing- Transfer Students & Registered Nurses

The transfer program takes in registered nurses who wish to complete their BSN or transfer students from other associate or diploma awarding colleges or universities. For both categories, students receive exemption of courses and are expected to take a minimum of 63 credits to complete the BSN. Active registered nurses students are allowed to take their nursing courses on a part time basis offered during weekends and evenings.

Master of Science (MSN)

The Master of Science in nursing at Western Michigan University offers students two advanced practice nursing concentrations to choose from. It is a relatively new program started in 2008 and has received accreditation from the Commission Collegiate Nursing Education. Students can chose between:

Nurse Leadership/Management or

Nurse Educator

The two tracks require a total of 36 credits to complete with additional three credits for those who choose a thesis path. The program is offered full time but part time classes can be considered depending on the number of students interested. Basically, the program is designed for Bachelor of Science in nursing graduates but also welcomes RNs who hold a baccalaureate in non-nursing field of science. However, acceptance to the later program is on an individual basis and depends on how well a student’s excelled in science, nursing and general education courses. In addition, the non BSN graduates must sit and pass a transition course to be allowed into the MSN programs. The total number of credits taken by both groups of students is equal excluding the transition course credits.

Contact:
Western Michigan University,
3202 Ellsworth Hall, Kalamazoo
MI 49008

Alabama MSN Programs

Auburn University: RN to MSN Program Review
Auburn University, 226 Thach Concourse, Auburn, AL 36849
Auburn University (Auburn) was first established in 1856. It has been listed as one of the top 50 public universities for 17 years and is rated as 82^nd among public and private universities in the US by US News and World Report. Auburn’s School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) jointly with Auburn University Montgomery. The AU/AUM Joint MSN Program offers a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program.

Most courses are offered online with one or two campus visits required each semester. Completing the program requires three semesters of full-time study. Applications to both the Auburn University Graduate School and the Auburn School of Nursing must be submitted. Two courses are taught at Troy University as well. Registered nurses with a bachelors degree in nursing with a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) and unencumbered license may apply. GPA requirements may be bypassed if room allows probationary students to be accepted. GRE scores, three reference letters, a current resume, and a goal statement essay are required. A recent statistics course, CPR certification, immunizations, and malpractice insurance are also needed.

Nursing students in the masters program have an opportunity to take the Study Abroad – SPAIN program. They can earn 6 credits while learning about healthcare and healthcare administration in Spain. Two other MSN programs are currently being developed at the Auburn School of Nursing. They are Nurse Educator and Primary Care Practitioner. Nurses who are interested in a MSN track of Clinical Nurse Specialist: Adult Health should contact Dr. Anita All at the Auburn School of Nursing campus.

Part-time program curriculums may be developed for nurses who are not able to attend the masters program full-time. This is done on an individual basis with Dr. Anita C. All.

Numerous nursing scholarships are available, as well as state and federal financial aid for nurses seeking advanced training in Auburn’s MSN program.

Jacksonville State University: RN to MSN Review

Jacksonville State University

700 Pelham Road North

Jacksonville, Alabama 36265-1602

In 1883, Jacksonville State University (JSU) was established as a normal school. Located Jacksonville in northeast Alabama, the University has over 200 international students. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program and post-Masters certificate program are offered at JSU with a focus on Community Health Nursing. Students are prepared to serve the community through program development in response to current community needs. Health promotion and prevention are emphasized with a focus on underserved members of communities such as women and children.

Applicants must apply to the JSU College of Graduate Studies by submitting official transcripts and scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) to Jacksonville State University, 700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, AL 36265-1602. BSN prepared nurses must have current, unencumbered licenses in the US, three professional recommendations, a written statement of goals, expectations, and interests in graduate study.

A nurse may choose to complete the program of 38 credits on a full-time or part-time basis. Jacksonville State University is affiliated with Troy University (Troy), and students must complete four online courses from this college in online format. Each student’s community health clinical experience is customized and completed in unique healthcare settings that coordinate with and support career goals. Graduates are prepared to work in many aspects of community health. Full-time students complete the MSN program in four semesters. Graduates may pursue national certification as an Advanced Public Health Nurse.

Qualified students may apply for many different nursing scholarships, and federal financial aid is available to students. This MSN program is unique in the fact that students are able to define their community of interest and individualize their masters degree in nursing program.

Samford University: RN to MSN Program Review

Samford University

800 Lakeshore Drive

Birmingham, AL 35229

Samford University, located in Birmingham is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist Convention. It was established in 1841, and today it is rated 104 out of 191 by US News and World Reports top-tier doctoral universities. Samford’s Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing online graduate programs have also been highly rated. A variety of programs that lead to masters degrees in nursing are available at Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229.

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program prepares Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) nurses to take the national certification exam after completing the masters program. Graduates are qualified to provide primary care to patients and family members of all ages. Only a few campus visits are necessary to complete this 42 credit online course that takes from 18 to 24 months to finish. Students also complete 720 clinical hours in many different healthcare settings.

Samford also offers a MSN Nurse Anesthesia program that requires 28 months of full-time study before taking the national certification program. Experienced Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists with a BSN and two years’ experience may complete their MSN by applying to the BSN to MSN option. It takes one year to complete the online program and little on-campus attendance. Admission to the program is competitive and is based on grade point average of 3.0 or higher, GRE scores, recommendation letters, personal interview, and work experience.

The Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing also offers a Nurse Educator online MSN program that prepares graduates to take the National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator exam. This program was established to meet the needs of the severe nurse educator crisis in the nation. As an incentive to enter this program, nurses entering the program can have 85 percent of the total borrowed for tuition forgiven by teaching for four years full-time in a school of nursing. Although on-campus visits are rarely required, students beginning the program must attend a three-day orientation on campus at 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham Alabama.

Another track in Samford’s masters degree in nursing program is in Nurse Management. Students are trained for entry and mid-level management programs in various healthcare facilities. This online program takes five semesters to complete, and practicum experiences are arranged close to students’ homes.

Registered Nurses with an associate degree or diploma may enter the RN to MSN program at Samford University and earn their masters degree while bypassing their bachelors degree. In seven semesters or two years, the program can be completed online. It is the only program in Alabama that offers an online RN to MSN program that does not include a bachelors degree. All tracks in the masters degree in nursing program are available except for nurse anesthesia. Students must complete five bridge courses over two semesters, and then they may begin the MSN core courses.

South University: RN to MSN Program Review

South University

5355 Vaughn Road

Montgomery, Alabama 36116-1120

South University was established in 1899 as a Practical Business College and today has locations in several states. South University Nursing College, located at 5355 Vaughn Road in Montgomery offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program and a masters degree in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program. Students complete six core courses and then those needed for their specialty of FNP. The 62 credit program prepares graduates to provide primary care to the entire family across the lifespan. Students complete practicums in Adult and Geriatrics, Women’s Health, Pediatrics, and Primary Care, ending the program with a graduate project. Students may live on campus while enrolled in the program.

The Novi, Michigan campus of South University, located at 41555 Twelve Mile Road also offers a FNP program, as does the campus located at 709 Mall Boulevard in Savannah, Georgia. South University also offers the FNP program at 4401 North Himes Avenue, Tampa, Florida and at the University Centre in West Palm Beach, Florida. All of the FNP program are the same and require 62 credits to complete. An online option for the FNP masters program is also available and is discussed below.

The Savannah, Georgia and Tampa, Florida campuses of South University also offer MSN programs in Adult Health Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator. The Adult Health Nurse Practitioner program consists of 56 credits that are completed before taking the national certification exam. Students specialize in disease prevention, risk reduction, health promotion, and are able to provide primary care to adults of all ages. After completing the masters degree core courses, 32 credits are necessary for this specialty. Students complete practicums in a variety of adult healthcare categories, including Women’s Health and more and ending the program with a graduate project in nursing.

The Nurse Educator masters program that is offered in Savannah and in Tampa consists of 48 credits to prepare nurses to instruct and train future nurses. After the MSN core courses are completed, 24 credits are required for this specialty. Students prepare to teach undergraduate level nursing students and complete this program with a graduate project after all practicums are completed.

South University also has several MSN online options available, including Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Nurse Practitioner in either Family Health or Adult Health, Accelerated RN to MSN, and Master of Science in Nursing programs. Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, and Nurse Informatics are also available online at South University.

The online Nurse Practitioner (NP) program allows BSN trained nurses to pursue a masters degree specializing in Adult Health or Family Health. Those without a bachelors degree may qualify for the accelerated RN to MSN online program that is discussed later in this article. Students in the Adult Health NP program complete three practicum courses and are trained to provide primary care to adults of all ages. Family NPs learn to care for all members of families and complete four practicum courses. Admission requirements are a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0, a statistics course, a current unencumbered RN license, three references, a goal statement, and resume. Provisional status is not available for NP specialty tracks.

BSN trained nurses may also opt to complete a non-NP program online, including the Nurse Educator specialization in about 18 months. This program prepares nurses to train undergraduate students for a career in nursing. The Nurse Informatics masters program prepares nurses to use operational data systems and to train healthcare professionals in their use. Another specialty, the Nurse Administrator specialization trains Registered Nurses in policy and financial decisions and other management skills. Applicants must have a BSN with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, a statistics course and undergraduate nursing research course, official transcripts, and a current unencumbered RN license. Three references, a goal statement, and resume are also required. Provisional admission is granted to those with a GPA of 2.5 to 2.99 or for completion of the statistics or nursing research requirement. A GPA of 3.0 must be earned on these two courses, or the student is dismissed from the program.

Registered Nurses without a BSN may apply for the Accelerated RN to MSN online program at South University. Both a BSN and MSN are awarded after the entire program is completed. Three specialties are available, including Nurse Educator, Nurse Administrator, or Nursing Informatics. To be admitted to the program, nurses must have an associate degree or diploma with a minimum GPA of 3.0. A current unencumbered RN license is also required, along with three references, a goal statement essay, and a resume. Before continuing to the MSN courses, students must have a GPA of 2.75 or better on bachelor’s degree courses and complete a statistics course with at least a B.

South University is unique in the fact that it offers a variety of online and on-campus MSN programs. Nursing scholarships and federal financial aid are available for students.

Spring Hill College: RN to MSN Program Review

Spring Hill College

4000 Dauphin Street

Mobile, AL 36608

Spring Hill College is a liberal arts college that was established in 1830, and it is located in Mobile, Alabama. It is operated by the Jesuits and is the oldest Catholic college in the South. It was rated 14^th among the best colleges in the South that offer bachelors and masters degrees by US News and World Report. A Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis on Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is a combination of online courses, visits to the Spring Hill campus, and completion of clinical experience in a student’s local community and work setting.

The CNL is the latest nurse role developed by the American Association of College of Nursing. CNLs are generalist clinicians with a masters degree who serve as a resource for the nursing team. The clinical nurse leader implements programs that bring the latest innovations in care delivery to patients. Admission to the program is open to BSN trained Registered Nurses, and it is a competitive program. Nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing with at least one year’s experience may also qualify. Applicants must be currently licensed Registered Nurses in the state that they practice nursing and must work in a clinical setting or have access to a healthcare facility for clinical integration and research. Also required are three references, employment verification, resume, and a statement of intent that should all be sent to the college at 4000 Dauphin Street, Mobile, AL 36608.

Another entry option to the program is for the RN with Non-Nursing Baccalaureate who is admitted as a non-degree graduate student to complete the five RN to MSN nursing bridge courses. After that, graduate degree courses are pursued to complete the masters degree. In addition, the RN with Masters Degree in Nursing program offers unconditional admission to students with a GPA of 3.0 who meet the other requirements. Graduates receive a Post-Master’s Certificate after completing the program. The RN with Associate Degree/Diploma to MSN Program allows nurses to complete the general education requirements and five RN to MSN nursing bridge courses before beginning the MSN program.

Unconditional admission is grated to applicants who meet the general admission requirements and have a 3.0 GPA. Those who do not meet the requirements may be offered conditional admission if they have a GPA of at least 2.75. A GPA of 3.0 must be earned after six hours of coursework are completed.

Financial aid for tuition is available through scholarships and federal financial aid.

The University of Alabama: RN to MSN Program Review

The University of Alabama

Box 870358

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0358

The University of Alabama (UA) is part of the University of Alabama System located in Tuscaloosa. Established in 1831, it has been rated in the top 50 public universities in the US by US News and World Report many times and UA has had the highest ranking of a university in the state by this source. The Capstone College of Nursing is known for its leading edge technology, such as its high-fidelity simulators and also for its flexible full-time and part-time options for nurses. Registered Nurse (RN) to Master of Science (MSN) programs include Case Management, Clinical Nurse Leader, and Nurse Educator Specialization. Students have the option of attending full-time or part-time, and all nursing courses are taught online.

The Rural Case Management masters degree in nursing program focuses on handling case management and healthcare administration. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepared Registered Nurses with current licensure and grade point averages (GPA) of 3.0 or better qualify for the program. Conditional admission is sometimes granted to applicants with lower than expected GPA or GRE or MAT scores. A GPA of 3.0 in the MSN courses is required to qualify for graduation. Three semesters are required for full-time study plus the completion of 36 to 39 credits. Part-time studies take six semesters for completion.

Another MSN program at UA is Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL). CNLs oversee care coordination of a group of patients and put evidence-based practice into action. Admission and graduation requirements are the same as those for the Rural Case Management MSN program. One year of full-time studies or two or more years of part-time study are required to complete the program. The Dual Degree MSN/MA in Management is also offered at the Capstone College of Nursing and the Manderson Graduate School of Business. Students take advanced nursing courses as well as health care management courses and must be admitted to both programs. Two years of full-time study are necessary to finish this program.

A nurse who has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and wants to become a Nurse Educator may complete both a masters and doctorate degree in the MSN/EdD or EdD for Nurse Educators program. It takes three or three and one-half years of full-time study to complete the two degrees. Graduates are prepared to teach undergraduate level nursing students.

The University of Alabama offers many different types of financial aid for MSN students, including federal government assistance, state nursing scholarships, scholarships from the University, from the Capstone College of Nursing, and from many other public and private institutions.

University of Alabama at Birmingham: RN to BSN Program Review

University of Alabama at Birmingham

1720 2^nd Avenue South

Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0113

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is one of three universities in the University of Alabama System. Established in 1936, it is known for its medical research center that is one of the largest academic medical centers in the United States known as UAB Hospital. UABs School of Nursing was founded in the 1950s and is part of the academic health center that is known around the world. US News and World Report lists it among the top 5 percent of nursing schools in the US.

A Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offers four focal areas, including nurse practitioner in acute care or primary care, nursing education, nursing informatics, and nursing and health systems management. BSN prepared nurses with a 3.0 grade point average who have satisfactory GRE, GMAT or MAT exam scores and three reference letters may qualify for the program. Applicants may apply for a waiver for the graduate level entrance exams. Nurses with a MSN may earn a second masters degree or post-MSN certificate. Nurse Practitioner (NP) tracks available are the following:

NP Neonatal Care

NP Pediatric Primary Care

Dual Option NP Pediatric Acute and Primary Care

NP Adult Primary Care

NP Adult/Women’s Health Primary Care

NP Adult with Secondary specialization in Occupational Health

NP Family Primary Care

NP Psychiatric-Mental Health Primary Care

NP Pediatric Acute and Continuing Care

NP Adult Acute and Continuing Care

NP Adult Acute and Continuing Care with Secondary specialization in RN First Assistant

Other MSN tracks include CRNA-Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, MSN and Masters in Public Health (MPH) Coordinated Degree Program, Nursing and Health Systems Administration, Nursing Informatics, Nurse Educator, Clinical Research Management, and Clinical Nurse Leader.

An Accelerated Masters in Nursing Pathway (AMNP) is another option for those with a bachelors degree in another field who want to enter nursing. After completing prerequisite courses, students complete their chosen MSN track that is completed in 12 months. Phase I of nursing courses that leads to licensure requires 40 hours of academic time each week. Phase II to complete the MSN takes four more semesters to finish. Admission requirements are the same as for BSN applicants.

The UAB School of Nursing also offers a Peace Corps Fellows Program to train those returning from service to become nurses. Students serve internships in underserved communities in the US. Up to two students are chosen as fellows each month and they receive scholarships. Applicants may apply for a second bachelor’s degree or to the Accelerated Masters in Nursing Pathway.

Programs are offered on a part-time or full-time basis with all core courses and selected specialty courses available via distance education. Clinical experiences are designed on an individual basis, and students must have a RN license in the state where they plan to complete clinical practice before enrolling in advanced practice courses. Priority admission is given to residents of Alabama and to those residing in Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee.

UABs School of Nursing offers 59 scholarship programs of $5.2 million annually. Some of these are grade based. Additional scholarships for nurses are available from the Army ROTC, the State of Alabama, and other sources. Traineeship grants are also available to masters students in primary care specialties, and federal financial aid is available. Applicants should apply online or write to The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2^nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0113.

The University of Alabama in Huntsville: RN to MSN Program Review

The University of Alabama in Huntsville

301 Sparkman Drive

Huntsville, Alabama 35899

Known as UAHuntsville or UAH, The University of Alabama in Huntsville is one of the three members of the University of Alabama System. UAH was established in 1950 as an extension of the University of Alabama, and today nursing is the largest single major. The College of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing with five tracks in advanced nursing. These are Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Nurse Leader, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Leadership in Health Care Systems.

The Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) masters of science in nursing program prepares nurses to serve as care providers, consultants, educators, researchers, and case managers. Graduates may sit for national certification as ACNP and as Adult Nurse Practitioner. Four semesters of study include 42 credits and 588 clinical hours to complete the program. Another MSN track offered at the University is Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist, a program that prepares Registered Nurses to serve as expert clinicians and client advocates. Four semesters are required to finish 42 credits and 504 clinical hours.

The Clinical Nurse Leader track prepares nurses to oversee groups of patients and to work as a leader on a nursing team. Four semesters are required for this MSN track, consisting of 42 credits and 504 clinical hours. The Family Nurse Practitioner track prepares students to provide primary care to family members of all ages. The 42 hours and 588 clinical hours can be completed in four semesters. Nurses who want to work in administration and management in various healthcare settings have the option of completing the four semesters of 39 credits and 336 clinical hours required for this masters track.

Admission to the MSN program is competitive. Applicants must apply to the School of Graduate Studies plus to the College of Nursing. Interested nurses must have a grade point average of 3.0 in their bachelor’s degree in nursing coursework and acceptable scores on the GRE or MAT. Nurses with a 3.2 or higher on undergraduate work do not need to take these tests. Three recommendations, a statistics course, and current licensure in the state where clinical experience will take place are required.

The University of Alabama in Huntsville also offers a RN to MSN program of seven semesters that takes two and one-half years to complete. Bachelors degree courses are taken the first year, and a grade point average of 3.0 is necessary to progress to MSN courses. Currently licensed nurses with an associates degree who do not earn this grade point average are placed in the University’s RN to BSN program. Three recommendations and MAT score of 410 or GRE scores of 150 Verbal, 150 Quantitative, and 3.0 Analytical Writing are required.

Students have various options to pay for tuition, including nursing scholarships, grants, and federal financial aid.

Troy University: RN to MSN Program Review

Troy University

Troy, Alabama 36082

Troy University is located in Troy, Alabama and also has three other campuses in Alabama and in other locations in the United States and internationally. The University has an online program as well as classes taught on campuses. It was first established in 1887 as a normal school. Troy has received many positive rankings, including Best Grad School national rankings by US News & World Report.

Troy’s School of Nursing offers a Masters of Nursing (MSN) in three tracks, which are Informatics, Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Family Nurse Practitioner. The masters program for nurses is offered online at the Montgomery, Phenix City, and Troy campuses as online courses. Nurses who already have a masters degree can receive certificates in these three tracks. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) trained Registered Nurses must have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in nursing courses and a score of 396 or better on the Millers Analogy Test (MAT) or 850 on Graduate Record Exam (GRE) verbal and quantitative sections.

A health assessment course and two professional references are required, and the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track also requires at least one year’s experience as a RN. Conditional admission is sometimes granted to applicants with a 2.5 GPA or for lower than expected GRE or MAT scores. Conditionally admitted students must have a 3.0 GPA after completing 9 credits at Troy or be dropped from the program.

Students who choose the Clinical Nurse Specialist Track must also choose their clinical major, which can be either Adult Health Nursing or Maternal Infant Health Nursing. They must also choose a functional minor or either educator or administrator. Thirty-nine credits are need for completion of the program. The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) masters degree track requires 47 credits, and in the nursing informatics specialist track, 34 credits must be completed.

MSN nurse applicants who want to complete a certificate must have two professional references and at least one year’s experience as a RN.

University of Mobile: RN to MSN Program Review

University of Mobile

5735 College Parkway

Mobile, Alabama 36613

The University of Mobile (UM) is a Christian university located in the city of Mobile at 5735 College Parkway. It was established in 1961 and has grown steadily since that time. UM is one of only four schools in the state and the only private university in the state listed as one of “America’s 100 Best College Buys.” Almost all students at the University receive some type of financial aid, and it is available for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at the college. Nursing scholarships are also available.

The MSN program offered by The University of Mobile offers a major in Nursing Education/Administration. Convenient class times are arranged for students who need to continue working as they complete their masters degree. After finishing the program, graduates are qualified to work as either Nurse Administrators in leadership positions in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, or they may work as Nurse Educators, teaching in hospitals or college settings.

Applicants must be admitted to the graduate school, but admission does not guarantee that the nurse is automatically admitted to the masters degree in nursing program. BSN trained nurses with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and GRE score of at least 1500 or MAT score of 50^th percentile or better are unconditionally admitted to the nursing program. Conditional admission may be granted to applicants with GPAs as low as 2.75 or MAT score of 35 or better or GRE score of 1300 or higher.

The masters program in nursing consists of 39 semester hours that end with a research project or thesis. A variety of scholarships are available for Registered Nurses who want to complete their MSN. There are also grants and federal financial aid available to students.

University of North Alabama: RN to MSN Program Review

University of North Alabama

Florence, AL 35632

The University of North Alabama (UNA) in the city of Florence is the state’s oldest four-year university. Established in 1830, UNA has some of the lowest tuition in the state and in the US. Nursing students pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing may qualify for nursing scholarships and federal financial aid, as well as grants and other tuition assistance.

The Master of Science in Nursing Online Program is entirely online. Qualified Registered Nurses with a bachelors degree in nursing may choose from two different tracks. These are Nursing in Teaching-Learning Environments or Nursing Leadership in Organizational Environments. The Leadership track prepares nurses to lead healthcare teams in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, and students currently in management or executive positions are preferred. They learn about budgeting and economics, politics and legislation in healthcare, and leadership and management.

Students who choose the Teaching-Learning track are prepared to teach nursing students, healthcare colleagues, and patients in various settings. This program allows students to choose a clinical area of interest to focus on during the MSN coursework. These could be women’s health, adult health, pediatrics, or others. Each option includes two clinical courses, and clinical experiences can take place near the student’s home area. UNA works in partnership with Jacksonville State University, and some courses are taught through this university’s online nursing program. Both tracks consist of five semesters of full-time study, and both end with a capstone project.

Unconditional admission is granted to currently licensed Registered Nurses with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0. Scores of 1000 or better on the GRE or at least 410 on the MAT are required. One year’s work experience is required for the Teaching-Learning Environments track. Three references and a written goal statement are also required. Conditionally admitted students must have three years of full-time experience and may be required to take the GRE or MAT exam, and are admitted to the masters nursing program on an individual basis.

A RN to MSN program is also offered at the University of North Alabama. Both a bachelors in nursing degree and masters in nursing degree are awarded at the completion of this online program. Clinicals are arranged near the student’s home, and this program reduces the length of time needed for the masters degree by one semester or 9 credits. Students take the first 12 credits of undergraduate nursing courses at UNA and must have at least a 3.0 GPA in these.

University of South Alabama: RN to MSN Program Review

University of South Alabama

Mobile, Alabama 36688-0002

The University of South Alabama (US), located in Mobile, is the only university on the upper Gulf Coast. It is one of the fastest growing universities in the state and has students from over 90 different countries. Graduate students at USA qualify to apply for university or national scholarships and federal student loans. The College of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with 13 specialty tracks in advanced nursing. The masters program is unique because it is flexible and innovative, not requiring GRE or MAT test scores or reference letters for admission to the nursing program. Courses are completed online with clinical experience in the student’s home community.

USA offers 13 tracks within the MSN program, including 8 Nurse Practitioner (NP) options. These include the following:

Adult-Gerontological Acute NP

Adult-Gerontological NP (Primary Care)

Advanced Emergency Nursing (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Dual Role) Family NP

Family Psychiatric NP

Neonatal NP

Pediatric Primary Care NP

Women’s Health NP

Five other options that are not NP programs are the following:

Nurse Educator

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Executive Nursing Administration

Public Health Nursing Administration

Nurse Educator

Nursing Informatics

There are several entry points to the MSN program, each with unique admission requirements. Those with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 and two years’ experience for NP tracks. Post-MSN certificates are offered as well as an Accelerated BSN/MSN for those with a bachelor’s degree in another field with a 3.0. MSN programs for nurses with associate degrees or diplomas, with or without a bachelor’s degree in another field are offered. Both a BSN and MSN can result from the RN to BSN/MSN program that includes four graduate level bridge courses.

Alaska MSN Programs

University of Alaska-Anchorage: RN to MSN Program Review
University of Alaska-Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508-4614
The University of Alaska-Anchorage (UAA) is one of three University of Alaska System colleges. It was established in 1954 and became a four-year university in 1976. Today, master’s degrees and doctoral degrees in affiliation with other universities are also offered. A Masters of Science in Nursing is offered at UAA and there are three specialty tracks including Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, or Nursing Education. UAA is the only university in the state to offer a Registered Nurse (RN) to Master of Science (MSN) program.

Nurses interested in training for an advanced nursing career should apply to the School of Nursing.  Admission requirements are that applicants must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a minimum grade point average of 3.0. The GRE is required with an analytic writing score of at least 3.5 and a combined score of at least 800 on the verbal and quantitative. Applicants must have current licensure in Alaska, along with three professional recommendations and a minimum of one year’s clinical nursing experience. Admission to the program is competitive, and preference may be given to residents of Alaska. Students admitted to the RN to MSN program must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 while in the program.

UAAs Family Nurse Practitioner track requires completion of 32 credits of specialty courses plus 18 credits of core courses. A thesis or individual project is the culminating activity of the program. Graduates may sit for the national certification exam from the American Nurses Association (ANA) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Nurses that choose training for careers in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty must also complete the 18 core course credits plus 32 credits in their track. In the Nursing Education concentration, it is necessary to complete 24 credits in addition to the 18 core course credits.

The master’s in a nursing program can be completed either full-time or part-time. It takes six semesters or more part-time. Clinical training is completed in cohort groups.

Arizona MSN Programs

Arizona State University: RN to MSN Program Review
Arizona State University, 1120 South Cady Mall, Tempe, Arizona 85287-1003
Arizona State University (ASU) has more students enrolled than any public university in the United States. It is a research university that was founded in 1885 and began as a normal school. Today, it offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs at its four locations in Phoenix. A Master of Science with advanced nursing courses provides training for nursing careers that require a master’s degree.

One of the masters programs offered by the College of Nursing & Health Innovation at ASU is Master of Science, Clinical Research Manager. The program is completely online, and it prepares graduates to fill management roles in global clinical research. Thirty-three credits are required in this specialty field. The program has a trans-disciplinary approach that includes operational management of clinical drug, biological, and medical device trials. Applicants must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a bachelor’s degree in a related field with healthcare experience. Those with non-healthcare bachelor’s degrees usually need additional prerequisite courses before entering the program.

The Master of Science-Community Health Advanced Practice Nursing is another program offered by the College of Nursing. Four semesters of full-time studies totaling 45 credits plus 540 hours of practicum and internship hours must be completed to qualify for graduation. Nurses receive training in evaluating the needs of the community and designing and implementing services to those of all ages. Registered nurses must apply to the program by submitting three professional recommendations and evidence of their RN licensure in the state where clinical practice will occur. They must have a 3.0 grade point average, be eligible for admission to the Graduate College, and complete an interview.

Nurses who want to prepare for a career as a nurse educator, patients, and their peers in healthcare settings can train for this position by completing the Nurse Educator Program at ASU. Interested Registered Nurses must apply to the Graduate College and submit three professional recommendations, have current licensure in the state where clinical experience will take place, and they must have a grade point average of 3.0. An interview with nursing faculty is also required. Most courses are offered online.

Brookline College: RN to MSN Program Review

Brookline College

2445 W. Dunlap Avenue, Suite 100

Phoenix, AZ 85021-5820

Brookline College has several campus locations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. The college’s main location is at 2445 W. Dunlap Avenue, Suite 100 in Phoenix. Online courses are offered for the Nursing Education Master of Science Degree that offers training for Registered Nurses to become nurse educators. The advantage of this online program is that students may complete the courses at their convenience, depending on their personal and work schedule. Thirty-six credits are required for this RN to BSN program, including two practicums focused on academic leadership and at the instructor level.

Students complete courses such as Teaching with Technology, Curriculum Structure and Development, Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice, Health Care Systems and policy, and others. In this program, nurses receive training that will prepare them for advanced nursing careers as nurse educators in healthcare or in academic settings as they teach student nurses on the undergraduate level.

Applicants must have a bachelors degree in nursing as evidenced by their official transcripts. International students are required to have official transcript translation and evaluation from a member of the Association of International Credentials Evaluators or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Current licensure as a RN from any state, territory, or district in the United States is also required. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 27 credits through the Brookline College Master of Science in nursing program.

Midwestern University: RN to MSN Program Review

Midwestern University

19555 North 59^th Avenue

Glendale, Arizona 85308

Midwestern University offers a Master of Science (MS) in Nurse Anesthesia at their Glendale campus at 19555 North 59^th Avenue. Registered Nurses with a bachelors degree in nursing can complete their masters degree in nursing while training to become a nurse anesthetist. These advanced care nursing specialists administer 65 percent of all anesthesia in the country. Entrance requirements are that the RN should have a grade point average of 2.75, but 3.0 is preferable to remain competitive. Two years of work experience in critical care are required plus successful completion of the prerequisite courses with a grade of at least C in each of them. The program requires 27 months of full-time study, and the graduate takes the national exam for certification in this nursing career.

Students complete clinical practicums in many different settings, including urban and rural hospitals, pain clinics, doctors’ offices, and same day surgery centers. The first four quarters of the program consist of coursework to prepare the student for the clinical practicums that take five quarters to finish. Clinical sites are in states other than Arizona, including Arkansas, California, Florida, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Montana, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington. Students may be required to complete their practicum experiences in several or more of these states as they receive nurse anesthetist training in every type of anesthesia. This program is unique because it requires students to travel to work site around the country. Students are responsible for their own transportation and housing while working on each practicum.

Northern Arizona University: RN to MSN Program Review

Northern Arizona University

E. Pine Knoll Dr.

PO Box: 15035

Flagstaff, AZ 86011

Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public university with its main campus in Flagstaff, a mountain town that is 7,000 feet above sea level. There are also 34 extended campuses located throughout Arizona, plus online programs. Bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees are offered, including masters degrees that lead to Nurse Generalist, Nurse Educator, or Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).

A Registered Nurse (RN) with a bachelors degree in nursing or a nurse who has an associates degree in nursing and a bachelors degree in another area with a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) may apply to the graduate program in nursing. A nurse with a lower GPA than 3.0 may take two graduate nursing courses may reapply if the course grade is at least 3.0. Current licensure in Arizona or a multistate license is also required. Nurses interested in the nurse educator program must have two years of work experience, and those applying for the generalist Master of Science (MSN) program do not need to have any work experience. Three to five years of working in a clinical setting as an RN are needed for the Family Nurse Practitioner program.

Interested candidates must also apply to the Graduate College of NAU, and submit a personal statement explaining their interests and goals. An interview with faculty is required in some cases. The MSN program originates from E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff and includes clinical experience hours for each of the three tracks as part of the training for the MSN. Students in all specialty areas must first complete core courses equaling 13 credits and a project or thesis. The School of Nursing’s Nurse Generalist track requires 30 credits plus 180 clinical hours. Family Nurse Practitioner students are required to complete 48 credits and 720 clinical hours. Nursing scholarships, grants, and federal financial aid are available at the university for Registered Nurses who are interested in completing their MSN.

Arkansas MSN Programs

Arkansas State University: RN to MSN Program Reviews
Arkansas State University, 104 North Caraway Road, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72467-0910
Arkansas State University (ASU) is a public university that was founded in 1910. It is the state’s second largest college system that began as an agricultural college. Bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs are offered at the university. A Masters Degree in Nursing (MSN) with tracks leading to five different advanced nursing careers is available in the following: Adult Health Nursing/Clinical Specialist, Adult Health Nursing/Educator option, Adult Health Nursing Administration, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Anesthesia Option.

Nurses in training for advanced practice nursing careers as nurse practitioners, nurse educators, or those who plan to work in rural areas of the state after completing the MSN program can apply for the Arkansas Graduate Nursing Education Student Loan (AGNSLS). Registered Nurses may have their loan through AGNSLS converted to a scholarship after working in a rural community in Arkansas or if they work for the state Board of Health. Graduate students are also eligible to receive other graduate scholarships and federal financial aid.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students may begin taking graduate courses in their senior year of study before their baccalaureate degree in nursing is completed if they have a 3.0 average. This does not guarantee admission to the MSN program. Entrance requirements for the RN to MSN program are a BSN degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 or 3.0 on the last 60 hours of BSN work. Current licensure in Arkansas or in the state where clinical experience will take place is also required. Applicants must also take a graduate-level statistics course and earn a 3.0 grade point average.

The university offers three Adult Health Nursing options that lead to Clinical Specialist, Nurse Educator, or Administration. Core courses must first be completed before students enter specialty tracks, such as the Adult Health Nursing/Clinical Specialist option. This advanced nursing career track provides training for nurses to care for adults with acute and chronic health problems. Students may also choose an option of Nurse Educator with the university’s Adult Health Nursing/Educator option. At least 40 credits are required plus hours in clinical experience for these RN to MSN tracks.

The Family Nurse Practitioner option requires 45 credits plus clinical care hours to prepare an RN to care for patients of all ages. Another RN to MSN option is Nursing Administration, consisting of 38 credits. ASU’s Nurse Anesthesia program is another RN to MSN option. It has additional admission requirements, such as the GRE, and applicants must have two years of critical care experience. A minimum of 85 credits are required for this option, including clinical experience. All students interested in the RN to MSN program must apply to both the Graduate School at Arkansas State University and to the ASU School of Nursing.

The University of Arkansas: RN to MSN Program Reviews

The University of Arkansas

Room 324 Graduate Education Building

Fayetteville, AR 72701

The University of Arkansas (U of A or UA) is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas and is a land-grant, space-grant research university. It was established in 1871 and today the university offers bachelors, masters, doctoral, and law degrees. The university has been recognized as a Top-Tier National University and has received numerous other recognitions. The University of Arkansas Eleanor Mann School of Nursing offers graduate programs to nurses with bachelor’s degrees who want to pursue a career in advanced care nursing.

The Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN) program offers two concentrations that nurses may choose from. These are the clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) that provides training for graduates to serve as clinical nurse specialists who provide care for adults with medical or surgical health problems. An RN with this training may work as a case manager in acute and primary care settings, conduct clinical research, and may also teach. The other option is the Nurse Educator concentration that trains the graduate to teach student nurses. Both of these MSN options are online programs that can be completed in two years plus one summer semester. Core courses must be completed for the masters degree, and each concentration requires additional coursework plus 500 clinical practicum hours. A part-time option is also available that can be completed within six years.

Entrance requirements are a bachelors degree in nursing, current licensure as a RN, and candidates must send applications for admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School. A statistics course and basic health assessment course are also required, as well as basic computer and library skills, including the use of electronic databases. Interested applicants are admitted according to the space available. Students are expected to complete either a thesis or independent study project.

This program is unique in the fact that a variety of graduate nursing student loans and scholarships are offered for full or partial scholarships. The university also offers scholarships for graduate nursing students, and federal financial aid is also available, as well as graduate assistantships and other positions to help pay for tuition. Students are seldom required to travel to the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing department in Fayetteville.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences: RN to MSN Program Reviews

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

4301 W. Markham Street, #529

Little Rock, Arkansas 72205

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is part of the University of Arkansas System with its main campus located in Little Rock at 4301 W. Markham Street, #529. The university consists of five colleges, seven institutes, community education centers, and the UAMS Medical Center. It was established in 1879, and the College of Nursing was established in 1953. Graduate programs include a Master of Nursing Science (MNSc) that prepares a Registered Nurse (RN) for a career in advanced nursing practice. Seven concentrations are offered in the program, including the following:

Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Family Nurse Practitioner

Family Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Nursing Administration

Nursing Educator

Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

When applying to the MNSc program, applicants must be accepted into the Graduate School and also into one of the specialty programs. It is necessary to have a bachelors degree in nursing or a bachelors degree in another field, as well as to have licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Arkansas or in a compact state. A statistics course with at least a grade of C is required as well and a grade point average of 2.85. Applicants with lower grade point averages may be considered for admission on conditional admission, but students with grade point averages under 2.50 will not be considered. The MAT is required with a minimum score of 400, or students may submit GRE results with at least 295 on verbal and quantitative portions of the test. Applicants with lower test scores may be considered if they have a grade point average of 2.85 or higher. Applicants must also demonstrate that they have at least 2,000 work hours as an RN before applying for advanced health assessment, all clinical specialties, or nursing administration courses.

Nurses may choose to study as full-time or part-time students. Full-time students are usually able to complete the program in three to three and one-half years. Part-time students take up to six years to complete their studies. Eleven credits of general core courses are needed before beginning courses that focus on the chosen concentration. It is necessary to attend a one-day orientation plus several classes to do presentations over the interactive video system. Many times, students are able to do their clinical experience close to their homes.

Nurses who are willing to work in nursing administration, teach nursing, or work as an Adult Nurse Practitioner in rural areas may qualify for the Arkansas Graduate Nursing Student Loan/Scholarship program. After working in one of these positions for a period of time, the loan that was granted transfers to a scholarship that does not need to be repaid. There are also many hospitals in the state that offer scholarships and financial aid to nurses seeking their graduate degree.

University of Central Arkansas: RN to MSN Program Review

University of Central Arkansas

201 Donaghey Ave.

Conway, AR 72035

The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) is a public university located in Conway on 201 Donaghey Avenue, north of Little Rock. It was founded in 1907 as a normal school. UCA was ranked as 61^st in the South in academic excellence by U.S. News & World Report in 2009. The Department of Nursing was established in 1967, and today undergraduate and graduate programs are offered at this university. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is designed for the Registered Nurse (RN) with a bachelors degree in nursing. The courses are all offered online, and they provide training for advanced nursing careers in community settings, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. There are four concentrations offered in the MSN program. The unique feature of the University of Central Arkansas’ RN to MSN program is that a Nurse Educator Certificate can be earned with any MSN major or track.

The Adult Nurse Practitioner (NP) track is one of those offered in UCAs MSN program. Graduates of the program provide primary care to adults of all ages. Nurse Practitioners diagnose and manage illness in adults and promote health and disease prevention. The Family Nurse Practitioner track provides training for nurses to learn to provide primary care for all family members. The Nurse Educator with a Clinical specialty track trains the RN to teach student nurses, provide patient education or staff education. Options for Clinical specialty tracks are Community/Family, Geriatrics, Maternal/Newborn/Women’s Health, Adult, Pediatrics, and Psychiatric/Mental Health. The Clinical Nurse Leader is one of the newer advanced practice nursing specialties. Training for this career at UCA prepares the nurse to work within the healthcare system in any setting with any group of patients.

The Clinical Nurse Leader MSN specialty may be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis or it requires completing 39 credits plus 400 clinical hours. The Adult Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner MSN programs are designed for working nurses who can finish the program part-time in three and one-half to four and one-half years. It is also possible to complete the Adult or Family Nurse Practitioner program and also earn a Nurse Educator Certificate by completing only a few additional credits. Nurses who want only the Nurse Educator MSN can also complete a part-time program in three years, completing 40 credits.

UCA’s admission policy for MSN applicants are a Bachelor of Nursing degree with a minimum 2.7 grade point average overall or a minimum 3.0 grade point average on the last 60 hours of credits earned. Admission to the university’s Graduate School is also required, as are GRE scores and current licensure as a RN. At least one year’s clinical experience is required before enrolling in clinical courses.

California MSN Programs

American University of Health Sciences: RN to MSN Program Review
American University of Health Sciences, 1600 East Hill Street, Building #1, Signal Hill, California 90755
American University of Health Sciences (AUHS) is a Christian university that specializes in providing undergraduate and graduate programs. The focus of AUHS is to reach out to potential students who are underrepresented in healthcare and research. AUHS is a private-for-profit minority owned university that was established in 1994. The American University of Health Sciences School of clinical Research offers a Masters of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR).

Admission requirements include four passport size photos, a resume, and an essay explaining the applicant’s reason for seeking admission to the graduate program. Applicants must forward a copy of their Bachelors Degree in Nursing and official transcripts that demonstrate a grade point average of at least 2.5. Prerequisites are completion of anatomy, physiology, public speaking, and medical terminology with a grade of C or higher. Students must also take the GRE and submit scores, and international applicants must also submit results of the TOEFL exam with a minimum score of 550 on paper-based, 213 on computer-based, or 80 on Internet-based tests. The university also requires that all students take the proctored online entrance exam. Students must score 21/50 in 12 minutes.

The MSCR degree from the American University of Health Sciences School of clinical Research takes 18 months to complete. It provides training to develop clinical researchers for a career in community-based research, biostatistics, clinical trials, and other aspects of clinical research. Federal financial aid is offered to students who must first complete the necessary application. This university is unique because it focuses on a diverse group of students, and it offers a masters degree in Clinical Research to Registered Nurses.

Azusa Pacific University: RN to MSN Program Review

Azusa Pacific University

901 E. Alosta Ave., PO Box 7000

Azusa, California 91702-7000

Azusa Pacific University is a Christian university located in Azusa about 25 miles north of Los Angeles at 901 E. Alcosta Avenue. Bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs are available online or on campus. There are also seven regional centers in Southern California. U.S. News & World Report ranked the university as one of the best colleges for the past seven years. The university focuses on a culturally diverse population and is unique in offering an American Language and Culture Institute as part of the university. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is offered, along with many different specialties. APC is truly unique with the wide selection of specialties offered with their MSN program.

The Entry-level Masters (ELM) program provides training for those with a bachelors or masters degree who want to pursue training for a career as an advanced practice Registered Nurse (RN). Students can complete pre-licensure and post-licensure courses in three years. The Azusa, Inland Empire, and San Diego campuses offer this program. Another masters degree in nursing program is the MSN with Adult CNS and ANP Certificate. In 3 to 4 years, nurses can complete graduate studies in nursing to earn a masters degree in Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) with a specialization in Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) certification. This program is offered on the main campus.

Azusa Pacific University also offers a MSN with CNS Specialties program. With this training, the graduate is prepared for a career in one of the two options of Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist or Parent-Child Clinical nurse Specialist. An RN is prepared to work in acute, primary, or long-term care settings after completing this program. This option takes 2 to 3 years to complete and is offered at the main campus in Azusa or in San Diego.

Another program option for masters degree in nursing students is the MSN with NP specialties. This Master of Science in Nursing with Nurse Practitioner (NP) program has options such as Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric mental Health Nurse Practitioner. All three tracks provide advanced practice training for nurses to work with adults of all ages. The program is offered in Azusa, Inland Empire, and San Diego.

The MSN with PN Specialty is a Master of Science in Nursing with a Parish Nursing specialty that prepares nurses to work with those within church or religious groups in the spiritual aspects of patient care. It takes 2 to 3 years to complete and is offered at the main campus. The MSN with Parent-Child CNS and PNP Certificate leads to a masters degree plus a specialty of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. This program is offered at the main campus and takes three years to complete. Another track in the MSN program is the MSN with SNSC Specialty or Master of Science in Nursing with School Nurse Services Credential. This program provides training for nurses for a career as a school health practitioner.

The MSN with SNSC and FNP Certificate is a combined program that allows students to complete their masters degree with School Nurse Services Certificate, including a Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate after graduation and completing the national certification exam. It is offered at the main campus and takes 4 to 5 years to complete. Another program that takes 4 to 5 years to complete and is offered at the main campus is the MSN with SNSC and PNP Certificate. It leads to a masters degree plus School Nurse Services Certificate and a specialization in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. At graduation, students take the national exam for certification in these specialty areas.

The Nursing, MS (MSN) program provides training in specialized clinical areas of nursing. It prepares students to be nationally board eligible. Students must also complete a specialized clinical area of nursing along with this program.

California State University-Dominguez Hills: RN to MSN Program Review

California State University-Dominguez Hills

1000 E. Victoria Street

Carson, California 90747

California State University-Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) is located in Los Angeles County in the South Bay region. It was founded in 1960 and is part of the California State University system. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is offered with five different MSN Role Options, including Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, Family Nurse Practitioner Role Option, and Masters Entry-level Professional Nursing. The Masters Entry-level Professional Nursing program is a pre-licensure program for applicants with bachelors degrees in other fields. This is an intensive, accelerated program of full-time study that includes over 1,000 hours of clinical experience. It consists of six semesters that are completed in 24 months with a concentration in the Clinical Nurse Leader role.

This RN to MSN program is designed for the RN with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree who has a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on the last 60 credits attempted. Applicants must also have licensure in the U.S. and must pass the Graduate Writing Examination. From 33 to 53 credits are needed to graduate, depending on the role option chosen. Part-time students can take as long as 5 years to complete the program and full-time students need about 2 years of studies to complete the program.

To qualify for graduation, students must take a comprehensive exam. All courses are offered online, and some courses are offered at CSUDH campuses in Southern California. Federal financial aid is available as an Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan, and the university offers an Outstanding Graduate award to one graduate student. Scholarships are offered by the School of Nursing and other sponsors. Prerequisite courses must be completed before beginning the core courses for the MSN program. Students then complete the specialty advanced practice nursing courses chosen for the role option chosen.

For nurses with a bachelors degree in another field, the university offers the MSN Pathway. Students complete BSN course prerequisites and then courses for the MSN role. A mandatory workshop explains how the program combines online and on campus courses.

California State University-Fresno: RN to MSN Program Review

California State University-Fresno

2345 E. San Ramon

MS MH25

Fresno, California 93740-8031

California State University-Fresno (Fresno State University, Fresno State, or FSU) is part of the California State University system’s 23 campuses. It is located in Fresno near the Sierra Nevada Mountains at 2345 E. San Ramon. FSU was founded in 1911 as a normal school, and today both undergraduate and graduate degree programs are offered at the University. Fresno State has received numerous awards, including the rank of Washington Monthly magazine’s rating as a top university in 2010 and a rating as one of the best public colleges in 2009 by Forbes magazine. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offers an opportunity for students to design their own program as well as a culminating activity or a comprehensive exam.

The application process at the university requires that nurses first apply to the Department of Nursing. After being accepted into the RN to MSN program, nurses then apply to the University for admission. Fresno State’s Department of Nursing offers an Entry Level Masters program for non-nurses who want to complete a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Students complete nursing courses and clinical experience before taking the licensure exam. They then continue their studies in the MSN program. At the completion of the program, graduates have received training as a Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Educator. The program is full-time and is very intensive. Students must attend classes during the summer, in the evening, and on weekends. Clinical rotations are in many different settings, including rural areas.

The Primary Care/Family Nurse Practitioner Option is another MSN concentration offered at the university. Registered Nurses receive training to provide primary health care to all members of the family. Graduates may take the national certification exam for licensure as Pediatric, Geriatric, or Family Nurse Practitioners. The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track is specifically designed so that the RN who wants a career working with children can receive training in this area.

An additional option offered at Fresno State is the Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Educator track, which can be completed full-time in two years or part-time in three years. Students must have a 3.0 grade point average in the 8 prerequisite courses needed for this program. Nurses who are interested in a career as a school nurse can apply to the University’s School Nurse Services Credential program. Nurses with a baccalaureate degree in nursing who have a grade point average of 3.0 in their last 60 credits of study may apply to this program. Associate degree nurses who have a bachelors degree in another field may also apply, but they must take public health nursing courses before beginning courses in this specialty. The courses for the school nurse program are offered online in the summertime. Twenty-seven credits are required to complete the program that is divided in two phases consisting of 27 credits.

Nurse Practitioners who have completed their masters degree in nursing may want to complete a Certificate of Advanced Study for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners that is offered by the Department of Nursing. This program is web-based and involves web conferencing and online courses. Applicants must be certified Nurse Practitioners who want to earn this certificate in a one-year period.

Fresno State offers many different educational options for career advancement in nursing. This RN to MSN program has concentrations and role options for advanced practice nursing. Students may qualify for nursing scholarships, grants, or for unsubsidized federal graduate loans.

California State University-Fullerton: RN to MSN Program Review

California State University-Fullerton

800 N. State College Blvd.

P.O. Box 6868

Fullerton, California 92834-6868

California State University-Fullerton (CSUF, Cal State Fullerton, CSU Fullerton) is part of the California State University system. Located in Fullerton, it has the highest enrollment of all 23 colleges in the system. The University was founded in 1957 and is the only campus in the state to offer a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in school nursing. CSUF has received awards and rankings, such as the U.S. News rating of Number 33 of regional universities in the West. The University’s Nursing-Anesthesia Program was ranked as Number 22 by U.S. News & World Report. Both online and campus based programs are offered at the University at 800 N. State College Boulevard in Fullerton.

The MSN Leadership: Online & Campus is a program for nurses with bachelors degrees who want to receive training for leadership roles in various healthcare facilities. The advantage of this program is that the Registered Nurse (RN) may choose 6 units of graduate elective, a final project that takes one year, and practicums that are tailored to his professional interests. Students must meet all of the requirements for admission to the University and to the School of Nursing, including a California RN license, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and grade point average of 3.0.

Nurses may also complete their MSN Women’s Health Care program at CalState Fullerton. Students may choose to specialize in nurse midwifery or women’s health nurse practitioner. Full-time students can complete the program in two years, and part-time students can complete the first year on a part-time basis but most move to full-time for the second and third years of study. The RN with a bachelors degree in nursing who is licensed in California and has a 3.0 grade point average or above may apply to the program. The Nurse-Midwifery program requires at least six months of recent clinical nursing experience in labor and delivery in the past five years, but one year experience is preferred. The Nurse Practitioner specialty requires at least one year of recent clinical experience, preferably in OB/Gyn nursing. Applicants must apply to both the School of Nursing and to the University.

Another MSN concentration offered at the University is the Nurse Educator concentration that is designed for working nurses with a bachelors degree. At the completion of the program, graduates are prepared for an advanced nursing career teaching student nurses, facilitating staff development, or as a community educator. The program is offered on campus and takes two years to complete full-time or three years part-time. Current licensure as a RN is required plus at least a 3.0 grade point average. A School Nursing MSN program is also offered, and it takes four years of part-time study to complete. A nurse with a BSN must have a 3.0 grade point average and current licensure in California. Graduates have received school nursing training to provide healthcare and wellness services to students of all ages.

California State University-Fullerton also offers a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) program in partnership with Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia (KPSAN) which is also located in Fullerton. This MSN program takes two years to complete, including summers. Study is full-time only, and those who have already finished graduate coursework are sometimes able to graduate after completing only 52 credits. Applicants must have a BSN or MSN and a minimum grade point average of 3.2. The GRE is not required, but an interview may be part of the application process for this program. Nurses must have at least one year of current full-time experience in adult critical care.

California State University-Long Beach: RN to MSN Program Review

California State University-Long Beach

1250 Bellflower Boulevard

Long Beach, California 90840

California State University-Long Beach (Cal State Long Beach) is located in Los Angeles County at 1250 Bellflower Boulevard. It is part of the California State University system and was founded in 1949. Cal State Long Beach has recognized by the Princeton Review as one of “America’s Best Value Colleges.” U.S. News & World Report has named the University among the top five public Masters Degree programs. The University’s tuition is one of the lowest in the country. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with many different clinical specialty areas is offered at the University.

A unique feature of CSULB nursing program is that all core courses are offered on Tuesday and Thursday. This allows the working Registered Nurse (RN) to adjust her schedule so that she can be in class on these days and to be able to work other days of the week. Full-time students generally need to be on campus on both of these days. Near the end of the program, students complete a directed project and thesis. Before beginning these tasks, students must Advance to Candidacy by seeking approval from the School of Nursing Graduate Director and Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. . At least six credits must be completed at the University, all prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade point average of 3.0, and students must have passed the Writing Proficiency Examination or GRE for dual degree programs.

One of the MSN options is the Entry Level MSN program that is designed for students with a bachelors degree in another field who does not have a RN license. This BSN/MSN Program considers only California residents to be admitted to the program. Applicants must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 for all MSN specialty areas in training for advanced nursing careers. This program requires that students complete the nursing courses required for a BSN and then take the NCLEX-RN exam for licensure. They then complete the MSN specialty that they have chosen.

MSN degrees with concentrations in Nurse Practitioner specialties are offered in Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. Applicants must be a RN with a BSN, although a bachelors degree in another field is considered. A grade point average of 3.0 or better in undergraduate studies is expected. Students complete the required core courses for the MSN plus the courses and clinical experience required for their chosen specialty.

Other MSN specialty areas offered are Clinical Nurse Specialist, Health Care Administration, Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Health Care Administration, Health Services (School Nurse) Credential Program, and a Functional Minor in Nursing Education. Both Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation Scholarships and American Association of Colleges of Nursing Financial Resources are available to graduate students. Federal financial aid is also available.

California State University-Los Angeles: RN to MSN Program Review

California State University-Los Angeles

5151 State University Drive

Los Angeles, California 90032

California State University-Los Angeles (Cal State LA, CSULA) is located in Los Angeles at 5151 State University Drive and is part of the California State University system. One of the colleges that has been nationally recognized is the nursing graduate program by U.S. News & World Report as one of the “America’s Best Graduate Schools” and it has also been named one of the top programs in the state. The University was established in 1947. Cal State LA offers a variety of masters degrees in nursing.

One of the masters programs in nursing is the Entry Level Masters Program in Nursing. It takes 3 to 4 years to complete and is designed for those with a bachelors degree in another field. The program leads to a Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN). Students must complete basic nursing courses with a grade point average of at least 3.0 within 5 quarters of studies, and they must pass the California licensing exam to become a Registered Nurse. Admission requirements include taking the TEAS test and submitting copies of transcripts from undergraduate work, and all prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of at least C except for science courses that must have a grade of B or higher. There is a mandatory orientation day for students who are admitted to this very competitive program. Because students are admitted as conditionally classified as graduate students, they may apply for a Federal Direct Loan to pay for their tuition.

A traditional Master of Science degree in nursing is also available at the University with selected advanced areas of study, including a Nurse Administration Option, Nursing Education Option, and four Nurse Practitioner specialties that are Acute Care Adult Option, Adult Option, Family Option, or Psychiatric/Mental Health Option. The RN interested in these programs that provide training that will advance their nursing careers must first apply to the University online and then to the School of Nursing. Applicants must have a BSN and a 3.0 grade point average in upper division nursing courses. A minimum grade point average of 2.75 for the last 90 quarter hours of coursework is also required, plus a California RN license.

Students should check with the School of Nursing for more information on some programs that are on hold and not accepting applicants to see if these programs have been opened. They are MS Nurse Practitioner: Primary Pediatric Option, MS School Health Option: Track 1, School Nurse: Health Service Credential, and Accelerated Masters Programs Track 1 and Track 2.

California State University-Sacramento: RN to MSN Program Review

California State University-Sacramento

6000 J Street

Sacramento, California 95819

California State University-Sacramento (Sacramento State) is part of the California State University system and is located in Sacramento. The University was founded in 1947 and today houses over 30 research centers. A Master of Science in Nursing program is offered with a specialty area of Advanced Clinical/Educator Role that requires 33 credits to complete. Most students complete their training for advanced nursing positions in 6 semesters of part-time study. Students may set up alternative programs of study with a faculty advisor to fit into their schedules. The Family Nurse Practitioner program is no longer accepting applications, but the School Nurse MSN program is working with the Sacramento State School of Nursing.

An RN with a current California license and a BSN who have a 3.0 undergraduate grade point average must be eligible to be certified as a Public Health Nurse in the state. The University makes it very easy to apply to the MSN program because no GRE test or recommendation letters are required. Also, the School of Nursing does not require an individual application or documentation for this role track. Official transcripts must be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819-6112.

Students complete core courses and then 15 credits of role courses, including a Practicum in specialized Nursing Processes: Maternal/Child and community Nursing or Practicum in Specialized Nursing Processes: Adult Nursing. A comprehensive exam is the culminating experience for the MSN degree, but students may petition to complete a project or thesis instead.

The School Nurse MSN program admission requirements are to have a BSN and undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 and current licensure in the state. Courses are online and campus based and are arranged to fit the schedules of working school nurses. The program takes one year to complete. All prerequisite courses must be completed before enrolling in the program, including an audiology certificate course. Applicants must apply to Sacramento State by forwarding their application and official transcripts, a statement of interest, and two recommendation letters. A comprehensive exam is required at the end of the program.

California State University-San Marcos: RN to MSN Program Review

California State University-San Marcos

CSU San Marcos

333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd.

San Marcos, California 92096-0001

California State University San Marcos (CSUSM or Cal State San Marcos) is located in San Marcos at 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road. It is part of the California State University system. It was founded in 1989 and offers 10 graduate programs, including a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. Students may attend the program full-time or part-time. A Registered Nurse (RN) who is seeking training for an advanced practice nursing position or in a career as a nurse educator is prepared for leadership and management positions after graduation.

The RN to MSN program is designed to be completed in 4 years of part-time study, including summers. Applicants must have an associates degree and must first complete all Pre-nursing core courses with a grade point average of at least 2.75 in the core with no grade under 2.0. During the time that students complete the BSN portion of the program, they must maintain a 3.0 grade point average. All prerequisite courses must first be completed, including a bioethics course.

A MSN program with three concentration choices is offered at the University, including Advanced Practice Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leader, and Nursing Education. Nurses may complete the program on either a full-time or part-time basis. The Advanced Practice Nursing Concentration has two tracks that provide training for a career as a Clinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Practitioner. Both a Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization and a Family Psychiatric mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialization are offered.

Both Nurse Practitioner options can be completed full-time in 6 semesters or part-time in 8 or 9 semesters. The Clinical Nurse Specialist Track takes the same amount of time to complete. In this option, students may choose to specialize in Adult Health, Gerontology, Pediatrics, or Public Health. Students must complete 500 hours of clinical experience to qualify for the national certification examination at the completion of the program. There are some nursing scholarships and grants available for nursing graduate students, and Federal financial aid is also available.

California State University-Stanislaus: RN to MSN Program Review

California State University-Stanislaus

Demergasso-Bava Hall, Room 260

One University Circle

Turlock, California 95382

California State University-Stanislaus (Cal State Stanislaus) is part of the California State University system located in Turlock. Founded in 1957, it has been named in the top 10 public universities in the new West Coast Masters category by U.S. News & World Report. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is offered with concentrations in Nursing Education and Gerontological Nursing. The Cal State Stanislaus nursing program provides training for the Registered Nurse (RN) who wants to work in a career such an advanced nursing specialist.

Application requirements include admission to the University before final acceptance into the MSN program. Nurses must have a BSN and current California licensure and must send a resume with cover letter explaining professional goals to the University at Demergasso-Bava Hall, Room 260, One University Circle, Turlock, California 95382. The GRE or MAT tests are required, as well as two professional recommendation letters. Applicants must also have at least a 3.0 grade point average in undergraduate studies for the last 60 units of coursework. Conditional admission is available for nurses with grade point averages of 2.5 to 3.0. Nurses must have a full year’s work experience and must have completed a statistics course within the past 7 years.

The University also offers a BRIDGE MS in Nursing program for nurses with an associates degree or for non-nurses with a bachelors degree in another field. Admission requirements for these students includes the completion of 4 BRIDGE courses before progressing into graduate level courses, and applicants must also meet all of the requirements above for applicants to the MSN program.

In the MSN program, students complete the core courses before beginning Nurse Education or Gerontology. Students must earn at least 3.0 in graduate nursing courses. Students work in cohort groups to complete group projects. Part-time students can complete the Nursing Education track or Gerontological track in three years. This program is unique because students may choose their culminating experience from graduate project in nursing, a graduate thesis, continuing thesis or project, or comprehensive exam. Also, two fellowships are offered to MSN students who can have a portion of their tuition paid with these funds.

Dominican University of California: RN to MSN Program Review

Dominican University of California

50 Acacia Avenue

San Rafael, California 94901

Dominican University of California is a private Catholic university located in San Rafael, less than 15 miles north of San Francisco at 50 Acacia Avenue. It was established in 1890 and is one of the oldest universities in the state. Dominican University was rated as one of the best Regional Universities in the West at 37^th. It is a small college with only around 970 postgraduate students. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is offered at the University with a concentration of Clinical Nurse Leader. There is also an Accelerated Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Registered Nurse (RN) to MSN program offered for Registered Nurses who want to complete their MSN.

Dominican University of California’s MSN Clinical Nurse Leader program provides training for the nurse with a Bachelors Degree in Nursing who wants to pursue a career in any healthcare setting. Unique features of this program are that students meet one time each week on a weekday, and they have opportunities for international clinical experiences. A minimum of 400 clinical hours are required. Students work in a cohort and receive support from faculty since this is a very small university. Also, GRE scores are not required, but they are taken into consideration when evaluating applicants for admission.

Admission requirements are a BSN and a grade point average of 3.0 for the last 60 credits of coursework. Applicants must submit an official transcript, a resume and Statement of Purpose or Intent, and two recommendation letters. A copy of the applicant’s California RN licensure is also required, as is an interview with the nursing faculty. The program is finished as soon as all required courses and a capstone project are completed.

Dominican University’s Accelerated ADN/RN to MSN program is an accelerated program designed for nurses who want an advanced nursing career. Training includes the first year of bridge work, and then masters level courses are taken. Admission to the program is on an individual basis by the nursing faculty.

Holy Names University: RN to MSN Program Review

Holy Names University

3500 Mountain Blvd.

Oakland, California 94619

Holy Names University (HNU) was begun by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary in 1868. It is located at 3500 Mountain Boulevard, Oakland, California 94619. Today, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees are awarded by the University. With only 836 undergraduate students and 495 postgraduate students, the faculty to student ratio is low. A Masters of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) is offered at HNU with four options. These include the Clinical Faculty option, the Administration Option, and two options that lead to double degrees. These are the MSN Administration/MBA and the MSN/Forensic Psychology. A Family Nurse Practitioner program is also offered at the University.

The advantage of the MSN at Holy Names University is that courses are offered one weekend a month on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on campus and by interactive video. Students enrolled in dual degree programs must take additional courses one additional weekend each month. These two programs can be completed in two years. Program requirements for these advanced nursing programs are a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a bachelors degree in another field, which qualifies the applicant for the Pathway program, RN licensure, two recommendation letters, official transcripts, and a written personal statement.

The MSN Clinical Faculty option provides training for nurses who want to join a clinical faculty with a masters degree. The curriculum includes MSN core courses plus 20 education credits. A MSN with a Family Nurse Practitioner option requires 45 credits, including 12 credits of clinical practice as Registered Nurses to prepare for an advanced nursing career providing primary care to patients of all ages.

The Pathway Program to the Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner option provides the undergraduate nursing courses to students with a bachelors degree in another field. After students complete these courses and gain their licensure as Registered Nurses, they finish the masters level program in the concentration that they choose.

HNUs Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Forensic Psychology dual degree provide training for a career as a forensic mental health nurse. Graduates may work in prisons and state hospitals or may work in correctional community health nursing. Students attend classes one time each month Thursday through Sunday, and they complete forensic psychology coursework online. Another MSN offering at Holy Names University is a dual degree of MSN and Master of Business Administration (MBA). This program also meets one time each month from Thursday through Sunday plus one additional Saturday morning for the MBA degree. This program can be completed in two years.

Nurses who want to become administrators or managers may want to enroll in the MSN with an option for preparation as an Administrator/Manager program at Holy Cross. Twenty-eight credits in theory and 8 credits in clinical experience are required.

Loma Linda University: RN to MSN Program Review

Loma Linda University

West Hall

11262Campus Street

Loma Linda, California 92350

Loma Linda University (LLU) is located in Loma Linda at 11262 Campus Drive and is a Seventh-day Adventist university. Founded in 1905, LLU was established to provide education for nurses and physicians who worked in evangelistic medical work. The Loma Linda University Medical Center is the site of some of the clinical experience that graduate students complete in their advanced nursing training. Masters Degree (MS) programs offer Nurse Practitioner specialties, Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Nursing Administration concentrations. A Nurse Anesthesia program and Nurse Educator program are also offered.

Nurse Practitioner MSN degrees in Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner are concentrations that prepare primary healthcare providers to work in community and ambulatory settings. Students interested in training for the lucrative career of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist can prepare by completing this MSN program that leads to national certification so that these specialty nurses can practice in all 50 states. The Nursing Administration MSN program prepares the RN to work in leadership roles in a variety of healthcare settings.

LLU also offers a Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration for MSN students seeking advanced practice nurse training. Graduates are prepared to work with any type of patient in any healthcare setting. Students choose from the Clinical Nurse specialist-Adult & Aging Family specialty or the Clinical Nurse specialist-Growing Family specialty. The Nurse Educator MSN program prepares nurses for faculty positions in nursing education. This program has specialty areas of Nurse Educator-Adult & Aging Family or Nurse Educator-Growing Family.

Loma Linda University is unique in the fact that health, science, and the Christian faith are integrated into the programs.

Mount Saint Mary’s College: RN to MSN Program Review

Mount Saint Mary’s College

12001 Chalon Rd.

Los Angeles, CA 90049

Mount Saint Mary’s College is a private Catholic college located in Los Angeles at 12001 Chalon Road. It was established in 1925 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. The college has two campuses. Mount Saint Mary’s is primarily a women’s college, but men are admitted to some of the programs. U.S. News & World Report listed the college as one of the highest rated masters granting universities in the western U.S. A Masters of Nursing program is offered at the college for nurses who want to further their professional development and personal growth.

MSN concentrations offered at the college are Nurse Educator, Nurse Administrator, and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist. Courses are offered year round, on weekends, weekdays, evenings, and online. The program takes a minimum of 2 years to complete. Students may have either a BSN or a bachelors degree in another field with current licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state. Financial aid is offered at the college in the form of a few scholarships, and students may apply for Federal financial aid. There are also outside scholarships and tuition reimbursement programs offered by some hospitals.

The Master of Science in Nursing Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Track provides training for students pursuing a career that promotes the health and well-being of adults of all ages. Students complete 500 clinical hours in addition to coursework. A thesis project is required at the end of the program. Applicants must have at least one year of full-time experience working as an RN with adults. The MSN Educator Track provides training for students as a nursing educator as students design curriculum and gain practice in all of the other aspects of teaching student nurses, staff, and patients. The MSN Leadership and Administration Track is designed to train nurses for careers as leaders and administrators in a variety of healthcare settings.

Point Loma Nazarene University: RN to MSN Program Review

Point Loma Nazarene University

3900 Lomaland Drive

San Diego, California 92106

Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is located In San Diego on Point Loma at 3900 Lomaland Drive. It is a Christian college that was founded in 1902 as a Bible college by the Church of the Nazarene. A Master of Science program with clinical Nurse Specialist options is offered at the University. Options include Adult Gerontology, Family/Individual Health, Pediatrics, or Psychiatric Mental Health advanced nursing specialties.

Application requirements are either an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor Degree in Nursing (BSN). Applicants must have passed the NCLEX-RN and have at least one year’s full-time nursing experience. PLNU offers students individual attention with proactive faculty support and deeper classroom discussions on issues of ethics and spirituality. The program is designed for working nurses and is convenient because courses are held one night each week plus every other Saturday.

Students who choose advanced training for nurses who want to work with young adults and adults of all ages up to the elderly may complete their MSN with a focus on Adult Gerontology. The Family/Individual Health MSN specialty focus is designed for nurses who want to work with all family members, including women’s health and community. The Pediatrics specialty focuses on working with children, and nurses who choose the Psychiatric Mental Health concentration are prepared to work in behavioral intensive care units and other mental health nursing settings.

The MSN program at Point Loma Nazarene University is designed for nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing, as well as for BSN trained nurses. Students who have not completed their BSN take transition courses before moving into the MSN program. The University offers many scholarship and financial aid opportunities to graduate students in nursing.

Samuel Merritt University: RN to MSN Program Review

Samuel Merritt University

3100 Telegraph Ave.

Oakland, California 94609

Samuel Merritt University was established in 1909 as a school of nursing. It is located in Oakland at the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland at 3100 Telegraph Avenue. Undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing are offered at the University, including Entry level Master of Science in Nursing with career paths of Case Management and Family Nurse Practitioner. The Entry Level Master of Nursing (MSN) program is designed for those with a bachelors degree in another field who want to enter the field of nursing.

Admission requirements to the MSN program are having a bachelors degree and completing all prerequisites before entering the program. Applicants must have a 3.0 grade point average on the last 60 credits earned and must maintain this average of on science prerequisite courses. Two reference letters are required, and taking the TEAS exam is also required. A writing sample must also be submitted with the candidate’s application. It takes 7 semesters to complete the Case Management option and 10 semesters for the completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner program. Samuel Merritt University offers financial aid options to students.

The Entry Level MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Curriculum consists of two years or four semesters of full-time study to complete undergraduate nursing courses. The NCLEX-RN is taken after this coursework and clinical experience is completed. The student then begins the MSN courses on a part-time basis and is able to work, gaining experience as a RN. Four semesters of pre-licensure coursework are also required for the Case Management specialty. When these are completed, the student takes the NCLEX-RN for licensure and may begin working because the second half of the program is part-time as the MSN is completed in three semesters.

San Diego State University: RN to MSN Program Review

San Diego State University

Hardy Tower Rm 58

5500 Campanile Drive

San Diego, California 92182-4158

The San Diego State University (SDSU) was founded in 1897 as a normal school. Located in San Diego at Hardy Tower, Room 58, 5500 Campanile Drive, it is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the San Diego area. It is part of the California State University System. The School of Nursing has been in existence for 60 years and now offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, including a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) for the Registered Nurse (RN) who wants training that will lead to a career in advanced care nursing careers. Graduates are prepared to work as nurse practitioners, midwives, clinical specialists, nurse educators, and in other roles within the community.

The RN to MSN program has four concentrations and program options for additional specialization within these concentrations. They are Community Health Nursing, Advanced Practice Nursing of Adults and the Elderly, Nursing Education, and Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Systems. Financial Aid is available to students, including a variety of nursing scholarships and federal loans. Each concentration has specific deadlines for submitting applications to the program, and these must be followed closely. Admission requirements are holding a bachelors degree in nursing with a grade point average of 3.0 in undergraduate upper division courses. Those who have a bachelors degree but have not majored in nursing are accepted on an individual basis.

The GRE General Test is required, as well as a grade of at least C in a statistics course. California RN licensure is also required. Also, it is preferred that applicants have one year of nursing experience before starting the concentration or specialization courses. Nurse Midwife applicants must have experience in labor and delivery. Advanced Practice Nursing of Adults and Elderly students are recommended to have three years of related experience. Nursing Education and Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems concentrations do not require work experience. An additional requirement for the School Nursing specialization is that students must have completed Communicative Disorders, Hearing Conservation, and Audiometry for School Nurses. At times, students who have not met all of the admission requirements are admitted on a conditionally classified graduate standing.

The Master of Science degree requires that 12 credits of core courses are completed. The concentration or specialization area also requires from 18 to 45 credits plus zero to 6 credits in electives. A thesis or project is completed at the end of the program, or students may opt to take the comprehensive exam.

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The Community Health Nursing concentration has the following specializations: Nurse-Midwifery, Nurse-Midwifery and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. Nurses who choose the concentration Advanced practice Nursing of Adults and the Elderly may choose from the specialization in Acute/Critical Care Nursing. This specialization has two choices of Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist Preparation or Clinical Nurse specialist and Nurse Educator. Nurses who want to teach students nurses will want to opt for the Nursing Education concentration. They must choose from specializations in Adult Health, Maternal-Newborn, or Pediatrics. There are no specialization choices in the concentration of Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Systems.

SDSU offers many concentrations and specializations that are similar to individualized education plans for students because of all of the choices offered. Registered Nurses who are looking for specific features in their MSN program would benefit from completing their Master of Science in nursing degree from San Diego State University.

San Francisco State University: RN to MSN Program Review

San Francisco State University

1600 Holloway Ave. GH 357

San Francisco, California 94132-1722

San Francisco State University (San Francisco State) is located in San Francisco at 1600 Holloway Avenue and is part of the California State University system. U.S. News & World Report consistently rates it as one of the top 50 masters granting universities in the West. San Francisco State was established in 1899 as a normal school. The School of Nursing offers a Registered Nurse (RN) to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program with several options. These include a Generic Masters as well as a program for the Registered Nurse without a bachelors degree in nursing who want to work towards a masters degree.

The RN-MSN Stanford Cohort Program is designed for working nurses. The two-year, six semester program features evening classes and individualized programs that are practical. Each cohort group of nurses completes all classes on campus and off-site together in a group. After completing bachelors degree level nursing courses and any additional requirements, students may begin masters level nursing courses.

An RN with a BSN may enter the masters program after demonstrating that he has completed courses comparable to those offered in San Francisco State’s BSN program. Applicants with bachelors degrees in another field may want to apply to the generic nursing Master of Science program to receive training for advanced nursing careers. The first five semesters in this option consist of nursing theory and clinical work as pre-licensure students. They then take the NCLEX exam for licensure in California and may begin graduate level courses. Application requirements include a score of 4 or above on the Analytical Writing section on the GRE.

The Master of Science program at the University has three emphases, which are Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nursing Administration, and Community/Public Health Nursing.

San Jose State University: RN to MSN Program Review

San Jose State University

One Washington Square

San Jose, California 95192

San Jose State University (San Jose State) is located in San Jose at One
Washington Square. It is part of the California State University and is the oldest public institution on the West Coast of the U.S. San Jose State has the highest foreign student enrollment of any masters university in the U.S. U.S. News and World Report rates the University’s graduate program in nursing as 193^rd in the nation, making The Valley Foundation School of Nursing one of the best graduate programs available.

A masters program with a major in nursing is offered at the University. A Registered Nurse (RN) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) may apply to the program. Nurses with bachelors degrees in other fields are accepted conditionally as they take prerequisite courses before entering the program. An advantage of this program is that applicants do not need to have a 3.0 grade point average in the last 60 hours of their undergraduate studies. These applicants are admitted on a conditional basis to take one graduate course. If they earn at least a 3.0 grade in it, they may be reevaluated for admission to the masters program. Some specialties in the program are offered online and there are also some that are webcasted so that students can access them either live or on their computers.

The Master of Science degree in Nursing program first requires that the student is admitted to the University and then to the nursing program. Applicants must have California RN licensure, and must have a BSN with a grade point average of 3.0. Prerequisite courses include a statistics course, Principles of Economics or its equivalent, and students must also show competency in writing by taking the Writing Skills Test. A co-requisite is Introduction to Technology. There are three different options in the program, which are Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, or Nurse Informaticist. The majority of students in the program work full-time and complete the MSN on a part-time basis.

United States University: RN to MSN Program Review

United States University

830 Bay Blvd.

Chula Vista, California 91911

United States University (USU) is a for-profit university in San Diego that specializes in nursing. It was established in 1997 and began as a non-profit organization to help immigrants transfer their degrees. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is offered at the University with various options for students. The University is located at 830 Bay Boulevard, Chula Vista, CA 91911 and at campuses in San Diego County (National City) and Orange County (Cypress).

An Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELMSN) program is offered at USU. Admission requirements are that the applicant must have a bachelors degree from an accredited university or the equivalent of a US bachelors degree. A grade point average of at least 2.75 in the last 60 semester credits is required, as well as the TEAS test with a minimum score of 73 percent. The test may be taken only three time per year. Prerequisite courses must be completed with at least a C+, and science courses must have been taken in the last 7 years. Applicants must also submit a written state of purpose, one professional recommendation, and an interview with the Admissions Committee is required.

The MSN-FNP program at the University provides training for Registered Nurses with BA or BS degrees who want a career in advanced practice nursing. The degree can be completed in 24 months. The unique aspects of this program are that classes are held on Fridays and Saturdays. Students must complete 49 credits and complete 720 clinical hours that are arranged individually. A Family Health Project is the culminating activity of the program. Admission requirements are an active, unencumbered RN license, a grade point average of 2.5 in undergraduate courses, and a personal goal statement. Official transcripts must also be submitted. Minimum TOEFL scores are 550 for paper based, 213 for computer based, or 80 for Internet based tests.

The MSN-Administrator option is offered at the San Diego County (National City) campus of USU and at Orange County (Cypress) campus. It is also possible to complete this degree completely online. The program consists of 7 core courses, 5 specialization courses, and no clinical courses are required. Admission requirements are an active, RN license, undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5, official transcripts, and a personal goal statement.

USU also offers a MSN-Educator option for nurses interested in training so that they can teach student nurses in the future. This program is offered at the San Diego County (National City) and Orange County (Cypress) campuses. Only 7 core courses and 5 specialization courses are required with no clinical courses. Admission requirements are an active RN license, a grade point average of 2.5, official transcripts, and a goal statement.

University of California-Los Angeles: RN to MSN Program Review

University of California-Los Angeles

700 Tiverton Avenue, PO Box 951702

Los Angeles, California 90095

The University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public research university located in Los Angeles. Located at 700 Tiverton Avenue, it was established in 1919 as a normal school. UCLA has won many global rankings, including being rated as 13^th by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and many others. U.S. rankings have been equally outstanding, with U.S. News and World Report rating it 2^nd among public universities, tied with The University of Virginia.

A Master of Science in Nursing Advance Practice and Master of Science in Nursing Masters Entry Clinical Nurse programs are offered at UCLA. U.S. News and World Report lists the UCLA nursing program as one of the top Nursing Graduate Schools in the nation. The School of Nursing has competitive admission.

One of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs at the University is the MSN Masters Entry Clinical Nurse program. Admission requirements are a BSN degree, completion of prerequisite courses with at least a grade of C in each, and a scholarship record satisfactory to the Graduate Division and to the School of Nursing. Applicants must also have three recommendation letters submitted. Clinical rotations begin in the first spring quarter, and they may be on Saturdays and in the evening. At the completion of the program, all students completing masters degrees must take a comprehensive exam.

A second MSN program is also offered at UCLA, which is the Master of Science in Nursing-Advanced Practice. This is a two-year program that provides training for nursing advanced practice careers. Students may become nurse administrators, nurse practitioners, or clinical nurse specialists after completing this MSN program.

The following concentrations and specialties are offered at UCLA:

Nursing Administration with concentrations of Nursing Administration Specialty, Nursing Administration/Occupational and Environmental Health, or MBA/MSN in Nursing Administration Specialty

Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Population with a specialization of Adult/Gerontology-Acute Care Specialty and Oncology Specialty

Family Population with specializations of Family Nurse Practitioner or Underserved Populations Subspecialty 2009

Pediatric Population with the specialization of Pediatric Specialty

Graduating from UCLAs School of Nursing MSN program often leads to many job offers in the specialty areas that students have completed in their graduate studies.

University of California-San Francisco: RN to MS Program Review

The University of California-San Francisco

2 Koret Way, #N-319X

UCSF Box 0602

San Francisco, California 94143-0602

The University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) is a highly regarded health center where education, patient care, and health sciences research take place. The nursing program is part of a graduate school that is rated of the top health science professional schools in the world. U.S. News and World Report ranks the UCSF Medical Center as one of the top 10 hospitals in the U.S. Established in 1873, the University has a large number of graduate students, including RN to MSN students. USFC is located at 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, California 94143-0602.

The University’s Master of Science (MS) program provides training for many different advanced practice roles as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse-midwife, administrator, educator, and consultant. Core courses are required for all specialty areas, and students also complete coursework related to their specialization. To qualify for graduation, students must have completed 30 to 36 credits plus 8 credits of graduate professional work. They must also take a written comprehensive exam, or in some cases, a thesis. MS students are usually taking courses on campus two or three days each week, and clinically intensive specialty areas require a third or fourth day each week for clinical rotations. Areas of Masters Specialization offered at UCSF include the following:

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Advanced Practice Neonatal Nursing

Advanced Practice Pediatric Nursing

Advanced Practice Public Health Nursing

Cardiovascular Nursing

Critical Care Trauma

Family Nurse Practitioner

Gerontological Advanced Practice Nursing

Health Policy Nursing

Nurse Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

Nursing and Health Systems Leadership

Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing

Oncology Nursing, Advanced Practice

Perinatal Nursing

Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing

Admission requirements include official transcripts of bachelors degree work in nursing and current RN licensure in California or in another state. Applicants must be proficient in English and must complete a statistics course. The applicant’s grade point average must be 3.0 or above, and one year of work experience is desirable. This program has many positive features, including the wide variety of specialty areas that train students for careers in nursing.

University of California-Davis Health System: RN to MSN Program Review

University of California-Davis Health System

Education Building

4610 X Street

Sacramento, California 95817

The University of California-David Health System (UC Davis) was established in 2009 with the goal of transforming health care through nursing education and research. The School of Nursing is part of the UC Davis Health System that also includes the UC Davis School of Medicine, the hospital and clinical services of UC Davis Medical Center, and the UC Davis Medical Group consisting of 800 physicians. UC Davis offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, located in the Education Building at 4610 X Street, Sacramento, CA 95817.

Application requirements include forwarding official transcripts and having recommendation letters submitted. It is necessary to have active current licensure as a RN and to submit a resume to the University. Other requirements are a grade point average of at least 3.0, and applicants must explain any publications they have had or awards that they have received, and they must also describe their research interest and submit a statement of purpose. Other requirements in the application process are to explain future goals and to submit a personal history statement.

Nurses accepted into the program must enroll full-time. The program is expected to be completed in five quarters with a sixth quarter option available if needed. The program culminates with a masters thesis. MSN program options are Family Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant or Master of Science in Nursing-Health Care Leadership.

University of California-Irvine: RN to MS Program Review

University of California-Irvine

252 Berk Hall

Irvine, California 92697-3959

The University of California-Irvine ( UC Irvine), founded in 1965, is located in Irvine California. It is part of the University of California system and is a public research university. The UC Irvine Medical Center is a large teaching hospital affiliated with the University. The Nursing Science department at the UC Irvine offers a Master of Science (MS) in nursing program with an emphasis on research and expanded view of health that includes health promotion, restoration, and rehabilitation.

The MS program requires nurses to choose an area of advanced nursing practice that they would like to focus on for their future career. Training consists of two choices of concentrations, which are Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner track or the Family Nurse Practitioner track. Both of these tracks require that students complete core courses plus the specialty courses that are related to their chosen specialty area. A total of 72 credits are required plus 720 hours of clinical practice. The full-time program takes two years to complete.

Students graduating from the Family Nurse Practitioner track are eligible to sit for the certification exam for their specialty. Nurses who complete the Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner track are eligible to sit for both the adult and geriatric nurse practitioner certification exams. Students in the nurse practitioner program may apply for loans and may qualify for graduate nursing scholarships at UCI.

University of San Diego: RN to MSN Program Review

University of San Diego

5998 Alcala Park

San Diego, California 92110

The University of San Diego (USD) is located in San Diego at 5998 Alcala Park and is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. Bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees are offered at the University that was founded in 1949. The University has received numerous rankings, including a rating of 97^th among “National Universities” by U.S. News and World Report and 37^th in the West by Forbes. The Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science Graduate Programs in Nursing were names among the top 10% of programs by U.S. News and World Report.

USD offers a Masters Entry Program in Nursing for those who have a bachelors degree but are not Registered Nurses. The program is demanding and provides training for individuals who want a career in nursing. The curriculum consists of five terms and takes 21 months of full-time study to complete as students take bachelors level nursing courses and masters level nursing courses and complete clinical experience. At the end of the program, graduates receive their masters degree in clinical nursing and are able to take the NCLEX for national certification. Graduates are also eligible to sit for the clinical Nurse Leader certificate exam.

Admission requirements are having a bachelors degree, completing the requisite courses, and having a grade point average of at least 3.0 on undergraduate and prerequisite work. Official transcripts, three recommendation letters, a resume, and at least 100 hours of experience as a volunteer in a health care setting observing a registered nurse are required. The GRE general test is recommended, but it is not required.

SDU also offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program for nurses with a bachelors degree in nursing. There are seen areas of emphasis, which are the following:

Executive Nurse Leader

Health Care Informatics

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist

Clinical Nursing

Family Nurse Practitioner

Dual Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner/Family Nurse Practitioner

Dual Pediatric Nurse Practitioner/Family Nurse Practitioner

Family/Lifespan Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Additional MSN options are the following:

Nursing Education Option

Latino Health Care Option

Mind-Body-Spirit Health Care Option

This program is unique in all of the specialty areas that it offers, including the three that are not usually available at most universities. Also, SDU is known for its international study opportunities for graduate students.

University of San Francisco: RN to MSN Program Review

University of San Francisco

2130 Fulton Street

San Francisco, California 94117-1080

The University of San Francisco (USF) is a private Catholic university in San Francisco. It was founded in 1855 by the Jesuits and is one of the country’s top Jesuit universities. Graduate students have opportunities for international travel and for service opportunities for volunteer service. Flexible class schedules are offered for working nurses, and the program’s small size enables students to work closely with faculty. Several masters degrees in nursing are offered, including an Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Public Health, and MSN Clinical Nurse Leader.

Financial aid is available through the federal government, and graduate nursing scholarships are also sometimes available. Most of USFs graduate programs are offered at the main campus at 2130 Fulton Street in San Francisco, but a few courses may be offered at the University’s other four campus branches. Each applicant to the program is considered individually, and there are not fixed GRE or other test scores required.

The MSN degree is offered by the Graduate School of Nursing and Health Professions for four different types of individuals. These are the following:

MSN Program for the Non-Nurse (MSN Clinical Nurse Leader)

MSN Programs for the RN (RN Associate Degrees in Nursing or diplomas) to MSN Clinical Nurse Leader

RN (BSN) to MSN Clinical Nurse Leader

RN (BA/BS Non-nursing) to MSN Clinical Nurse Leader

Online MSN

The MSN Program for the Non-Nurse is an entry-level nursing program consisting of 68 units. It is completed in two years and requires full-time training of coursework three days each week and clinical experience two days each week. Admission requirements are a grade point average of 3.0 or better, submission of official transcripts, personal statement, and two recommendation letters. Applicants must also submit a resume and students must complete 32 credits of prerequisite courses. A MSN project is required to complete the program that is offered only at the San Francisco campus.

The Registered Nurse (RN) (Associates in Nursing) to MSN Clinical Nurse Leader (RN-MSN) is an accelerated program designed for students to receive training for a career as a Clinical Nurse Leader. Students complete undergraduate upper level nursing courses plus masters level nursing courses for a total of 46 credits. Applicants must have a grade point average of at least 3.0, submit official transcripts and two letters of recommendation. A personal statement, resume and a copy of the applicant’s RN license must also be submitted. This program is offered at the San Francisco Campus, Santa Rosa Regional Campus, and at the San Jose Regional Campus.

The applicant who has a Bachelors Degree in Nursing (BSN) will want to apply to the Registered Nurse (RN) BSN to MSN Clinical Nurse Leader program. Admission requirements include the submission of official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume. Applicants must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 and must also submit a copy of their RN license. This program is offered at the San Francisco Campus, Santa Rosa Regional Campus, San Jose Regional Campus, and at the Pleasanton Regional Campus.

USF also offers a RN (BA/BS Non-nursing) to MSN Clinical Nurse Leader program. It is offered at the San Francisco Campus, Santa Rosa Campus, San Jose Campus, and at the Pleasanton Regional Campus. Admission requirements are having at least a 3.0 grade point average, submitting official transcripts, a resume and personal statement, and two letters of recommendation. Applicants must also submit a copy of their RN license. The program consists of 40 credits.

The Online MSN program is designed for the Associate Degree in Nursing (AND) or BSN nurse and can be completed in as little as two years. Students complete coursework online and their clinical experience in healthcare settings near their home.

University of Southern California: RN to MS in Nurse Anesthesia Program Review

University of Southern California

Keck School of Medicine

Department of Anesthesiology

1540 Alcazar Street CHP #223

Los Angeles, CAalifornia 90089-9012

The University of Southern California (USC) offers one Registered Nurse (RN) to Master of Science (MS) option which is the Nurse Anesthesia Program that is offered at the USC Keck School of Medicine at 1540 Alcazar Street. Courses are offered at the Health Sciences Campus in Los Angeles and at the USC Medical Center. The program is rigorous and has prerequisites such as a minimum of one year of critical care experience, a grade point average of at least 3.0, and a minimum GRE score of 1,000 or a Quantitative score of at least 153 and Verbal score of at least 144. Applicants must also have a combination of inorganic, organic, and biochemistry coursework, an Introductory Physics course, Statistics or Nursing Research, Anatomy, Physiology, and Health Assessment. Three recommendation letters plus a copy of the applicant’s California RN license must also be submitted.

The Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia program provides training for nurses who will be able to provide anesthesia to patients after completing 45 credits. A research capstone project is required at the completion of the program. It takes two to two and one-half years to complete the program, including clinical residency courses. USC invites 50 students who have applied to the program to interview with them, and out of these, 16 are chosen for the program. To be more competitive, applicants need high GRE scores and two to three years of ICU experience in a high acuity setting. Shadowing nurse anesthetists in a hospital setting is also recommended.

West Coast University: RN to MS Program Review

West Coast University

12215 Victory Blvd.

North Hollywood, California 91606

West Coast University (WCU) has campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, Orange County, and Dallas. The Los Angeles offers undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, including a Master of Science (MS) in Nursing. West Coast University was established over 100 years ago and has expanded since that time. In 2006, the Los Angeles campus began classes.

The University’s MS in Nursing provides training for the Registered Nurse (RN) to move into a career as a nurse educator or into a leadership career. The curriculum requires 36 credits and is designed for the working nurse. A concentrated, full-time program can be completed in only 15 months. Courses are offered in blended format, requiring students to be on campus for the first and last meetings of the 10-week term. In between this time, courses are delivered online. Admission requirements are having a 3.0 grade point average from all undergraduate coursework or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or bachelors degree in a related field. Also accepted are grade of 90% on HESI-A2 or 1000 on the GRE. Applicants must have a BSN or a bachelors degree in a related field and a current RN license.

The core courses WCU’s Masters in Nursing program prepare graduates for future advanced nursing roles in staff development, academic faculty positions, nursing quality improvement and case management, staff development, and project management. Students may decide how quickly they want to complete their masters degree at WCU.

Western University of Health Sciences: RN to MSN Program Review

Western University of Health Sciences

309 E. Second St.

Pomona, California 91766-1854

Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) is allocated in Pomona and has another medical school campus in Lebanon, Oregon. It is a non-profit graduate school for the health professions that was established in 1977. The University originally opened as the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. Several Master of Science (MSN) programs are offered, including a MSN-Entry program, Bachelor of Science (BSN) to Master of Science (MSN), Master of Science (MSN) to Family Nurse Practitioner, Associate Degree in Nursing (AND) to MSN, and MSN Completion program. Unique features of the MSN program are that students begin clinical experiences early in their studies and they work in many different clinical settings from rural to inner city practices.

Students in all MSN programs must choose a specialty area for a concentration while working on their masters degree. These are the following:

Health Systems Leadership-Clinical Nurse Leader

Health Systems Leadership-Administrative Nurse Leader

Ambulatory Care

Family Nurse Practitioner

Western U’s MSN-Entry program provides training for those who already have a bachelors degree in another field and want to become nurses and earn their Master of Science (MSN) Admission requirements include a BA or BS and a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Applicants must also meet minimum technical standards. All prerequisite courses must be completed as well. Students complete nursing coursework and clinical experience for 16 months to prepare for the NCLEX national exam required for licensure. This portion of the program takes place at the University campus so that students have access to simulation labs and assistance from faculty members.

A unique feature of the University is the Learning Enhancement & Academic Development Office (LEAD) that provides individual and group peer tutoring sessions as well as stress relief sessions. Workshops on topics like test taking skills, time management, and review courses to prepare for the NCLEX are offered. Students should plan on spending around 55 hours on coursework and clinical practice during the pre-licensure portion of this program. After that, students work as professional nurses as they continue their graduate studies on a full-time basis. This portion of the program is offered online.

BSN nurses may enroll in the Master of Science in Nursing-BSN to MSN program. It is offered full-time and can be completed in this way in only two years. A part-time program is also available. This program is web-based and is self-directed learning. Weekend seminars take place at the campus at 309 E. Second St, Pomona, California two times each semester, and students complete their clinical training near their home. Students work on group projects with classmates via email and phone, and they must spend two weekends each semester on campus.

Admission requirements are a BSN, but occasionally applicants with degrees in another area are admitted. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 semester credits taken, and a statistics course is also required. In addition, applicants must be currently licensed nurses in the area where clinical practice will occur. One year of experience working as an RN is also required in addition to meeting minimum technical standards.

WesternU also offers a Combined MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program that can be completed online according to the schedule of the nurse student. Intensive seminar weekends at the Pomona Campus plus clinical experiences make it possible for nurses with BSN degrees to obtain their MSN and Family Nurse Practitioner certificate in only two full years full-time or in three years of part-time studies.

Admission requirements are having a BSN, but bachelors degrees in related fields are considered. Applicants must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 in their last 60 semester credits, a statistics course completed, and must be currently licensed as an RN in the area where clinical hours will be completed. One year of experience working as a RN is also required. Also, applicants must have minimum technical skills. Students accepted into the program should expect to spend time on coursework each week plus about 10 hours on clinical work.

Another RN to MSN program offered at WesternU is the Master of Science in Nursing Associate Degree in Nursing (AND) to MSN program. Designed for the RN who want to advance in their nursing career, this program provides training for advanced practice nursing careers. With this program, students have the opportunity of advancing through the program without earning a BSN. They take upper level bachelors degree nursing courses and then advance to the masters program. The program is designed so that students are able to continue working and complete coursework online. Two weekend visits to the Pomona campus per semester for intensive seminars are required, and clinical experience is completed in the student’s home area.

Admission requirements for the RN to MSN program are completing the prerequisite courses, and the applicant must have an Associate Degree in Nursing and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 for the last 60 semester credits. A current RN license is required, and students who do not have one year of experience are expected to work while completing the program. Access to a computer and meeting minimum technical standards is expected, as is proficiency in English.

Another MSN option offered at WesternU is the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN-Completion). Offered for BSN nurses who are Nurse Practitioners who want an MSN degree, the program can be completed in one year full-time or on a part-time basis. Students learn with a web-based curriculum and self-directed learning and spend two weekends each semester for intense seminars at the Pomona campus. Admission requirements include a BSN, but bachelors degrees in related fields are individually considered.

Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 in their last 60 semester credits and must have taken a statistics courses and earned at least a C in it. It is also necessary to have Advanced Practice licensure and certification as a Nurse Practitioner, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, or in another area. Licensure as an RN is needed in the state where clinical practice will occur, and one year of experience as a RN is required. Applicants must have computer access and meet minimum technical standards.

Colorado MSN Programs

Aspen University: RN to MSN Program Review
Aspen University, 720 South Colorado Boulevard, Suite 1150N, Denver, Colorado 80246
Aspen University offers a Registered Nurse (RN) to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. A RN to MSN Bridge Program is also offered at the University. Both programs are offered online. Aspen University offers these courses at affordable tuition rates lower than many other online programs charge per credit. Degrees of all levels are offered, including associate degrees, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees. Financial aid is offered in the form of Stafford loans. Many MSN students qualify for tuition reimbursement from their employers.

The masters program at Aspen University prepares nurses for advanced nursing careers that they will qualify for after completing this program. Students receive training needed to fill roles as nurse educators, clinical practice specialists, and as nurse managers. Two specialty areas are offered at Aspen. These are nursing administration and management and nursing education. By working through an online classroom, students connect with other nurses and with their professors. Academic advisors are available online as well.

Nurses may take up to three courses at once, but many students take only one or two courses at a time. Both programs are designed for students to progress at their own pace, and most masters in nursing students finish the program in 12 to 30 months. Proctored exams are required at the middle point and end of the MSN program, and MSN Bridge students require a comprehensive exam at the end of the program. Exams are open book and essay type tests that can take up to four hours to complete.

Admission requirements include a high diploma, a resume, and a goal statement. Registered Nurses who enter the MSN Bridge program must have an associates degree in nursing. Other admission requirements for the RN to MSN Bridge program are that the student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or better in their associates degree work. They must also complete 50 credits of liberal arts coursework and be currently licensed as a RN in the United States. One year of nursing experience is also required, as well as three reference letters. Nurses who want to enter the MSN program must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree with a grade point average of at least 3.0. They must be currently licensed as a RN in the United States and have at least a year of nursing experience after receiving their baccalaureate nursing degree.

Colorado State University-Pueblo: RN to MS Program Review

Colorado State University-Pueblo

CSU-Pueblo

2200 Bonforte Blvd.

Pueblo, Colorado 81001-4901

Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSU-Pueblo) is located at 2200 Bonforte Boulevard, Pueblo, Colorado 81001-4901. It is a member of the Colorado State University System. It is considered to be the fastest growing university in the state. The University offers small classes and a student to faculty ratio of 18:1. The Department of Nursing at CSU-Pueblo offers a Master of Science (MS) with a major in Nursing with the concentration of Nurse Educator. Other programs leading to Nurse Practitioner careers are offered through doctoral programs at the University.

The MS-Nurse Educator program prepares nurses for a career teaching in universities and health care facilities. Besides teaching student nurses, masters students learn to plan and facilitate staff development activities in health care facilities. Graduates are eligible to take the National league Certified Nurse Educator Examination. Two years of full-time study are required to complete the program, including two summer sessions totaling 44 credits.

Admission requirements are that the applicant must have a bachelors degree in nursing with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or above. Current licensure as a RN in Colorado is also required. Applicants must pass criminal history background check and have all of the necessary immunizations and a Health Care Provider CPR certificate. Three recommendations are also required, and the applicant must submit a letter of intent and a Curriculum Vitae. Applicants who live in the Southern Colorado area are given preferential admission, as are nurses with more than two years of nursing experience. Nurse educators who have over a year of teaching in this capacity are also given preferential admission, as are graduates of CSU-Pueblo.

Regis University: RN to MS Program Review

Regis University

3333 Regis Boulevard

Denver, Colorado 80221-1099

Regis University is a Jesuit university of the Roman Catholic faith located in Denver, Colorado at 333 Regis Boulevard that was established in 1877. Regis University’s Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions Loretto Heights School of Nursing offers a Master of Science (MS) in Nursing. The MS program in nursing prepares students for careers in advanced nursing positions as managers or educators. Regis University offers nursing courses online and on campus as well.

The Master of Science: Leadership in Health Care Systems program is designed for the Registered Nurse (RN) with a bachelors degree in nursing who wants a career in nursing management or education. This program is offered one night each week and online. Before completing the program and taking national certification exams, nurses must take the University’s Masters Comprehensive Evaluation. This exam is designed to assess the student’s understanding of the theories, principles, and protocols of the masters nursing program. Students are graded on a Pass or No-Pass basis.

The RN interested in a career as a Family Nurse Practitioner may apply to Regis University’s Master of Science: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program that is offered online. At the completion of the program, graduates take the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Examination. At the end of the program, students must take a Masters Comprehensive Evaluation, and are graded with a Pass or No-Pass grade. This exam must be passed before the RN qualifies for graduation. Applicants to the program must have a bachelors degree in nursing.

The Master of Science, Nursing (MS) Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program offered at Regis University provides training for nurses who want to pursue a career working with newborn infants that have health problems. Admission requirements are a bachelors degree in nursing with a grade point average of 2.75 or above and a current RN license. Also, two years of Level 3 NICU experience is required. The program takes two years to complete, and students meet one day each week from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Online courses are also part of the program. The MS concentrations at the University are a convenient combination of in-class and online studies.

A RN to MS (Registered Nurse to Master of Science) in nursing program is offered by Regis University for the Registered Nurse with an associates degree who wants to complete the upper level courses of the bachelors degree program as well as the MS program in education or in management. Nurse Practitioner options are not offered in the RN to MS option.

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs: RN to MS Program Review

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway

Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) is located in Colorado Springs and is part of the University of Colorado system. U.S. News and World Report has ranked UCCS as Number 6 of public universities in the Masters Universities-West category. It has been rated among the top ten for the past ten years. The University was founded in 1965 and is located at 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918. The Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences offers a Master of Science (MS) in nursing program. Two options are available in the masters degree nursing program. These are Nurse Practitioner (Adult/Gero or Family) or Nursing Education.

Program requirements are the completion of 38 to 47 credits with at least a grade of B in all nursing courses and successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam or a Thesis. A bachelors degree in nursing is one of the admission requirements, and students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 for all undergraduate course work. Prerequisite courses of Introduction to Statistics, Nursing Research, and Health Assessment must also be completed. The applicant must have current licensure as a Registered Nurse and must submit a Curriculum Vitae with an application. Computer technology skills are also required, and if the applicant is not a native English speaker, a passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language is also required.

Nurse Practitioner students with an Adult/Gero focus must complete 47 credits plus 630 contact hours. The Family Nurse Practitioner program requires that 46 credits plus 630 contact hours are completed. Nursing Education students must complete 38 credits, including 225 hours of practicum.

University of Colorado-Denver: RN to MS Program Review

University of Colorado-Denver

13120 East 19^th Avenue

Aurora, Colorado 80045

The University of Colorado-Denver (UC Denver) is located in Denver, Colorado at 13120 East 19^th Avenue. It is one of three schools in the University of Colorado system. One of the University’s campuses is located in the downtown area at the Auraria Campus. The other is at the Anschultz Medical Campus in Aurora, which is also the location of the University of Colorado Hospital. This medical facility is affiliated with Children’s Hospital, the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, and the Denver Health Medical Center. The University was founded in 1898 and awards more graduate degrees than any other college or university in the state.

UC Denver’s College of Nursing was the first in the country to offer a nurse practitioner and school nurse program in 1965. The College of Nursing was rated 15^th in the United States by U.S. News and World Report for its masters program and 5^th in the country for its Pediatric Nurse Practitioner option. A Master of Science program is offered with specialties as follows:

Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist

Adult Nurse Practitioner

Family Nurse Practitioner

Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse practitioner

Health Care Informatics

Nurse Midwifery

Pediatric Nursing Leadership and Special Needs

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Special Studies

Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner

One of the features of this University is that many specialties are available for Registered Nurses who are interested in training for an advanced nursing position. Admission requirements are a bachelors degree in nursing and four reference letters. Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of at least C or higher. Applicants must submit a copy of their current RN license, and those accepted into the program must obtain their nursing license in Colorado before beginning clinical experience. A grade point average on all college-level work is expected to be at least 3.0. If an applicant’s grade point average is lower, the GRE is highly recommended.

University of Northern Colorado: RN to MSN Program Review

University of Northern Colorado

Gunter Hall 3080, Box 125

Greeley, Colorado 80639

The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) is located at Gunter Hall 3080, Box 125, Greeley, Colorado 80639. The University has a satellite campus in Lowry in Denver, Colorado as well. The University was established in 1889 as a normal school. The National Institute for Nursing Education & Scholarships is an organization that sets standards for teaching and learning in the field of nursing. UNC offers a masters program in Family Nurse Practitioner, nurse educator, and a masters program with training to prepare Clinical Nurse Leaders in advanced generalist practice.

The Master of Science: Nursing (MS Nursing) with a Family Nurse Practitioner Emphasis provides training for nurses to enter this advanced nursing career after graduation. The program is designed for the working RN who must attend classes only one day each week. Some courses are taught online, and the program is offered only on a part-time basis. Admission requirements are a bachelors degree in nursing with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on baccalaureate level, two reference letters, and a goal statement. One year of clinical experience is preferred.

The Education Emphasis MS program prepares the RN with a bachelors degree in nursing to work in an academic or in-service setting with clinical emphasis in case management of the chronically ill child or adult. Either full-time or part-time programs are available. Admission requirements are CPR certification, background check, and health policies. The third concentration of Clinical Nurse Specialist in Chronic Illness Emphasis prepares the post-baccalaureate RN to care for the chronically ill adult or child. This program is also available on either a full-time or part-time basis.

Connecticut MSN Programs

Fairfield University: RN to MSN Program Review
Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, Connecticut 06824
Fairfield University is a private Jesuit university that was founded in 1942. It is one of the 28 colleges and universities that are members of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Fairfield University has received many positive ratings, including U.S. News America’s Best Colleges rating at Number 2 in the Northeast Regional Universities. One option for nursing students at Fairfield is the V.A. Nursing Academy, a program affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Fairfield University is one of ten universities in the country with this program that provides scholarships and financial assistance in exchange for working at a VA facility in the U.S.

There are three different tracks in the Master of Science in Nursing at the University. One of these is MS in Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leader Track. This advanced nursing practice track prepares the RN to work at health promotion and disease prevention and to meet the needs of an aging population. Applicants must have a bachelors degree in nursing, or if they have a bachelors degree in another area, a bridge course is required. It takes about three years to complete the program that is taken on a part-time basis. Students generally attend classes one night each week, and additional coursework is online. Students are admitted on the basis of their transcripts, an interview, essay, and references.

Fairfield’s MS in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner Track provides training for the RN who wants to provide primary care to all members of the family. Admission requirements include a bachelors degree in nursing with a grade point average of at least 3.0. Applicants who are not an RN, but have a bachelors degree in another field are sometimes admitted after having their credentials examined. Applicants must submit a professional resume, an admission essay, their official transcripts, two recommendation forms and letters, and a copy of their current Connecticut RN license.

The third track offered at Fairfield University is the MS in Nursing, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Track. Students complete training for advanced practice nursing careers working in inpatient, community-based, and private settings. Admission requirements are a bachelors degree in nursing with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Those with bachelors degrees in another field are considered on an individual basis. A professional resume, admission essay, official transcripts, two recommendation forms and letters, and a copy of the applicant’s Connecticut RN license must be submitted. Many students in all three MS concentrations receive financial aid.

Hospital of St. Raphael: RN to MS Program Review

Hospital of St. Raphael

School of Nurse Anesthesia

1423 Chapel Street

New Haven, Connecticut 06511-4458

The Hospital of St. Raphael School of Anesthesia is located at 1423 Chapel Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511-4458. The program consists of 29 months of coursework at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in New Britain and at the Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven. The first 12 months of the program are full-time, and the student attends courses at Central Connecticut State University before beginning the clinical phase. The clinical phase takes 17 months to complete at the Hospital of Saint Raphael and other clinical sites. Graduates of the program receive the Master of Science in Biology/Anesthesia from CCSU. They also receive a certificate from the Hospital of Saint Raphael School of Nurse Anesthesia. Graduates may then take the exam for certification as a registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA).

Admission requirements are a bachelors degree in nursing or the RN may have a bachelors degree in biology, chemistry, or another related field. A grade point average of at least 3.0 is required, as well as a current license in one of the 50 states as a RN. Applicants must also have at least one year’s acute care experience. Prerequisite courses are two four-credit chemistry that includes inorganic/general and organic chemistry or biochemistry, two four-credit courses in anatomy and physiology, and one microbiology course. A course in pharmacology is encouraged. Applicants with a grade point average under 3.5 must take the GRE.

CCSU offers guaranteed student loans for the didactic portion of the program. Also, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists also offers loans and grants to students with financial problems or those who meet unexpected educational costs.

New Britain School of Nurse Anesthesia: RN to MS Program Review

New Britain School of Nurse Anesthesia

100 Grand Street

New Britain, Connecticut 06050

New Britain School of Nurse Anesthesia offers a Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences: Anesthesia. Graduates of the program are qualified to take the national certification exam for licensure as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). The New Britain School of Nurse Anesthesia is located at 100 Grand Street, New Britain, Connecticut 06050. The program is a 29 month full-time program that begins with 12 months of classes at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). After that, the clinical phase of 17 months must be completed. Clinical sites are at The Hospital of Central Connecticut, New Britain, Hartford Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, or Connecticut Children’s Hospital.

Students complete over 700 cases and over 2,000 hours during the program. This MS program requires either a Thesis or Oral Comprehensive Exam/Clinical Seminar towards the end of the program. Admission requirements are a RN license in one of the 50 states, at least two years of nursing experience in critical care, certification in basic and advanced life support, and a bachelors degree in nursing or a baccalaureate degree in another science accepted by the Admissions committee. Prerequisite courses are two semesters of chemistry with one semester of inorganic/general and one semester of organic/biochemistry, two semesters of human anatomy and physiology, and one semester of microbiology. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 and three professional reference letters. A personal interview with the Admissions Committee is required, but the GRE or MAT exams are not needed.

Southern Connecticut State University: RN to MSN Program Review

Southern Connecticut State University

501 Crescent Street

New Haven, Connecticut 06515

Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) is located in new Haven, Connecticut at 502 Crescent Street. It is one of four state universities in the state and was founded in 1893 as a normal school. SCSU offers a Masters Degree in Nursing Education, Clinical Nurse Leader, and Family Nurse Practitioner programs. Admission requirements for the MS program are a bachelors degree in nursing with at least a 3.0 average. Prerequisite courses are statistics, nursing research methods, and health assessment. Applicants must submit a copy of their RN license, two reference letters, and an essay. A personal interview with the Department of Nursing is also required.

The Family Nurse Practitioner Program is designed for the Registered Nurse with a bachelors degree in nursing. This Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program requires 45 to 48 credits to complete plus 660 clinical hours as the student receives training in family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, and women’s health. A Nurse Educator MSN Program is also offered at SCSU. Students accepted into the program complete 24 credits of core courses and 18 specialization credits to prepare nurses to teach nurses in training. A thesis or special project must be completed to be eligible for graduation.

The Clinical Nurse Leader MSN program provides training for the RN in this newest advanced practice role. Forth-two credits are required plus a thesis or special project. Also, 500 clinical hours are required. The Clinical Nurse Leader is qualified to work with any patient in most healthcare settings. Both full-time and part-time studies are available. and classes are one day each week on Tuesday. Southern Connecticut State University also offers a bridge program for the RN with a bachelors degree in another field who wants to complete the MSN program. Applicants may take the NLN Challenge Exam for Baccalaureate Students to opt out of courses if they pass the exam in that area. Nurses also have the option of completing their bachelors degree in nursing before entering the masters program in nursing.

University of Connecticut: RN to MS Program Review

University of Connecticut

231 Glenbrook Road, Unit 2026

Storrs, Connecticut 06269

The University of Connecticut, located at 231 Glenbrook Road, Unit 2026, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, is a public research university that was founded in 1881. Known as UConn, the University has six campuses. It is rated as a Tier 1 University by U.S. News and World Report. The UConn School of Nursing offers a Master of Science (MS) in Nursing with specialty tracks in the following areas:

Adult/Gero Acute Care

Neonatal Acute Care

Adult/Gero Primary Care

Clinical Nurse Leader

Family Nurse Practitioner

RN to Masters

The Registered Nurse (RN) can find training for advanced nursing practice at UConn by completing the MS program. The application process is that an official transcript must be submitted, along with the Graduate School Application and a copy of the applicant’s nursing license. A copy of the curriculum vitae, a personal letter of application, and residency affidavit must also be submitted. Full-time or part-time programs are available, but the full-time program is encouraged because of the educational advantage plus access to financial aid. Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Federal Nurse Traineeship tuition assistance, and university scholarships and financial aid opportunities are all available for graduate nursing students. Classes are held one time each week for three to four hours, mostly at the Storrs Campus. The RN completes clinical practice throughout the state.

The RN to MS program is for the nurse with an associate degree or diploma in nursing who is licensed as a RN in Connecticut. Up to 30 credits are awarded for previously completed college courses. Students complete bachelors degree level nursing courses and must finish all prerequisite courses before beginning masters level courses.

UConn also offers a Masters Entry Into Nursing (MEIN) Accelerated Pre-Licensure Program is designed for those with a bachelors degree in an area other than nursing. It takes about three years to complete the program, and after the one-year MEIN program, the student is awarded a bachelors degree in nursing. The student is then eligible to take the NCLEX for a RN license before beginning the masters program in nursing.

A unique feature of UConn’s nursing program is the Study Abroad option. Two options are Cape Town, South Africa for a full semester studying Maternity/Pediatric Nursing or in San Juan, Puerto Rico for a semester of Adult Acute Care/Psychiatric Nursing. Other travel abroad choices are also available. The University also offers an Urban Service Track. Students chosen to participate in this program are awarded tuition assistance in return for service in the community.

University of Hartford: RN to MSN Program Review

University of Hartford

200 Bloomfield Avenue

West Hartford, Connecticut 06117-1599

The University of Hartford (U of H) was founded in 1957 as a university for the community. Located at 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117-1599, it has grown into a large residential campus with over 30 graduate degree programs, including a Master of Science in Nursing with three focuses. These are public health nursing, nursing education, and nursing management. The Public Health Nursing (Masters) program provides training for the Registered Nurse (RN) who wants to work in the community in schools, home care, or community and global health agencies.

This program has the advantage of allowing students to personalize their program of study to meet their individual career goals. Students choose from international travel opportunities, partnerships with faculty, practical experiences, and scholarly projects to design their MS program. Admission requirements are a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0, or the completion of 6 graduate level credits with a 3.0 grade point average. Applicants must have a RN license in Connecticut, two recommendation letters, and at least one year’s clinical experience.

The Nursing Education (Masters) program at U of H provides training to prepare nurses for a career teaching student nurses in academic settings or teaching peers in service settings. It usually takes from two to four years to complete the program. Admission requirements are a BSN and grade point average of at least 3.0, or 6 graduate level credits with this grade point average. A current Connecticut RN license is required plus two recommendation letters. Applicants must have at least one year of full-time nursing experience. The Nursing Management (Masters) program provides training for the RN who wants an advanced nursing position as a manager or leader in community settings, acute care, or long-term care. This degree may be completed in two, three, or four years. The Nurse Educator and Nursing Management programs also allow students to choose the elements of their program to fit their personal career goals.

University of Saint Joseph: RN to MSN Program Review

University of Saint Joseph

1678 Asylum Avenue

West Hartford, Connecticut 06117

The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) is a Roman Catholic women’s college that was established in 1932 by the Sisters of Mercy. It is located at 1678 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117. The University offers a masters program with clinical focuses on Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Practitioners, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator. Admission requirements are that the applicant must have a bachelors degree in nursing. One advantage to entering this program is that the Registered Nurse (RN) is able to design their plan of study according to their career goals after completing several prerequisite core courses.

The Family Nurse Practitioner program at the college is designed to be completed on a part-time basis with courses offered in the late afternoon and evening. Training for providing primary health care to families across the life span is the goal of the program. A thesis is a requirement of the program. Applicants must have one year of clinical practice before applying to the program. The Nurse Educator masters program prepares the RN for a career in teaching student nurses in a variety of academic settings and for facilitating in-service workshops and other educational opportunities at large medical centers and other facilities. Specialty courses for this program are taught online.

The other masters program offered at USJ is the Psychiatric/Mental health Nurse Practitioner. It is also possible to design a Child/Adolescent Psychiatric/mental Health masters program since students at the University have the option of choosing much of their curriculum once the core courses are completed. This program is part-time with classes offered in the late afternoon and in the evening.

Western Connecticut State University: RN to MS Program Review

Western Connecticut State University

181 White Street

Danbury, Connecticut 06810

Western Connecticut State University (Western) is a public university that was founded in 1903. Located at 181 White Street, Danbury, Connecticut 06810, the University offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MS) program. Two specialist role programs are offered, which are the adult nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist. Both programs require that students complete the core and specialist courses plus a minimum of 500 hours of clinical practicum experiences. A thesis or research-based thesis project is also required. The masters program is a part-time program with evening courses. It takes about four years to complete the degree. The University’s Adult Nurse Practitioners masters program requires 540 hours of clinical practicum.

Admission to the program is made through the Division of Graduate Studies and is selective. A bachelors degree in nursing and a grade point average of at least 3.0 are required. The RN without this grade point average must take the Miller Analogies Test and earn a satisfactory score. The applicant must have a current nursing license and must submit a resume and letter of recommendation from employer. It is also required that the candidate meets with the masters program coordinator to develop a plan of study. After completing the program, the graduate qualifies to take the national certification exam for licensure in the chosen advanced nursing practice.

Yale University: RN to MSN Program Review

Yale University

100 Church Street South

New Haven, Connecticut 06519

Yale University is a private research university located at 100 Church Street South, New Haven, Connecticut 06519. Founded in 1701, it is the third oldest college or university in the United States. Yale has been rated as Number 3 among national universities by U.S. News and World Report, and the University has received other global and national ratings as well. Yale offers a masters in nursing program that leads to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Masters program specialties include the following:

Adult Advanced Practice Nursing

Adult-Gerontological, Family, and Women’s Health

Nurse-Midwifery

Nursing Management, Policy and Leadership

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric-Mental Health

The Adult Advanced Practice Nursing Specialty program has three tracks from which the RN must choose from to select an advanced nursing area. Training for all three areas of Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track, Acute/Critical Care Nurse Specialist Track, and Oncology Nurse Practitioner Track provide training that prepares the nurse to take national certification exams at the completion of the program. The Nurse Practitioner provides primary care to the patient, and the Acute/Critical Care Nurse Specialist provides unique care for those who suffer from chronic illnesses.

Another masters program, the Adult-Gerontological, Family, and Women’s Health Specialty program includes training for the specialties of Adult and Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Track, Family Nurse Practitioner Track, and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner/Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Track. The Nurse-Midwifery Specialty is another MS program offered at Yale.

The masters program, Nursing Management, Policy and Leadership offered at the Yale School of Nursing requires 40 credits of coursework. It is unique in the fact that students attend monthly campus sessions and work with innovative web-based methods throughout the month. The curriculum deals with cutting-edge health policy and management issues. An additional masters degree in nursing program is the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Specialty. The RN receives training to learn how to provide primary care for children of all ages. The program includes coursework and clinical experience in a variety of settings.

Nursing students who opt to specialize in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Specialty masters program prepare for careers as psychiatric nurse practitioners. The variety of programs offered at the School of Nursing is one attraction to many nurses who want to complete their masters degree at an Ivy League school like Yale.

Delaware MSN Programs

Delaware State University: RN to MSN Program Review
Delaware State University, 1200 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, Delaware 19901
Delaware State University (DSU) is a historically black public university. It has has two satellite campuses in Wilmington and Georgetown, both located in Delaware. DSU is the second largest university in the state and was founded in 1891. The University has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as Number 46 in the Top Public Regional Universities of the North category.

The University’s Master of Science degree in nursing program is currently under review and revision by the College of Education, Health, and Public Policy. New applicants are not currently being accepted at this time, and there is currently no masters degree in nursing program at DSU. Nurses who are interested in attending Delaware State University may want to check back with the nursing department to see if the masters program will be reinstated in the future.

University of Delaware: RN to MSN Program Review

University of Delaware

25 North College

Newark, Delaware 19716

The University of Delaware (UD) is located at 25 North College, Newark, Delaware 19716. It is the largest university in the state with the main campus located in Newark. Satellite campuses are also located in Dover, Wilmington, Lewes, and Georgetown. U.S. News and World Report ranks the University of Delaware as 75^th in the Best National Universities category. The magazine also rates it as 31^st in public colleges. It has had a substantial number of other positive ratings over the years. The Department of Nursing was established in 1962 in the College of Arts and Sciences. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is offered at UD.

The masters program requires from 34 to 46 credits, and all masters nursing students must select a research option of a thesis, a scholarly project, or a course in research utilization. Clinical practical courses are completed as part of the training for advanced specialty nursing roles. Students may choose from an online MSN program or a campus MSN program. Completely online programs include the following specialty areas of the masters degree in nursing program:

Adult Health-Clinical Nurse Specialist

Nursing of Children-Clinical Nurse Specialist

Health Services Administration Degree

The online programs are available on a full-time or part-time basis. Online applicants must meet the admission requirements of having satisfactory performance in their undergraduate academic work and in upper division nursing courses and they must have a bachelors degree in nursing. Three references, a short essay, and professional resume are also required. Applicants must have a Delaware license as a RN, or have a license in one of the compact states, or state where clinical experience will take place. A year of clinical experience is also required for the Clinical Nursing Specialist and Nurse Practitioner concentrations. Nurses who want to enter the Health Services Administration degree must have one year of management experience in a health-related field.

Hybrid Campus Programs include the following concentrations:

Family Nurse Practitioner

Adult Nurse Practitioner

To be considered for admission to these Nurse Practitioner masters programs in nursing, the student must have a bachelors degree in nursing and one year’s experience working full time as a RN. With the On-Campus Hybrid Format, students may take the six Core Graduate courses in an online format. Students must travel to campus for the nine clinical courses that meet on campus for three hours one day each week. Students are able to complete the program in 2.5 years on a full-time basis. Part-time students require 3.5 years to complete the program. There are 756 hours of clinical experience required for the Family Nurse Practitioner program and 672 clinical hours required for the Adult Nurse Practitioner program. Admission to the Nurse Practitioner program is competitive, and only one cohort of students is admitted each year. A graduate applicant interview is required before a student is admitted to the program.

Some advantages of the masters degree program at UD are that clinical placements are tailored to the student’s professional goals. Also, on-campus classes are scheduled after 3 pm for the convenience of working nurses. UD also offers an RN to MSN program for the Registered Nurse who wants to complete their masters degree in nursing. This program is offered completely online. Students complete 134 to 138 credits, including baccalaureate and masters level nursing courses. Thirty credits are awarded for the current RN license. There are also 60 transferable non-nursing credits required to complete the program.

Wesley College: RN to MSN Program Review

Wesley College

120 North State Street

Dover, Delaware 19901-3875

Wesley College is Delaware’s oldest private college and is located at 120 North State Street, Dover, Delaware 19901-3875. The college was established in 1873 and has been named as one of the Top 50 Grad Schools for Nursing by U.S. News and World Report. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is offered at the college. The program is open to the Registered Nurse (RN) who has a bachelors degree in nursing, as well as to Registered Nurses without a baccalaureate degree. The program is flexible, and a program designed for the RN with an associates degree, hospital diploma in nursing, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is designed for each student entering the program.

Admission requirements include a license as a Registered Nurse, a grade point average of 3.0, and the completion of the 1 credit modified college core for the non-BSN student. Features of the program are evening classes that meet once each week on the same day for the entire program, and the program emphasizes roles in practice, research, and education. Students may choose the thesis or non-thesis option. Students do not need to repeat courses that they have taken while earning their previous degree, and they are able to progress towards their academic goals.

Widener University: RN to MSN Program Review

Widener University

4601 Concord Pike

Wilmington, Delaware

Widener University has its main campus in Chester, Pennsylvania and two other Pennsylvania locations in Harrisburg and Exton. There is also a location of the University in Wilmington, Delaware. Widener was rated as Number 181 in the National Universities category by U.S. News and World Report. Widener was founded in 1821. The Wilmington, Delaware campus is located at 4601 Concord Pike. The School of Nursing offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees.

A masters degree in nursing with an emphasis on Adult Health-Gerontology CNS, Adult Health-Gerontology CNS with Emergency/Critical Care Specialty, and Family Nurse Practitioner specialty focuses are offered at the University. Admission requirements to the School of Nursing are to complete a goal statement and to submit it with the complete application and two letters of recommendation. Transcripts must also be sent to the University. The GRE is not required, but an interview with the School of Nursing faculty is required.

The majority of graduate students at Widener receive some type of financial aid. Graduate nursing students may be eligible for federal student loans and for private scholarships, grants, and loans through a variety of hospitals, nursing organizations, and others.

Wilmington University: RN to MSN Program Review

Wilmington University

320 Dupont Highway

New Castle, Delaware 19720

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Wilmington University, located at 320 Dupont Highway, New Castle, Delaware 19720. It is a private institution that was founded in 1968. The College of Health Professions Programs is unique in the fact that they offer degree completion programs only for Registered Nurses and Allied Health professionals. Wilmington does not offer initial preparation to become a Registered Nurse (RN). A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is offered with the specialty area of Nursing Leadership. A dual degree with Business and Nursing Leadership is also offered.

The masters program, Nursing Leadership: Executive, Educator, or Legal Nurse Consultant is available online or in traditional classroom format for the RN who wants to complete training for an advanced nursing career in one of the Nursing Leadership roles. Nurses in the program must complete 36 credits and maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students may request to have an individualized course of study designed to fit their particular professional goals. The program is usually completed in two to three years.

The College of Health Professions Programs also offers a MSN program for the RN interested in training for a career as a Nurse Practitioner: Family, Adult/Gerontology. The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration takes 32 months to complete. There are 48 credits required, and students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. At least 600 clinical hours must be completed as well. The Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Concentration also takes 32 months to complete and consists of 48 credits and 600 clinical hours.

Admission requirements to the Nurse Practitioner masters program include having a bachelors degree in nursing, a statistics and health assessment course with grades of at least a C, and it is recommended that applicants have two years of experience working as a RN. Additional requirements include a professional resume, a written career goal statement, and an interview with faculty. The Nurse Practitioner masters program is held at the Wilmington campus at the Wilson Graduate Center.

Wilmington also offers a Dual degree MSN and a Master of Science in Management with the Health Care Administration concentration. The Master of Business Administration with the Health Care Administration is also offered. The program requires 51 credits, and more information is available from the graduate Nursing Leadership Program Chair.

Washington DC MSN Programs

Georgetown University: RN to MSN Program Review
Georgetown University, 37^th and O Street NW, Washington, DC 20057
Georgetown University is a Jesuit Catholic university. This private research university was established in 1789. The Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies is part of Georgetown University Medical Center. The University houses a multimillion dollar research program and is known for its nationally ranked graduate programs, including Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs.

Most programs are available on campus as well as on line. Program concentrations include the following:

Adult Gerontology ACNP/Adult Gerontology CNS

Family Nurse practitioner

Nurse Anesthesia

Nurse Educator

Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

Students who enter the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) or Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) programs receive training to care for acutely ill adults and their families or for the elderly adult. Students learn from many different specialists during their clinical placements in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The program requires five semesters of full-time or eight semesters of part-time studies totaling 48 credits. Admission requirements are a Bachelors Degree in Nursing (BSN), one year of critical care or ICU experience working full-time as a Registered Nurse (RN). The average work experience of those admitted to the program is three years, and the average grade point average is 3.5.

The RN who would like to pursue a career as a Family Nurse Practitioner will find training for this advanced nursing option at Georgetown University. From 44 to 46 credits are required to complete the program before taking the national certification exam to become a licensed Family Nurse Practitioner. The average amount of work experience that students admitted to the program have ranges from one to 15 years, and the average grade point average is 3.6.

U.S. News and World Report has ranked Georgetown’s Nurse Anesthesia Program as 6^th in the nation’s Best Graduate Schools. Students in the program practice in the anatomy cadaver lab, a very rare resource in nurse anesthesia programs. Students attend full-time to complete 45 credits, with 40 of these didactic credits completed in one year. The program can be completed in seven semesters. Applicants must have a bachelors degree in nursing and a grade point average of at least 3.0. Prerequisite courses are statistics and a chemistry course. In addition, a license as a Registered Nurse (RN) is required. At least one year of working in acute care nursing is required, but those accepted into the program usually have three to four years. The average grade point average of students accepted into the program is 3.7.

The RN interested in teaching as a Nurse Educator may apply to Georgetown’s Nurse Educator program. This masters degree program requires 35 credits to complete. This program is offered online. Georgetown University also offers a Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (NP) program. Training for the RN who wants to care for women’s obstetrical and gynecological needs may want to consider this program. This nationally ranked program requires the completion of 49 credits and is a full-time program. The University’s combined Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program leads to a Master of Science (MS), and these specialties are only offered in this combined format.

The masters nursing programs at Georgetown University are very selective and are intense programs, but graduates have many job opportunities in advanced care nursing positions after graduation and passing national certification exams.

Catholic University of America: RN to MSN Program

The Catholic University of America

620 Michigan Avenue, NE

Washington, DC 20064

The Catholic University of America (CUA) is the pontifical university of the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1887 as a graduate and research center. The University campus is located in an area of Washington, District of Columbia called Little Rome because of the 59 other Catholic institutions located in the area. The School of Nursing was established in 1935 and today offers undergraduate, masters, and doctoral degrees. Programs provide training for Registered Nurses to fill roles in advanced nursing, such as nurse practitioners, public health nurse specialists, nurse educators, or clinical nurse specialists.

The University’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program has a Nurse Specialist Specialty Option in Advanced Public/Community Health Nurse education. Training for students to function as Advanced Public Health nurses is provided in this program. If the Registered Nurse (RN) wants to complete additional course work, it is also possible to earn certification as a Public health Clinical Nurse Specialist. There are two areas of clinical concentration in the Advanced Public Health Nursing program, which are global and refugee health and population-based program design and management. The program consists of 41 credits and at least 500 hours of supervised clinical practice. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the exam to acquire certification as advanced public health nurse specialists.

Nurse Practitioner programs offered by The Catholic University of America are Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Pediatric Nurse practitioner: Primary Care or combined Acute and Primary Care. In the Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program, training prepares advanced practice nurses to serve as primary care providers of adults from adolescents through old age. Thirty-eight credits and at least 540 hours of clinical practice are required for this program. The University offers both a full-time program and a part-time program. Full-time students can complete the program in two years and part-time students may finish it in three and one-half years.

The Family Nurse Practitioner is also available on a full-time or part-time basis. Forty-four credits of coursework and 700 hours of clinical practice in various clinical settings are required. The full-time program takes two years to complete, and nurses can complete the part-time program in three and one-half years. The Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioners program provides students training to prepare them to care for wellness and illness in children from birth to young adulthood. A total of 39 credits and 540 credits are required to complete the program.

The Combined Acute and Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program is designed to provide training for nurses who want to provide care to children and adolescents from wellness to acute care. This 44 credit program prepares the RN to take the national exams for primary care and acute care pediatric nurse practitioners. All applicants must have one year’s experience working in a pediatric acute care setting. The full-time program requires two years and one summer to complete, and part-time options are also available.

The MSN program options are Catholic University of America are unique because of the variety of sub-specialties offered that are not available at most universities. Students must maintain a B average in all courses taken. School-based financial support is offered to graduate nursing students via traineeships, school-based scholarships, and special federal programs. Admission requirements include submission of an application that includes a purpose statement, which program the RN is interested in, examples of leadership skills and abilities, and a description of current and past professional roles. The applicant must have a BSN and a grade point average of at least 3.0. Registered Nurses must have professional licenses in all states or in Maryland and Virginia, where most clinical experience takes place. In addition, three recommendation letters, Graduate Record Examination scores, and a meeting health and behavioral standards for clinical programs at the university.

The George Washington University: RN to MSN Program Review

The George Washington University

2030 M Street, NW

Washington, DC 20036

The George Washington University (GW) is located in the District of Columbia at 2030 M Street, NW, and was begun by an Act of Congress in 1821. It is a private university that offers undergraduate and graduate programs. U.S. News and World Report rated the University as 50^th in the nation in national university rankings. It is rated in the Top 10 by The Princeton Review as the Best in the Northeast. The School of Nursing offers an online graduate program that is rated as one of the programs in the top third by U.S. News and World Report. The University offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program for the Registered Nurse (RN) with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, as well as other programs.

The School of Nursing offers a MSN with the following specialty areas:

Adult Nurse Practitioner

Clinical Research Administration

Family Nurse Practitioner

Health Care Quality

Nursing Leadership and Management

Nurse-Midwifery

The RN who wants to pursue training in one of these specialties while completing a MSN must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing with a grade point of 3.0 or higher. Those with bachelor’s degrees in nursing-related fields must take a bridge course. The GRE is not required. The advantage to this online program is that students also have access to the nursing faculty at the University and have opportunities to work on campus with other students. Both full-time and part time options are available for the RN who is working while completing a MSN. All nurse practitioner students must complete a final skills assessment two days before graduation.

Admission requirements include completion of the NursingCAS online application and the GW Supplemental online application. A curriculum vitae or resume, statement of purpose, and copy of current nursing license must be submitted. Financial aid and scholarships are available, including federal financial aid.

The University offers an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nursing Advancement program as well. Courses are taught online and students complete both their bachelors degree and masters degree in nursing. Two concentrations are available, which are Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Midwife.

Howard University: RN to MSN Program Review

Howard University

6^th & W Streets, NW, Annex II

Washington, DC 20059

Howard University (HU) is a traditionally Black University located at 6^th & W Streets, NW, Annex II, Washington DC 20059. It was founded in 1866 as a theological seminary for African-American clergymen. The University has grown to become one of the 48 private universities with 12 schools and colleges offering over 120 areas of study to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.

A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is offered at the University with concentrations in Nurse Educator and Family Nurse Practitioner tracks. The 46 credit Family Nurse Practitioner track is available on a full-time or part-time basis, and applicants are expected to have a bachelors degree in nursing. This program provides training for nurses to work as primary care nurses who work with all members of the family. Graduates are prepared to sit for the national Nurse Practitioner certification exam. Admission requirements for both tracks of the MSN are having a 3.0 grade point average or above on undergraduate work with a statistics course completed. The applicant must be eligible to be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the District of Columbia. A curriculum vitae or resume is required, three letters of recommendation, official transcripts, a professional goal statement, and results of the Graduate Record Exam.

The Nurse Educator track is an online program for nurses looking for training to teach in academic and clinical settings. This MSN program requires 39 credits and is available either full-time or part-time. After completing the program and teaching full-time for the required number of years, graduates are eligible to sit for the National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) Exam.