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.