Kentucky MSN Programs

Bellarmine University: RN to MSN Program Review
Bellarmine University, 2001 Newburg Road, Louisville, Kentucky 40205
Bellarmine University is located at 2001 Newburg Road, Louisville, Kentucky 40205. It is a private, Catholic university that was established in 1950. Bellarmine University’s Donna and Allan Lansing School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with concentrations in Family Nurse Practitioner, Education, Administration, or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)/Master of Business Administration (MBA). The Family Nurse Practitioner Track is designed for full-time or part-time study, while the Administration or Education Tracks are offered only on a part-time basis.

Students in Nursing Administration receive training in organizational leadership, the financial and economic aspects of health care, human and resource management, and organizational leadership. Practica are required in this concentration. Nursing Education prepares the registered nurse for a role as an educator in a college setting at the undergraduate level. This concentration also requires that students complete practica. Those who enter the Family Nurse Practitioner Track prepare to provide primary care to all members of the family. Clinical practica are part of this curriculum. Professional nurses interested in the dual degree MSN/MBA program complete the requirements of the Nursing Administration Track plus the MBA program. Eight hours from the MBA are applied to the MSN requirements as electives.

To be considered for admission to Bellarmine, applicants must have a bachelors degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required, plus the GRE must be taken if an applicant’s undergraduate grade point average is under 3.28. Three professional references plus a goal statement and resume must be submitted to the university. Applicants must have an active, unrestricted license as a registered nurse in Kentucky. Those applying to the Family Nurse Practitioner Track may need to complete an interview with graduate faculty members.

The Family Nurse Practitioner Track is available in both a one year, full-time option and a two year part-time option. The Education and Administration Tracks may be completed in one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study. Full-time and part-time options are also available for the MSN/MBA Track.

Eastern Kentucky University: RN to MSN Program Review

Eastern Kentucky University

521 Lancaster Avenue

Richmond, Kentucky 40475

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is located at 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, Kentucky 40475. It is a research university that has regional campuses in Corbin, Danville, and Manchester. University centers are located in Fort Knox, Lancaster, and Somerset. EKU was established in 1906, and today both undergraduate and graduate programs are offered. Masters degrees in nursing are offered at the university with options in Rural Health Family Nurse Practitioner, Rural Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, or Advanced Practice in Public Health (with a concentration in Administration or Education),

Admission criteria for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program include having a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a national accredited program. Applicants must have an unrestricted Registered Nursing license in Kentucky or in a recognized compact state. The last 60 hours of the bachelors degree must have a grade point average of at least 2.75, and a prerequisite graduate or undergraduate course in statistics is required. Admission to the program is competitive, so consideration is also given to the applicant’s scores on the GRE general test or on the Miller Analogies Test and the applicant’s statement of Personal and Professional Objectives that must be submitted.

Consideration is also given to the three references submitted on behalf of the applicant and on the rural nature that is cited for future practice as an advanced practice nurse after graduation. In order to progress in the program, students accepted into the program must have a grade of at least B in every subject. Eastern Kentucky University is one of only a few colleges that offer the Rural Health Family Nurse Practitioner or Rural Psychiatric mental Health Nurse Practitioner options.

Frontier Nursing University: RN to MSN Program Review

Frontier Nursing University

195 School Street

Hyden, Kentucky 41749

Frontier Nursing University is located at 195 School Street, Hyden, Kentucky 41749. It is unique because it is a private non-profit graduate school, and it was formerly the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. Frontier Nursing University received its new name when the first family nurse practitioner education program in the United States was opened at the college. Frontier also became the first graduate school of nurse-midwifery to have a distance education program. The university was founded in 1939.

A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is offered at Frontier Nursing University. Concentrations include Nurse-Midwifery, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner. An Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN)-MSN Bridge is also offered that allows registered nurses with an associates degree to earn their masters degree in nursing without completing a bachelors degree. The Bridge is made of seven courses or 20 credits that are taken in one year before beginning the masters degree program. An interesting offering at the university is that students may opt to complete multiple specialties, such as nurse-midwifery and family nurse practitioner so that they have more complete training for their future advanced nursing role in the community. Courses are offered online, and students spend limited time on campus.

Professional nurses seeking admission to Frontier must have a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing, but registered nurses without a bachelors degree who have completed a diploma or associates degree in nursing and have a bachelors degree in another field will also be considered. These candidates will need a portfolio of relevant work experience and academic experience. A grade point average of 3.0 is required on the most recent academic work of the applicant. Those with a grade point average of 2.7 to 2.99 may take the GRE or MAT and obtain a satisfactory score.

Anyone with a grade point average less than 2.7 will not be considered for admission unless they complete graduate level nursing courses equaling 9 or more credits and earn a grade of B or better in these. Applicants must have licensure as a registered nurse in the state in which they work. Also, one year of work experience as a registered nurse is required. Candidates must submit three professional references to the university. Prerequisite courses are a physical assessment course and a statistics course.

Admissions criteria for the ADN-MSN Bridge program are licensure as a registered nurse and an associates degree in nursing. A grade point average of 3.0 is desirable, but applicants with a grade point average between 2.7 and 2.99 will be considered after taking the GRE or MAT and obtaining a satisfactory score. One year of work experience as a registered nurse is require plus three professional references.

McKendree University: RN to MSN Program Review

McKendree University

10168 Linn Station Road

Louisville, Kentucky 40223

McKendree University is located at 10168 Linn Station Road, Louisville, Kentucky 40223. McKendree is a not-for-profit university that offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program that has flexible scheduling for working professionals. The university has a unique curriculum in that an accelerated, one-month format is followed. A blend of in-class and online coursework allows the program to cover the same amount of course content in one month that is usually covered in a four month semester. This schedule allows students to earn three or more credit hours in one-fourth of the time that it would take to do in a conventional college classroom. It is also possible to begin classes any month of the year rather than waiting for a semester to begin.

McKendree offers a Master of Science in Nursing – Management Concentration and Master of Science in Nursing – Education Concentration at the Louisville campus. The program is taught in a blended 8 to 16 week format. Thirty-three credits are required for the Nursing Management Program, and the Nursing Educator Program consists of 38 credits. Either program can be completed in about 20 months that include classroom time, seminars, and practicum. Electronic resources supplement classroom interaction.

Admission requirements include a bachelors degree in nursing with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Applicants must complete the MSN application and submit an essay that describes their personal and professional goals and how these will be met by completing the masters program at the university. A grade point average of 3.0 is required, but those with a grade point average below this are sometimes conditionally admitted. These students must earn a grade of 3.0 in their first 12 credit hours. All applicants must submit three letters of recommendation, a current resume or curriculum vitae, a copy of their Kentucky nursing license, and required health certificates from their doctor.

Murray State University: RN to MSN Program Review

Murray State University

102 Curris Center

Murray, Kentucky 42071

Murray State University is located at 102 Curris Center, Murray, Kentucky 42071. It is the only public university that has been listed in U.S. News & World Report as a Tier 1 school during the last 20 years. Murray State University was founded in 1922 as a normal school established for teacher training. Today, many programs are offered including a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program that provides training for advanced care nurses to work in a rural setting. The university offers two tracks leading to a graduate degree in nursing that include the Academic Nurse Educator and the Clinical Nurse Specialist.

The Academic Nurse Educator program is available on both a full-time and part-time basis. It prepares Registered Nurses for roles as advanced nursing practice specialists who design curriculum, teach student nurses, and perform other functions as a facilitator of learning. The Clinical Nurse Specialist program prepares nurses to serve in many different roles, and in most states a nurse with this specialty may write prescriptions and provide advanced clinical care.

Nurses who are interested in completing their masters degree in nursing must meet certain prerequisites, including a GRE score of at least 1,000. Also, applicants must have a minimum of 2,000 clock hours or one full year of experience working as a Registered Nurse. All prerequisite courses must be completed before starting the MSN program at Murray State University.

Northern Kentucky University: RN to MSN Program Review

Northern Kentucky University

Nunn Drive

Highland Heights, Kentucky 41099

Northern Kentucky University (NKU) is located at Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41099, in the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio area. It is the newest Kentucky university that was established in 1968. NKU has been cited by Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and CIO Magazine for academic quality and value. Tuition at Northern Kentucky University costs less than many other universities in Kentucky. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is offered with seven tracks for masters in nursing students to choose from. These are the following:

Adult Nurse Practitioner

Family Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Nursing Education

Nurse Executive Leadership

Nursing Informatics

To be considered for the Master of Science in Nursing program, applicants must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with a grade point average of at least 3.0. Proof of at least 1,000 work hours as a Registered Nurse are also required, plus a copy of the applicant’s nursing license from the state in which the nurse is licensed. A current resume and letter of purpose are required as well. Two reference forms must be submitted, and all prerequisite courses must be completed. Students accepted into the Nurse Practitioner tracks will be required to complete 600 residency hours as part of their training to prepare to provide primary care to a variety of patients.

Spalding University: RN to MSN Program Review

Spalding University

845 South Third Street

Louisville, Kentucky 40203

Spalding University is located at 845 South Third Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203. Spalding is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church and with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. Founded in 1814, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States west of the Allegheny Mountains. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is offered at the university with the goal of preparing nurses for advanced nursing roles that require a masters degree in nursing. The School of Nursing offers graduate tracks in Educator, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Spalding University’s Nurse Practitioner program does not require the GRE if an applicant’s grade point average is 3.0 or better. It also possible to complete dual certification in Family Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in a program that is offered in a cohort style. Flexible scheduling is available with classes in the afternoon or evening on Wednesday or all day Thursday. Students may enroll in graduate nursing programs on a full-time or part-time basis. Another opportunity offered at Spalding is that students enrolled in the Nurse Educator program may complete only 17 extra credits to get a post-Master’s certificate as a Nurse practitioner.

Admission requirements are a baccalaureate degree, or non-Bachelor of Science in Nursing applicants may complete extra course work and portfolio requirements before being admitted to the program. A grade point average of at least 3.0 is required, as well as a completed online application and official transcripts. A copy of the applicant’s Registered Nurse license in Kentucky or Indiana is also required. If required, GRE scores must be submitted, along with recommendation forms. Applicants must also submit a paper explaining their professional goals. They must meet health requirements, including proof of health insurance. A personal interview may be required as well.

University of Kentucky: RN to MSN Program Review

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky 40506

The University of Kentucky (UK) is located in Lexington, Kentucky. It was founded in 1865 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky. Today, it is the largest university in the state and has been ranked as the highest research university in Kentucky by U.S. News & World Report.

The University of Kentucky is no longer offering a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program.

University of Louisville: RN to MSN Program Review

University of Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky 40292

The University of Louisville (U of L) is located in Louisville, Kentucky. It was established in 1798 as one of the first universities west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university’s Health Sciences Center has been a leader in many medical advancements, such as completing one of the first artificial heart transplant surgeries. The University of Louisville has also been in the forefront of other medical surgeries and treatments. Today, the University of Louisville offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a variety of concentrations, including the following:

Adult Nurse Practitioner

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Family Nurse Practitioner

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing with a Certificate in Health Professions Education

Registered Nurses who are interested in applying to the university must complete a Graduate School application and have their official transcripts forwarded to the university. Successful scores on the GRE are also required, as well as two reference letters. An application to the School of Nursing is also required, complete with a professional goal statement and registered nurse licensure number. Applicants must complete a certified background check. Students are sometimes admitted to the masters degree in nursing program conditionally if they have lower than required GRE scores or for other reasons. After maintaining the required grade point average, students in the program may be taken off conditional status.

Western Kentucky University: RN to MSN Program Review

Western Kentucky University

1906 College Heights Boulevard

Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101

Western Kentucky University (WKU), located at 1906 College Heights Boulevard, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101 was established in 1906 by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The school’s roots go back even farther to 1875 when the Glasgow Normal School in Glasgow, Kentucky was founded. WKU offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with special concentrations to meet the growing need for advanced practice nurses. Specialty areas are the following:

Family Nurse Practitioner (students admitted only until Spring, 2014)

Nurse Educator

Nurse Administrator

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

RN to MSN (for associate degree in nursing students with a bachelors degree in a related field)

Criteria for admission to the program include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a grade point average of 3.0. Registered Nurses interested in the Registered Nurse (RN) to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program must have an associate degree in nursing plus a baccalaureate degree in a related field. These candidates are only eligible for the Nurse Educator or Nurse Administrator concentrations. It is also necessary to have satisfactory scores on the GRE, but applicants with a grade point average of 3.0 or better on their undergraduate work are exempt from taking this test. Applicants must have Registered Nurse licensure in Kentucky or in a compact state and must also have a year’s experience working full-time as a Registered Nurse. Applicants must submit a written goal statement and three professional reference forms.