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