Morehead State University Nursing School Review

Morehead State University (MSU) is located in Morehead, Kentucky between Lexington, Kentucky and Huntington, West Virginia. It is very close to the Daniel Boone National Forest. There are almost 9,000 students who are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs at the university that was founded in 1887. MSU began as Morehead Normal School and was established to train teachers.

Today, it is one of four universities in the United States to offer a Bachelor of Science in space science. It was the first university in the state to offer an online Master of Business Administration degree as well. It has been named as one of the top 25 universities in the South. There are almost 80 programs offered at MSU, including associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and graduate degrees. MSU has five regional campus centers that are located in Mt. Sterling, West Liberty, Ashland, Jackson, and Prestonsburg.

Nursing Programs

Nursing AAS

The Associate Degree Nursing Program leads to an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree with a concentration in nursing. Students take courses in liberal arts, sciences, nursing, and they also complete clinical experiences at a variety of healthcare settings. Graduates of the AAS program are prepared as generalists to work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, doctors’ offices, schools, and other industries. When the program is completed, graduates take the NCLEX-RN to become a licensed Registered Nurse (RN). This program is available at the main campus in Morehead and at the Mt. Sterling Extended Campus via interactive television.

The nursing program takes four semesters of full-time study to complete. Prerequisite courses must be completed before admission to the program. Seats are limited and a selective admission process is used to decide on which applicants are accepted into the program. Requirements for admission to the university are a minimum score of 18 on the ACT or a satisfactory SAT score and completion of precollege curriculum. Students must apply to the nursing program as well, and the requirements are more stringent than for general admission to the university. An applicant must have an ACT score of 19 or higher and a grade point average of 2.5 or higher in the prerequisite courses for the AAS degree in nursing. A total of 65 credits are needed for graduation.

Paramedic to ADN Track

Morehead State University allows paramedics to use the experience that they have gained from their jobs and previous college work related to their paramedic studies by transferring credits to the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. Paramedics need to complete 31 credits in prerequisite courses, including a Paramedic to ADN Track Transition. Paramedics who complete the Paramedic program and ADN Track Transition and maintain a minimum grade of C in these courses are awarded credit for the first year nursing courses. They then need to complete only two semesters totaling 26 credits before graduation and being eligible to take the NCLEX-RN. The liberal arts and science courses that are required for the nursing program must be completed before a student is eligible for graduation. The Paramedic-ADN program has selective admission, and not all students who qualify are admitted. Applicants must have active paramedic national certification with no restrictions as well as one year’s experience. The program consists of four semesters of full-time studies, including coursework, clinical experience, and clinical learning experiences.

Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing

Morehead State University also offers a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program for students who want to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Students complete all of the general education requirements for a bachelor’s degree plus nursing courses and clinical experience. When the program is completed, graduates take the NCLEX-RN to obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse. Admission to the program is selective, and not all applicants who qualify are accepted into the program. An ACT score of at least 19 is required and applicants must score at the 50^th or above percentile on the NLN PAX-RN exam. Applicants must also have certification by the American Heart Association in Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers, and they must also meet all health requirements and Technical Performance Standards.

Before being accepted into the Baccalaureate Nursing Program (BNP), students are considered to be prelicensure students. They must complete 35 credits of pre-nursing courses for their first year of the program and maintain at least a C in all courses. Once accepted into the program, students complete the remaining liberal arts and science courses and nursing courses, including clinical experience.

Baccalaureate in Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) Online

The post-licensure RN to BSN program is designed for the Registered Nurse (RN) who wants to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). This program is available online so that working nurses can complete coursework at their convenience while working and fulfilling their other responsibilities. There is a full-time option as well as a part-time option to complete the program. Online students must complete prerequisite courses in sciences, English, and other general education requirements. Up to 32 credits may be transferred to the BSN program from their associate degree. After all prerequisite courses have been completed, the RN-BSN online program requires three semesters of fall, spring, and summer to complete on a full-time basis for a total of 43 credits. The part-time program takes two years of seven semesters to complete after the prerequisite courses have been finished.

All students who enter the RN-BSN program must meet admission criteria, including being a graduate of an Associate Degree Nursing or Diploma Nursing Program and holding a current license in Kentucky as a Registered Nurse. RNs who have a Diploma in Nursing must take the national standardized exams for RNs. Once admitted to the program, students must complete 45 credits in general education and nursing courses that are required for a BSN at Morehead. A grade point average of at least 2.5 is required on all prerequisite courses, and students must have at least a C on each of the general education, support, and nursing courses.

One advantage of this program is that RNs may apply for a reduction in practicum hours because of their nursing experience. A student must submit a written request to be excused from this required element of the program. If the request is granted, the RN may have the 180 hours of required practicum work reduced by 45 hours for every two years that the student has worked in a clinical setting. At least 90 hours will be required to be taken as practicum hours in a different healthcare setting from the one that the RN has worked in.

RN-BSN Face-to-Face Prestonsburg

A Registered Nurse (RN) who prefers to take classes face-to-face may enroll at the Prestonsburg campus where courses in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program are available on campus. Applicants must be graduates of an Associate Degree Nursing or Diploma Nursing Program. In addition, they must have an unrestricted license as an RN and have completed 45 hours of general education and other prerequisite courses for the BSN degree. A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 is required. The RN must present documentation of the American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers and of all required immunizations. Students must meet the Technical Performance Standards and pass the criminal background check. Malpractice insurance is also required. This is a part-time program that takes three years to complete, and nurses are expected to continue working as professional nurses during the time that they are enrolled in the BSN program.

Contact:

Morehead State University
150 University Blvd.,
Morehead, KY 40351
(800) 585-6781

[wpgmza id=”465″]