Nurses who have an Associate’s Degree in nursing, an Associate of Science in Nursing, or a Diploma in Nursing and who have passed the NYCLEX exam to become Registered Nurses can opt for one of the accelerated MSN programs listed here. A Master of Nursing degree is becoming extremely popular among RNs with career ambitions, which is why the RN to MSN programs are so popular. There are many schools that insist on a bachelor’s degree of some sort for RNs wishing to enroll in a Master of Nursing program. Here are five schools that accept students with an associate’s degree into their graduate level nursing programs.
1. American Sentinel University (**Highly Recommended) offers an ADN to MSN program online that is accredited by the Council on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). There are 21 credit hours of undergraduate work followed by 36 credits of advance practice nursing classes and a practicum. Master of Nursing specializations include Nursing Management and Organizational Leadership, Case Management, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, and Infection Prevention and Control.
2. Kaplan University (**Highly Recommended) has an ADN to MSN degree option for its graduate level nursing students. There are six undergraduate courses to be completed which are followed by the Master of Nursing program, offered with these areas of specialization: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, and Informatics. The clinical specializations are available only in certain states.
3. Independence University has an online Master of Nursing program that is open to qualified nurses who have licensure in their state of residence. The MSN is offered with concentrations in Nursing Administration, Gerontology, Community Health, and Wellness Promotion. This last option focuses on public health education in clinical environments, social service settings, and schools.
4. Lewis University offers an online RN-to-BSN-to-MSN track that will take a practicing nurse with an ADN all the way through the advanced practice nursing program. The two specialization options are in Nursing Education and Nursing Administration. All online nursing degrees at Lewis are CCNE accredited.
5. Graceland University has an RN to MSN program that incorporates completion of the BSN and the MSN into one, accelerated program. There is a brief on-campus appearance required for the BSN portion and two similar stops for the MSN. Both programs require practica, which may be completed in your community. The areas of specialization for the MSN include Family Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Educator.
