There is not direct track to a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) if you are an RN who completed your nursing studies with an associate’s degree.  You are going to be required to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing on your way to the MSN program.  However there are RN to MSN Bridge Programs that are designed to streamline that process and make it achievable as rapidly as possible.

The RN to BSN step is an expansion of the associate’s degree to include many of the core courses found in any bachelor’s program in college, along with additional training in nursing.  A typical RN to BSN program will include perhaps 60 credits in nursing and the same number in liberal arts classes.  However the majority of the nursing credits are offset by RN experience and the associate’s degree, leaving some advanced nursing courses and the college course that you missed by opting for a fast track to a profession.

An RN to MSN Bridge Program will typically incorporate some of the upper division BSN nursing courses into the MSN curriculum.  That step will shorten the credit obligations for an RN to MSN program that requires completion of both the BSN and the MSN.  Transfer of credits from the associate’s program will help as well, although the process can be a challenge depending upon the schools.  An RN to MSN Bridge for licensed nurses with an associate’s degree should be no more than a three year program.

Some schools accept licensed nurses with an associate’s degree into the RN to MSN program, having designed a curriculum to match the student’s needs.  Case Western Reserve University has such a program; however there are undergraduate prerequisites that may require some attention prior to enrolling.  In some cases schools will allow students who lack some of the prerequisites to make them up after entry into the program.  Some of the RN to MSN programs accept RNs with an associate’s degree, but require substantial general course work at the undergraduate level prior to admission.  What that means varies from school to school and may be subject to some discussion regarding the transfer of credits.  The best course of action is a lengthy discussion with the admissions department in the School of Nursing.

There are also examples of schools that accept an RN with an associate’s degree into an MSN program but limit the areas of specialization within the MSN catalog.  That may or may not be acceptable depending upon your goals as an MSN graduate.  Gonzaga University has an excellent RN to MSN program that allows for transfer of a certain percentage of undergraduate credits and welcomes students with an associate’s degree.  The available MSN specializations in this program, however, are limited to Nurse Educator and Health Systems Leadership.  That does not preclude later pursuit of post-Masters training in Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist; it would simply mean a longer academic commitment.

Every advanced practice nursing position requires extensive time working in a supervised clinical role; just as obtaining RN status does with an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree or a diploma.  The rule of thumb for clinical hours – called a practicum – in advance practice nursing MSN programs seems to be five hundred hours minimum.  No one is quite sure of the origin of this figure, but nursing schools across the country work with 500 hours as a starting point and adjust requirements as the faculty deems fit.  MSN students or graduates seeking certification as a Nurse Practitioner may expect that range of clinical hours responsibility.

Variations Among MSN Specialties

Some schools vary their requirements slightly: the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing requires 540 hours from its Family Nurse Practitioner students, in addition to which there is a capstone project to complete the master’s degree.  Clinical Nurse Specialists in this program also put in 540 clinical hours.  MSN candidates seeking the Nurse Administrator credential do not go through as rigorous a program; the credit load is substantially less and there are 360 clinical hours required.

Some schools break the practicum components up based on degree of specialization.  Eastern Michigan University has an MSN program in Adult Nursing that requires 225 clinical hours, with an additional 275 hours for those who wish to specialize in Clinical Nurse Specialist or Clinical Nurse Leader.  The gradations are similar for students who are focused on the Nurse Administrator role, requiring far fewer hours than the Nurse Practitioner specialties.

The Nurse Midwifery specialization for MSN students requires additional training as compared to the Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner positions and additional clinical hours as well.  In Cincinnati nine hundred clinical hours are necessary for the training component of this program.  The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing operates a graduate nursing program at Shenandoah University that is designed to train medical professionals for an underserved rural area.  The nurse midwifery program there requires 720 clinical hours.

Nurse Educator specialists in an MSN program are required to complete substantial clinical hours despite the fact that their training is in education rather than a medical specialty.  The University of Cincinnati treats this specialization as a rigorous program matching the medical specializations, requiring 540 hours.  Temple University required 600 clinical hours of its Nurse Educator students.

When a BSN is Necessary Too

Students without a bachelor’s degree who wish to embark on the RN to MSN track are going to need to complete a BSN in most programs first.  Several of these have practicum hours for RNs enrolled in the undergraduate program as well.  Kentucky State University has a 240 clinical hour requirement for its RN to BSN students; sixty hours associated with each of four courses.  If a student is enrolled in an integrated RN to MSN program that includes the BSN training, the requirement for clinical hours may be lessened somewhat if the program has been streamlined to accommodate practicing nurses.

The RN to MSN program at Walden University is open to any licensed RN who holds an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree or a diploma in nursing provided the applicant meets certain academic prerequisites.  Those are general education courses that are generally included in an undergraduate program and in some two year associate’s degree programs but some nurses may be a course or two short.  The general education prerequisites:

• Communication: two courses, one of which must be college level English.
• Humanities: two courses.
• Social Science: two courses.
• Mathematics and Science: four courses, which must include anatomy, physiology, and microbiology.
• Introductory Statistics

Students can complete these introductory courses at Walden and then enroll in the RN to MSN program.  For most applicants the requirements will be met by transcripts from an accredited college or community college.  Once a non-BSN student is enrolled in one of the RN to MSN programs there are foundational courses that are required of each student regardless of the academic area of focus.  There is a different track for the BSN to MSN students that does not require these classes. The foundation courses for the Walden University RN to MSN:

• Success Strategies in the Master of Science Program in Nursing Online Environment
• Issues and Trends in Nursing
• Advancing Nursing Through Inquiry and Research
• Information and Healthcare Technologies Applied to Nursing Practice
• Topics in Clinical Nursing
• Managing a Continuum of Care for Positive Patient Outcomes
• The Practice of Population-Based Care

RN to MSN Specializations

Walden University offers three academic areas of concentration for the RN to MSN student.  Those options are Nurse Educator, Nursing Informatics, and Leadership & Management.  This last option has traditionally been called Nurse Administrator but many schools are expanding the title and the scope of this particular degree as advanced practice nurses have begun to assume executive roles in healthcare systems, insurance companies and large medical practices.

Nurse educators teach in nursing schools at community colleges and in some cases at the university level.  In most cases a college school of nursing is affiliated with a medical center or medical school, or both and in those environments, nurse educators may find a teaching role.  The other option that is readily open to a MSN in Nurse Educator graduate is working in a continuing education program, an annual obligation for every licensed RN.  One of the more interesting courses for this specialization is Curriculum Development, Assessment & Evaluation, an area of expertise that is more often associated with a teaching degree.

Nursing informatics is a specialization that requires working with computer engineering, software and database systems.  It is also the heart of day-to-day activity on hospital wards and in many medical practices.  Patient records, lab results, and the daily chart notes are all recorded through a computer today.  A nurse that specializes in the field becomes a communications expert for all of the medical professionals involved in any single patient’s case.

Request FREE Information from Walden University today!

MSN Options

The two programs that Nursing@Georgetown has launched with are two of the most challenging graduate level nursing options available.  The MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner can be completed in about 18 months of full time study or 24 months on a part time basis.  The format is asynchronous, which means that you can access the classroom lectures and presentations at any time.

The MSN in Nurse Midwifery/Women’s Health Practitioner combines two traditional areas of study for advanced practice nursing, creating an educational path that allows the graduate to work with women patient as a primary practitioner, not just when they are pregnant.  Nurse midwifery is one of the four original specializations for the MSN degree, and the women’s health specialization for the nurse practitioner has grown into one of the principal areas of practice in recent years.  The time for completion of coursework is the same as the FNP degree: 18 months on a full time basis and two years as a part time student.

Program Structure

One of the reasons that so few clinical MSN programs are available online is the fact that they require extensive practicum hours.  Nurses studying to be a Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Midwife put in hundreds of hours working in an internship or understudy role with experienced professionals, in a clinical setting.  The Georgetown School of Nursing has determined that their own faculty and qualified staff will work out the clinical study arrangements for each of their online students.  The location and personnel that each student will intern with are selected by the School of Nursing, which is committed to finding an appropriate practicum that is convenient to their place of residence.

Because it is so new, this online MSN program has not been approved for licensure in all states yet.  Before you enroll, check with the licensing agency for nurses in your state to make sure that you will be meeting academic requirements.

1.    Tell us about the Master’s of Science in Nursing programs offered at Kramer School of Nursing (KSN)?
Oklahoma City University KSN offers two tracks to the Master’s of Science in Nursing.  The MSN in Education prepares the graduate to teach nursing in either an educational institution or in a hospital setting.  The MSN in Administration is offered in conjunction with the internationally renowned Meinder’s School of Business.  The program prepares nurse administrators.  There is also an MSN/MBA option for the individual who wants a dual degree.

In addition, there is a fast track for RN to MSN for those holding a bachelors degree in another field.

All courses are offered on Thursday after 2 PM to allow for work schedules.  Limited courses are available online.

2.    What’s the typical duration for your full time and/or part time programs?
The MSN in Nursing Education is 33 hours and may be done full or part time.  The program may be completed in 17 months with full time study.

The MSN in Nursing Administration is a 39 hour program and may be completed as a full time student in 22 months.

The MSN/MBA is 66 hours and may be completed in less than 3 years depending upon the course arrangement which is done in conjunction with the Meinder’s School of Business.

3.    What sets your post-graduate program apart from other universities?
Kramer School of Nursing is rated by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing as in the top 10% of nursing schools in the nation.  The graduate programs at Kramer School of Nursing are rated by U.S. News and World Report in the top 33%.  KSN is known for its individualized attention to students, the faculty to student ratio which allows for mentoring, and the standards for academic excellence.  Faculty are well qualified and hold advanced degrees and specialization in the area taught.

4.    There’s a lot of discussion about costs and benefits of college degrees today.  Do you consider your masters’ level programs a good academic value?
The academic value of an education at KSN is the greatest in the region.  Because of the individualized attention and faculty availability, students can be assured that they will come out of the program with an excellent foundation for advanced practice in teaching or administration.

5.    Does Kramer School of Nursing have the ability to make financial assistance available for graduate students?
OCU and KSN are able to put together a financial aid package to make a graduate degree affordable.  Many scholarship opportunities are available and do not always depend upon financial need alone but also upon future goals and previous academic and clinical success.

6.    Is accreditation important to your incoming students?
Accreditation is an important consideration for students considering where to attend school.  Accreditation assures the student that the program meets national standards for the profession. In the case of KSN, students may be assured that we meet and exceed national standards.  We are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC).

7.    What are the key elements of your admissions requirements?
Students must have a BSN.  (Students with an ADN and a Bachelor’s in another field may choose a fast track option to the MSN).
Students must have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale.  Requests for exceptions are considered by the Chair of MSN Programs on a case by case basis.
Students must have an RN license or meet the credentialing standards of his/her country of origin (for international students from countries that do not require licensure).
Students for whom English is not the mother tongue must score 550 or the equivalent on TOEFL.

8.    Can you offer any advice for veterans or mid-career applicants who are returning to school?
Many clinical experts are afraid to return to school because they feel they may not be up to the academic rigor.  The best reflection I can offer is that the MSN program is a very different process than the original nursing preparation.  It is creative, fun, and intellectually engaging.  There is an opportunity to pursue issues of personal and professional interest and there is a great deal of camaraderie among the students and faculty.

9.    Do you currently have or plan on offering a DNP program?
Yes.  We have DNP completion tracks for both advanced practice nurses and nurse executives, as well as a BSN to DNP program for those wishing to become Family Nurse Practitioners.

10.     What do you enjoy most about your position at Kramer School of Nursing?
I enjoy the interaction I have with students.  Education is a change process—and I love to see students of all ages come into the program and then develop into the advanced practice nurse they hoped to be!  The process may not always be easy, but it is very rewarding.

For more information on the Master’s in Nursing Program available at Oklahoma City University’s Kramer School of Nursing, please visit them online.

Thank you Dr. Barnes, for sharing and participating in our interview.

1.    Tell us about the Master’s of Science in Nursing programs offered at Carlow University.
Carlow University offers a Master of Science in Nursing with two concentrations:  Nursing Concentration in Education and Leadership (NCEL) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).  Students may also enroll as RNs to complete their BSN first and then continue with the MSN program.

2.    What’s the typical duration for your full time and/or part time programs?
The MSN-NCEL can be completed in one year fulltime and in two years part-time. The MSN-FNP program can be completed in two years fulltime and about 3-4 years taking classes part-time.

3.    What sets your post-graduate program apart from other universities?
Both programs are offered at all three of our campus locations.  Both programs are offered in a convenient, one day per week format.  For example, the MSN-NCEL students may complete the Master’s curriculum in one year taking classes only one full day per week. The MSN-NCEL program is unusual in that students study core content in both educational principles and theories and leadership and administration.  During the internship course, the MSN-NCEL students choose a focus area of either education or management.  Our philosophy is that you lead from where you are – regardless of role, our students are leaders in their professional lives.

4.    There’s a lot of discussion about costs and benefits of college degrees today.  Do you consider your masters’ level programs a good academic value?
The MSN degree is a valuable degree in the current healthcare workplace. Our MSN-NCEL students are educated to assume either educator roles or leadership positions.  The MSN-FNP students are educated for the CRNP role and are eligible to sit for national certification as Family Nurse Practitioners, allowing them to fill a variety of positions caring for patients across the lifespan. There is a faculty shortage nationally and with the healthcare reform, there will be an increased demand for nurse practitioners.

5.    Does Carlow University have the ability to make financial assistance available for graduate students?
Carlow University provides financial counseling and financial assistance to graduate students.

6.    Is accreditation important to your incoming students?
Accreditation is important for nursing students to ensure that the highest levels of academic standards are available.  Carlow University is accredited by CCNE.

7.    What are the key elements of your admissions requirements?
Students applying to both the RN-MSN and MSN programs are evaluated by previous academic achievements, written essay, and professional references.

8.    Can you offer any advice for veterans or mid-career applicants who are returning to school?
Go for it!  There has never been a better time or more opportunities for nurses with graduate degrees.  Carlow University is known for providing strong academic support to adult students, with numerous student support services, small classes, and personal attention and guidance. We have developed a series of modules to assist students who have not been in the academic setting for a while with specific academic skills.  We understand that graduate students are active professionals with full lives outside of school and work.

9.    Do you currently have or plan on offering a DNP program?
We admitted our first cohort of DNP students in August of 2009.  Our DNP program is a program focused on leadership in change at a systems level.  The program is hybrid in nature, combining online classes with up to one Saturday class per month on campus.

10.     What do you enjoy most about your position at Carlow University?
Carlow is a warm and supportive environment for both faculty and students.  We have wonderful, dynamic students and with the use of dialogue education for graduate students, all students and faculty are actively engaged in life changing discussion and growth.

For more information on the Master’s in Nursing Program available at Carlow University, please visit them online.

Thank you Peggy, for sharing and participating in our interview.

1. Tell us about the Master’s of Science in Nursing programs offered at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWOSH)?
We offer several nursing master’s emphases. The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) emphasis prepares advanced nurse generalists to manage a group of patients at the microsystem level (any setting where patients and healthcare providers meet). There is a focus on quality, safety, evidence based practice, and improving patient and staff outcomes. Clinical Nurse Leaders’ clinical projects and learning experiences are tailored to meet healthcare agencies’ strategic goals and initiatives.

The Nurse Educator (NE) emphasis prepares nurses to assume educator positions in a variety of healthcare or academic settings.

While we currently offer a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) master’s emphasis, beginning in fall 2012, our FNP emphasis will be transitioned to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

2. What’s the typical duration for your full time and/or part time programs?
After completion of the BSN portion of the curriculum, students can complete the MSN portion in 2 years of full time or 3 years of part time study.

3. What sets your post-graduate program apart from other universities?
Our CNL and NE emphases are offered 100% online taught by faculty well versed in online education. We offer a comprehensive orientation for new students to assure they are acclimated to the online environment (offered via Desire 2 Learn [D2L]).

UWOSH boasts a 100% pass rate on the CNL certification exam. The CNL curriculum is cutting edge with clinical experiences arranged at the student’s own workplace. Many CNL students are put in a CNL “fellow” or “intern” role while still in school so they can easily transition to the CNL role upon graduation.

Our NE students complete clinical experiences at academic institutions or healthcare settings close to their homes. With the current severe nursing faculty shortage, most of our NE students are offered employment while they are still in school.

Our FNP emphasis is highly successful and that success will certainly continue when it transitions to the DNP. Our graduates are highly recruited and are touted in the healthcare community as excellent practitioners.

4. There’s a lot of discussion about costs and benefits of college degrees today. Do you consider your masters’ level programs a good academic value?
Our masters’ level programs are a great academic value. Courses are taught by faculty with doctoral degrees or by instructional academic staff who are certified in their specialty. Most are working in their specialty area and we can confidently say that our curriculum is relevant to current and future healthcare needs. Graduates of our programs are offered competitive salaries and flexible work schedules. We encourage students to pursue the MSN early in their nursing careers to allow them to reap the benefits of that degree for many years in their profession! An average car costs $20,000 and depreciates significantly after it is driven off the lot. Students can get a MSN degree for less than the price of a new car and have it last for a lifetime. The value of that degree only grows over time.

5. Does the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh offer financial assistance available for graduate students?
We offer some scholarships and traineeship grants to graduate nursing students. We are continually seeking grant funds for our students through federal and other sources. Financial aid information is available through http://www.uwosh.edu/fin_aid/

The online option allows students the flexibility to keep working while in school to maintain their income. Online course offerings eliminate the costs associated with travel to campus.

6. Is accreditation important to your incoming students?
Accreditation should be important to incoming students. Students want to be sure that the school they choose is accredited so that the school’s mission and philosophy, resources, curriculum, and program outcomes have been evaluated. In order to be accredited, schools must meet high expectations that are set by accrediting agencies.

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Nursing Undergraduate and Graduate Programs were surveyed by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) in April 2010. At that time, we were awarded a full 10-year accreditation, the maximum a school can receive.

7. What are the key elements of your admissions requirements?

Admission requirements include: (a) graduation from a NLNAC or CCNE accredited baccalaureate program, (b) current Wisconsin licensure as a RN, and (c) completed an acceptable statistics course with a grade of B or higher in the past 5 years. Other admission requirements can be found at http://www.uwosh.edu/con/graduate/master-of-science-in-nursing/graduate/master-of-science-in-nursing/admissions

8. Can you offer any advice for veterans or mid-career applicants who are returning to school?
We have an excellent Veteran’s Resource Center on campus. Information can be found at http://www.uwosh.edu/registrar/veterans/. The online courses give those people who are at a distance from our campus greater flexibility in attending school. This is important for veterans and mid-career applicants who often have homes and families that are well established in their own communities.

9. Do you currently have or plan on offering a DNP program?
We currently offer a MSN to DNP program for advanced practice nurses and advanced administrators. We will be transitioning our master’s FNP emphasis to the DNP beginning in fall 2012.

10. What do you enjoy most about your position at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh?
I am very proud to be the Graduate Program Director at a school that has such an excellent reputation. Our FNP students are highly regarded in our community, around the state, and beyond. I am excited to be a part of the transition to the DNP Program. Our CNL and NE programs are blossoming due to the increasing complexity in healthcare and the great demand for nurse educators. It’s a fantastic time for graduate education in nursing!

For more information on the Master’s in Nursing Program available at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, please visit them online.

Thank you Sharon, for sharing and participating in our interview.

2.    What’s the typical duration for your full time and/or part time programs?
The  majority of our students are working RNs who choose the part-time option and complete the program in 3-4 years. However, students who select the full time option can complete the program in 2 years.

3.    What sets your post-graduate program apart from other universities?
Armstrong’s  program offers the hybrid format so that requirements to be on campus is limited. We realize that the majority of our students are working RNs and try to work around the various scheduling needs.

4.    There’s a lot of discussion about costs and benefits of college degrees today.  Do you consider your masters’ level programs a good academic value?
Armstrong’s tuition is among the lowest for institutions offering graduate programs. The three tracks were designed to meet the needs of working nurses who are ready to advance their careers. The job market for advanced practice nurses and administrators is very positive.

5.    Does Armstrong Atlantic State University have the ability to make financial assistance available for graduate students?
Armstrong evaluates students for scholarships and financial aid opportunities. We have been successful in obtaining Federal funding for traineeship stipends for our students.

6.    Is accreditation important to your incoming students?
Absolutely, accreditation is imperative. Armstrong Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

7.    What are the key elements of your admissions requirements?
Admission requirements include: unencumbered RN licensure, completion of  BSN, GRE scores of no less than 450 (verbal) and 450 (quantitative) or scaled score of 402 on the MAT.

8.    Can you offer any advice for veterans or mid-career applicants who are returning to school?
It is never too late to continue your education. Nursing is an amazing profession with many opportunities.

9.     What do you enjoy most about your position at Armstrong Atlantic State University?
Armstrong Atlantic State University is a remarkable place where you can find individual attention and support – where professors know your name and take personal interest in your success. An added bonus is the location in beautiful Savannah, Georgia.

For more information on the Master’s in Nursing Program available at Armstrong Atlantic State University, visit them online.

Thank you Helen for sharing and participating in this piece.

1.    Tell us about the Master’s of Science in Nursing program offered at Dominican University of California?
By way of introduction, I am Barbara Ganley, PhD, MSN, RN, Graduate Program Director and Associate Professor of Nursing at Dominican University of California. The MSN at Dominican University is a Clinical Nurse Leader program. This program prepares RNs to be Advanced Generalist and the degree compliments any area of nursing.

The bridgework requires 16 units including English writing (3u), Transitions (3u), Community Health (5u), Statistics (4u), and an informatics class (1u). The advanced work is 32 units. The program is for AD to MSN or BS to MSN for licensed nurses.  Nurses are qualified to sit for Clinical Nurse Leader certification at the end of the program.

For more information and to see a letter from me please visit this link or call 415/482-1829 to speak with me personally.

2.    What’s the typical duration for your full time and/or part time program?
Full time AD nurses can complete in 6 semesters and full time BS nurses can complete in 4 semesters. Part time would add an additional 2 semesters to each track.

3.    What sets your post-graduate program apart from other universities?
Dominican’s academic doors opened in 1890 as an all girl school, begin admitting men in the 1960’s, and achieved University status in 2000. We are a small campus of approximately 2500 students. We have small class sizes with great attention to the individual student and the student’s success. Faculty are all doctorate prepared and/or specialist in their field. The advanced coursework is delivered one day a week over the four semesters. Our campus is just north of San Francisco; it is 60 acres of a serene and beautiful environment conducive to study and reflection. Our students are from diverse cultures and backgrounds and embrace each other; we warmly welcome those who are different including gender specific differences and those with different ethnicity, and religious and spiritual values. Ours is a cohort program.

4.    There’s a lot of discussion about costs and benefits of college degrees today.  Do you consider your masters’ level programs a good academic value?
Dominican considers that nurses who come back to get their advanced degree should not only be motivated by the desire to move ahead in their profession and to earn more money, although this may be an incentive; but these nurses must be intrinsically motivated to 1) be better nurses, 2) to learn more about nursing and increase their knowledge of practice, and 3) to provide the best patient care possible. Inquiring students who first ask me what this degree will mean in terms of their salary are usually not the best candidates. Going back to school to simply increase one’s salary is never enough to be successful; those who do this typically lack the inspiration or drive to succeed academically. We look for students who have a strong desire to improve healthcare and who are motivated by a desire to be agents of change; they typically come in with a mission to achieve a practice goal and have ideals (and ideas) in mind to support their mission.

Whether getting one’s degree is an academic value – absolutely. The more one improves his or her education the more he or she begins to realize how much knowledge there is to still be gained. Knowledge in itself is power and this power is what one needs to make a difference.  However, it is the case that the older nurse is less likely to realize a positive return on financial investment, but there is just no way to measure the great return on the self-investment that one achieves though advanced knowledge, increased self-efficacy, increased self-esteem, and increased credibility in practice. This self-investment is “Priceless”.

5.    Does Dominican University have the ability to make financial assistance available for graduate students?
Yes, Dominican has financial aid and scholarships for our graduate students including low cost loans and non-financial need-based scholarships.

6.    Is accreditation important to your incoming students?
It is seldom that students ask about accreditation. I do not believe they would come to Dominican if our website did not state that we are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and our program, overall, additionally accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

7.    What are the key elements of your admissions requirements?
Graduate applicants must submit the following: 1) a copy of his or her valid and active California Nursing License, 2) a 500 word essay as to his or her mission and the reason for returning for graduate education, 3) official sealed transcripts from previously attended schools, 4) a GPA of 3.0 or higher, 5) two letters of professional reference attesting to the students likelihood of success in graduate school and why, 6) a resume, and 7) a completed Dominican application.

8.    Can you offer any advice for veterans or mid-career applicants who are returning to school?
Note that returning to school seriously changes one’s life literally and figuratively. While the long term rewards are great and the change in the graduate immense, going back to school also temporarily changes your priorities and limits your time with family and friends. School must be your priority for the short duration of the program. I would urge anyone who is considering this to talk to a MSN Program Director and to begin to think about time management. Going back to school is not for the faint of heart and should be considered very carefully. Consider your motivation and get support from your colleagues, family, and friends. It is such a very short time out of your life for such a great personal return. I encourage your readers to call me but if Dominican doesn’t sound like the place he or she wants to be, consider somewhere else. If you are a nurse you should always be enhancing your education – this way you serve yourself, your patients, and your colleagues to the best of your ability. If you are enhancing your education – why not get a degree as well. Get a friend to join you that way you are not only accountable to yourself but to your colleague. Buy your books used, be serious, talk to your teachers as much as possible, and never be afraid to ask questions. Always think about school and your goals – look forward to the end when you can then enroll in a doctoral program.

9.    Do you currently have or plan on offering a DNP program?
No.

10.     What do you enjoy most about your position at Dominican University of California?
The students and my colleagues. I love my job and every day I go to work I feel blessed to be in such an amazing academic / natural environment and to have such great students and faculty with whom to work.  My passion is teaching and I teach in both the graduate and undergraduate programs; I teach research, statistics, and transitions and leadership. My research is focused on group and team learning. I have been at Dominican 10 years and still marvel every day that I have such a great job.  It is said that “Dominican changes people” that includes faculty and staff, my life is ever changed from my time and associations at Dominican. Life is good.

For more information on the Master’s in Nursing Program available at Dominican University of California, visit them online or call Barbara Ganley direct 415/482-1829.

Thank you Barbara, for sharing and participating in this piece

One of the most popular areas of concentration for RN to MSN programs around the country is the pediatric nurse practitioner.  Nurses have found that pediatrician offices are a natural fit for a nurse practitioner interested in daily contact with young patients.  There is also a natural role for a nurse practitioner in that environment, dealing with the everyday scrapes and minor illnesses that children develop.  Pediatricians with a high flow of patient traffic are then free to work with more seriously ill patients without an overflow of kids and parents in the waiting room.

Completing Undergraduate Nursing Studies

RNs who have gained their nursing license by completing an associate’s degree or a diploma program are required to complete some of the undergraduate requirements of the BSN when they enter the RN to MSN program.  The essentials for nursing training from the four year degree program are the elements that must be rounded out at the undergraduate level.  Generally this can amount to fifteen to eighteen credit hours in most schools, requiring a year or a little more to finish.  At that point the student is free to enter the graduate portion of the portion and prepare to focus on becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner.

The MSN Nurse Practitioner Curriculum

The nurse practitioner MSN program is a rigorous course of study consistent with the level of responsibility associated with the career.  Many nurse practitioners are de facto physicians, working in a doctor’s office and seeing patients, making diagnoses, providing treatment, writing prescriptions and providing follow-up treatment.  Because many of these programs are made available on a part time basis completion of the undergraduate program will dictate the speed with which completion is possible.  For RNs who want to be pediatric nurse practitioners, many schools also require that they have at least a year in pediatrics prior to entering the graduate program.

There are about sixty credit hours devoted to the master’s portion of the program, but at least twelve of those are absorbed by the clinical hours spent in completing the practicum.  The pediatrics specialization at Rush University, for example, requires three courses but the advanced practice training is an additional six courses or twenty credit hours.  Much of the training for diagnostics and pharmacology for children takes place in the advanced practice module rather than in the coursework dedicated to pediatrics.

The Practicum

Most schools require about 250 hours of supervised clinical experience as part of the completion requirements.  This is the practicum and for most students in the RN to MSN program, working in pediatrics will be familiar ground but the setting may be completely new.  A certified pediatric nurse practitioner will be involved in diagnostic activity that most RNs are not charged with.  The role of parental educator becomes a primary rather than a secondary responsibility when stepping up from an RN’s job to that of a licensed pediatric nurse practitioner.  For that reason many PNPs put in their clinical hours in a medical office or a clinic where direct responsibility for patient care becomes the most critical training component.