Nursing, R.N. to M.S.N.

Purpose

The distance education Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program at Wilkes University is designed to prepare the Nurse Practitioner for advancing nursing practice and quality within healthcare. The program provides a foundation to further advancement of professional nursing education for a doctoral degree in nursing and post graduate/APRN certificate program. Graduates are eligible for national board certification upon program completion of the respective concentration.

Master of Science in Nursing Program Outcomes

The Master of Science in Nursing program at Wilkes University prepares students to:

1. Engage in lifelong learning in a constantly evolving and multicultural world.
2. Demonstrate competence in the development of scientific inquiry relevant to clinical practice, administration, or education.
3. Utilize leadership strategies that foster improvement of patient and population health.
4. Advance nursing practice by translating evidence in a variety of roles and areas of practice.
5. Improve healthcare outcomes through interprofessional collaboration.
6. Participate in lifelong learning as a part of advancing nursing practice.

Master of Science in Nursing Student Learning Outcomes

Students in the Master of Science in Nursing program at Wilkes University will:

1. Synthesize advanced knowledge of nursing and related disciplines for the development of advanced nursing practice in the roles of the Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Executive, and Nurse Educator.
2. Develop expertise in the Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Executive, and Nurse Educator role to advance nursing practice.
3. Develop skills and abilities to assume leadership roles in advanced nursing practice.
4. Evaluate nursing research for its applicability to advance nursing practice.
5. Evaluate applicable knowledge and concepts in nursing to deal with the complexities of a dynamic society.

Admission Requirements

Nurse Practitioner Programs

• A completed online application.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• An overall 3.0 GPA in nursing courses.
• Official transcripts with showing appropriate degree completion (Associate degree for RN-MSN, BS in Nursing for MSN) from an institution with programmatic (ACEN, NLNAC, CCNE) and regional accreditation. Students who graduated from a non-programmatically accredited institution and meet all other admission requirements will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Admission is not guaranteed.
• *A current, unencumbered RN license.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae
• One year of RN clinical experience (by the start of NP clinical courses).
• *Applications presenting a history of disciplinary action on professional licenses will be subject to an additional review process by the Special Licensure Discrepancy Committee of the University.

The Curriculum

Transition to the M.S.N. (13 Credits)

R.N to M.S.N. students complete 3 courses prior to the 24 credit core in addition to credits of their chosen concentration. All courses are 12 week, unless otherwise indicated. No pass-through BSN is awarded.

• NSG 410 - Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing for the Graduate Nursing Student (15 weeks)
• NSG 411 - Leadership and Management Practicum for the Graduate Nursing Student
• NSG 412 - Graduate-Level Academic Writing for Nursing Professionals

Graduate Nursing Core (24 Credits)
12 week classes

• NSG 500 - Advanced Health Assessment
• NSG 501 - Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
• NSG 502 - Advanced Nursing Research
• NSG 504 - Advanced Role Development in Nursing
• NSG 505 - Health Policy and Politics for Advancing Nursing Practice
• NSG 530 - Advanced Pathophysiology
• NSG 533 - Advanced Pharmacology
• NSG 590 - Scholarly Review *

Concentrations

Nurse Practitioner Student Learning Outcomes

Students in the Nurse Practitioner program at Wilkes University will:

1. Synthesize theoretical, scientific, and clinical knowledge in providing comprehensive, evidence-based care.
2. Perform comprehensive health history and physical examination to diagnose health conditions involving critical analysis, differential diagnosis, and data interpretation.
3. Assume leadership roles in collaboration with other health professionals to achieve optimum patient health.
4. Integrate health care policy as it impacts the decision-making ability to provide quality patient care.
5. Negotiate healthcare delivery systems to promote quality health outcomes for individuals, communities, and organizational systems.
6. Coordinate care for patients with complex conditions through referrals and collaboration.
7. Participate in life-long learning through higher education, continuing education, certification and evaluation.

Adult - Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

• NSG 550 - Diagnostic Reasoning for Nurse Practitioners
• NSG 556 - Health Perspectives of Culturally Diverse, Rural, and Underserved Populations
• NSG 554 - Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care I
• NSG 555 - Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care II
• NSG 506 - Advanced Practice in Adult Gerontology Clinical I
• NSG 515 - Advanced Practice in Adult Gerontology Clinical II

Total: 40 Credits

Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

• NSG 526 - Clinical Modalities in Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice
• NSG 527 - Psychopathology, Theories, and Advanced Clinical Modalities
• NSG 535 - Advanced Practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing I
• NSG 536 - Advanced Practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing II
• NSG 550 - Diagnostic Reasoning for Nurse Practitioners
• NSG 556 - Health Perspectives of Culturally Diverse, Rural, and Underserved Populations
• NSG 552 - Psychopharmacology

Total: 42 Credits

Family Nurse Practitioner

• NSG 546 - Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical I
• NSG 547 - Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical II
• NSG 548 - Family Nurse Practitioner Role With Children and Families
• NSG 549 - Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical with Children and Families
• NSG 550 - Diagnostic Reasoning for Nurse Practitioners
• NSG 554 - Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care I
• NSG 555 - Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care II
• NSG 556 - Health Perspectives of Culturally Diverse, Rural, and Underserved Populations

Total: 43 Credits

Clinical Requirements

Further details of clinical requirements for each concentration area are provided to students in The Passan School of Nursing Graduate Program Student Handbook.