*This program is currently under revision and is not accepting applications at this time.

Janice Smith, Professor, Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Professor
Health & Life Sciences Building, Office 161, (540) 665-5504, jsmith9@su.edu

The RN to MSN degree in the School of Nursing enables students who are registered nurses without a BSN to obtain an MSN degree within one of four advanced practice nursing roles: Nurse Midwifery, Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Students pursuing the RN to MSN degree complete 13-17 credits of undergraduate nursing bridge courses and between 36-48 credits of graduate courses depending on their role. Students must have completed all required undergraduate prerequisite courses to be considered for admission.

Students admitted for the RN to MSN degree must successfully complete the NLN Health Assessment exam prior to taking N 401 Health Across the Lifespan: Communities. If unsuccessful, N 201 Health Assessment must be completed prior to taking N 401.

Graduate students enrolled in the RN to MSN degree program are taught competencies in their chosen role areas. The Nurse Midwifery, Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner graduates are eligible to take the appropriate national certification exams. For graduates wishing to practice in states requiring a bachelor’s degree in addition to the MSN, a BSN option is available. (See information directly following.)

Please refer to the MSN specialty in the catalog for curriculum content.