Pacific Lutheran University

Nursing - Graduate

Why Graduate Study in Nursing?

Why PLU?

Nursing education within the School of Nursing is central to the PLU mission and clearly demonstrates the university’s commitment to educating for leadership, service and care. Excellence in advanced practice, leadership and scholarship is emphasized. A majority of the teaching faculty maintain their own advanced practice in a clinical setting. Faculty guide students individually and in small groups to develop and apply a wide range of advanced practice skills and knowledge.

The School of Nursing is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. The undergraduate and graduate nursing programs received ten-year accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)* in 2003.

* Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-887-6971, Fax: 202-887-8476

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Scholarships, fellowships, traineeships and low interest loans are available to qualified graduate nursing students. Approximately 90 percent of full-time, regular graduate students receive some form of financial assistance. For information about financial aid, contact the PLU Financial Aid Office at 253-535-7134 or finaid@plu.edu.

Faculty

There are currently 32 faculty in the School of Nursing. The majority of faculty members hold advanced practice certification through the American Nurses Association or other recognized certification, such as Nurse Practitioner, Nurse-Midwifery, Family and Community Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Gerontology. Some faculty members are certified in multiple areas. As a whole, the nursing faculty represent more than 700 years of successful professional nursing and higher education experience. Additionally, 30 percent have completed or are currently enrolled in a doctoral program.

Master of Science in Nursing Program

Nursing classes at the graduate level are normally scheduled weekday evenings and Fridays to accommodate students who are employed. Clinical experiences typically occur during day or evening shift hours. The Master of Science in Nursing program is usually completed in either four full-time semesters or three years on a part-time basis. There are two concentrations of study in the Master of Science in Nursing program: Care and Outcomes Manager (COM) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Each concentration includes specialization courses and participation in professional scholarship such as writing for publication. Some students who qualify may elect to complete both the COM and FNP concentrations by extending their coursework and time of study by one year.

Care and Outcomes Manager Concentration
This course of study allows students to focus on care management using an outcomes approach skill set necessary for being responsive in a continually changing health care environment. The program prepares the student for an advanced practice role as a clinical nurse leader, clinical nurse specialist (CNS), clinical nurse educator for schools or agencies, or nurse administrator at the systems level (e.g., case managers, utilization review coordinators, risk managers and nursing informaticists).

This concentration prepares students to provide quality, cost effective care in a defined context, participate in the design and implementation of an evaluation and outcomes model, assume a leadership role in managing health care resources, and integrate clinical and evaluation competencies for care and outcomes management.

Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration
This course of study focuses on client-centered clinical practice. This primary care program prepares nurses to: respond to the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s health care consumers; manage direct care based on advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning; incorporate health promotion and disease prevention interventions into health care delivery; and realize their potential for professional growth, responsibility and autonomy. Successful completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner program will qualify students to sit for the national certifying examination, successful completion of which qualifies them under Washington state law for ARNP licensure.

Admission

Students admitted to the Master of Science in Nursing program typically begin classes in the fall of each year. Candidates may apply for admission at any time during the year; however, admission well in advance of the fall entry date will enhance the applicant’s potential for arranging financial assistance. Enrollments are limited in both programs. The priority admission deadline is March 1st for fall admission and financial aid. Students may take up to eight semester credits on a non-matriculated basis with School of Nursing approval. Non-matriculated students are not guaranteed admission into the MSN programs. Appointments with an admissions coordinator may be made by contacting the School of Nursing at 253-535-7672 or gradnurs@plu.edu.

Minimum criteria for consideration of admission:
Admission is selective; meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee admission.

Completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited college/school of nursing;
Cumulative college GPA of 3.0 (‘B’) or above on a 4.0 scale;
Completion of a course in Statistics (including descriptive and inferential statistics) with a grade of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale;
Current, unrestricted RN licensure in the state of Washington;
Submission of the PLU Graduate Application forms and fee;
Submission of School of Nursing Graduate Addenda Packet, including policies and procedures, questions relative to licensure, and background check with non-refundable fee;
Official transcripts from each college or university attended;
Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) results from within the last five years, with minimum scores of 450 Verbal, 450 quantitative, and 4.0 Analytical Writing
Professional résumé;
Statement of Professional and Educational Goals;
Two letters of recommendation;
Fluency in speaking, reading, writing and comprehending graduate-level English (policy and procedures available in Addenda packet);
Civil, administrative, and criminal history clearance in all states, as well as any other applicable territory or country.

Options for non-BSN students

Students interested in either of the following programs should contact the School of Nursing for more information.

Entry-Level MSN

This program, beginning in June, prepares qualified applicants with an earned baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field to complete Pacific Lutheran University’s Master of Science in Nursing program. The cohort program is structured to be completed in 36 months. The first 15 months is intensive and consists of 55 semester credits. The student takes the NCLEX-RN while continuing through the MSN curriculum. See the Entry-Level MSN Web site www.plu.edu/~nurs/elminfo.html for more details, or contact the School of Nursing at 253-535-7672 or gradnurs@plu.edu.

RN to BSN/MSN

Our RN to BSN program begins with the foundation of the student’s RN knowledge, skills and experience, and builds an expanded framework for advanced nursing practice in today’s health care delivery system. The BSN degree can be completed with one year of full-time study. In the first semester, students can complete up to a maximum of 30 upper division credits through the Nursing Portfolio course documenting their professional achievements (evaluated as equivalent to selected undergraduate coursework).