Commitment, Caring, Leadership

Message from the Dean

It is my pleasure to introduce you

to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program at Pacific Lutheran University.

We recognize that you come to us with remarkable skills, experiences, and dreams. Whereas we expect you to do far more than just meet degree requirements, we are committed to offering you the best learning experiences and promoting your professional growth. We hope to make your vision for health care a reality by fostering your creativity and advancing your career as a health care professional.

Nurses with advanced degrees have wonderful opportunities available to them. I am confident that you will acquire new knowledge, new skills, and new leadership strategies.  With vision, commitment, and resources for change, you can improve health care and advance professional nursing.

Sincerely,
Terry W. Miller, PhD, RN
Dean and Professor

BSN to MSN Programs

The School of Nursing offers three program options for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepared registered nurses:

• The MSN Care and Outcomes Manager program is designed for BSN-prepared registered nurses who wish to pursue a Care and Outcomes Manager concentration.  Focus areas can include:  Clinical Nurse Educator, Clincial Nurse Leader, Nurse Administrator, or Advanced Generalist.  15 months. 
• The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program is designed for BSN-prepared registered nurses, who wish to pursue licensure as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner in a family medicine specialty.  24 months.
• The MSN/MBA dual-degree combines the Master of Science in Nursing, Care and Outcomes Manager concentration with the Master of Business Administration, Healthcare Management concentration.  36 months.

Entry-Level MSN Programs

The School of Nursing offers two program options for those with a non-nursing Bachelor's degree: 

• The Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing program is designed for students with a prior non-nursing baccalaureate degree to gain RN licensure and complete the MSN Care and Outcomes Manager concentration, Advanced Generalist focus. 27 months.
• The RN-B to MSN program is designed for registered nurses with a prior non-nursing baccalaureate degree. This program leads to the MSN Care and Outcomes Manager concentration, Advanced Generalist focus. 15 months.

Designed for the Working Nurse

• Graduate level course work is typically scheduled on Thursday evenings, and all day Fridays, with additional hours for practicums or preceptorships.  A few courses in the summer or January term will be day classes. 
• Most nurses can continue to work while pursuing their Master's degree.  
• MSN/MBA:  MBA classes are held twice per week, 6:00-9:30pm.
• Entry-Level MSN:  Although maintaining employment is not advised during the pre-licensure portion of the program (first 15 months), newly licensed RNs are encourage to work during the graduate portion (last 12 months).

Affordable Education

The PLU MSN is comparable in cost to other regional public and private institutions, as well as online programs.  At PLU our goal is to create a partnership that is financially feasible for you to pursue your studies.   See our Scholarships and Financial Aid page to see options available to nurses pursing graduate education.  Financial assistance from PLU, federal and state financial aid programs, outside scholarship resources, payment options and careful planning help make PLU affordable.

Caring and Experienced Faculty

A majority of the teaching faculty maintain their own advanced practice in clinical settings. Faculty guide students individually and in small groups to develop and apply a wide range of advanced practice skills and knowledge.

Clinically Intensive

All PLU pre-licensure and advanced-practice nursing programs are clinically-intensive, to provide the high level of direct patient contact time necessary for superior clinical preparation. PLU arranges all student clinical rotations and preceptorships. The PLU School of Nursing contracts with over 100 local hospitals and agencies, thus providing students with a broad exposure to the many nursing care settings that employ graduate-prepared nurses, including large to small urban hospitals; private, state-run as well as military hospitals; and both urban and rural clinics and long-term care facilities.

Beautiful Location 

The PLU campus sits in view of Mount Rainier in a residential area of the vibrant city of Tacoma.   We have gorgeous summer weather, and the campus is close to the picturesque waterways of the Puget Sound.  We are forty miles from the world-class city of Seattle.

Attention Alumni!

60th anniversary School of Nursing commemorative coffee table books are available!

• $60 plus tax (and shipping, if necessary)
• about 250 pages
• glossy pages, full of color and black and white photographs
• beautifully printed, with embossed spine and cover, and lush dustjacket
• equal treatment of each decade

Order your copy from Garfield Book Company, garfieldbookcompany.com, or contact Sandy Wilson in the School of Nursing, 253-535-7674.

Questions? Contact Us 

To request more information or ask questions, please contact us:

Phone: (253) 535-7672
E-mail: gradnurs@plu.edu
Or click here for the online information request form.