Master of Science in Nursing

Ranked as one of the top 100 graduate nursing programs in the US by US News and World Report, the MSN Care and Outcomes Manager (COM) program is designed to equip nurses with the knowledge and skills to lead change, promote health and elevate care in various roles and settings.

There are two entry points into the MSN curriculum:

  • Entry-Level Master’s – for non-nurses with a degree in another field who want to complete the RN and MSN in 27 months
  • BSN to MSN – for nurses with a BSN

The core MSN curriculum prepares an advanced generalist, who has the knowledge and skills required of all master’s‐prepared nurses as determined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021).  The MSN student may also choose an area of specialization.

Two areas of role specialization are available:

  • Clinical Nurse Educator
  • Clinical Nurse Leader®

PLU MSN graduates are nursing leaders and educators throughout the Puget Sound area, Washington and across the US.  The MSN Care and Outcomes curriculum also prepares the graduate for PhD or DNP doctoral study.

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Accreditation

The School of Nursing is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. The Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Pacific Lutheran University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). The Care and Outcomes Manager MSN curriculum meets requirements for the Clinical Nurse Leader national certification examination. The Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks meet requirements for national certification examinations.

The Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing at Pacific Lutheran University meets the educational requirements for professional RN licensure in all 50 US states and the following jurisdictions (click the link below to expand the list):

AlabamaIndianaNevadaTennessee
AlaskaIowaNew HampshireTexas
ArizonaKansasNew JerseyUtah
ArkansasKentuckyNew MexicoUS Virgin Islands
CaliforniaLouisianaNew YorkVermont
ColoradoMaineNorth CarolinaVirginia
ConnecticutMarylandNorth DakotaWashington
DelawareMassachusettsOhioWest Virginia
District of ColumbiaMichiganOklahomaWisconsin
FloridaMinnesotaPennsylvaniaWest Virginia
GuamMissouriOklahomaWisconsin
IdahoMinnesotaPennsylvaniaWyoming
GuamMissouriRhode Island
IdahoMontanaSouth Carolina
IllinoisNebraskaSouth Dakota
Date Reviewed: March 2023
Will be reviewed annually
Note: The educational requirements for professional RN licensure requirements for American Samoa cannot be determined at the time of the last review.