| Accreditation | Admission | Degree Requirements |
COURSE OFFERINGS |
| Entry-Level MSN |
Care and Outcomes Manager Concentrations |
Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration |
253.535.7672
www.plu.edu/~nurs
Terry W. Miller, Ph.D., RN, Dean and Professor, School of Nursing
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree prepares professional nurses for advanced roles such as family nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, clinical nurse educator and clinical nurse leader. The program also prepares the graduate for doctoral studies. The MSN curriculum is evidence-based and practice-oriented, and consists of a common core (theory, advanced practice roles, evaluation and outcomes research, leadership, and advanced health promotion), specialty didactic and clinical/practicum experiences, and a capstone course (scholarly inquiry or thesis). Each MSN student completes coursework leading to either the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration or the Care and Outcomes Manager concentration. The latter may be further differentiated through focus areas, including clinical nurse specialist, clinical nurse leader, informaticist or clinical nurse educator.
The School of Nursing offers two program options leading to the Master of Science in Nursing degree. The standard Master of Science in Nursing program is designed for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepared registered nurses. The Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing program is an accelerated program designed for students with a prior non-nursing baccalaureate degree to gain RN licensure and complete the MSN degree in 36 months of study. The graduate level portion of the Entry-Level MSN program is identical to the standard MSN program.
Graduate-level nursing classes are structured to accommodate the working nurse. MSN core and concentraiton requirements may be completed in four to five full-time semesters over two years. Part-time study is an option for students in the BSN to MSN route; Entry-LEvel MSN students must maintain a full-time status throughout their entire program of study.
The program is fully accredited by the
Commission on Collegiate Nursing (CCNE). Both the Family Nurse
Practitioner and the Clinical Nurse Specialist curricula meet the
requirements for their respective national certification examinations.
Registered nurses who have successfully completed a BSN degree must
meet the following admission criteria to be considered for placement in
the MSN program:
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 program is fully accredited by the Commission on COllegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). BOth the Family Nurse Practitioner and the Care and Outcomes Manager curricula meet the requirements for severeal national certification examinations, including Advanced Register Nurse Practitioner-Family Clinical Nurse Specialist (various specialties) and Certified Nurse Educator.
MSN candidates may apply for admission at any time during the year; however, application and admission well in advance of the fall entry date will enhance the applicant's potentional for arranging financial assistance.
The following are the minimum criteria for consideration of admission to Master of Science in Nursing program (BSN to MSN and Entry-Level MSN options). Admission to the School of Nursing programs is selective; meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee admission.
All prerequisite courses must be completed at an accredited college or university with a minimum grade of 3.0 ('B') or higher on a 4.0 scale before beginning the nursing program. Prerequisites vary for the two MSN options:
There are limitations on the numbers of students accepted into the MSN programs and concentrations each year. Applicants accepted into the program are required to make a non-refundable advance tuition payment to confirm their acceptance of an offer of admission within two weeks of their acceptance date.
All admitted nursing students must provide valid documentation of the following by designated dates and before enrollment in any practicum/clinical course:
In addition to these requirements, all BSN to MSN and Entry-Level MSN students in MSN concentration coursework must also provide documentation of:
The Graduate Admissions Coordinator typically completes initial advising and program planning with applicants and admitted students. MSN applicants are strongly encouraged to seek advising prior to applying to the program.
BSN-prepared registered nurses may enroll in up to nine semester credits of MSN courses on a non-matriculated basis with School of Nursing approval. Non-matriculated students are not guaranteed admission into any School of Nursing programs. For more information on non-matriculated status, see the Graduate Policies and Standards section of the catalog.
The Entry-Level MSN (ELMSN) is a cohort program designed to prepare candidates with a previous bachelor's or higher degree to gain RN licensure and the MSN degree. The sequence of study recognizes the academic success of the non-nursing graduate by providing a focused immersion into nursing followed by graduate study. Students do not receive a BSN degree, but following successful completion of the first 15-months of study, they are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN for Washington State RN licensure and to continue in the MSN program. A limited cohort is admitted each year in June and admission is competitive.
The ELMSN program is clinically and academically intensive to assure the student of adequate exposure to the RN role and responsibilities, as well as to develop an advanced practice role (clinical leader, clinical educator, family nurse practitioner or clinical specialist) at completion of the ELMSN program. Students are expected to complete the entire 36-month program with their cohort.
Please note: Students withdrawing from the ELMSN program after RN licensure, but before completing the graduate degree, may not be able to sustain licensure in the State of Washington and other states
| Prerequisite Courses |
| Introductory Statistics (including inferential and descriptive) |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with lab) |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with lab) |
| Introductory Microbiology (with lab) |
| Lifespan Developmental Psychology |
| Summer - Year One |
| NURS 220: Nursing Competencies I (4) |
| NURS 270: Health Assessment and Promotion (4) |
| NURS 320: Nursing Competencies II (2) |
| NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology (3) |
| Fall - Year One |
| NURS 260: Professional Foundations I (4) |
| NURS 330: Pharmacology and Therapeutic Modalities (4) |
| NURS 340: Situations with Individuals: Adult Health I (4) |
| NURS 350: Situations with Individuals: Mental Health (4) |
| January - Year One |
| NURS 380: Situations with Families: Childrearing (Peds) (4) |
| Spring - Year One |
| NURS 370: Situations with Families: Childbearing (OB) (4) |
| NURS 430: Situations with Communities (5) |
| NURS 440: Situations with Individuals: Adult Health II (4) |
| NURS 441: Situations Seminar (1) |
| Summer - Year Two |
| NURS 480: Professional Foundations II (2) |
| NURS 499: Capstone: Nursing Synthesis (6) |
After completing the pre-licensure curriculum and upon successfully obtaining RN licensure in Washington State, students continue the Entry-Level MSN curriculum with specialization in one of two MSN concentrations. Admission to the ELMSN program does not guarantee progression into either the FNP or the COM concentration. The advanced practice portion of the curriculum is structured for the student to be able to work part-time as a registered nurse while completing the remaining credits required for the MSN degree.
This course of study allows students to focus on care management using 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 specialist, clinical nurse educator for schools or agencies, or clinical nurse leader/administrator at the systems level (e.g., case managers, utilization review coordinators, risk managers, and nursing informaticist).
This concentration prepares students to provide quality, cost effective care in a defined context, to participate in the design and implementation of an evaluation and outcomes model, to assume a leadership role in managing health care resources, and to integrate clinical and evaluation competencies for care and outcomes management. Successful competion of the COM concentration in the clinical nurse specialist or clinical nurse educator focus qualifies graduates to sit for national certifying examinations in their respective specialties (i.e., Clinical Nurse specialist (various areas) or Certified Nurse Educator).
This course of study focuses on client-centered clinical practice and
prepares nurses to respond to the needs of today's and tomorrow's
health care consumers, to manage direct care based on advanced
assessment and diagnostic reasoning, to incorporate health promotion
and disease prevention interventions into health care delivery, and to
recognize their potential for professional growth, responsibility and
autonomy.
Successful completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner program qualifies students to sit for national Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner certifying examinations for family practice, making them eligible under Washington state law for ARNP licensure.
Introductory Statistics (including inferential and descriptive)
NURS 523: Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3)
NURS 524: Advanced Health Promotion (2)
NURS 525: Theoretical Foundations (3)
NURS 526: Nursing Leadershiip and Management (3)
NURS 527: Evaluation and Outcomes Research (3)
NURS 596: Scholarly Inquiry (2)
OR NURS 599: Thesis (4)
Required Courses (19-23 semester hours)
NURS 530: Resource Management (3)
NURS 531: Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum I (5)
NURS 532: Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum II (3)
NURS 533: Informatics in Nursing (2)
NURS 538: Program Development (3)
Clinical Nurse Educator (3 semester hours)
NURS 550: Curriculum, Instruction and Evaluation (3)
Clinical Nurse Specialist (7 semester hours)
NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
NURS 582: Advanced Health Assessment (2)
NURS 583: Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics (2)
Clinical Nurse Leader (5 semester hours)
NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
NURS 582: Advanced Health Assessment (2)
Additional courses may be taken for other COM role specializations.
Required Courses (21 semester hours)
NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
NURS 582: Advanced Health Assessment (4)
NURS 583: Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics (2)
NURS 584: Family Nurse Practitioner (6)
NURS 585: Family Nurse Practitioner (6)
NURS 523: Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse
Facilitates the development and transition into the advanced
practice role through the analysis of legal, ethical, professional,
social and practice perspectives. Roles of consultant, researcher,
administrator, and expert clinician are explored. (3)
NURS 524: Health Promotion
Identification of health risks and protective strategies for diverse populations. (2)
NURS 525: Theoretical Foundations
Preparation for critique, evaluation, and use of a range of relevant
theories that provide guiding perspectives for the provision of
client-centered, clinically measurable advanced nursing practice. (3)
NURS 526: Nursing Leadership and Management
Introduction to policy, organization, and financing of health care.
Preparation for provision of quality cost-effective care, participation
in the design and implementation of care, and assumption of the
leadership role in managing resources. (3)
NURS 527: Evaluation and Outcomes Research
Preparation for the critique and use of new knowledge to provide,
change, and evaluate advanced nursing practice focused on
client-centered, clinically demonstrable care. (3)
NURS 530: Resource Management
Management of resources in the planning, coordination, and/or
delivery of health care with an outcome perspective at the system
level. Financial and human resources and systems management will be
examined from a quality perspective. (3)
NURS 531: Care and Outcomes Practicum I
Direct and/or indirect care given in a defined specialty setting
with focus on evaluation and outcomes. Prerequisite: NURS 523. Variable
credit with School of Nursing approval. (5)
NURS 532: Care and Outcomes Practicum II
Direct care or indirect clinical management, supervision, or
education to achieve client goals by implementing approaches,
interventions, outcomes, and evaluation method. Prerequisite or co-requisite:
NURS 538. Variable credit with School of Nursing approval. (1-3)
NURS 533: Informatics in Nursing
Enhancing clinical practice, research and education through the
integration of computer science, information science and nursing
science. (2)
NURS 538: Program Development
Integrate theoretical models, clinical parameters, and program
planning principles through the construction of a detailed program for
care and outcomes management. Clinical component present. Pre- or
co-requisite: NURS 530 and prerequisite 531. (3)
NURS 550: Curriculum and Instruction
Examination of the theory and practice of curriculum planning,
development, implementation, and evaluation. Theoretical and
philosophical principles of the teaching/learning process. Analysis of
adult teaching strategies and the process of self and student
evaluations. (3)
NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology
Focuses on normal physiologic and pathologic mechanisms of disease.
Primary components of the foundation for clinical assessment, decision
making, and management. (3)
NURS 582: Advanced Health Assessment
Development and performance of the skills needed for advanced health
assessment of individuals, families, or communities throughout the
lifespan. Prerequisites: Basic health assessment skills. (2–4)
NURS 583: Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics
Focuses on the pharmacokinetic basis for and pharmacotherapeutic
management of simple and complex disease processes. Includes ethical,
legal, and procedural aspects of prescriptive authority. Pre- or
co-requisite: NURS 580. (2)
NURS 584: Family Nurse Practitioner I
Application of theory and research in the management of health
problems across the lifespan. Demonstration of diagnostic reasoning
related to health care conditions. Seminar and clinical. Prerequisites:
NURS 582 and 583. (6)
NURS 585: Family Nurse Practitioner II
Application of theory and research in the management of increasingly
complex health problems across the lifespan. Demonstration of
diagnostic reasoning for a wide range of acute and chronic conditions.
Seminar and clinical. Prerequisite: NURS 584. (6)
NURS 591: Independent Study
Opportunities for advanced study in selected topic related to student's area of interest. Consent of dean required. (1–4)
NURS 593: Advanced Specialty Practice
Application of advanced practice nursing in clinical specialty
practice. Prerequisite: Completion of all core requirements. (1-6)
NURS 596: Scholarly Inquiry in Nursing Practice
Development and submission of professional paper or project related
to one's area of specialization based on an evaluation and outcomes
model. Capstone course. (2)
NURS 599: Thesis
Faculty-guided application of the research process. May involve
replication of previous study, secondary analysis of research data, an
evaluation project, or an original investigation. Prerequisites: Completion of core courses, approval by School of Nursing. Minimum
program requirement is four credits. Once enrolled, must continue to
enroll for at least one credit each semester of the academic year until
thesis is completed. Capstone course. (1–4)