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Why should I pursue a Master of Science in Nursing Degree?
The shift in health care system priorities has led to new and exciting
opportunities and career pathways for nurses with master's degrees.
Graduate nursing education is a multifaceted, dynamic, and rigorous
process organized to prepare professional nurses for advanced practice
roles. It expands upon the skills and knowledge learned at the
baccalaureate level which have been refined through clinical practice
experiences. Master's degree education in nursing prepares
practitioners who are uniquely able to provide direct and indirect care
to diverse groups of people, in a variety of settings, within the
current, complex health care systems environment. To learn more about career options for graduate-prepared nurses, click here.
Why PLU?
The PLU School of Nursing fits your life while meeting the highest standards in graduate nursing education, and is located in the vibrant Tacoma /Seattle area of the majestic Pacific Northwest. Post-Licensure graduate students in the PLU nursing program are able to work as nurses while pursuing their MSN, attending classes on Fridays and/or one weekday evening. Nursing education within the School of Nursing is a central program at
Pacific Lutheran University and clearly demonstrates the university's
commitment to educating for service and care. Excellence in advanced
practice, leadership and scholarship is emphasized. 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. 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 its students 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. To learn more about where PLU nursing students participate in clinical coursework, click here.
Accreditation
Complete program accreditation information is located online here. Back to Top
Available MSN ProgramsThe School of Nursing offers three program options leading to the Master of Science in Nursing degree, each differing in the degree requirements for entry. The traditional Master of Science in Nursing program is designed for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)-prepared registered nurses. The RN-B to MSN program is designed for registered nurses with a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field. 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.
Classes at the MSN level are normally scheduled on Fridays and one or two weekday evenings to accommodate students who are employed part time. Clinical experiences
are typically during day or evening shift hours. The Master of
Science in Nursing coursework is usually completed in either 4 semesters/2
years on a full-time basis, or 6 semesters/3 years on a part-time basis.
MSN Concentrations
The Master of Science in
Nursing program has two concentrations: 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 (COM) 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 role as a generalist, clinical nurse specialist, clinical nurse educator for schools or agencies, or clinical nurse leader/administrator at the systems level (e.g., case manager, utilization review coordinator, or risk manager).
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 completion of the
COM concentration in the clinical nurse educator focus qualifies graduates to sit for the Certified Nurse Educator national certifying examination.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Concentration
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 certifying examinations for family nurse practitioner, making them eligible under Washington State law for Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) licensure.
Back to TopTuition & Program Costs
MSN students pay the standard PLU tuition rate, which for the 2009-10 school year is $888 per semester hour. Fees are subject to change without notice. Click the link below to download an estimate of MSN educational costs (including tuition, books, fees, and standard costs for graduate nursing students). A reminder: a quarter credit is equivalent to two-thirds of a semester credit; estimate fees accordingly.
Contact the School of Nursing, gradnurs@plu.edu, for an MSN Educational Costs sheet (PDF).
Please note: Entry-Level MSN students pay a cohort tuition that differs from the standard PLU tuition rates; Contact the School of Nursing, gradnurs@plu.edu, for tuition outlines.
Criteria for Consideration of Admission
Master of Science in Nursing basic application (regular program):
Priority Deadline: March 1
Students
admitted to the Family Furse Practitioner Master of Science in Nursing program
typically begin classes in the summer of each year; students in the Care and Outcomes Manager program typically begin in the fall. Those who apply by March 1
are given priority consideration for financial assistance. Enrollments
are limited in both concentrations. Admission is selective; meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee admission.
Minimum Criteria for Admission to M.S.N. Programs
Meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee admission. Applicants must:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school of nursing (B.S.N. to M.S.N. applicants only).
- Hold an active unencumbered Washington State RN license (B.S.N to M.S.N. and RN-B applicants only)
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale for all college work
- Have a minimum grade of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale in each prerequisite course
- Submit PLU Graduate Application forms and $40 non-refundable fee
- Have civil, administrative, and criminal history clearance in all states, as well as any other applicable territory or country
- Be fluent in speaking, reading,
writing and comprehending graduate-level English (see policy and
procedures in the Graduate Application Addendum)
- Submit the School of Nursing Addendum packet, which includes:
- Questions Relative to Licensure
- Policy/Procedures for students who have attended another school of nursing
- Washington State Patrol Disclosure Affidavit and non-refundable $15 fee
- Policy/Procedures Regarding English Proficiency
- and
Physical/Psychological Expectations of Nurses preparing for Professional Practice
- Official transcripts from each college and university attended
- Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) results from tests taken less than five years ago.Minimum scores:
B.S.N. to M.S.N. applicant minimum scores: 450 in both the Verbal and Quantitative sections, and 4.00 in Analytical Writing section.
RN-B to EL-M.S.N. and Entry-Level M.S.N. applicant minimum scores: 500 in both the Verbal and Quantitative sections, and 4.0 in the Analytical Writing section.
- Professional statement of goals
- Two letters of recommendation
One year of direct-care RN experience within the last 5 years is highly recommended.
Entry-Level MSN (for those with a non-nursing Bachelor's degree):
Priority Deadline: November 15th.
Please click here to see the Entry-Level MSN program information page. Complete program information, course outlines, and admission criteria
are located on the website. Information sessions for the Entry-Level
MSN program are scheduled regularly; for the current calendar or to
RSVP for an information session, please click here. Applications are accepted after the priority deadline on a space-available basis.
RN-B to MSN (for non-nursing baccalaureate RNs):Priority Deadline: varies
Please click here for the RN-B to MSN program information and application requirements page.
ADN graduates interested in the MSN program must first complete the BSN
degree. MSN Core Curriculum
Prerequisite Courses for Traditional MSN: Introductory Statistics (including inferential and descriptive) NURS 523: Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 credits)
NURS 524: Advanced Health Promotion (2)
NURS 525: Theoretical Foundations (3)
NURS 526: Nursing Leadership and Management (3)
NURS 527: Evaluation and Outcomes Research (3)
NURS XXX: Approved Elective (2-3)
NURS XXX: M.S.N. Capstone (2-4)
NURS 596: Scholarly Inquiry (2) or
NURS 599: Thesis (4)
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Scholarships, fellowships, traineeships and low interest loans are
available to qualified graduate nursing students. Approximately 90
percent of 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. Financial aid resources for nursing students are also listed on this website at the Student Resources: Financial Aid page.
For more information ...
Request Information
If you have questions about our programs or would like to schedule a visit, please contact us:
Phone: (253) 535-7672
E-mail: gradnurs@plu.edu
or click here for an online information request form.
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