Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
The APSU Nursing MSN program provides opportunities for registered nurses with a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) desiring advanced education in nursing. The MSN program consists of three concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Nurse Educator (NE), and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).
All concentrations are flexible and designed to meet the needs of Registered Nurses in various stages of their careers.
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) concentration prepares nurses to deliver care
and improve health outcomes in the outpatient primary care setting. Graduates can
assess, diagnose, prescribe medications. and evaluate care for patients throughout
the lifespan. Graduates are eligible and prepared to sit for the FNP specialty certification
exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
(AANP) and to apply for licensure to practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
(APRN).
The 43-hour concentration (with 600 required clinical hours) is designed with the working professional nurse in mind and is primarily delivered online. Two required on-campus visits are designed to enhance learning, practice hands-on skills, participate in simulation, and for professional networking/socialization.
- FNP MSN students take approximately two courses per semester and complete the program in about two years. Students can enroll in accelerated (6 semesters) or standard (8 semesters) plans of study.
|
CURRICULUM |
|
|
NURS 5100 |
Transition to Graduate Nursing Practice (1 credit hour) |
|
NURS 5106 |
Healthcare Policy with an Emphasis on Prevention and Population Health (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5107 |
Scientific Inquiry (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5108 |
Advanced Role Development with an Emphasis Quality, Safety, and Ethics (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5005 |
Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5006 |
Advanced Pharmacology (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5007 |
Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning across the Lifespan- (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5008 |
Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning across the Lifespan Lab (1 credit hour)--required on-campus intensive |
|
NURS 5701 |
Advanced Family Practice I (5 Credit hours) |
|
NURS 5702 |
Advanced Family Practice II (5 Credit hours) |
|
NURS 5801 |
Primary Care Practicum I (3 credit hours/180 clinical hours)--required virtual advanced skills intensive |
|
NURS 5802 |
Primary Care Practicum II (3 credit hours/ 180 clinical hours) |
|
NURS 5809 |
Family Practice Residency (5 credit hours/ 240 clinical hours)--required on-campus intensive |
|
NURS 5902 |
MSN Capstone (2 credit hours) |
The Nurse Educator (NE) concentration prepares graduates for faculty positions at colleges and universities and also for planning and delivering staff and patient education in health-related settings.
The 31-hour concentration (with 240 required clinical hours) is designed with the working professional nurse in mind and courseworks is delivered 100% online.
- Nurse educator MSN students take approximately two courses per semester and complete the program in about two years.
|
CURRICULUM |
|
|
NURS 5100 |
Transition to Graduate Nursing Practice (1 credit hour) |
|
NURS 5106 |
Healthcare Policy with an Emphasis on Prevention and Population Health (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5107 |
Scientific Inquiry (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5108 |
Advanced Role Development with an Emphasis Quality, Safety, and Ethics (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5005 |
Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5006 |
Advanced Pharmacology (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5007 |
Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning across the Lifespan- (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5550 |
Theoretical Foundations and Teaching Methods for Nurse Educators (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5615 |
The Nurse Educator (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5719 |
Nurse Education Practicum (4 credit hours/240 clinical hours) |
|
NURS 5902 |
MSN Capstone (2 credit hours) |
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) concentration prepares nurses to deliver care and improve mental health outcomes for individuals and families across the lifespan. Graduates of this program will be able to assess, diagnose, prescribe medications, and evaluate care for the mental health needs of individuals and families. Graduates are eligible and prepared to sit for the PMHNP specialty certification exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and to apply for licensure to practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).
The 42-hour curriculum (with 540 required clinical hours) is designed with the working professional nurse in mind and is primarily delivered online. Two required on-campus visits are designed to enhance learning, practice hands-on skills, participate in simulations, and for professional networking/socialization.
- PMHNP MSN students will take 2-3 courses per semester and complete the program in about two years.
|
CURRICULUM |
|
|
NURS 5100 |
Transition to Graduate Nursing Practice (1 credit hour) |
|
NURS 5106 |
Healthcare Policy with an Emphasis on Prevention and Population Health (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5107 |
Scientific Inquiry (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5108 |
Advanced Role Development with an Emphasis Quality, Safety, and Ethics (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5005 |
Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5006 |
Advanced Pharmacology (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5007 |
Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning across the Lifespan- (3 credit hours) |
|
NURS 5008 |
Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning across the Lifespan Lab (1 credit hour)--required on-campus intensive |
|
NURS 5711 |
Advanced Psychiatric Care I (5 Credit hours) |
|
NURS 5712 |
Advanced Psychiatric Care II (5 Credit hours) |
|
NURS 5811 |
Advanced Psychiatric Practicum I (2 credit hours/120 clinical hours) |
|
NURS 5812 |
Advanced Psychiatric Practicum II (3 credit hours/ 180 clinical hours) |
|
NURS 5819 |
Advanced Psychiatric Residency (5 credit hours/ 240 clinical hours)--required on-campus intensive |
|
NURS 5902 |
MSN Capstone (2 credit hours) |
The Graduate Nursing Program admits TWICE each academic year in the Fall and Spring Semesters.
Fall admission deadline: Due May 1st (students who miss this deadline may still be able to apply--contact graduatenursing@apsu.edu for more information)
- To apply for a "FALL" start, MSN applicants should first fill out an application for "Summer" semester through the APSU Graduate Admissions Office.
- Admitted MSN students will start NURS 5100 during the Summer II semester. This one credit hour "Transitions" course assists students in getting orientated to the MSN program prior to the start of fall semester.
- The transitions class for fall semester starts in July and runs for 4 weeks. See the APSU Academic Calendar for specific Main Campus Summer II semester dates.
Spring admission deadline: Due October 1st (students who miss this deadline may still be able to apply--contact graduatenursing@apsu.edu for more information)
- To apply for a "SPRING" start, MSN applicants should first fill out an application for "Fort Campbell Spring I" semester through the APSU Graduate Admissions Office.
- Admitted MSN students will start NURS 5100 during the Winterterm semester. This one credit hour "Transitions" course assists students in getting orientated to the MSN program prior to the start of fall semester.
- The transitions class for spring semester starts in mid-December and runs for 4 weeks. See the APSU Academic Calendar for specific Fort Campbell Winterterm semester dates.
Program Specific Admissions Requirements
All applicants for the Graduate Nursing Program must complete and show evidence of the following:
1. $45 application fee. (Non-refundable)
2. Official transcripts from all colleges attended (graduate and undergraduate) verifying that a bachelor’s degree in nursing has been earned with an overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
3. Applicant Resume.
4. Applicant Goal Statement (e.g., reasons for pursuing graduate studies). The personal goal statement should be a one-page essay. It must be written in your own words. It should contain the following:
- Details on your decision to obtain a Master’s degree in nursing
- Description of your particular interest in and potential for contributing to the nursing profession, specifically as a Master’s prepared nurse
- Career objectives
- Plan to be successful in the MSN program, specifically addressing your goal of full or part-time study and the many hours required studying and in clinical.
5. Licensure Verification (proof of an unencumbered, current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Tennessee or the state in which the clinical assignments are completed).
6. Military documents if applicable.
7. Successful completion of a 3 semester hour or 4 quarter hour undergraduate level Statistics course is required.
8. Reply from Nursing Admission committee. Admission decision will be rendered from APSU’s School of Nursing Graduate Curriculum, Admission, and Retention committee.
- Questions about the Graduate Nursing Program should be directed to graduatenursing@apsu.edu.
- Questions regarding application status or admission documents should be directed to the APSU Graduate Admissions Office.
All Graduate Nursing students must have a background check completed within 90 days of the start of the first clinical experience. Students must initiate the background check 60-90 days (not before) the first clinical rotation start date. Drug screens may be required by specific clinical sites. Both drug screens and background checks can be ordered through CastleBranch. Please contact graduatenursing@apsu.edu for the correct package codes prior to ordering.
More information can be found about the MSN program in the APSU Graduate Bulletin.