Nursing Degrees Online

In an effort to meet the exceptional demands on health care practitioners, Salisbury University’s Department of Nursing provides a rigorous, science-based preparation for advanced nursing practice. Students who have an undergraduate nursing degree and who are licensed as a registered nurse can earn the M.S. in nursing as a family nurse practitioner or health care leader from a program that fosters excellence.

Taught by distinguished full-time faculty who practice what they teach, classes are conveniently scheduled for evenings and offer close faculty-student working relationships. Faculty advisors assist each student to design a personalized progression plan and to identify and encourage learning experiences that are responsive to student interests and learning goals.

Full-time students can earn their degree in two years; part-time study can be completed in as little as three years. Graduates of Salisbury University’s Master’s in Nursing programs are in demand and valued for their expertise and contributions.

The graduate program in the Department of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is proud to have educated many of the nursing leaders of the mid-Atlantic region and to continue professional relationships with many SU graduates.
Core Graduate Nursing Courses

All graduate nursing students must complete a core of courses that prepares them for evidence-based advanced nursing practice. Core courses include epidemiology, qualitative and quantitative research, applied statistics and completion of a capstone/thesis requirement.
Family Nurse Practitioner Track

The Family Nurse Practitioner track prepares students for advanced certification as family nurse practitioners. In addition to the core courses, students in this track complete courses in advanced human physiology, advanced health assessment, family nursing, pharmacotherapeutics, adult health care management, women’s and children’s health care management, and issues in advanced nursing practice. The required courses include a total of 600 hours of clinical practice.

A post-master’s family nurse practitioner certificate is offered to individuals with a previous master’s degree in nursing. Students in this program must complete the following courses: advanced human physiology, advanced health assessment, adult health care management, women’s and children’s health care management and issues in advanced nursing.

Students completing the family nurse practitioner program are eligible to take the AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners) or the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) certification exam required for practice as a family nurse practitioner.

The Accelerated Degree is designed for individuals with an earned baccalaureate degree who wish to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

In as little as 17 months, you can earn a BSN degree that will prepare you to enter an exciting world where each day brings new challenges and new opportunities to help others attain, maintain, and regain health.

To be eligible for the accelerated degree program, you must have an earned baccalaureate degree with a GPA of 3.00 or higher. The program begins in the FALL semester. By May 1st you should:
Complete a pre-admission interview with the School of Nursing recruiter. Contact the school secretary at (302) 831-8397 to schedule the interview, which may be conducted by telephone.

Submit copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) from all previous institutions to the nursing recruiter; Pat Drake, University of Delaware, School of Nursing, McDowell Hall, Newark, DE 19716 or patdrake@udel.edu.

Complete a degree progression plan based on the recruiter’s review of your transcripts. Tell us where and when you plan to complete the prerequisites, including the course name and number. Confirm that the courses you plan to take are equivalent to UD courses.

You should submit your completed application to the University of Delaware Office of Admissions, accompanied by official transcripts, a brief essay describing how the accelerated degree prgram will help you meet your professional goals, and one letter of recommendation. All outstanding science prerequisite (non-nursing) courses must be completed before the beginning of the program. Select non-science courses may be completed during the first fall semester, with permission.

The Clinical Nurse Specialists function in primary, secondary, and tertiary settings with individuals, families, groups, or communities. They are educated to assume the roles of expert practitioner, case manager, researcher, and consultant.

Full Time Study Progression Plan
Fall Semester (14 weeks)

NURS 604 Advanced Practice Roles for Healthcare Providers (3 credits)
NURS 620 Health Assessment (3 credits)
NURS 621 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
Clinical I: NURS 636/650/654 (4 credits)

Spring Semester (14 weeks)

EDUC 665 Statistics (3 credits)
NURS 609 Theory & Research (4 credits)
Clinical II: NURS646/651/655 (4 credits)

Fall Semester (14 weeks)

NURS 687 Research Application (887) or NURS 868 Scholarly Project (868) or NURS 869 Master’s Thesis* *
NURS 622 Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
NURS 686 Role Integration

Notes:

Total Clinical Hours 518
Total Credits 34
Many of the courses are offered in an online format.

**The thesis is 6 credits. The 6 credits cannot be taken in the same semester

In an effort to meet the exceptional demands on health care practitioners, Salisbury University’s Department of Nursing provides a rigorous, science-based preparation for advanced nursing practice. Students who have an undergraduate nursing degree and who are licensed as a registered nurse can earn the M.S. in nursing as a family nurse practitioner or health care leader from a program that fosters excellence.

Taught by distinguished full-time faculty who practice what they teach, classes are conveniently scheduled for evenings and offer close faculty-student working relationships. Faculty advisors assist each student to design a personalized progression plan and to identify and encourage learning experiences that are responsive to student interests and learning goals.

Full-time students can earn their degree in two years; part-time study can be completed in as little as three years. Graduates of Salisbury University’s Master’s in Nursing programs are in demand and valued for their expertise and contributions.

The graduate program in the Department of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is proud to have educated many of the nursing leaders of the mid-Atlantic region and to continue professional relationships with many SU graduates.
Core Graduate Nursing Courses

All graduate nursing students must complete a core of courses that prepares them for evidence-based advanced nursing practice. Core courses include epidemiology, qualitative and quantitative research, applied statistics and completion of a capstone/thesis requirement.
Family Nurse Practitioner Track

The Family Nurse Practitioner track prepares students for advanced certification as family nurse practitioners. In addition to the core courses, students in this track complete courses in advanced human physiology, advanced health assessment, family nursing, pharmacotherapeutics, adult health care management, women’s and children’s health care management, and issues in advanced nursing practice. The required courses include a total of 600 hours of clinical practice.

A post-master’s family nurse practitioner certificate is offered to individuals with a previous master’s degree in nursing. Students in this program must complete the following courses: advanced human physiology, advanced health assessment, adult health care management, women’s and children’s health care management and issues in advanced nursing.

Students completing the family nurse practitioner program are eligible to take the AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners) or the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) certification exam required for practice as a family nurse practitioner.
Health Care Leadership Track

Advanced practice in health care leadership prepares graduate nurses to assume positions of leadership in a variety of health care settings. In addition to the core graduate nursing courses, students in the health care leadership track will also take courses in health care systems, health care informatics, management and leadership theory and practice and an elective. Graduates of this track with the required administrative experience will be eligible to sit for the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center exam in advanced nursing administration.
Clinical Nurse Educator Track

The Clinical Nurse Educator track prepares graduate nurses to be highly qualified clinical educators in colleges/universities or health care settings. In addition, to the core courses, students in this track will take advanced pathophysiology and either advanced health assessment or pharmacotherapeutics. Students will also complete courses in college teaching, technology use in health care education and a clinical nurse educator practicum. Graduates of this track are eligible to take the National League for Nursing (NLN) Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam.

Master of Science in Nursing

-Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration

-Nurse Anesthesia Concentration

To inquire about the MSN program:
call 423.869.7187 or 800.325.0900, ext. 7187

The Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) concentration, prepares nurses in an advanced practice role with competencies in family health promotion and culturally competent clinical management of common conditions across the life span. The 17-month FNP concentration requires 43 semester hours of graduate course work including 720 clinical hours. A written comprehensive exam is required during the final semester. Students also complete a directed scholarly project. Students may only transfer a minimum of six (6) credit hours toward degree requirements.

Admission to the FNP Concentration
Students may request full or part-time status. Part-time graduate nursing students must meet with their advisor to plan an individualized progression plan. This will help to ensure that course prerequisites and future course availability will be incorporated into the plan. A change in status from part-time to full-time or vice versa must be approved by the faculty advisor and a new progression plan must be designed (see LMU Graduate Student Nursing Handbook).
Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate nursing program.
A strong overall academic record with a cumulative average of “B” (3.0) or better.
Undergraduate coursework should have included: An inventory statistics course, a nursing research course, a health assessment course, and a basic computer course (or equivalents).
Competitive GRE scores (A combined verbal and analytic score of 1000 is desirable).
A year of work experience as an RN is recommended, but exceptional new graduates may apply.
Recommendations from nursing professionals who can rate the applicant’s potential.
A three page letter to the Admissions Committee describing professional goals.
An unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Tennessee is required for enrollment; clinical practicum may necessitate licensure in neighboring areas.

The LMU MSN Nurse Anesthesia concentration prepares nurses in an advanced practice role with competencies in Nurse Anesthesia across the life span. The 28-month program requires 88 semester hours of graduate course work including six semesters in clinical practicum. A written comprehensive exam is required during the final semester. Students also complete a directed scholarly project. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program recently received initial accreditation from NLNAC. The address for NLNAC is: 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006. The Nurse Anesthesia concentration recently received initial accreditation from Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). The address for COA is: American Association for Nurse Anesthetists, 222 South Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, IL 60068

Admission to the NA Concentration
Admission Requirement for the MSN Nurse Anesthesia Concentration were developed to meet the Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. Requirements include:
Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate nursing program.
A strong overall academic record with cumulative average of “B” (3.0) or better.
Undergraduate coursework should have included: An introductory statistics course, a nursing research course, a health assessment course, and a basic computer course (or equivalents).
Competitive GRE scores (A combined verbal and analytic score of 1000 is desirable).
An unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Tennessee is required for enrollment; clinical practicum may necessitate licensure in neighboring states.
A minimum of one year experience as a Registered Nurse in adult acute care as defined in the glossary of the COA’s Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Program (no exceptions).
Minimum of three recommendations including one from faculty of the candidate’s baccalaureate nursing program or immediate supervisor in acute care and one from another professional in a related healthcare field (examples may include: Clinical Nurse Specialist RN, CRNA, Anesthesiologist, Surgeon, or Intensivist).
Three page letter to the Nurse Anesthesia Concentration Admissions Committee describing professional goals.
The MSN Nurse Anesthesia Concentration is a full-time program. Student may only request full-time status.
Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life support, and Pediatric Life Support must be current through December of year in which the application is submitted.
Medical profile including immunizations record and drug screen completed no more than 90 days prior to enrollment in MSN Nurse Anesthesia Concentration.

Why should you get your MSN at LMU?

Graduate education will challenge you and allow you to discover new ways to view yourself, to view the art and science of nursing, and to view the world at large. The MSN degree brings new career opportunities. In addition to allowing you to enjoy increased job opportunities and potentially an increased salary, graduate education will improve your self-confidence and renew your commitment to nursing. Many nurses find that the additional challenge and autonomy enjoyed by nurse practitioners result in higher job satisfaction.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Concentration

At LMU, the FNP concentration has been designed to meet standards for advanced practice education as mandated by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty. The FNP concentration has been approved by both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Nursing program accreditation has been granted by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program recently received initial accreditation from NLNAC. The address for NLNAC is: 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006.

Additionally the Nurse Anesthesia Concentration has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.

The undergraduate programs and the MSN program are fully approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

There is an Advisory Board for the MSN program that includes Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs), FNPs, CRNA, Anesthesiologist and employers of APNS.

Graduates of the FNP concentration will have met the eligibility criteria for both the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners FNP certification examinations.

The LMU nursing faculty is committed to challenging you to meet high academic standards while ensuring that you have the tools you need to be successful. Small classes and experienced faculty will enhance your graduate experience. The ability to share learning resources with the new medical school will further augment your learning environment. Faculty will work closely with students to help them master the core knowledge base needed for advanced practice. Faculty will also work with clinical preceptors to create clinical learning environments that will allow you to assume increasing responsibility for patient care as you progress through the program.

Full-time and part-time options are available. A full time student can complete the program in four sequential semesters (inclusive of a summer semester). This full-time plan of progression will take 17 months to complete. Part-time students must meet with their advisor to plan an individualized progression plan. This will help to ensure that course prerequisites and future course availability will be incorporated into the plan. (See sample plans below.)

Prospective students who do not hold a BSN should meet with an advisor to determine and plan a course of study