Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)

The School of Nursing offers three program options leading to the Master of Science in Nursing degree, each differing in the degree requirements for entry:

• Traditional Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program is designed for prepared registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
• The RN-B to M.S.N. program is designed for registered nurses with a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field.
• The Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing program is a 27-month accelerated program designed for students with a prior non-nursing baccalaureate degree to earn RN licensure and achieve the advanced generalist M.S.N. degree.

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 program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) (www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation).

The Care and Outcomes Manager (COM) curriculum meets the eligibility requirements for Clinical Nurse Leader Certification.

M.S.N. Application Priority Deadlines

M.S.N. candidates may apply for admission at any time during the year; however, application by the indicated program-specific priority deadline will enhance applicants’ potential for admission and for arranging financial assistance.

• B.S.N. to M.S.N.: November 15/Rolling admissions for the following Summer (June). March 1/Rolling admissions for the following Fall Semester.
• RN-B to M.S.N.: November 15/Rolling admissions for the following Summer (June).
• Entry-Level M.S.N.: November 15/Rolling admissions for the following Summer (June).

Admission Criteria

The following are the minimum criteria for consideration of admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program. Admission to the School of Nursing program is competitive; meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee admission:

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university.
• B.S.N. to M.S.N. applicants only: Hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school of nursing.
• B.S.N to M.S.N. and RN-B applicants only: Hold an active, unencumbered Washington State RN license.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (B) on a 4.00 scale for all college work.
• Minimum grade of 3.00 (B) on a 4.00 scale in each prerequisite course.
• Submission of PLU Graduate Application forms and $55 non-refundable fee.
• Submission of School of Nursing Addendum packet, which includes:
  • Questions Relative to Licensure;
  • Policy/Procedures for students who have attended another school of nursing; and
  • Policy/Procedures Regarding English Proficiency;
  • Physical/Psychological Expectations of Nurses preparing for Professional Practice.
• Official transcripts from each college and university attended.
• Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) results from within five years. Minimum scores:
  • 500 in both the verbal and quantitative section (or 150 verbal, 150 quantitative on the new scale) and 4.00 in analytical writing.
• Professional résumé.
• Statement of professional goals.
• Two letters of recommendation.
• Civil, administrative and criminal history clearance in all states as well as any other applicable territory or country.
• Fluency in speaking, reading, writing and comprehending graduate-level English (see policy and procedures in the Graduate Application Addendum).
• Any EL – M.S.N. applicant who has previously attended any school or college of nursing must submit a letter of good standing.
• Any B.S.N.- M.S.N. applicant who have previously attended any graduate nursing program must submit a letter of good standing.

Program Prerequisites

All prerequisite courses must be completed at an accredited college or university with a minimum grade of 3.00 (B) or higher on a 4.00 scale before beginning the nursing program. Prerequisites vary for the M.S.N. program options; see individual program descriptions for a detailed list of prerequisite course requirements.

Advance Deposit

There are limitations on the numbers of students accepted into the M.S.N. programs and concentrations each year. Applicants accepted into the program are required to make a non-refundable $300 advance tuition payment to confirm their acceptance of an offer of admission within three weeks of their acceptance date.

Program Requirements

All admitted nursing students must provide valid documentation of the following by designated dates and before enrollment in any practicum/clinical course:

• Immunization and health status;
• CPR certification;
• Comprehensive personal health insurance; and
• Civil, administrative, and criminal history clearance in all states, as well as any other applicable territory or country.

In addition to these requirements, all B.S.N. to M.S.N. and RN-B to M.S.N. students in M.S.N. concentration coursework must also provide documentation of:

• Unrestricted licensure as a registered nurse in the State of Washington.

Drug Testing Policy

All nursing students will be required to submit to a drug, marijuana, and alcohol screening at least once yearly as part of their continuing School of Nursing health requirements. Students may be required to submit to additional drug screenings as required by the clinical agencies and School of Nursing. The screenings may be scheduled or they may occur at random and unannounced. Students will be expected to adhere to any deadline set by the agencies and/or the School of Nursing.

Advising

The advising, admission, and student support coordinator for the School of Nursing typically completes initial advising and program planning with applicants and admitted students. M.S.N. applicants are strongly encouraged to seek advising prior to applying to the program. Upon matriculation, all students are assigned a graduate faculty advisor.

Non-Matriculated Students

B.S.N.-prepared registered nurses may, with permission of the dean of the School of Nursing, enroll in up to nine semester hours of M.S.N. courses on a non-matriculated basis with School of Nursing approval. Non-matriculated students are by definition non-degree seeking individuals. For more information on non-matriculated status, see the Graduate School policies.

M.S.N. Program for B.S.N. Prepared Registered Students

The traditional Master of Science in Nursing program is designed for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) prepared registered nurses. The sequence of study recognizes the academic and professional success of the nursing graduate as groundwork for graduate study. A limited number of candidates is admitted each year and admission is competitive.

The Master of Science (M.S.N.) degree prepares professional nurses for roles such as advanced generalist, Clinical Nurse Leader, as well as clinical nurse educator. The program also prepares the graduate for doctoral studies. The M.S.N. curriculum is evidence-based and practice-oriented, and consists of a common core (theory, advanced practice roles, evaluation and outcomes research, leadership and management, and advanced health promotion), specialty didactic and clinical/practicum experiences, and a capstone course (Scholarly Inquiry or Thesis). Each M.S.N. student completes coursework leading to the Care and Outcomes Manager concentration. The latter may be further differentiated through focus areas, including Clinical Nurse Leader, nursing administrator, or clinical nurse educator. In contrasts to the Entry-Level M.S.N. applicant, prospective regular-entry M.S.N. students apply for admission and direct-entry into the Care and Outcomes Manager (COM) concentration.

M.S.N. core and concentration requirements may be completed in four to five full-time semesters over two years. Part-time study is an option for students in the B.S.N. to M.S.N. route. Graduate-level nursing classes are structured to accommodate the part-time working nurse.

The M.S.N. 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. The curriculum prepares the M.S.N. COM graduate to provide flexible leadership and critical action within complex, changing systems, including health, educational, and organizational systems. The core M.S.N. curriculum prepares an advanced generalist, who has the knowledge and skills required for all masters-prepared nurses as determined by the AACN Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing (2011). The COM coursework is organized around learning modules that allow the program to be further tailored toward a specific role. Role specialization can include: nurse educator, Clinical Nurse Leader® (CNL), or nurse administrator. Students who focus on the nurse educator role are additionally required to take NURS 550 (Curriculum and Instruction) and focus their minimum 360 hour clinical practica in the education role to meet the nurse educator core competencies. In the CNL focus students meet the competencies for the Clinical Nurse Leader role during the 400 hours of clinical practica and complete a 300 hour immersion in the CNL role. Students choosing to focus in nursing administration take approved graduate business courses; at the minimum, one course for three semester hours, as well as doing all their COM practica in the nursing administration role.

Master of Science in Nursing Degree Requirements

33 to 48 semester hours

Prerequisite Course for Traditional M.S.N.: Introductory Statistics (including inferential and descriptive)

• M.S.N. Core
  19 semester hours

• NURS 523: Role of the Advanced Nurse (3)
• 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 540: Illness/Disease Management (2)
• NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)

• M.S.N. Capstone
  2 to 4 semester hours

• NURS 596: Scholarly Inquiry (2) or
• NURS 599: Thesis (4)

• Concentration Coursework
  12 to 23 semester hours, as outlined below for the COM and FNP

• Care and Outcomes Manager (COM) Concentration
  12 semester hours

Required Courses:

• NURS 530: Resource Management (3)
• NURS 531: Care & Outcomes Manager Practicum I (3)
• NURS 532: Care & Outcomes Manager Practicum II (6)

Additional courses are required for other COM role specializations. Please note that students who do not complete a role specialization graduate from the COM concentration as Advanced Generalist.

M.S.N. Care and Outcomes Manager Sample Curriculum

12 to 15 months
33 semester hours (minimum)

• First Year: Summer Session
  • NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)

• First Year: Fall Semester
  • NURS 523: Roles of the Advanced Nurse (3)
  • NURS 525: Theoretical Foundations (3)
  • NURS 526: Leadership and Management (3)

• First Year: January Term
  • NURS 524: Advanced Health Promotion (2)
  • NURS 540: Illness and Disease Management (2)

• First Year: Spring Semester
  • NURS 527: Evaluation and Outcomes Research (3)
  • NURS 530: Resource Management (3)
  • NURS 531: Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum I (3)

• Second Year: Summer Session
  • NURS 532: Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum II (6)
  • NURS 596: Scholarly Inquiry (2)

RN-B TO M.S.N. Program Registered Nurses with a Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Degree

The RN-B to M.S.N. Program is designed to allow registered nurses with a previous non-nursing bachelor’s or higher degree to earn the M.S.N. degree in the Care and Outcomes Manager, Advanced Generalist area of focus; this program does not confer the B.S.N. degree. The sequence of study recognizes the academic success of the non-nursing graduate and RN licensure as groundwork for graduate study. The program is academically intensive to assure the student of adequate development as a master’s prepared advanced generalist by the completion of the RN-B to M.S.N. program, but is structured to maximize the participant’s ability to sustain employment. A limited number of candidates is admitted each year and admission is competitive.

All students are admitted to the RN-B to M.S.N. program in the Advanced Generalist focus, which is part of the Care and Outcomes Manager (COM) Concentration. Enrolled RN-B to M.S.N. students who demonstrate a strong potential for success in a specialty may, when space allows, apply to be considered for selection into clinical specializations, such as COM-Clinical Nurse Educator focus, etc. RN-B to M.S.N. students must apply and be selected for a change of COM focus area or concentration at the completion of the first semester of M.S.N. core coursework. Students who do not apply or are not selected for participation in an alternative COM focus area remain in the COM-Advanced Generalist M.S.N. program. Admission to the RN-B to M.S.N. program does not guarantee progression into any other COM focus area or specializations (CNL, Educator, etc.); admission to specialties is highly selective and space is not guaranteed or reserved for RN-B to M.S.N. students. Students admitted to a specialty will incur additional time and expense, and depending on the specialty, are advised that intensive practica may impact their ability to work outside the program.

RN-B to M.S.N. students follow the traditional M.S.N. Advanced Generalist curriculum (see above), with the additional requirement of NURS 430: Situations with Communities (5 semester hours). NURS 430 is offered Spring and Fall Semesters at PLU. Enrollment in NURS 430 at PLU requires approval; space is limited). Nursing courses taken off-campus toward fulfillment of this requirement must be approved for equivalency by the dean of the School of Nursing prior to admission to the program.

RN-B TO M.S.N. Program Sample Curriculum

32 semester hours (graduate-level, at minimum)

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

RN-B to M.S.N. Program Requirement

• NURS 430: Nursing Situations with Communities (5)

• Year One: Summer (COM-Advanced Generalist)
  • NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)

• Year One: Fall Semester (M.S.N. Core)
  • NURS 523: Roles of the Advanced Nurse (3)
  • NURS 525: Theoretical Foundations (3)
  • NURS 526: Leadership and Management (3)

• Year One: January Term (M.S.N. Core)
  • NURS 524: Advanced Health Promotion (2)
  • NURS 540: Illness and Disease Management (2)

• Year One: Spring Semester (COM – Advanced Generalist)
  • NURS 527: Evaluation and Outcomes Research (3)
  • NURS 530: Resource Management (2)
  • NURS 531: Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum I (3)

• Year Two: Summer Session (COM-Advanced Generalist)
  • NURS 532: Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum II (6)
  • NURS 596: Scholarly Inquiry (2)

Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing Program

Care and Outcomes Manager Concentration, Advanced Generalist Focus

The Entry-Level M.S.N. is a cohort program designed to prepare candidates with a previous bachelor’s or higher degree to gain RN licensure and the M.S.N. 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 B.S.N. degree, but following successful completion of the first 15-months of study, they are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN for registered nurse licensure and to continue in the M.S.N. program in the Care and Outcomes Manager (COM) concentration, Advanced Generalist focus. A limited cohort is admitted each year and admission is competitive.

The Entry-Level M.S.N. program is clinically and academically intensive to assure the student of adequate exposure to the RN role and responsibilities, as well as to develop the student as master’s-prepared Advanced Generalist by the completion of the Entry-Level M.S.N. program. All students are admitted to the Entry-Level program in the Advanced Generalist focus, which is part of the Care and Outcomes Manager (COM) concentration. Entry-Level M.S.N. students may apply to be considered for selection into other clinical specializations, such as FNP, COM-Clinical Nurse Educator focus, etc. Students who do not apply for, or are not selected for, participation in the alternative COM focus area remain in the COM-Advanced Generalist M.S.N. program.

Entry-Level M.S.N. students must maintain full-time status throughout their entire program of study. Prior to entering graduate-level studies, Entry-Level M.S.N. students participate in a 15-month intensive program at the undergraduate level leading to RN eligibility. During the pre-licensure program component, outside employment is not recommended because it may significantly impair student performance. After obtaining RN licensure midway through the program, the students are encouraged and expected to work part-time as nurses while enrolled full-time in graduate-level courses. Students are expected to complete the entire 27-month program with their cohort.

Please note: Students withdrawing from the Entry-Level M.S.N. program after RN licensure, but before completing the graduate degree, will not have an academic nursing degree from Pacific Lutheran University and may not be able to sustain/obtain licensure in the State of Washington and/or other states.

Entry-Level M.S.N. Pre-Licensure and Advanced Generalist Focus Curriculum

55 semester hours (pre-licensure)
30 semester hours (post-licensure, at minimum)

Prerequisite Courses

• Introductory Statistics (including inferential and descriptive) (4)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with lab) (5)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with lab) (5)
• Introductory Microbiology (with lab) (4)
• Lifespan Developmental Psychology (4)

• Year One: Summer (Pre-Licensure)
  • NURS 220: Nursing Competencies I (4)
  • NURS 270: Health Assessment and Promotion (4)
  • NURS 320: Nursing Competencies II (2)
  • NURS 580: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)

• Year One: Fall (Pre-Licensure)
  • NURS 260: Professional Foundations I (4)
  • NURS 330: Pharmacology & Therapeutic Modalities (4)
  • NURS 340: Nursing Situations w/ Individuals: Adult Health I (4)
  • NURS 350: Nursing Situations w/ Individuals: Mental Health (4)

• Year One: January (Pre-Licensure)
  • NURS 380: Nursing Situations with Families: Childrearing (Peds) (4)

• Year One: Spring (Pre-Licensure)
  • NURS 370: Nursing Situations w/ Families: Childbearing (OB) (4)
  • NURS 430: Nursing Situations with Communities (5)
  • NURS 440: Nursing Situations w/ Individuals: Adult Health II (4)
  • NURS 441: Situations Seminar (1)

• Year Two: Summer (Pre-Licensure)
  • NURS 480: Professional Foundations II (2)
  • NURS 499: Nursing Synthesis (6)

After completing the pre-licensure curriculum and upon successfully obtaining RN licensure in Washington State, students continue the Entry-Level M.S.N. curriculum in the COM-Advanced Generalist focus (see below). Admission to the Entry-Level M.S.N. program does not guarantee progression into any other COM focus area or specializations (Educator, etc.). Entry-Level M.S.N. students must apply and be selected for a change of COM focus area or concentration at the completion of their first post-RN licensure semester. The availability of seats in other COM focus areas is not guaranteed or implied; when and if available, seats are limited and selection is therefore highly competitive.

• Year Two: Fall (Licensure Pending, M.S.N. Core)
  • NURS 523: Roles of the Advanced Nurse (3)
  • NURS 525: Theoretical Foundations (3)
  • NURS 526: Leadership and Management (3)

• Year Two: January (Post-Licensure, M.S.N. Core)
  • NURS 524: Advanced Health Promotion (2)
  • NURS 540: Illness/Disease Management (2)

• Year Two: Spring (COM – Advanced Generalist)
  • NURS 527: Evaluation and Outcomes Research (3)
  • NURS 530: Resource Management (3)
  • NURS 531: Care and Outcomes Manager Practicum I (3)

• Year Three: Summer (COM-Advanced Generalist)
  • NURS 532: Care & Outcomes Manager Practicum II (6)
  • NURS 596: Scholarly Inquiry (2)