School of Nursing
Programs
Master of Science Program
What is it?
A GRADUATE PROGRAM IN NURSING FOR THE 21 ST CENTURY! The faculty of the Bronson School of Nursing are pleased to announce that WMU approved a new graduate program leading to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) which began in fall of 2006. The MSN program design is based on the needs outlined by individuals, community nurse leaders, employers, faculty, and groups surveyed. The program is congruent with current documents of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Institute of Medicine, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). It is anticipated that the MSN will be considered for CCNE accreditation prior to graduation of the first class as the BSN program is already CCNE accredited.
What is the purpose of the MSN program?
The purpose of the graduate nursing program is to prepare nurses with advanced education in the discipline of nursing, in scholarship and in a specialty area.
Two areas of study are particularly timely in our local social context: 1) the preparation of nurse teachers who are able to serve as faculty, practice preceptors, and teachers of other health professionals in a variety of settings, and 2) the preparation of nurse leaders/managers who function in complex health care systems that promote the health and well being of populations. Consideration of other areas will be addressed according to determination of community need.
Who should apply for this program?
Any nurse with a baccalaureate degree in nursing who is interested in moving the profession forward or anyone considering leadership in the clinical/educational setting. Individual consideration will be given to nurses with an undergraduate or graduate degree in another health field. Health Professionals who teach others to do what they do and who would like to be a better teacher and/or those who would like to become a teacher should consider the Interdisciplinary Teacher Education Program for Health Professionals.
What are criteria for admission?
Admission is competitive; therefore, the listed criteria for admission should be considered as minimum standards.
- Earned BSN or BS with a major in nursing from an accredited baccalaureate program in nursing (nurses with a baccalaureate degree in another field will be considered on individual basis)
- Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 in past academic work
- Completion of undergraduate statistics and informatics courses
- Current license to practice nursing
- Minimum TOEFL score of 600 for applicants who speak English as a second language
- Curriculum vitae or resume with evidence of proficient nursing practice
- Completion of WMU and BSON graduate application form
- Narrative Statement
- Three (3) letters of reference
- Personal interview with written essay
Criteria for Admission to the MSN Program for Nurses without a BSN
The MSN Admission Committee considers nurse applicants to the MSN program without a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) on an individual basis. As of fall 2007, such applicants are required to complete the following pre-requisite courses prior to final acceptance into the MSN program. Prior transcripts will be evaluated for equivalent courses where applicable.
Pre-requisites for MSN agreed include:
NUR 3400 Professional Nursing 5 credits Spring 2008
NUR 3330 Informatics 3 credits Spring/Summer 2008
STAT 3660 Statistics 4 credits Spring/Summer 2008
NUR 3320 Nursing research 3 credits Spring 2008
Need to demonstrate competency in key components of the following courses:
NUR 4310 Population-based nursing
NUR 4320 Nursing leadership & management
These competencies will be evaluated based on work experience, reference letters, and resume.
Minimum formal course credits prior to MSN 12-15 credits*
Why enroll?
This program was designed with you in mind. It is geographically accessible for candidates living in Southwest Michigan. Two courses will be offered each semester to accommodate requests for flexibility from nurses who need to balance their home and work responsibilities. And the program meets the urgent demand for nurse faculty and clinical nurse leaders/managers so that future employment opportunities are many. In addition, the program will offer wonderful opportunities to work with other health professional students who can take many of the nursing courses. Such interactions will form the basis of life-long collaboration in promoting health within our communities.
MSN Program Outcomes
At the end of this program, the graduate will be able to:
- Analyze the historical and conceptual patterns that have shaped current health and illness care contexts and systems;
- Integrate advanced concepts of human behavior, cultural competencies, and ethical reasoning into the evolving role of nurse leadership for the 21 st century;
- Employ methods of inquiry that provide evidence for the practice of nursing and promote the role of the nurse in inquiry and evaluation;
- Use an interdisciplinary approach to promote health and well-being of selected populations within health care systems and communities;
- Describe how the organization and financing of health care services sculpt health care policies; and
- Demonstrate competency in teaching or clinical nurse leadership with selected populations
MSN Sample Plan of Study
Semester I – Fall |
Semester II - Spring |
||
NUR 5300: Historical & Theoretical Foundations of Nursing & Health Care |
3 |
NUR 6310: Community-Focused Care: An Interdisciplinary Approach |
3 |
NUR 5310: Advanced Professional Nursing |
3 |
NUR 6400: Professional Inquiry: Qualitative & Quantitative Methods |
3 |
Semester III – Fall |
Semester IV - Spring |
||
NUR 6300: Ethics & Culture: Foundations for Leadership |
3 |
NUR 6320: Health Care Policy, Organization, & Financing |
3 |
NUR 6410: Methods for Measuring Quality in Health & Educational Systems |
3 |
Elective |
3 |
Semester V – Fall |
Semester VI - Spring |
||
NUR 6500: Health Care Information Systems & Technology |
3 |
NUR 6510: Interdisciplinary Leadership in Organizations and Systems |
3 |
AND |
3 |
|
|
Semester VII – SSI |
Semester VIII - Fall |
||
NUR 6520: Health Care Financing |
3 |
NUR 6530: Practicum in Nursing Management |
3 |
|
|
AND |
3 |
|
|
TOTAL CREDITS = 42 |
|