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Entry to Practice Master of Science in Nursing (MSNE for non-nurses)

This unique program provides an accelerated option for non-nurses to gain the education and experience needed to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX). Created specifically for individuals with a baccalaureate degree in a field outside of nursing, the Master's Entry MSN program paves the way for a new career as a Registered Nurse (RN).

Every fall, students enroll in this 24-month program. The MSNE program is demanding, as it provides students with a general foundation in nursing as well as master’s level courses that provide the skills necessary to serve at the bedside or in leadership positions. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and are prepared as Nurse Generalists. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nursing (RN) licensure.

 

Program Policies

Admission

  • Applicants must meet admission requirements as outlined in the Academic Catalog.
    • Applicants will additionally need to complete an interview with nursing faculty.
  • Once admitted, applicants will need to complete Criminal Record Check/Child Abuse History, Clearances, FBI Fingerprinting, a drug screen and/or additional testing as required by clinical facilities
  • Applicants are advised and upon graduation and application for the Registered Nurse Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), all boards of nursing will inquire as to whether the applicant has been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, felonious act, an illegal act associated with alcohol, or an illegal act associated with substance abuse(s)

Progression

  • Students must earn a grade of at least B in all required nursing courses. Any grade lower than B will be considered a failure and the course will be repeated.
  • Entry to Practice Nursing courses may only be repeated one time. A failure of two nursing courses across the curriculum will result in a program failure and the student will be dismissed from the program.
  • Students must be successful in both the didactic and clinical portion of a course; a failure in either portion will result in an overall course failure and the entire course (didactic and clinical) must be repeated.
  • A student who repeats a nursing course must participate in the remediation process with the SHINE/Remediation Coordinator.

Electives

  • Students must complete 5 (15 credit hours) of graduate level electives. Electives courses can be NUR or BUS courses.

Entry to Practice Master of Science in Nursing Requirements

Students completing the MSNE must complete the required courses listed below. All students registering for the MSNE program will pay a nursing fee per semester of enrollment in nursing courses as detailed in the Tuition and Fees section of this catalog.

Requirements

Entry to Practice Master of Science in Nursing Prerequisites

Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab

4
Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab

4
Microbiology with Lab

4
College-level Statistics

3
College-level Human Growth and Development

3
Total Credit Hours:18

Entry to Practice Master of Science in Nursing Requirements

NUR 503Professionalism in Nursing

2
NUR 511Healthcare Informatics, Technology & Com

3
NUR 514Health Assessment & Foundation for Nurs

2
NUR 514SHealth Assessment & Foundation for Nurs

2
NUR 522Methods of Scientific Inquiry

3
NUR 523Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I

2
NUR 523SPathophysiology and Pharmacology I Skills

1
NUR 524Application of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing

3
NUR 525Medical Surgical Nursing Practice I: Chronic & Gerontological Health Alterations

2
NUR 525CMedical Surgical Nursing Practice I Clinical

1
NUR 527Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II

2
NUR 527SPathophysiology and Pharmacology II Skills

1
NUR 529Pathophysiology and Pharmacology III

3
NUR 565Nursing Practice: Behave/Mental Health

3
NUR 565CNursing Practice: Behave/Mental Health

2
NUR 566Medical Surgical Nursing Practice II: Acute Adult Health Alterations

2
NUR 566CMedical Surgical Nursing Practice II: Clinical

1
NUR 612Adv Clinical Concepts: Integrated Pract

3
NUR 615Nursing Practice: Pediatrics

3
NUR 615CNursing Practice: Pediatrics Clinical

2
NUR 624Care of Populations

2
NUR 628Medical Surgical Nursing III

2
NUR 628CMedical Surgical Nursing III Clinical

2
NUR 645Nursing Practice: Maternal and Newborn Health

3
NUR 645CNursing Practice: Maternal and Newborn Health Clinical

2
NUR 651Healthcare Systems & Reimbursement

3
NUR 655Nursing Practice Critical Care

3
NUR 655CNursing Practice: Critical Care Clinical

2
NUR 657Role Transition

2
NUR 657CPracticum

2
5 Electives (to complete an area of concentration in nursing)

15

*NUR 511, NUR 522, NUR 524, NUR 612, NUR 651 are included in the MSN program

Total Credit Hours: 81

Course Load

The typical load is program dependent. The MSN (Education or Leadership)and the DNP are offered on a term schedule where students typically complete one course per term. The Entry to Practice MSN is offered on a semester schedule with students completing a full-time course load.

Graduate Progression

Nursing programs at the graduate level require that students earn a grade of B or better to be successful. Courses will be repeated when the grade is C or lower. In clinical courses for the Entry to Practice MSN, if a student does not earn a grade of B in the didactic portion or is not successful in the clinical portion, both sections must be repeated. If a course is successfully repeated, the failing grade will be removed from the calculation in the grade point average. All grades, whether repeated or not, remain on the Coker transcript with repeated courses noted.

If a student is not successful on the second attempt of a course, the student may petition the Dean of Nursing to attempt the course a third time, identifying extreme circumstances that justify such a decision. Students who are not able to pass clinical on the second attempt or pass a course on the third attempt with a grade of B or better must withdraw from the program.