Nursing (MSN)

Graduation Requirements (A Minimum of 36 Credits)

The graduate program is designed to build upon the student’s baccalaureate nursing education and professional experience This program prepares professional nurses with a wide range of educational experiences to acquire essential evidence-based knowledge and skills for successful employment in chosen careers. The MSN program offers three concentrations: Nurse Educator, Nurse Leadership/Management, and Family Nurse Practitioner. A total of 36 to 45 credits hours is required for graduation from all three concentrations.

Academic Requirements:

1. Students are required to obtain a grade of B in all classes, a satisfactory “S” grade in lab, and practicum.
2. C is a failing grade. Note that students in the RN-MSN track who are taking BSN courses will follow the BSN grading criteria. However, at least a GPA of 3.0 must be maintained to progress to the MSN courses.
3. Students will be allowed to repeat a course only once. Two failing grades will result in termination from the program. However, students who fail the lecture or clinical component of a practicum course must repeat both lecture and clinical, which will count as one failed course.

Admission Requirements: Master of Science in Nursing Program (MSN & RN- MSN)

1. Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an NLN or CCNE accredited institution with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Students who graduated from a non-programmatically accredited institution and meet all other admission requirements will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Admission is not guaranteed. Foreign transcripts must be evaluated and accompanied by equivalencies from an accredited Credential Evaluation Agency.
2. If undergraduate GPA is less than 2.5, GMAT score of 400 and above or a GRE composite score of 150 (or 900) required.
3. Current unrestricted license as a professional registered nurse in the United States. Out of state applicants must be eligible for endorsement by the Florida Board of Nursing.
4. Applicants with a foreign degree who lack academic experience in an English language environment must demonstrate English proficiency, which can be established through one of the following:

• Meeting Florida Board of Nursing English competency examinations’ requirements.
• Score of 62 and above on the Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL in each section with an acceptable level (intermediate or fair and above).
• Score of 5.5 on the IELTS, or a 44 on the PTEA.
• Completion of a-six credit English Graduate Preparatory Course (ENG 1120 & ENG 1130) offered in one semester.
• Completion of ENC 1101, ENC 1102 and SPC 1017.

5. A completed program application.
6. Two letters of recommendations from professional references who can attest to the candidate’s potential for advanced practice studies and leadership. One letter must be from a supervisor or a faculty.
   1. Current resume or curriculum vitae.
   2. Official (sealed) transcript from undergraduate nursing institution.
   3. A written essay of a minimum of 250 words depicting reason for pursuing an advanced degree in nursing.
   4. Entrance Interview (Students will be accepted based on their qualifications, merits, professional experiences, and contributions to the nursing profession).
   • Computer knowledge of Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is required for online classes.

Credit Transferability

The MSN program will accept MSN credits from another regionally accredited institution. The applicants must submit original transcripts from the previous institutions. The Vice-President of Academic Affairs and the Director of Nursing will render evaluation of submitted transcripts with the number of credits accepted.

• FNU reserves the right to choose the credentialing institutions it recognizes
• Credits earned from a Bachelor Degree in a related field or from a Foreign Medical Doctor Degree will be transferred as a block to the RN-MSN track.
• No additional credits will be transferred beyond the block transfer.

The master’s degree program in nursing at Florida National University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

DISCLAIMER:
Foreign online students who hold international nursing licenses can be enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nurse Leadership and Management and the Nurse Educator concentrations. Note that foreign students who graduate from an online nursing program and hold an international nursing license are unable to work in the USA, unless they sit for the NCLEX in the state of their choice. In order to sit for the NCLEX exam, students will be required to present a translation and equivalency of their academic credentials in English from an authorized evaluation agency and or any other requirements requested by the Board of Nursing.

This curriculum will be implemented in the Spring 2020 for students pursuing any of the MSN concentrations. Refer to the 2017 catalog for the old curriculum.