RN to MSN, Master of Science

Program Description:

The RN/MSN program is offered to foreign-educated doctors who hold a nursing license and nurses who earned a Baccalaureate degree in a related field. This curriculum is designed to build upon students’ nursing education and professional experiences. This program will allow these professional nurses with previous medical and strong educational backgrounds to acquire evidence-based knowledge and the necessary skills to provide direct patient services at an advanced level. A total of fifty-five (55) credit hours are required for graduation. FNU awards a Master of Science Degree in Nursing upon completion of the program.

Program Requirements (55 Credits)

Courses (55 Credits)

NUR 3065C	Physical Assessment in Health Care	4
NUR 3125	Pathophysiology	4
NUR 3165	Applied Nursing Research	3
NUR 3826	Ethical and Legal Aspect of Nursing Practice	2
NUR 4516	Crisis Intervention	2
NUR 4636	Community Nursing	4
NGR 5101	Nursing Theory	3
NGR 5141	Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NGR 6812	Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice	3
NGR 5035	Advanced Health Assessment	3
NGR 5891	Health Care Policy	3
NGR 6172	Advanced Pharmacology	3
NGR 5674	Population Health, Epidemiology & Statistical Principles	3
NGR 6636	Health Promotion and Role Development in Advanced Nursing Practice	3
NGR 6871	Health Care Informatics	3
NGR 6117	Nursing Leadership and Management	3
NGR 5700	Decision Making	3
NGR 6970	MSN Capstone Project	3

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 (or below) 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: 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, a GMAT score of 400 and above or a GRE composite score of 150 (or 900) is 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 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.
7. Current resume or curriculum vitae.
8. Official (sealed) transcript from undergraduate nursing institution.
9. A written essay of a minimum of 250 words describing the reason for pursuing an advanced degree in nursing.
10. 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.

     

    Students applying to the RN-MSN track must also meet the following requirements:

    1. Current Unrestricted RN license
    2. Completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited institution or a Foreign Medical Degree with transcript equivalencies from an accredited Credential Evaluation Agency.

     

Credit Transferability

The MSN program will accept up to 6 graduate credit hours from another regionally accredited institution and programmatically accredited nursing program. The applicants must submit original transcripts from their previous institutions. The Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Director of the MSN program will render an 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.

RN-MSN track is a bridge. Therefore, no BSN degree will be conferred upon completion.

Disclaimer

Foreign online students who hold international nursing licenses can be enrolled in the Post-Graduate Certificates in Nurse Leadership and Management and the Nurse Educator. 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. 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.