Master of Science in Nursing Program

Programs

Courses

Chair: Dr. Susan Thornock
Director of MSN Executive and Educator Tracks: Julie Gee, MS, RN
Location: Marriott Allied Health Building, Rm 435
Director of MSN-NP Nurse Practitioner Track: Deborah Judd, DPN, APRN, FNP-C
Location: Marriott Allied Health Building, Rm 438
Telephone: Andrea Slager (801) 626-6137
Enrollment Director: (801) 626-7774, prompt 6

The MSN program is designed to prepare 1) nurse administrators, 2) college-level nursing faculty, 3) nurse educators employed within healthcare institutions, and 4) nurse practitioner clinicians for primary care.

The concentrations of nursing educator and nurse administrator prepare students for advanced practice careers in nursing. Both concentrations are specifically intended for individuals with nursing experience who want to advance their careers as nurse administrators or college faculty. The Master’s of Science in Nursing graduate, functioning in the advanced professional role of nurse educator or nurse administrator, is prepared to provide guidance and leadership to the PN, RN, and BSN graduates throughout the processes associated with designing, managing, coordinating, and providing nursing care.

The MSN executive and educator degree consists of 40 credit hours beyond the earned baccalaureate degree. This includes core courses (15 credits) and concentrations of nurse administrator or nurse educator (21 credits per concentration). In addition, students are required to complete 4 credits of project hours. The WSU executive and educator graduate nursing programs are completely Online. There are limited face to face experiences for nurse educator and executive students during residency courses.

The MSN concentration of nurse practitioner, prepares students for an advanced practice career in nursing as a community healthcare provider. Nurse Practitioners are educated to diagnose, treat, manage acute and chronic illness, order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe and monitor medications, manage patients holistically, promote health and wellness, and decrease individual and community disease morbidity and mortality in a variety of healthcare contexts.

Students are prepared to complete the national nurse practitioner certification exam and to practice as independent licensed practitioners with an understanding of the nurse practitioner role, scope of practice possibilities and limitations, and interdisciplinary collaborative partnerships to provide safe quality care to clients throughout the lifespan.

The MSN-NP degree consists of 50 credit hours beyond the earned baccalaureate degree. This includes 9 credits of MSN core courses, 14 MSN-NP core courses, and 27 specific nurse practitioner courses inclusive of skill labs, clinical practice, and hybrid lifespan courses. Students are required to complete a scholarly project focused on integrating scholarship into clinical practice. The WSU nurse practitioner program has a combination of Online and hybrid (face to face) coursework. Hybrid student learning experiences include: collaborative community healthcare opportunities and Dumke College of Health Professions’ interdisciplinary skill labs.

Certificate courses may not be concurrently applied towards the WSU MSN degree. The School of Nursing programs are nationally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia, 30326. www.acenursing.org.

Courses

Master of Science in Nursing Course Descriptions

Programs

Graduate Certificate

Master of Science