graduate nursing programs near me

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Nursing is a dynamic profession that brings many rewards and career advancement opportunities to those committed to lifelong learning. Today’s nurses are expected to master an increasingly complex body of knowledge and attain clinical skills to effectively provide lifesaving and life-sustaining services. Though completing an entry-level registered nursing (RN) program and passing the NCLEX are important milestones in anyone’s career, these are only the first steps in your preparation as a nursing professional. Throughout your career you will continue to expand your knowledge base due to advances in technology and cutting-edge nursing research. For those wishing to play a part in developing new skills, research, and practice innovations, now is the time for you to consider graduate-level nursing education.

More education brings more opportunity, and many doors are open to nurses with master’s degrees. Nurses with graduate preparation provide direct patient care at an advanced level, conduct research, teach online and in the classroom, impact public policy, lead health systems, consult with corporations, and implement evidence-based solutions that revolutionize health care. These highly skilled providers are in great demand to fill established and emerging roles that allow nurses to focus on a variety of practice areas, such as geriatrics, pediatrics, public health, administration, informatics, forensics, systems improvement, and genetics/genomics.

The national movement toward healthcare reform is ushering in new models of care delivery that will place nurses in the driver’s seat. As leaders of health/medical homes, nurse-managed health clinics, community health centers, and other settings, nurses are moving to become full partners in driving change in the healthcare arena. As more patients enter the system and an aging population creates the demand for transformation in health care, many more nurses will be needed to serve in primary care and specialty roles, as well as to lead independent practices.

Beyond the professional opportunities nurses gain through graduate education, there are some very tangible benefits to one’s quality of life. Nurses with advanced preparation typically enjoy more opportunities to impact the overall design and implementation of care. As education increases, salaries follow suit. Nurses with master’s degrees can command six-figure salaries and often rise to the top of healthcare’s leadership ranks. With new practice opportunities emerging, and the demand for highly specialized nursing skills rising, the time is right for you to begin your graduate-level nursing education. The earlier in your career you complete your formal education, the longer your professional life and the higher your lifetime earnings will be.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) encourages all nurses to strive for higher levels of education to advance their capacity to enhance the quality of care available to our nation’s diverse patient populations. Calls for more nurses with graduate level preparation are coming from both inside and outside of the profession from authorities as diverse as the Institute of Medicine, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Now is the time for you to invest in your future and begin your journey into graduate nursing education. 

Know Your Nursing Education Options

As you consider how best to continue your education, it’s important to keep your career trajectory in mind and know your options. Today’s health system needs nurses prepared at both the master’s and doctoral levels, yet you do not need to take a “stepped” approach to your education if your ultimate goal is the doctorate. Progressing seamlessly from baccalaureate to doctoral preparation is often more efficient, requiring less time in class and educational expenses. Of course, many students do choose to complete a master’s degree followed by a doctorate later in their career. This well-established educational pathway provides additional career options and may be necessary when family, work demands, and finances are considered.

Once you determine your degree of choice, you must select the program type that is right for you.  More than 500 nursing schools nationwide offer a menu of more than 2,000 graduate programs tailored to the needs of nurses with varying levels of education as well as non-nurses looking to enter the profession at an advanced level. 

Master's Nursing Programs

Master’s nursing programs prepare individuals for a variety of advanced roles in administration, teaching, research, informatics, and direct patient care. Nurses at this level are in high demand as Clinical Nurse Leaders, nurse managers, clinical educators, health policy consultants, research assistants, public health nurses, and in many other capacities. Individuals looking to earn a master’s degree may choose from these options: 

• Entry-Level Master’s Degree: Developed for those with a bachelor's or graduate degree in a discipline other than nursing, entry-level master’s degrees are also referred to as generic or accelerated programs. These offerings generally take about 2 to 3 years to finish with baccalaureate-level content and initial RN licensure completed during the first year. These programs, many of which prepare Clinical Nurse Leaders, are paced for students who have proven their ability to succeed at a four-year college or university. More than 60 entry-level master’s programs are available at schools nationwide.  
• RN to Master’s Degree: Designed for nurses with associate degrees, RN to MSN programs take about 2 to 3 years to complete with specific requirements varying by institution and based on the student's previous course work. Though most programs are offered in classroom settings, many are delivered largely online or in a blended classroom/online format. The baccalaureate-level content missing from associate degree curricula is built into the front-end of these degree completion programs. The number of RN to MSN programs has more than doubled in the past 25 years with more than 200 programs available today.  
• Baccalaureate to Master’s Degree: The traditional post-baccalaureate master’s is the most prevalent option offered to those seeking graduate preparation. Course work builds on undergraduate competency and allows students to concentrate their learning on a focus area. Program requirements and credit load vary by institution, though most programs may be completed in 18-24 months of full-time study. Though the majority of schools grant the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, some offer the Master of Nursing (MN) or MS in Nursing in keeping with university policy. The MSN, MN, and MS in Nursing are comparable degrees and prepare students at the same level of competency.  
• Dual Master’s Degree Programs: Nurses seeking a graduate degree with an in-depth concentration in a related field of study often choose a dual MSN program. Nationwide, more than 120 dual master’s degrees are available that combine nursing course work with business (MSN/MBA), public health (MSN/MPH), health administration (MSN/MHA), public administration (MSN/MPA), and other content areas.  
• Post Master’s Certificate Programs: Certificate programs also are available to master’s program graduates looking to sharpen their clinical skills and nursing knowledge in a number of focus areas, including nursing education, leadership, informatics, and specialty practice among many others.

Preparation for Specific Nursing Roles

Nurses with graduate degrees serve in a variety of direct and indirect care roles in wide range of practice arenas. Below is a sampling of career options for master’s graduates based on data collected by AACN on the most common majors available at U.S. nursing schools. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and there on no limits on where your graduate nursing education can take you. For a description of the four Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) roles – nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist and nurse midwife – see the Doctor of Nursing Practice .

• Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs) are prepared in master’s degree programs to oversee the care coordination for patients, assess risks, develop quality improvement strategies, facilitate team communication, and implement evidence-based solutions at the unit level. Nurses looking to provide direct care services while exercising clinical judgment, systems improvement, patient advocacy, and communication skills often flourish in this role. CNLs by definition are leaders, but this leadership occurs at the point of care. This role is not focused on nursing administration or management. CNLs are typically found at the bedside or providing direct patient care in other settings where they collaborate with other members of the healthcare team to provide a safe environment for patients where needs are prioritized and individualized. Students graduating from CNL programs may complete their role preparation by pursuing certification though the Commission on Nurse Certification. CNL® certification is a mark of excellence that lets employers, patients, and colleagues know that the CNL possesses the requisite knowledge and skills to practice in this unique capacity.  
• Nurse Administrators serve in a variety of managerial and leadership capacities in all practice environments. These nursing professionals facilitate and deliver quality patient care while coordinating actions in the workplace and managing a team of nurses. A nurse administrator may run a small team of nurses, several nursing units, an entire department, or an entire health system. These nurses are well-versed in nursing practice as well as in administrative procedures. Nurses drawn to this specialty typically aspire to be leaders in health care and often seek executive and policy making roles. Certification programs are available for graduates of nursing administration programs from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Organization of Nurse Executives.  
• Nurse Educators combine clinical expertise with a passion for teaching. Responsible for preparing new nurses and advancing the development of practicing clinicians, nurse educators possess a solid clinical background, strong communication skills, and a high level of cultural competence. Educators must be flexible enough to adapt curriculum and teaching methods in response to innovations in nursing science and ongoing changes in the practice environment. Within this role, these professionals enjoy opportunities to conduct research, publish articles in scholarly journals, speak at nursing conferences, serve as consultants to education and healthcare institutions, write grant proposals, shape public policy, and engage in community service. Given the growing shortage of nurse faculty, the job outlook for those seeking careers in nursing education is bright with a growing demand for individuals needed to teach in schools of nursing, hospitals, public health agencies, and other settings. Preparation for the nurse educator role varies by role and teaching site. Nurses with master’s preparation are needed to serve as instructors in the practice setting, clinical preceptors, staff development officers, and faculty in associate degree and allied nursing programs. Future faculty pursuing a master’s degree are advised to specialize in a clinical area within the discipline, not the process of teaching. Individuals pursuing full-time faculty roles should have additional preparation in the art and science of teaching (i.e., pedagogy, curriculum development, student assessment) to better convey their clinical mastery to nursing students. This additional preparation may occur in formal course work as part of a clinically-focused master’s program or completed separate from the graduate degree.  
• Public Health Nurses focus on preserving the health and well-being of the public. These specialists are licensed professional nurses who participate in activities related to population health, health promotion, disease prevention and control, and community education. Though their responsibilities vary by role and location, master’s- and doctorally-prepared public health nurses often manage clinics in various state and community settings (e.g.,  immunizations, well-child, health screenings), investigate communicable disease cases to determine sources and implement action necessary to curtail the spread of disease; analyze data to identify needs and service gaps for individuals, families, and communities; provide education regarding disease control and prevention as well as general preventive health care to individuals and groups; and implement programs that address environmental and population health risks. These nurses work collaboratively with community leaders, government officials, teachers, parents, and other providers in areas related to community and population health.  
• Nurse Informaticists seek to improve information management and communications in nursing to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the quality of patient care. The American Nurses Association defines nursing informatics as “a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice. Nursing informatics facilitates the integration of data, information and knowledge to support patients, nurses, and other providers in their decision-making in all roles and settings.” Informatics specialists must understand the nursing process, so they can design systems that will solve problems facing patient care. After completing a bachelor’s degree in nursing, many nurse informaticists obtain a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing depending upon their career aspirations. 

Nursing is an evolving profession that presents limitless career opportunities for nurses with graduate degrees. Beyond the roles mentioned above, nurses are breaking fresh ground as specialists in forensics, case management, military nursing, school nursing, genetics/genomics, and others emerging practice areas. For an extensive list of nursing specialties, including an overview of academic requirements, see www.nursing.jnj.com/specialty .

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Online MSN Programs Master's in Nursing Degrees

Cost per credit $637

Total courses 12

Term length 10 weeks

Program Overview Why get an online MSN degree?

Earn your nursing degree faster with an affordable online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). With 5 career-focused program tracks and fewer credit requirements (36 for most MSN tracks; 51 for the family nurse practitioner track), you can earn your MSN in as little as 1.5 years.

No BSN yet? No problem! SNHU offers an accelerated online RN to MSN  pathway option that applies to all 5 specialty tracks and allows eligible registered nurses to achieve their MSN faster – for less money.

Skills you'll learn:

• Proposal strategies
• How to drive change & improvement
• Health promotion & prevention tactics
• Solutions for health quality & cost
• Consumer-first policy & system advocacy

Courses & Curriculum Online MSN classes that put you on the right track

The master's in nursing online degree is designed to help you build key competencies you need for nursing practice at the master's level. All online MSN tracks begin with the same 5 core courses, giving you the opportunity to explore before you choose the direction you want to go.

Online MSN track options

No 2 nurses are the same; your professional experience and passion for what you do is unique. That's why we offer 5 unique tracks to help prepare you for the role and setting for the next step in your career.

Choose from 5 MSN tracks built to align with your career goals:

Position yourself for success in 1 of most high-demand nursing roles with your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) .

This track satisfies the educational requirements needed for the 2 national FNP certifications. Successfully passing 1 of those certification examinations allows the FNP graduate to apply for their Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) license from their State Board of Nursing.

Learn more about earning your family nurse practitioner degree online .

Courses include:

• Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology
• Advanced Health Assessment & Clinical Reasoning
• Advanced Pharmacology for the Prescriber

The family nurse practitioner track includes a multi-day in-person immersion experience in New Hampshire as well as a minimum of 750 clinical practicum hours under the guidance of preceptors.

Immersion Eperience: The cost of the Immersion Experience is $2,000 and is separate from course tuition. The fee covers items associated with the immersion, such as training materials and standardized patients. Travel including transportation costs, flights, lodging and meal costs are not included in this fee and are the responsibility of the student to pay for and secure. The Immersion Experience is scheduled in NUR-600 and will be held in New Hampshire.

After the Immersion Experience, you'll embark on your practicum experiences, which includes a minimum of 750 clinical hours across five courses. FNP Students will need to complete their program within five (5) years after completing the NUR-600, Advanced Pharmacology for the Prescriber, Immersion course.  

Program Outcomes:

• Apply evidence-based practice, informatics and healthcare technologies to support continuous quality improvement in complex health systems
• Lead and collaborate within interprofessional teams and organizational structures to manage change, improve nursing practice and coordinate care across populations
• Develop advanced communication and advocacy strategies to improve health outcomes across the 4 spheres of care
• Advance equitable health policies and regulations that reduce health risk and promote financial stewardship, in alignment with ethical and legal standards
• Integrate person-centered health promotion and disease prevention strategies to address actual and potential problems through the role of change agent and patient advocate
• Integrate an advanced level of scientific knowledge in the role of an advanced practice registered nurse to independently assess, diagnose and manage the health outcomes of individuals, families and populations across the lifespan in primary care settings
• Collaborate interprofessionally to provide high quality, ethical and safe care to diverse populations

Become an advocate for change and gain the skills you need to implement a culture of safety with your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Healthcare Quality & Safety .

It's estimated that 1 in 10 patients are harmed while receiving hospital patient care – and of those cases, about 50% are preventable. 2 This MSN track can give you the skills you need to change those numbers and improve patient-centered care. 

Learn more about earning your healthcare quality & safety MSN online .

• Healthcare Quality & Improvement
• Health Policy & Law
• Healthcare Finance & Reimbursement

The healthcare quality and safety track includes 135 clinical practicum hours under the guidance of a preceptor in the student's final course.

• Apply evidence-based practice, informatics, and healthcare technologies to support continuous quality improvement in complex health systems
• Lead and collaborate within interprofessional teams and organizational structures to manage change, improve nursing practice, and coordinate care across populations
• Develop advanced communication and advocacy strategies to improve health outcomes across the four spheres of care
• Integrate systems-based quality improvements across various healthcare settings
• Analyze integrated healthcare systems and processes to mitigate risks and advocate for a culture of safety

Take your nursing expertise to an academic or clinical setting with your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Nursing Education .

Nursing education is a high-demand field with a promising future – as healthcare itself is dynamic and ever-evolving. As a graduate of this program, you'll meet the educational requirements you need to sit for the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam offered by the National League for Nursing.

Learn more about earning your nursing education MSN online .

• Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
• Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
• Population Care Management

During the final course, nursing education students will complete 135 clinical practicum hours divided between clinical and academic settings under the guidance of preceptors.

• Integrate best-practices in teaching and learning to develop and evaluate high-quality educational experiences and model effective professional and leadership practices for diverse populations
• Design, implement, and evaluate teaching and learning strategies in various educational and healthcare settings

Set the vision for the delivery of safe, timely, efficient, equitable and patient-centered care with your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Nurse Executive Leadership .

As a nurse, you're already an advocate for your patients. This program track can take you a step further – helping you advance your career from a bedside role to the role of a leader.

As a nurse leader in executive practice, you'll build leadership, strategic planning, human resources and finance skills. Working within a collaborative and interprofessional environment, you'll influence and improve both the patient experience of care and the health of populations.

You'll also discover ways to reduce the per capita cost of health care, making healthcare more equitable and affordable to all. You'll then make recommendations to leadership on strategic plans, budgets, human relations and patient care.

Career outlook:

Because of this, the job market for nurse leaders is growing fast. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for medical and health services managers could grow 28% through 2031 – far faster than the national average for all occupations. 3

Graduates of the MSN in Nurse Executive Leadership track will have the option to demonstrate the achievement of program competencies through two national exams: the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) and/or Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) offered by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL).

• Healthcare Quality and Improvement
• Strategic Skills for Nurse Executive Leaders
• Advanced Concepts for Nurse Executive Leaders

The nursing executive leadership track includes 135 clinical practicum hours under the guidance of a preceptor in the student's final course.

• Apply strategic planning and business principles to design, develop, and implement high quality, equitable, cost-effective healthcare
• Lead interprofessional teams through the execution of innovative leadership strategies

Promote practices that keep communities safe with your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Population Healthcare .

COVID-19 offered a stark lesson in the value of population healthcare. While population health as a practice is focused on improving the patient health outcomes of groups and communities such as schools, businesses, homes and hospitals, this was amplified in 2020. Suddenly, these same spaces were at risk of spreading one of the most unprecedented viruses of our time.

An MSN in Population Healthcare can help you identify ways to connect practice to policy in pursuit of local change. You'll learn how non-traditional partnerships among different sectors of the community – such as public health, industry, academia, health care, local government entities and beyond – can help achieve positive health outcomes.

With assignments and projects focused on telehealth, diversity, equity and inclusion as well as informatics, this track can also help you learn how to integrate evidence-based guidelines for health promotion and disease prevention.

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, population healthcare is likely to be an important field in for years to come. 

Those with an MSN in Population Healthcare could, for example, treat infected patient populations and collaborate with healthcare partners to identify factors that led to diagnosis. You may work to reduce the risk of exposure to other healthcare workers and the patient’s family and friends, or even coordinate a recovery plan with multiple healthcare providers.

This is a unique track, an emerging discipline and a major focus of authoritative sources in the nursing education space including American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the World Health Organization (WHO).

• Informatics and Communication Technology

The population healthcare track includes 135 clinical practicum hours under the guidance of a preceptor in the student's final course.

• Develop interprofessional partnerships to coordinate the delivery of health services across populations
• Lead population-based care through ethically grounded policies, data-driven decisions, and value-based care management principles

Online MSN degree courses

Each online MSN program track integrates hands-on learning to help you succeed in the role of your choice. The program courses are designed with the future of the nursing profession in mind, while keeping a finger on the pulse of the current healthcare industry.

View Full MSN Tracks Curriculums in the Catalog:

• MSN Family Nurse Practitioner
• MSN Healthcare Quality & Safety
• MSN Nurse Executive Leadership
• MSN Nursing Education
• MSN Population Healthcare

Curriculum Requirements

• Clinical practice experience (CPE): Clinical practice hours are incorporated into all graduate nursing programs accredited by CCNE . SNHU incorporates these authentic learning experiences into your MSN program through indirect and direct clinical experiences. You'll be able to achieve these CPE hours through coursework and assignments and time spent with a preceptor. Connect with our Student Experience team to learn more about clinical practice experiences by track.

Online MSN FNP: Students enrolled in the MSN program must comply with the requirements of the organizations where their clinical practice experiences/practicum will be completed. These requirements may include (but are not limited to) criminal background check(s), active and unencumbered license verification, immunization records, health insurance and professional liability insurance. Students may incur additional costs to meet organizational requirements (ex. drug screening, physical examination co-pay, etc.). These requirements must be met prior to registering for the clinical practice experience courses. It is a requirement that nursing students carry their own medical malpractice insurance while enrolled in practicum courses. At least two terms before the start of the clinical components, students will be required to demonstrate proof of having an active individual professional liability insurance.

All MSN Tracks:

Students enrolled in the MSN program must comply with requirements of the organizations where their clinical practice experiences/practicum will be completed. These requirements may include (but are not limited to) criminal background check(s), active and unencumbered license verification, immunization records, health insurance, professional liability insurance. Students may incur additional costs to meet organizational requirements (ex. drug screening, physical examination co-pay, etc.). These requirements must be met prior to registering for the clinical practice experience course.

It is a requirement that nursing students carry their own professional liability insurance while enrolled in practicum courses. At least two terms prior to the start of the clinical components, students will be required to demonstrate proof of having an active individual medical malpractice certificate.

PC (Windows OS) Technical Requirements

Apple (Mac OS) Technical Requirements

Additional Information:

• Laptop or desktop?   Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility. 
• Note:   Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10. 
• Office 365 Pro Plus  is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for  Microsoft 365 plans  for business, education and government. 
• Antivirus software:  Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers. 

Addtional Requirements for MSN programs:

Students enrolled in the MSN program courses are responsible for ensuring they have the minimum system hardware, software and equipment. In addition to the SNHU technology requirements, MSN students should have the following:

For nurse executive leadership and healthcare quality and safety tracks:

• 10Mbps or higher for ideal streaming (download)
• Ability to record (webcam and microphone are often built into laptop or computer)
• A laptop is recommended

For nursing education and population healthcare tracks:

• 20Mbps (download) and 5Mbps (upload)
• Assessment kit (tools specified in course syllabus)

For family nurse practitioner track:

• Government-issued photo ID is required for proctored exams
• Browser plug-in for online proctored exams
• A laptop is required during NUR-600 and all practicum courses

Licensure and Certification Disclosures

SNHU has provided additional information for programs that educationally prepare students for professional licensure or certification. Learn more about what that means for your program on our licensure and certification disclosure page .

HEaRT challenge

Looking to gain professional healthcare experience even before you graduate? Do it with HEaRT.

Specially designed for learners in healthcare and nursing, HEaRT (Higher Education and Real World Training)  is a powerful experiential learning opportunity at SNHU. These online, asynchronous, voluntary experiences help connect you with employers to help solve real-world business problems, so you can be ready to make an impact in your field.

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Our no-commitment application can help you decide if SNHU is the right college for you and your career goals. Apply up until 2 days before the term starts!

Upcoming term starts: January 06, 2025 | March 24, 2025

Next term starts: Oct. 14, 2024

Online student experience what’s it like going to snhu.

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.2% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2023 survey with 21,000+ respondents.

What to expect:

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You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

• Schedule of weekly assignments
• Discussion boards
• Instructor announcements

What support services are available?

• Chat with your advisors Get hands-on help from dedicated academic and career advisors.
• Drop in for tutoring Work with a tutor, any time of the day or night – no appointment necessary.
• Learn from industry professionals Instructors lead discussions and offer guidance – and they’re just an email away.
• Use the online library Access 600,000+ resources or chat with a librarian 24/7.
• Reach out for accessibility help Receive accommodations as an eligible student with disabilities.
• Focus on your well-being Connect with professionals to improve your health and wellness.

Learn from dedicated instructors

With Southern New Hampshire University's online MSN programs, you'll learn from instructors with industry experience. All of our 100% full-time faculty are doctorally prepared and come to the classroom with real-world healthcare experience.

Maude McGill, PhD, MSN, RN-BC, CNE

Dr. Maude McGill has over a decade of experience in higher education. She was chief nurse administrator and assistant professor of nursing at Regent University, director of nursing at ECPI University and associate professor of nursing at William Carey University.

She's the director of operations for McGill Ministries, a nonprofit organization that focuses on human growth and development of marginalized communities in southeastern Mississippi. She serves as an active member and thought leader for the National League for Nursing’s Commission on Constituent Leagues and Leadership. Her work is published in several peer reviewed journals and a personal blog devoted to diversified learning and accessibility in learning.

Position Clinical Faculty, Graduate Nursing

Joined SNHU 2019

• PhD in Nursing Education and Administration, MSN in Nursing Education and BSN in Nursing from William Carey University
• ACCN certification in Gerontology Nursing

"As healthcare professionals, we have to note a patient’s perception in order to address the pressing issue of their reality. Increased exposure to diversity leads to an understanding of inclusivity which leads to responses that break barriers and biases; it leads to responses that are effective, inclusive, and equitable; responses that are indeed patient-centered, student-centered, person-centered."

Read more about Dr. Maude McGill and other nursing leaders at SNHU.

At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 400,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.

Recently, SNHU has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:

• U.S. News & World Report Named SNHU the 2024 Most Innovative University in the North
• The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) Awarded SNHU the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology
• Google.org Gave SNHU a $1 million grant to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth

Founded in 1932 , Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 180,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality.

Admission Applying to SNHU is fast and free

No application fee. No test scores. And no college essay. Just a simple form with basic information. It’s another way SNHU helps you reach your goals sooner.

All it takes is 3 simple steps

It's easy, fast and free.

Whether you're applying for an undergraduate or graduate degree, you’ll fill out a form to verify your previous education experience. As part of our admissions process, we'll help you request transcripts from your previous school(s) to see if you can transfer any credits into your SNHU program! (Also for free!)

Additional Requirements:

• Resume including any relevant K-12 instructional or curriculum development experience, for at least six months
• Non-Licensure Acknowledgment form

Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 5 graduate terms . You can apply at any time  and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials.

MSN admission requirements for MSN. NEL Nurse Executive Leadership, MSN.PHC Population Healthcare, MSN.HQS Healthcare Quality and Safety, and MSN.NSE Nursing Education tracks:

• Must maintain an active unencumbered registered nurse license. Licensure exam must be equivalent to NCLEX-RN examination. (If a student holds licenses in more than one state/jurisdiction, all licenses must be unencumbered.)
• Must have a conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited nursing program.
• Students who have completed graduate-level courses, with a minimum of 3.0 GPA, will be considered for MSN admission on a case-by-case basis. Graduate credits will be considered as part of an applicant's academic profile but will not be applied as transfer credits unless they meet the transfer credit criteria.
• Cannot reside in Washington state or US Territories while completing MSN coursework.
• Must complete the MSN Program Acknowledgement Form.
• Provisional acceptance may be extended to applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.67 and 2.99.

MSN.FNP Family Nurse Practitioner track:

• Students must also have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in their nursing applicable science courses related to the above.
• Must have a minimum of two years of current, full-time RN clinical practice experience.
• Must identify one potential preceptor for a clinical practicum.
• Must be available for one week-long in-person immersion experience.
• No provisional acceptance policy for this track.

Post Master’s Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Quality and Safety (Open to qualified nursing and health professions candidates only):

• Nurse applicants who wish to pursue this certificate must meet MSN nursing program admissions requirements AND have earned a master's degree from an accredited nursing program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• Non-nursing health professionals who wish to pursue this certificate must have earned a health professions master's degree from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Immersion experience: As part of the FNP track, you'll also take Advanced Pharmacology for the Prescriber, Immersion. This course requires you to travel to New Hampshire for 1 immersion experience, where you'll participate in simulation activities and perform assessments with standardized patients. This multi-day experience should help prepare you for your clinical practicums and provide pivotal hands-on learning to supplement your educational journey.

The cost of the Immersion Experience is $2,000 and is separate from course tuition. The fee covers items associated with the immersion, such as facility rentals, on-site faculty, training materials and standardized patients. Travel including transportation costs, flights, lodging and meal costs are not included in this fee and are the responsibility of the student to pay for and secure. The Immersion Experience is scheduled in NUR-600 and will be held in New Hampshire.

After the Immersion Experience, you'll embark on your practicum experiences, which includes 650 clinical hours across 5 courses. FNP Students will need to complete their program within 5 years after completing the NUR-600, Advanced Pharmacology for the Prescriber, Immersion course.

SNHU nursing programs are not authorized in the state of Washington or U.S. territories, and we are not accepting students residing in Washington state or U.S. territories into nursing programs at this time. Currently enrolled students who move into the state of Washington or a U.S. territory will not be able to continue in nursing courses until they move out of the state of Washington or the U.S. territory. Prospective students are encouraged to contact admission, and current students should contact their advisor, for more information.

Please note that we are currently only accepting students in the family nurse practitioner track in the following states: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey. Students must reside in 1 of these states while taking FNP courses at SNHU, and all practicum experiences must be completed in 1 of these states. Please note that the family nurse practitioner track is accepting applications from a limited number of students per term.

Applicants and students are advised that their success in their chosen program may be dependent on an ability to meet the Nursing Program Health and Technical Requirements (PDF) .

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU  | [email protected]

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) , which means we meet certain standards of academic quality, and have the tools and resources necessary for students to be successful. The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education , 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.

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At Southern New Hampshire University, we’re committed to your success — even beyond graduation. That’s why we’re committed to delivering accredited continuing education for nurses and healthcare professionals. From 1-hour webinars to multi-day conferences and more, these opportunities are built to help you continue to meet the needs of communities across the globe.

Visit our SNHU continuing education page  to learn more.

Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Students enrolled in the MSN program may be subject to ongoing licensure checks through a third party vendor – additional fees will apply and may vary by state.

Ways to save on online tuition

Fill out the FAFSA to see if you’re eligible for grants or work-study. (You could also be offered loans, though you’ll have to pay those back later.)

Earn credits in leadership, technology and more – while taking advantage of an online graduate tuition discount for active-duty service members and spouses.

Getting free money for college – from SNHU or an outside organization – could help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Bring in credits from popular options like CLEP, Sophia Learning, Google and other common credit for prior learning (CPL) experiences.

Receive an online tuition discount if your organization has partnered with SNHU for educational benefits. And consider asking your employer about tuition reimbursement.

Career Outlook What can I do with an online MSN degree?

Healthcare and nursing are changing fast – our online MSN can help you keep up. Some top medical centers, including ANCC Magnet designated hospitals, consider advanced degrees a minimum requirement for their nurses. A master's in nursing degree can expand your nursing career employment and leadership opportunities and help prepare you to serve in many roles depending on your chosen track.

Occupations

When you earn your MSN, you'll gain the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in various healthcare settings, including:

Teach nursing professionals new skills, implement patient care programs and promote a culture of safety.

Serve as either a primary or specialty care provider who delivers advanced nursing services to patients and their families.

Maintain and secure all patient data, ensuring healthcare providers can access accurate and complete records.

Work to improve the health within a community by analyzing data and identifying programs that can improve outcomes.

Guide and teach future nursing professionals best practices and clinical skills they will apply throughout their career.

Provide patients and caregivers with the support/education they need to receive top-level care and make informed decisions.

Job growth projected for medical and health services managers through 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 2

Median annual salary for medical and health services managers as of May 2023, according to the BLS. 2

Understanding the numbers When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can enroll in and graduate from online nursing programs that are accredited and can help you in your career.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education , 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or CCNE, is an autonomous accrediting agency that ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing across the country.

In 2019, SNHU's online nursing programs received a 10-year reaccreditation from CCNE, which awarded initial accreditation in 2014.

The short answer is yes. Assuming the program is accredited and aligned with the latest industry standards, an online MSN degree is respected by today's employers.

Just ask Katie Smith '21 , a recent grad of Southern New Hampshire University's MSN program.

According to her, she not only got a respected degree that helped her build skills as a nurse – she also gained invaluable support along the way.

Of her academic advisor, Smith said: "It was just really nice to have that support and have someone in my corner that I could turn to that understood the academic world."

Smith's MSN also positioned her to pass on her skills and help build an even stronger nursing community.

"I’m definitely not the same nurse I was when I started," she said. "Learning to mentor either new people or especially new grads has been a real honor and privilege."

This depends on many factors, depending on how many courses you take per term and your chosen track.

The 36-credit MSN tracks at Southern New Hampshire University include healthcare quality and safety, nursing education, nurse executive leadership and population healthcare. These tracks are comprised of 12 courses. Full-time status means you'd take 2 courses during each 10-week term. Full-time students who satisfactorily complete their coursework in these tracks could expect to complete an MSN degree in less than 1.5 years.

The family nurse practitioner track is 51 credits, or 17 courses. Full-time students could finish this track in less than 2 years.

Attending school as a full-time student isn't always feasible for working adults. At SNHU, taking 1 class per term puts you at part-time status, which means it would take longer for you to earn your degree, but could work better with your life and schedule. However, it can be worth it, if it gives you the time you need to learn the information and do the coursework. There is flexibility within this model too, even taking two courses per term for one or two terms can save significant time on your educational journey.

What's most important in deciding whether to enroll at full- or part-time status is how successful you can be at that level. If you feel comfortable taking 2 courses per term with your schedule, it may be worth it to you so that you can reach that finish line sooner.

Earning your master's degree means you're creating more opportunity for yourself. It opens so many more doors for your career and, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 5 , it positions you to be able to:

• Conduct research
• Consult with corporations
• Impact public policy
• Implement evidence-based solutions
• Lead health systems
• Provide direct patient care at an advanced level
• Teach online and in the classroom

With a projected 28% growth for medical and health services managers, the outlook looks good for MSN-educated nurses. 3 The AACN notes that because of the high demand, established and new positions are opening in practice areas like administration, forensics, genetics/genomics, geriatrics, informatics, pediatrics, public health and systems improvement. 5

In addition, the right MSN program can help you build cultural competence – a skill the National Academy of Medicine pinpoints has one of the most vital for today's nurse leaders.

These perceptions are indeed felt by all patient populations – factors like age, gender, socioeconomic status and more can impact how communities receive care. But for people of color (POC), this issue presents an especially challenging barrier to effective treatment. "There’s often the fear of not being understood, or being dismissed or minimized,” McGill said.

However, with representation, exposure and empathy, nurses can identify a better way forward.

"Increased exposure to diversity leads to an understanding of inclusivity which leads to responses that break barriers and biases; it leads to responses that are effective, inclusive, and equitable; responses that are indeed patient-centered, student-centered, person-centered," she said.

If you have career goals that align with where an MSN can take you, then, yes, earning a master's in nursing is definitely worth the investment.

"A degree opens doors that were previously closed," said Sherry Consolin '19 . "As I proceed through the program, I discover new opportunities for nurses that excite me."

Beyond the reward of expanded knowledge, nurses who earn their MSN degree broaden their range of opportunities and open the door to a potential boost in pay.

"The employer interprets the additional credential as a highly desirable indicator of future performance and assigns value to the degree holder accordingly," said Laurie Lewis , an SNHU Career advisor.

Some value may not be monetary rewards, either. Though the potential of a bumped-up paycheck is certainly one of the biggest benefits, there may be other perks. You may find it valuable to be eligible for positions that come with better hours – meaning an MSN could have benefits to your personal life, too.

And while you may have a career goal in mind as the reason behind getting your master's, an MSN continues to open the door to opportunity beyond that first role that you land.

Plus, getting your master's in nursing doesn't have to be expensive. SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation, meaning you could achieve your return on investment (ROI) on your degree faster.

Yes. Students who are already registered nurses – and who have previously earned their BSN – can enroll in an online MSN program.

Not only are nurses able to pursue this advanced degree online, but for many, attending online makes more sense. Many nurses have demanding schedules that aren't always the same week to week, making it nearly impossible to attend set classes at a brick-and-mortar institution. The time and money attributed to commuting to a physical institution alone is valuable, and at SNHU we get it.

By earning a master's in nursing online, it allows you to continue your career as a nurse – while working to advance it at the same time. SNHU's program was designed so that the learnings from each course are immediately applicable to your career, which can help patients reap the rewards right away.

The best online MSN program is the one that can help you reach your personal and professional goals, at an affordable price, on your timeline and is accredited.

At SNHU, that translates to:

• Career focused: Our MSN program was built by nurses, for nurses. It was designed around recommendations within "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health" report from the National Academy of Medicine, formerly the Institute of Medicine – which outlined how roles should change in our healthcare system. In 2021, the report was updated to reflect new recommendations to meet further meet the needs of today's nursing workforce.
• Affordability: Take advantage of some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.
• Convenient: Enroll in 1 or 2 classes per term – whichever works best for your busy schedule. Plus, you'll have 24/7 access to your courses, meaning you can complete your work any time during the week to meet your deadlines.
• Accredited: The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education , 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791. CCNE is an accrediting agency that ensures baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs meet quality standards.

SNHU also offers 5 MSN program tracks – family nurse practitioner (FNP), nurse executive leadership, nursing education, healthcare quality & safety and population healthcare – helping you meet your needs as you determine the next path of your career.

Related Programs

Related articles.

1 The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.

2 World Health Organization, 10 facts on patient safety, on the internet, at https://www.who.int/news-room/photo-story/photo-story-detail/10-facts-on-patient-safety (viewed April 1, 2021)

3 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm (viewed February 8, 2023).

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

4 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity . Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25982.

5 American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Master's Education, on the internet, at https://www.aacnnursing.org/Nursing-Education-Programs/Masters-Education (viewed Nov. 21, 2019)

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Shalini Sivathasan, Ph.D., Boston College Topic: Effects of Multiple Minority Identities on Emotion Regulation, Mental Health Outcomes, and Access to Care October 10, 2024 | 12:30 PM | WebEx

Dr. Shalini Sivathasan (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology department at Boston College. She completed her Ph.D. in School/Applied Child Psychology at McGill University in Canada and an APA-accredited clinical internship in Health Service Psychology (Pediatrics) at the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University and the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Sivathasan is trained as a child psychologist, having specialized in psychodiagnostic, psychoeducational, and early autism assessment, as well as in cognitive-behavioral interventions for diverse child and adolescent populations. She then gained additional training in mental health and suicide risk assessments among autistic adults through a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh.

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Dr. Freedland is a Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Most of his research has focused on depression in patients with heart failure or coronary heart disease. He has also conducted studies of other psychiatric comorbidities, behavioral problems such as poor self-care, and social determinants of health in patients with heart failure. He has been the principal investigator or a co-investigator on both single-site and multicenter trials of interventions for depression in cardiac patients and has served on clinical trial review committees for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). He also has expertise in behavioral trial methodology. Dr. Freedland is the founder of the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s Cardiovascular Disease Special Interest Group and of the Behavioral Medicine Research Council, and a fellow of multiple organizations including the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research. He was the Program Director of the annual NIH Summer Institute on Randomized Behavioral Clinical Trials from 2020 to 2024. He has been a member of the Summer Institute faculty since 2007 and the faculty of the NIH-funded ORBIT Institute on Developing Behavioral Treatments to Improve Health since 2022. He has also served as an Associate Editor of Psychosomatic Medicine and Editor-in-Chief of Health Psychology.

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Online Master's Degree in Nursing

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Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Overview

Come back and move your career forward with a flexible online MSN built for working nurses.

• Earn a respected degree accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
• Build on your nursing education and practical experience and prepare to move into leadership and independent practice opportunities.
• Develop expertise in organizational theory, health care finance, health policy, human resources, information technology, health care systems, and more.
• Prepare to sit for industry certification exams.
• Pursue one of six specialty tracks :
• Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner
• Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner
• Executive leader
• Family nurse practitioner primary care
• Nurse educator
• Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner

Review College Scorecard data for this program .

Note: Residents of TN may not enroll in this program. Residents of the following states and territories may not enroll in the nurse practitioner population focus areas: HI, LA, NY, OR, UT, and Guam. In addition, residents of DC or WA may not enroll in the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner population focus area or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner focus area. Residents of IL, IN, or WI may not enroll in the executive leader or nurse educator concentration.

Some pathways are not available to international students. See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

CCNE Accredited

The master's degree in nursing program at Purdue Global is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ( www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE ).

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Purdue Global Career Outcomes 2020–2021

92% of graduates in Purdue Global’s Master of Science in Nursing program were employed or continued their education within 18 months of graduation.

Each year, our Center for Career Advancement sends a NACE First Destination survey to our graduating class to learn more about their career choices and potential income within 18 months of graduation. We’re proud of our recent Purdue Global alumni accomplishments.

“Career Outcomes Rate” is not the same as an “employment rate” — it includes graduates who are: (1) employed (whether full or part time); (2) participating in a program of voluntary service, (3) serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, or (4) enrolled in a program of continuing education. This rate may also include graduates employed in jobs unrelated to their degree or who were employed while attending Purdue Global. (9,106 graduates surveyed across associate's, bachelor's, master's, JD, EJD, and DNP programs from July 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. 7,803 of 9,106 replied.)

What Courses Will I Take?

The Master of Science in Nursing curriculum prepares you to fill advanced practice and nursing leadership roles. Courses are reviewed and revised by industry experts to ensure they reflect the most recent developments in health care.

Specialty Tracks

Choose a concentration or population focus area designed to provide further knowledge in your chosen specialty and your specific advanced role:

• Family nurse practitioner, primary care

Sample Courses

• Advanced Nursing Roles
• Scientific and Analytic Approaches to Advanced Evidence-Based Practice
• Epidemiology and Health Promotion
• Health Policy, Ethical, and Legal Perspectives of the Health Care System
• Promoting Optimal Models and Systems for Health Care Delivery

Program Requirements

The degree plan includes core curriculum and concentration or population focus area courses.

Core Curriculum or Concentration

Np population focus areas.

1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours

Admissions Requirements

A bachelor's degree with an upper-level major in nursing and an approved criminal background check is required. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process. Additional requirements apply. Refer to the program-specific policy page in the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.

Choose a concentration or population focus area designed to provide further knowledge in your chosen specialty and your specific advanced role. Each option includes a guided clinical experience.

Population Focus Areas

The adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner population focus area is designed to prepare registered nurses as practitioners for professional practice in the medical, surgical, and critical care management of acutely ill adult patient populations. Graduates may expect to practice in acute and complex care settings in roles such as a hospitalist in a medical-surgical unit or an intensivist in a general or specialty critical care unit.

Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners function within the interprofessional acute care team providing direct care management including diagnosis and treatment planning. This population focus area also includes an online skills lab that incorporates an Oculus Quest virtual reality (VR) headset for a virtual lab experience, allowing you to work remotely with faculty and staff.

The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner population focus area is designed to educate you on the topics of how to best provide primary care as a member of an interprofessional team and improve the availability of evidence-based, culturally relevant health care in diverse communities. The curriculum helps you develop the skills to evaluate the health and wellness of individuals, families, and their communities.

The nurse practitioner is expected to possess skills in diagnosing, treating, and managing acute and chronic health conditions, delivering primary and preventive care, and participating in the development of appropriate policy and evidence-based practice.

The family nurse practitioner population focus area is designed to educate you on the topics of how to best provide primary care as a member of an interprofessional team and improve the availability of evidence-based, culturally relevant health care in diverse communities. The curriculum helps you develop the skills to evaluate the health and wellness of individuals, families, and their communities.

The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner population focus area is designed for master’s prepared nurses who want to obtain further knowledge to provide comprehensive psychiatric mental health care through the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of psychiatric mental health disorders, medical organic brain disorders, substance abuse problems, and complex co-occurring disease processes and disorders across the lifespan.

Graduates may expect to practice in acute care and primary care settings in hospitals, community mental health centers, home health care, partial hospital care, residential settings, prisons, or private practices as well as in collaborative practices with other specialties.

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners function within the interprofessional acute care or primary care team providing direct care management including diagnosis, treatment planning, conducting therapy, prescribing psychotropic medications, and providing emergency psychiatric services. This population focus area also incorporates an Oculus Quest virtual reality (VR) headset for a virtual lab experience to augment and enhance concepts presented in the program.

Concentrations

The executive leader concentration is designed to prepare you to pursue managerial positions and leadership roles in hospitals, community health, long-term care facilities, and other health care systems. The program focuses on the principles of personnel management, policy development and implementation, budgeting, and the use of information technology.

The nurse educator concentration prepares nurses to effectively teach patients and their families, create staff development, evaluate educational programs, and instruct undergraduate nursing students.

Note: Residents of the following states and territories may not enroll in the nurse practitioner population focus areas: HI, LA, NJ, NY, ND, OR, TN, UT, Guam, Puerto Rico. In addition, residents of DC or WA may not enroll in the acute care adult-gerontology nurse practitioner population focus area. Residents of IL, IN, or WI may not enroll in the executive leader or nurse educator concentrations. Some pathways are not available to international students.

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Prepare for Industry Certifications

Nursing credentials demonstrate your adherence to a higher standard and may be a condition for employment in nursing. As of October 2023, 92.5% is the average pass rate for nurse practitioner students who graduated in 2022 and are known to have attempted a certification exam through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), or American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

Upon completion of the master’s degree in nursing program, you may be eligible to pursue industry-recognized certifications in your selected specialty area:

• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN): Acute Care Nurse Practitioner 
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP): Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): Nurse Executive or Nurse Executive, Advanced (if you meet the organization’s eligibility requirements)
• American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL): Certified in Executive Nursing Practice
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): Family Nurse Practitioner
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP): Family Nurse Practitioner
• National League for Nursing: Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)

Gain Real World Experience

Faculty- and preceptor-supported clinical practice experiences in your community provide knowledge and mentoring specific to your area of interest.

Contact an Admissions Advisor for information on the number of clinical hours required in your specialty area.

Accelerate Your Master’s Degree With ExcelTrack®

Forget what you know about earning a degree. ExcelTrack ®  is personalized learning that gives you more control over your education, getting you to the same degree faster, for less money.

Ways to Save on Time and Tuition

Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions.

Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.

Learn about federal and state grants and loan programs that may be available.

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Graduate tuition savings for military include a 17–30% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and, 14% per credit for veterans for graduate programs.

Earn credit for your military training. We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.

View the total cost of attendance for your program.

Nursing is undergoing a radical transformation, with advanced practice nurses taking on greater responsibilities across the health care industry. Purdue Global’s online Master of Science in Nursing builds on your previous nursing education and practical experience, offering you a pathway to leadership and independent practice opportunities.

Average Salary

In Your State

General labor market and salary data are provided by Lightcast and may not represent the outcomes experienced by Purdue Global graduates in these programs. Purdue Global graduates in these programs may earn salaries substantially different or less than the amounts listed above. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment that are outside of Purdue Global's control.

Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement. Additional certification or licensing may be required to work in certain fields.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Choosing a Master’s Degree in Nursing

Accelerate your nursing career and position yourself for more advanced roles. Discover the value of pursuing a master’s degree in nursing.

Telemedicine, Nursing, and the Future of Health Care

Where will technology take the health care system? Learn about the growing trend of telehealth, how nurses deliver these services, and more.

How Do Online Nursing Programs Work at Purdue Global?

Interested in our flexible nursing programs? Discover the ease of pursuing an online degree at Purdue Global and build your pathway to success.

What Is a Nurse Executive?

Accelerate your nursing career in a thrilling and influential management role. Learn the key qualities of achieving this distinguished honor.

Download the Program Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about the online Master of Nursing and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.

Prepare yourself for success with a master’s degree in nursing.

MSN Dual Degree Options

Our MSN offers dual degree programs that let you combine your master’s in nursing with a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Public Health (MPH), or Master of Health Care Administration (MHCA). Gain a competitive edge in your career by building on your nursing experience with a specialization in these in-demand areas of focus.

Get to Know Our Faculty

Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.

Faculty members who have advanced degrees

Faculty members who hold a doctorate

Faculty publications in 2022–2023

Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2022–2023

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2023. 2022–2023 academic year.

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

* Estimated Graduation Date and Average Completion: Estimated graduation date is based on the assumption that you will enroll in time to begin classes on the next upcoming start date, will remain enrolled for each consecutive term, and will maintain satisfactory academic standing in each term to progress toward completion of your program. Completion time is based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete.

Certification Exams: Students are responsible for understanding the requirements of optional certification exams. The University cannot guarantee students will be eligible to sit for or pass exams. In some cases, work experience, additional coursework beyond the Purdue Global program, fieldwork, and/or background checks may be necessary to be eligible to take or to successfully pass the exams. Graduates of a nurse practitioner pathway who pass the relevant certification exam may be academically eligible for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse in any state in which the program is available for enrollment. Licensure-track programs may limit enrollment to students in certain states. Refer to Purdue Global’s State Licensure and Certifications page for state-specific licensure information. The University cannot guarantee students will be eligible to sit for or pass exams. Please note that most states require nurses to be nationally certified and to have completed an accredited graduate nursing program in order to obtain licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse. Each national certification provider and state Board of Nursing will have eligibility requirements in addition to these educational requirements, such as passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they are eligible for state Board of Nursing approval and certification as an advanced practice registered nurse in their state. Students can obtain additional information from their state's Board of Nursing, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

Employment and Career Advancement: Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement or career advancement. Actual outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience and opportunities for employment. Additional certification or licensing may be required to work in certain fields.

Nurse Practitioner Average Pass Rate: Purdue Global School of Nursing, October 2021.

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Master of science in nursing (MSN) Programs

Need your questions answered.

The power of choice defines the very best of career education. Our interdisciplinary approach provides students with the tools to address a variety of changing healthcare needs. No matter what you choose, Johns Hopkins has programs in a variety of formats to meet your evolving needs.

Students who hold a bachelor’s degree in another discipline and want to earn a master of science in nursing can enroll full time in our MSN Entry into Nursing program.

Students who already have a bachelor’s degree or entry-level master’s degree in nursing can pursue our MSN Healthcare Organizational Leadership or MSN Healthcare Organizational Leadership/MBA . Alternately, students with these degrees also have the opportunity to pursue a DNP Advanced Practice degree with specialties in nurse practitioner or nurse anesthesia tracks.

Program Options

Programs & Specialty Tracks

Msn entry into nursing.

If you already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, this program provides an accelerated path to nursing practice. Graduates of this program may continue thier nursing studies in our MSN Healthcare Organizational Leadership, DNP Advanced Practice, or PhD programs.

Bachelor’s or entry-level master’s degree nurses will learn to manage, evaluate, and improve an evolving healthcare delivery system. Students may expand this program with a MBA to receive a dual degree. Graduates of this program may continue thier nursing studies in our DNP Executive, PhD, or Certificate programs.

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DEGREES & PROGRAMS

Master's Degrees in Nursing and Healthcare

Anna, M.S. Nursing – Education grad

Nursing Master's Degrees Online  (students must possess an active RN license to be eligible for all MSN programs at WGU)

Bsn-to-msn programs.

Nursing – Leadership & Management (BSN-to-MSN) – M.S.

For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for...

For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for additional career opportunities.

• Time:  61% of grads finish within 23 months
• Tuition: $5,035 per 6-month term
• Courses : 15 total courses in this program

This program is ideal for current RNs who have a BSN and are ready for the next step in their education.

Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program:

• Quality Outcomes in a Culture of Value-Based Nursing Care
• Nursing Leadership and Management
• Advanced Pathopharmacological Foundations
• Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care

Compare degrees

This program is not the only degree WGU offers designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.

Nursing – Nursing Informatics (BSN-to-MSN) – M.S.

A nursing degree program that empowers data-driven nurses who already have...

A nursing degree program that empowers data-driven nurses who already have a BSN but seek the success a master's can bring:

• Time:   64% of grads finish within 24 months.
• Tuition: $5,035 per 6-month term.
• Courses: 14 total courses in this program.

Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:

• Informatics System Analysis and Design
• Data Science and Analytics
• Leadership and Management

The trajectory of data and informatics in healthcare will continually open opportunities for nurses who take this path.

Nursing – Education (BSN-to-MSN) – M.S.

A master's in nursing education program for nurses with BSNs....

A master's in nursing education program for nurses with BSNs.

• Time: 62% of grads finish within 24 months.
• Tuition:  $5,035 per 6-month term.
• Courses : 15 total courses in this program.

This program is ideal for RNs who already have their BSN and are ready to progress in their career.

• Contemporary Curriculum Design and Development in Nursing Education

Hospitals and other facilities need nurse educators. Earn your MSN – Education and step into a role inspiring and empowering caregivers.

RN-to-MSN Programs

Nursing – Leadership & Management (RN-to-MSN) – M.S.

This program for RNs includes a BSN component and is a substantial leap...

This program for RNs includes a BSN component and is a substantial leap toward becoming a nurse leader.

• Time: 62% of RN-to-MSN grads finish within 37 months.
• Tuition:  $4,685 per 6-month term during undergraduate portion and $5,035 per 6-month term during graduate portion.
• Courses : 32 total courses in this program.

If you're driven to lead, this online nursing degree will provide you everything needed to make that career a reality. This program is ideal for current RNs who are interested in earning both their BSn and MSN in an accelerated program.

Nursing – Nursing Informatics (RN-to-MSN) – M.S.

A nursing program that empowers data-driven nurses with a BSN and MSN...

A nursing program that empowers data-driven nurses with a BSN and MSN component, allowing them to go from RN to MSN.

• Time:  63% of RN-to-MSN grads finish within 36 months.
• Courses : 31 total courses in this program.

This program is ideal for currently licensed RNs who are looking to earn a bachelor's degree and a master's degree at an accelerated pace.

The trajectory of data and informatics in healthcare will continually open opportunities for registered nurses who take this path.

Nursing – Education (RN-to-MSN) – M.S.

This MSN – Education online nursing program for RNs includes a BSN program...

This MSN – Education online nursing program for RNs includes a BSN program component and is a substantial leap forward for an aspiring nurse educator.

• Time:  60% of RN-to-MSN grads finish within 38 months.
• Tuition and fees: $4,685   per 6-month term during undergraduate portion, and $5,035 per 6-month term during graduate portion.
• Courses: 32 total courses in this program.

This program is ideal for current RNs who are looking to earn both their BSN and MSN in a single, accelerated program.

• Value-Based Nursing Care Outcomes

Given the growing nurse educator shortage, earning your MSN with a focus in education is both a rewarding decision and a solid career move.

Nurse Practitioner Programs

Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN-to-MSN) – M.S. Nursing

This program for BSNs who have an active, unencumbered RN license prepares...

This program for BSNs who have an active, unencumbered RN license prepares you to become a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner.

• Locations:  Due to the clinical requirements of this degree program, the FNP is currently NOT available to students who have a permanent residence in the following states: California, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington.
• Time:  It takes 2.5 years to complete the coursework and clinical components of this degree program.
• Tuition: $6,850 per six-month term.
• Courses : 16 total courses in this program.
• Adult Primary Care
• Pediatric Primary Care
• Special Populations Primary Care
• Advanced Health Assessment

Students must have a permanent and active license from a state that is not listed above, must complete the internships in that state, and intend to obtain initial APRN licensure in that state. See more  state-specific information related to nursing licensure . Compact licenses must be endorsed by your state of residence. More  about compact licenses .

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (BSN-to-MSN) – M.S. Nursing

This program for BSNs who have an active, unencumbered RN license prepares you to become a board-certified Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

• Locations:  Due to the clinical requirements of this degree program, the PMHNP program at WGU is currently NOT open to students who have a permanent residence in the following states: Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.
• Time:  It takes 2.5 years to complete the coursework and clinical components of this degree program.
• Tuition and fees : $6,955 per six-month term.
• Courses: 17 total courses in this program.

This program is for current RNs who have earned their BSN and are ready to move forward in their career. This MSN program prepares students to become licensed as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in select states.

• Advanced Pathophysiology 
• Assessment and Diagnostics
• Behavioral health
• Advanced Pharmacology

Healthcare Master's Degrees Online

A master's focused on managing comprehensive, value-based care, directly...

A master's focused on managing comprehensive, value-based care, directly in line with innovations in health and healthcare.

• Time:  60% of grads finish within 21 months. 
• Tuition:  $4,995 per 6-month term.
• Courses: 12 total courses in this program.
• Collaborative Leadership
• Healthcare Models and Systems
• Healthcare Financial Management
• Enterprise Risk Management
• Healthcare Information Technology

Your rich experience in a health-related field can mean more when you bring a master's level of understanding to the problems that organizations need to solve.

This online Master of Public Health degree program is a perfect fit for...

This online Master of Public Health degree program is a perfect fit for students who want to make a difference in their community.

• Time:  60% of students finish similar programs in 21 months.
• Tuition:  $4,995 per 6-month term
• Courses:  12 total courses in this program
• Biostatistics and analysis
• Environmental health
• Epidemiology
• Global health
• Public health policy and advocacy
• Health education and promotion

This degree prepares you with relevant industry skills and experience that will help you move forward in your career.

Prepare for a career leading private or public healthcare organizations....

Prepare for a career leading private or public healthcare organizations.

• Time:  WGU lets you set a schedule so you can finish your MBA in just one year.
• Tuition:  $4,755 per 6-month term.
• Courses : 11 total courses in this program.

Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include: 

• Regulatory compliance
• Patient care improvement
• Service line development
• Healthcare trends
• Health policy and legislation

Healthcare is big business in today's complex economy.  Steer your career with this specialty MBA.

Compare online business degrees

This program is not the only online business degree WGU offers that is designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.

The M.Ed. in Education Technology and Instructional Design from WGU is for...

The M.Ed. in Education Technology and Instructional Design from WGU is for instructional designers tasked with creating engaging and immersive virtual learning experiences that can substitute for on-ground instruction.

No teaching license required.

• Time: 62% of students finish this program in 10 months.
• Tuition:  $4,125 per 6-month term
• Courses:  12 total courses in this program.

This program includes two tracks for students to choose from:

• The K-12 pathway
• The Adult Learner pathway

Skills for your résumé included in this program:

• Learning Experience Design
• Assessment and Learning Analytics
• Learning Technology
• Research Methodology

Develop training and instruction expertise to help you in the classroom, in educational settings, or in corporate world.

Post-Master's Nursing Programs Online

Nursing Education – Post-Master's Certificate

A specialty certificate in nursing education for nurses with MSNs....

A specialty certificate in nursing education for nurses with MSNs.

This program will prepare you to teach the next generation of nurses.

• Time:  Students typically finish this program in 12 months.
• Courses: 8 total courses in this program.
• Contemporary Curriculum Design and Development
• Assessment of Student Learning
• Facilitation of Student-Centered Learning

Hospitals and other facilities need nurse educators. Earn your Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing Education and step into a role inspiring and empowering caregivers. This program will prepare you to sit for the National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Executive (CNE) exam.

Nursing Leadership and Management – Post-Master's Certificate

A certificate for registered nurses with a master's degree in nursing who...

A certificate for registered nurses with a master's degree in nursing who are ready for greater responsibility in a leadership and management role.

• Time:  Students typically finish this program in 12 months.
• Tuition:  $5,035 per 6-month term. The cost to sit for the NAHQ Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) exam is included in tuition.
• Courses : 8 total courses in this program.
• Strategic Planning
• Resource Management
• Business Case Analysis
• Evaluating Healthcare Improvements

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Post-Master's Certificate

This program is for current RNs who already have earned an MSN and are...

This program is for current RNs who already have earned an MSN and are wanting to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through a post-master's certificate program.

• Locations:  Due to the clinical requirements of this degree program, the PMHNP post-master's certificate program at WGU is currently NOT open to students who have a permanent residence in the following states: Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.
• Time:  This program can be finished within 1.5 years, depending on transfer credit and how quickly you move through core coursework. Please note the clinical components of this program are set. 
• Tuition and fees : $6,955 per six-month term.
• Courses: 11 total courses in this program.

This program is for current RNs who have earned their MSN but are wanting to add a specilization to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. This post-master's certificate program is only available in select states.

Family Nurse Practitioner – Post-Master's Certificate

This is a program for individuals who already have an MSN and are looking...

This is a program for individuals who already have an MSN and are looking to now become a family nurse practitioner with a post-master's certificate program.

• Locations:  Due to the clinical requirements of this degree program, the FNP is currently NOT available to students who have a permanent residence in the following states: Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington.
• Time: This program can be finished within 1.5 years, depending on transfer credit and how quickly you move through core coursework. Please note the clinical components of this program are set. 
• Tuition: $6,850   per six-month term.
• Courses : 10 total courses in this program.
• Advanced Pathophysiology

Learn about MSN Programs

If you're a current RN with or without a BSN, WGU has program options to help you progress in your career. Learn more about Master of Science in Nursing degree programs and how they help your career.

Learn about Healthcare Master's Degrees

If you're interested in a leadership or management role in the healthcare field, a master's degree with a healthcare focus is an ideal choice. Learn more about these types of programs and how they can impact your career.

Learn about Post-Master's Certificates

If you already have an MSN and are interested in additional credentials to benefit your career, a post-master's certificate could be a great choice. Learn more about these certificates, who is eligible, and how they can impact your career.

HEALTH AND NURSING MASTER'S DEGREES

An Online Master's Degree in Healthcare That Helps You Influence Better Patient Outcomes

Leaders in nursing and healthcare are focused in creating better patient outcomes, influencing crucial decisions, and improving communities. A master's degree in nursing or a master's degree in healthcare can give you the skills and credentials you need to lead in the industry. Join the force of healthcare and nurse professionals who have taken the next step and are leading the industry to better patient outcomes and improved health. Advance your career with a master’s degree in nursing education, nursing leadership and management, nursing informatics, or health leadership and administration. WGU has options to get you to MSN whether you have your BSN already—or not!

Accredited, Respected, Recognized™

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at WGU are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ( http://www.ccneaccreditation.org ).

WGU has been named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing.  

WGU has partnered with The DAISY Foundation to honor WGU nursing faculty with The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty. 

Online. Nonprofit. Affordable.™

Experience + hard work could help you graduate ahead of schedule—and under budget.

Our unique approach to education is an ideal match for experienced nurse or healthcare professionals like you, who have extensive real-world experience. At WGU, you earn your master of nursing or healthcare by demonstrating skills and knowledge in career-relevant subject areas through a series of assessments. If you already know the material or study hard to learn it faster, you can complete your assessments more quickly. With the personalized guidance and instruction of knowledgeable faculty, you’ll be able to earn your MSN or healthcare degree online, on your schedule, and on your budget.

COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION

Competency:  Demonstrated knowledge, skill, or ability required to advance in a degree program.

At WGU, course competencies are defined by an expert council, including employers.

AT YOUR OWN PACE

At WGU, you are in charge of setting the pace. Spend time on areas where you need more understanding and accelerate in subjects where you already have knowledge.

Celebrating Nurse Leaders with a Special Scholarship

One thing the pandemic has shown us is just how much America needs nurses, especially nurse leaders. Named for Dr. Margaret McClure, the catalyst for today’s magnet hospital program, this $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to one recipient each quarter who has demonstrated activism or innovation in nursing that improves patient outcomes. 

Transfer Graduate Credits to Your WGU Degree

WGU offers students the unique opportunity to transfer graduate coursework to their degree program. You may transfer up to 17 competency units (47%) of your MSN courses taken at the graduate level at an accredited institution to a WGU BSN to MSN degree program.

See How Our Students Are Making a Difference

Students and graduates of the Leavitt School of Health are unified by their service to caring for others. One grad, Rhonda, was also driven by duty. She found a way to connect her duty to serve and her calling to care. Discover how you can join thousands of students like Rhonda, focused on making a difference in the lives of patients.

What Students Are Saying About WGU

Our students say it best. See why their WGU experience means so much to them, and what makes us different.

"Great experience—allowed me a career as a nursing professor, which in turn helped me discover that I'm happiest when I'm taking care of patients and mentoring new nurses. I wouldn't have figured that out had it not been for WGU."

—Mary Cox M.S. Nursing – Education

"At WGU there is no busy work. Everything is related to your degree and related to the work you'll be doing in your job."

—Natalie Hill M.S. Nursing – Education (RN to MSN) grad

"Not only did my degree at WGU help me advance my career—it also helped save a rural hospital and the community's access to local, quality healthcare."

—Sarah Aronack M.S. Nursing – Leadership and Management (BSN to MSN)

WGU Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers

Hospitals and clinics around the country know the benefit of a degree from WGU, so your healthcare degree is valuable.

Frequently Asked Questions about Health Professions Programs

What is the best master's degree to get in nursing.

The best MSN to get will really depend on your ultimate career goals. If you want to teach other nurses, a nursing education MSN is a great fit. If you want to move up in the ranks of nursing toward management positions, a nursing leadership MSN is a great fit. If you want to move into data analysis, a nursing informatics MSN is a good option. Start with determining what your dream career is, then find an MSN program that will help you be prepared to reach your goals.

How much does a nurse with an MSN make each year?

On average nurses with a master's degree earn about $86,000 per year , much higher than the RN national average of $74,000 per year.

What types of master's degrees in nursing are there?

• Nursing education program
• Nursing leadership and management program
• Nursing informatics program
• Nurse practitioner programs
• Bridge programs allowing for you to earn your BSN and MSN at the same time

What does a master's degree in nursing get you?

A master's degree in nursing can help you in many ways, including:

• Higher salary
• Preparation to move into a different job with different responsibilities
• Opportunity for promotion
• Benefit to your hospital moving toward magnet status
• Step towards even higher education, such as a doctorate degree

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Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

One msn degree, eight tracks to choose from.

IU School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with eight tracks to choose from. Whether you are interested in a career as a Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Educator, or Nurse Leader, you’ll be taught by nationally-recognized faculty engaged in cutting-edge research in the field.

Our MSN programs are based out of the IU Indianapolis campus, but most courses are offered in an online or hybrid-distance format to make them accessible to students throughout the state. Clinical/practicum experiences can be completed in your home community within Indiana and are arranged cooperatively by students and faculty.

Find out about the technical requirements for online/hybrid-distance learning.

Our MSN programs are ranked

Top 50 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools in 2021

#2 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Graduate Programs 2024

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Tracks

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Nurse Practitioner (NP) Tracks

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care

Pediatric Primary Care

Psychiatric-Mental Health

Our program learning outcomes

LEADERSHIP : Lead nursing and healthcare teams to improve practice within complex systems, recognizing political, institutional, social, and economic forces.

PRACTICE : Practice at the highest level of nursing, integrating ethical, legal, professional, and regulatory standards and guidelines.

SYNTHESIZE KNOWLEDGE : Synthesize knowledge from nursing and related sciences for application to selected domains of nursing practice.

INQUIRY : Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and scholarly inquiry in the pursuit of innovative approaches to improving health outcomes.

PROBLEM SOLVING : Apply evidence to problem solving at the clinical and system level to advance nursing practice and improve outcomes.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY : Use technology to deliver, measure, monitor, and improve clinical care delivery and enhance safe outcomes.

APPLY EVIDENCE : Engage in policy analysis, development, and advocacy to influence health at the individual, group, community, and population level.

COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE : Practice in interprofessional teams that communicate, collaborate, and consult in coordinating patient-centered care.

CULTURE : Incorporate the influences of culture, diversity, values, and globalization in the design, delivery, and evaluation of nursing and healthcare services.

LEARNER : Recognize the value of being a lifelong learner who is committed to personal professional growth, the development of the profession, and the health of the public.

Licensure and certification

Indiana University School of Nursing academic programs are designed to prepare you to obtain necessary regulatory authority to practice in an advanced nursing role in Indiana.

Learn more about recognition to practice as an advanced practice nurse in the state of Indiana. If you plan to pursue authority to practice in an advanced nursing role in a state other than Indiana, please review each state’s educational requirements for licensure or other regulatory mechanism. Specific information regarding each state’s licensure requirements can be found on the NCSBN website .

If you have questions regarding licensure and or certification, please contact IUSON Student Services at 317-274-2806.

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Nursing Graduate Programs

Accelerate your career with an advanced degree from the Purdue University School of Nursing, West Lafayette. As a Purdue Nursing graduate student, you will experience interprofessional learning and build a toolkit that includes leadership, scholarly practice, clinical expertise, health policy and finance, and systematic quality improvement. Graduate programs range from post-baccalaureate to the Doctor of Nursing Practice:

MS with Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program (MS/AGNP)

MS with Family Nurse Practitioner Program (MS/FNP)

MS with Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program (MS/PNP)

MS with Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program (MS/PMHNP)

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): BSN-DNP or MSN-DNP

PhD in Nursing

Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

A post-master's certificate is available for individuals who hold a master's degree in nursing from an accredited institution. The certificate programs prepare nurses to work as nurse practitioners within their specialties. Purdue School of Nursing certificate programs include:

Post-master’s Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Post-master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Post-master’s Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Post-master’s Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate

• Nursing >

Graduate nursing programs

Master’s and doctoral degrees for nurses and nurse practitioners.

Welcome to the compassionate graduate community at NAU’s College of Nursing. Nursing is more than a profession—it’s an art, a science, and a vital part of healthcare. Explore our programs to find your perfect path.

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• Explore steps to apply

Master’s and doctoral degrees

• Get to know NAU’s nursing degrees

Master of Science in Nursing

Get your Nursing MS with our traditional semester-based online degree.

Master of Science in Nursing – Advanced Practice

Choose from Family or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks with our Advanced Practice degree.

Clinical Nursing Specialist Prescriptive Authority Endorsement

Fulfill state requirements for prescriptive authority with our online course bundle.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Elevate your career with our semester-based online doctoral degree for nurses.

Get to know NAU’s nursing programs

Programs by location.

Program availability varies by campus across Arizona, and some programs are available online.

Nursing course curriculum

Explore our nursing programs of study to discover the courses you’ll take each semester.

Trump rally shooter Thomas Crooks: Neighbors, classmates, employer speak

A 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania fired multiple shots at former President Donald Trump at a rally on Saturday evening.

A bullet grazed the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's upper right ear , leaving him bloodied but not seriously injured. One rally attendee was killed in the gunfire and two others were "critically injured," authorities later said.

Here's what we know:

Who is the shooter at the rally?

The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the person behind the assassination attempt. Agency officials released little additional information, saying its investigation remains active and ongoing. They did not indicate what Crooks' motive might have been.

Crooks worked at a nearby nursing home. An administrator there told USA TODAY that the company was shocked to learn of the shooting and that Crooks had passed a background check for his job.

What did Thomas Crooks do at the crime scene?

During the shooting Saturday, Trump's right ear was injured, seconds before he was whisked off stage by Secret Service personnel.  One man attending the rally was killed  and two others were injured; Crooks was then killed by Secret Service agents , authorities said.

FBI special agent Kevin Rojek said on a call with media Sunday afternoon that authorities found "a suspicious device" when they searched the shooter's vehicle. Bomb technicians inspected the device and rendered it safe. 

"I'm not in a position to provide any expertise on the specific components of any potential bombs or suspicious packages," Rojek added. 

Rojek said law enforcement is sending the rifle and Crooks' cell phone, along with other evidence, to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia "for processing and exploitation."

"We're in the process of searching his phone," Rojek said.

Maps and graphics: What happened in the Trump assassination attempt

What is Crooks' background?

Crooks is registered to vote as a Republican in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, according to county voter records. His voter registration status has been active since 2021.

Federal Election Commission records show that in January 2021, Crooks made a $15 donation to the Progressive Turnout Project, a group working to increase voter turnout for Democrats.

Born Sept. 20, 2003, Crooks does not have a criminal record in Pennsylvania, nor has he been sued there, according to state court records. There is no record of him in federal court databases, either.

Where did Thomas Crooks work?

Crooks worked as a dietary aid, a job that generally involves food preparation, at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, less than a mile from his home. In a statement provided to USA TODAY on Sunday, Marcie Grimm, the facility's administrator, said she was "shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement."

"Thomas Matthew Crooks performed his job without concern and his background check was clean," Grimm said. "We are fully cooperating with law enforcement officials at this time. Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further on any specifics. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Former President Trump and the victims impacted by this terrible tragedy. We condemn all acts of violence."

The facility is owned by Kennett Square, Pennsylvania-based Genesis Healthcare. A job posting from the company for a dietary aid in the Pittsburgh area puts the pay at $16 an hour.

Thomas Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania

Crooks' home address is listed in Bethel Park, a suburb in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, voter records show. That three-bedroom brick house has been owned since 1998 by Matthew and Mary Crooks, who appear to be his parents. Telephone calls to the couple were not returned overnight.

Near the Crooks home, Dean Sierka, 52, said he had known Crooks and his parents for years, as neighbors separated by only a few houses. Sierka’s daughter attended school with Crooks from elementary school through Bethel Park High School, and said she remembers him as quiet and shy.

Dean and his daughter said they would see Crooks at least once a week, often when Crooks was walking to work.

“You wouldn’t have expected this,” Dean Sierka said. “The parents and the family are all really nice people.”

At Bethel Park High School

Thomas Crooks graduated two years ago from Bethel Park High School, the Bethel Park School District confirmed. He was included in a 2022 local news article about recipients of a National Math & Science Initiative Star Award at the public high school, which enrolls about 1,300 students.

Jason Kohler attended Bethel Park High School with Crooks and said he remembers the 20-year-old sat alone at lunch and was “bullied almost every day.” Kids picked on Crooks for wearing camouflage to class and his quiet demeanor, Kohler, 21, said.

Since hearing Crooks has been named as the shooter, Kohler has been speaking with classmates who knew him, most of whom are stunned by the news.“It’s really hard to comprehend,” he said.

Sean Eckert said he went to school with Crooks from 5th through 12th grade. He said Crooks always went by “Tom.“

They shared classes together in elementary and middle school. Eckert said Crooks, though "fairly smart," was quiet and rarely spoke up.

Eckert said Crooks did not seem to have many friends. He didn't recall Crooks being playing any sports, being involved in any clubs or student groups or going to popular campus events. He often wore hunting clothes, so Eckert assumed he hunted.

No one in Eckert's group text from high school seemed to know Crooks very well, he said. They were shocked that someone from their town had done this. They were even more surprised that it was Tom Crooks.

Nursing aide turned sniper: Thomas Crooks' mysterious plot to kill Trump

The gaming-oriented online site Discord said Sunday that it had found an account that appeared to be linked to the shooting suspect. The site removed the account, which “was rarely utilized, has not been used in months, and we have found no evidence that it was used to plan this incident, promote violence, or discuss his political views,“ according to a statement from a Discord spokesperson, adding that the company will coordinate closely with law enforcement.

Crooks was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, a shooting club about 8 miles from his home. It is a sprawling complex of 180 acres with rifle, pistol and archery ranges, an area for dog training and a clubhouse, according to the club website.An attorney for the club, Robert Bootay III, confirmed Crooks' membership in an email to USA TODAY, but would not offer additional details.

Where is Bethel Park, Pennsylvania?

Bethel Park is a suburb of Pittsburgh and home to more than 32,000 people – about one thousand fewer than four years ago, according to the latest Census estimates. 

The majority-white, mostly college-educated community has a median household income of $102,177. 

Described as a charming retreat from the hustle and bustle of the big city to its north, Bethel Park boasts tree-line streets, friendly neighborhoods and a low crime rate.

Bethel Park is about 42 miles south of Butler, where the Trump rally was held. The leafy suburban street was alive with law enforcement overnight amid a multi-agency response to the shooting. A member of the Allegheny County bomb squad told reporters his team was headed into the house around midnight, but did not say why.

For hours afterward, the scene remained quiet, with deer passing under the police tape and an occasional neighbor stepping out of their house to see what was happening.

John Wolf, a local construction superintendent who lives down the road, said he’d talked with several worried neighbors.

“People are scared,” Wolf said.

How did Crooks shoot at Trump?

Crooks had been positioned on a rooftop more than 100 yards from the rally site, Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said. Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle from the scene.

Joseph Price, special agent in charge of the ATF in Pittsburgh, said the weapon used by the shooter was a rifle.“It was nothing special,” he said in an interview in the parking lot of the Butler Township Municipal Building.

Law enforcement is following up on a “number of suspicious occurrences,” said Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police, including accounts from witnesses who said they tried to flag police about the activity of a person outside the rally moments before the shooting.

The FBI said in a news release that the situation “remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is encouraged to submit photos or videos online at  FBI.gov/butler  or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.”

Contributing: Stephanie Warsmith, Tim Evans, Aysha Bagchi, Jessica Guynn, Bryce Buyakie

Nursing programs near me

Looking for a nearby nursing program? We’ve compiled the top nursing programs in every state to help you find the perfect program.

Programs by State Ranking Methodology

Our panel of experienced nurses has ranked the best nursing schools in every state by reputation, NCLEX pass rate, tuition, acceptance rate, and accreditation to make it easy to find the right nursing program for you.

Popular Nursing Programs By State

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Popular online nursing programs, popular online rn-to-bsn programs.

Enrollment: Nationwide

As a working RN, you need a flexible, transfer-friendly program to help you save time and money as you take the next step in your nursing career. In our CCNE-accredited4 RN to BSN program, you can transfer in up to 134 credits—which is nearly 75% of program requirements. Your transfer credits can be reviewed in one business day (on average).

Enrollment: FL

WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.

• RN to BSN - Global Studies

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