The Master of Science in Nursing degree prepares graduates for advanced practice. The Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum prepares professional nurses to function in advanced practice roles in primary care settings in order to provide holistic, comprehensive nursing care. The demand for advanced practice nurses who are able to provide health care to aggregates, work in specific nursing arenas has grown in response to community based care and increased public awareness of health promotion efforts. The Community Health and Education curriculum prepares the advanced practice nurse to provide health care to aggregates in specific nursing arenas such as Education, Acute Care, Administration, Community Health, Parish Nursing and Occupational Health.

Each graduate is prepared to fulfill the MSN Program Goals at the completion of the MSN program. The curriculum is designed for part-time or full-time study. Students complete their degree requirements in two to five years.

The Master of Science in Nursing Program includes:

     Family Nurse Practitioner track (FNP)
         FNP Curriculum Plan (full-time)
         FNP Curriculum Plan (part-time)
         Post MSN-FNP Certificate Program

     Community Health & Education track (CHE)
         CHE Curriculum Plan (full-time)
         CHE Curriculum Plan (part-time)

      RN-MSN
          RN-MSN Transition Sequence Fact Sheet
          RN-MSN Curriculum Plan

Classes are offered using a hybrid model that includes both classroom and web-based learning. Students and faculty negotiate clinical sites with experienced mentors.

MSN Interviews
Applicants must complete the MSN Interview process prior to admission to the MSN Program.

• Individuals making application to the FNP and CHE track must be interviewed no later than April 29th.
• Individuals making application to the RN-MSN Transition Sequence must be interviewed no later than August 5th.
• When applications exceed the number of positions for incoming students a waiting list will be established.
• Applicants will be scheduled for one of the interview dates listed below.
  
  Academic Year 2009-2010
       Tuesday, August 3, 2010
      Tuesday, December 7, 2010
      Tuesday, March 7, 2011
      Tuesday, April 19, 2011
      Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Admission and transfer information for MSN Program         
         
Clinical Requirements  
In order to participate in clinical experiences, clinical requirements as set by the Department of Nursing and clinical agencies must be met.

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS:
Note: It is strongly recommended that students own a computer that is no more than three years old and should be a Windows based PC. Your computer should meet the criteria as established by the University. Contact University Technologies Services for specifics on the USF website http://www.sf.edu/sf/uts.

You will need to have the following computer competencies prior to beginning the MSN program: sending and receiving email, attaching a file to an email message, navigating the web, using Microsoft Word and Power Point and being aware of web etiquette. Complete information about minimum requirements to use Blackboard can be found at http://www.sf.edu/blackboard/

Career Advancement
Graduates from the MSN program are prepared to pursue doctoral study in nursing.