Program Overview

The Master of Science in Nursing Degree (MSN) program is designed to prepare nurses for advanced nursing practice in a variety of roles and settings. The MSN program is synonymous with Spalding University School of Nursing’s rich history in promoting human dignity, freedom and human flourishing in healthcare through nursing education since 1933. The MSN course of study employs strategies based on knowledge from both the sciences and humanities, ethical decision making, interprofessional collaboration, and critical analysis of nursing practice to improve the health of patients and populations across diverse settings.

The MSN program offers multiple specialty track options and is offered in both traditional face-to-face, hybrid, and online formats depending on the specialty track, and may be taken as both full-time and part-time course work.

The Master of Science in Nursing’s Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree programs are structured in cohorts that start in the summer of each academic year. Therefore, applications must be submitted by April of each year to be considered for admission.

The Master of Science in Nursing’s Nursing and Healthcare Leadership and Nurse Educator degree programs are not cohorted with classes starting every eight weeks. Therefore, applications can be submitted and reviewed for admission at any time on a rolling basis. 

Master of Science in Nursing Tracks

Students in a Master’s Degree track must hold an unencumbered, current nursing license, have a baccalaureate degree in nursing, and do not hold a completed master’s degree in nursing (see Second Master’s Degree tracks below).

• MSN Family Nurse Practitioner
• MSN Nurse Educator
• MSN Nursing and Healthcare Leadership
• MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

RN to MSN Tracks

Students in an RN to MSN track hold an unencumbered, current nursing license and both an Associate’s Degree in Nursing and a baccalaureate degree in nursing.

• RN to MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
• RN to MSN: Nurse Educator
• RN to MSN: Nursing and Healthcare Leadership
• RN to MSN: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 

RN to MSN Bridge Tracks

Students in an RN to MSN Bridge track hold an unencumbered, current nursing license and both an Associate’s Degree in Nursing and a baccalaureate degree in a discipline other than nursing.

• RN to MSN Bridge: Family Nurse Practitioner
• RN to MSN Bridge: Nurse Educator
• RN to MSN Bridge: Nursing and Healthcare Leadership
• RN to MSN Bridge: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Post-Master’s Certificate Nurse Practitioner Tracks

Students in the post-master’s certificate hold an unencumbered, current nursing license and have a master’s degree in nursing.

• Family Nurse Practitioner - Previous Nurse Practitioner Certification
• Family Nurse Practitioner - No previous Nurse Practitioner Certification
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - Previous Nurse Practitioner Certification
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - No previous Nurse Practitioner Certification

Accreditation
The School of Nursing and the MSN programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Service Learning
Service learning is a unifying thread that links the Spalding University mission with the philosophy and curriculum of the Spalding University School of Nursing and demonstrates the uniqueness of the programs. Service learning is defined as volunteer activities that meet Community needs, promote an ethic of service, and develop public minded citizens. The graduate program embraces the concept of service learning and incorporates, as appropriate, into each specialty track.

Requirements for Completion of the MSN programs and Conferral of the MSN degree

• Completion of all required components of the individual program tracks of study.
• Final grade of B or higher is required in all Nursing courses. Students who earn one grade of C may remain in the program and are encouraged to work with MSN faculty to improve study habits and grades. Students with more than one final course grade of C or a course grade of D or F must be dismissed from the program. All cases are reviewed on an individual basis.
• As a graduate program of study, it is expected that students will maintain a grade point average of 2.8 in support courses including electives.
• Although continuous enrollment in the selected specialty MSN track until program completion and conferral of degree is encouraged as best practice, the degree must be started and successfully completed within five years.

Admission Requirements

1. Baccalaureate degree in Nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited college or university. Non-BSN degree applicants are considered for the RN to MSN and RN to MSN Bridge courses of study.
2. Completion of the Spalding University Online application and submission of all required documents.
3. Provision of official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate courses of study.
4. Students may request transfer credit for similar course work completed at another accredited college or university. The MSN faculty reviews requests and may grant a maximum of 12 graduate hours of credit when appropriate.
5. Evidence of undergraduate statistics, research analytics or evidence-based practice methodologies is preferred.
6. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
7. Because all MSN programs of study require precepted practice hours, the applicant must hold an unencumbered, current nursing license in the state in which they will perform practice hours (or a Compact license to include the state in which they will perform practice hours)
8. Two letters of recommendation. One recommendation is preferred from a current or recent employer. The second recommendation is preferred from a current and/or recent academic faculty member (if possible) or another qualified professional who can speak to the applicant's ability to successfully complete academic work.
9. A typed essay of the proposed student's professional goals and how graduate study will support these goals (minimum of 500 words and maximum of 2 typed pages).
10. Health records are required to include: TB skin test/Chest x-ray, Hepatitis vaccination series, immunization records at a minimum. Other records may be requested to meet current health situations.
11. Evidence of health insurance must be maintained (Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program specific).
12. Evidence of personal malpractice insurance is preferred.
13. An in-person or virtual interview with graduate faculty as appropriate to each specialty track.
14. Any identified deficiencies in undergraduate course work must be completed before students are eligible for full admission to the program. Every student’s situation is different and extenuating or mitigating circumstances may be considered for provisional acceptance into the program if recommended by the MSN faculty and approved by the Chair of the School of Nursing.
15. All admissions into the MSN program are recommended by the MSN faculty and approved by the Director of Graduate Programs for the School of Nursing.

FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER STUDENTS

 After completion of the final precepted course, the student is eligible to apply to sit for certification as a family nurse practitioner. The Commonwealth of Kentucky recognizes the following agencies as certifying agencies.

PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER

 After completion of the final precepted course, the student is eligible to apply to sit for certification as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. The Commonwealth of Kentucky recognizes the following agency as a certifying agency. 

Programs

Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner
Master of Science in Nursing: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Master of Science in Nursing: BSN to MSN: Nurse Educator
Master of Science in Nursing: BSN to MSN: Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Master of Science in Nursing: RN to MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
Master of Science in Nursing: RN to MSN: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Master of Science in Nursing: RN to MSN: Nursing & Healthcare Leadership
Master of Science in Nursing: RN to MSN: Nurse Educator

Master of Science in Nursing: RN to MSN Bridge Program: Family Nurse Practitioner
Master of Science in Nursing: RN to MSN Bridge: Nursing & Healthcare Leadership
Master of Science in Nursing: RN to MSN Bridge: Nurse Educator
Master of Science in Nursing: RN to MSN Bridge: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Post-Master’s Certificate Nurse Practitioner Tracks

Post Master’s Certificate Nurse Practitioner - FNP - Previous Nurse Practitioner Certification
Post Master’s Certificate Nurse Practitioner - FNP - No previous Nurse Practitioner Certification
Post Master’s Certificate Nurse Practitioner - PMHNP - Previous Nurse Practitioner Certification
Post Master’s Certificate Nurse Practitioner - PMHNP - No previous Nurse Practitioner Certification