The (MSN) Program, guided by Christian principles, builds on the baccalaureate nursing foundation to prepare advanced practice nurses as family nurse practitioners (FNP) or adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioners (AGPCNP) to meet professional standards and competencies. Graduates are prepared to meet the complex primary health care needs of diverse populations. The master’s student uses an evidence based model to address patient centered needs in the areas of disease prevention/health promotion, chronic disease, restorative, and palliative/supportive care. 

General Information

1. The master’s degree program in nursing at Concordia University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
2. All students must maintain an unencumbered RN license while in the program. As this is an online program, sometimes there are out of state requirements that apply to the clinical setting. If clinicals will take place outside the state of Wisconsin, it is the student's responsibility to make sure their program of study is eligible and meets all requirements within that state's Department of Licensing & Regulation.
3. Students must earn a minimum of a B in all courses. Policies regarding progression and retention will be applied if the student earns less than a B in any course.
4. Students are expected to comply with the requirements as stated in the Student Responsibilities Agreement.
5. The MSN FNP and AGPCNP clinical courses require a minimum of 750 hours. Based on their level of performance, a student may need to complete additional hours to be successful.
6. Students will identify and secure clinical preceptors which then need to be approved for appropriateness by the graduate faculty. The Clinical Contract Coordinator is available for assistance.
7. Students must complete all degree requirements within a five-year period from the time of taking the first course in the program.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation the graduate student will be able to:

1. Integrate liberal arts and sciences into advanced nursing roles and education.
2. Analyze organizational and systems leadership principles to improve quality and patient safety in advanced nursing roles.
3. Integrate evidence-based approaches into advanced nursing practice and education.
4. Integrate healthcare technologies in the delivery, enhancement, and coordination of quality patient care.
5. Analyze healthcare policies, finances, and regulations that impact healthcare systems.
6. Integrate patient-centered care using interprofessional teams to improve health outcomes of individuals and populations.
7. Integrate evidence-based, culturally appropriate knowledge in clinical prevention and population health at the individual and aggregate level.
8. Assume accountability for advanced nursing practice and lifelong learning.
9. Apply best evidence to assure competence in advanced nursing practice or nursing education with diverse populations.

Curriculum 

The 41 credit Nurse Practitioner option will prepare primary care FNPs or AGPCNPs.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 750 clinical hours as part of the program.

Family and Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Core Courses
BIO 650	Genetics, Immunology, & Microbiology for Advanced Nursing	3
NURS 530	Healthcare Policy & Issues in Advanced Nursing	3
NURS 534	Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Roles and Interprofessional Collaboration	3
NURS 536	Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan	3
NURS 540	Evidence Based Nursing Practice	3
NURS 560	Fundamentals of Health Care Informatics	3
NURS 645	Role Transition for the APN	2
NURS 638	Advanced Health Assessment	3
BIO 542	Pharmacotherapeutics	3
NURS 692	Global Perspectives/Primary Care	3
or NURS 677	Evaluation and Testing in Nursing Education
or MBA 685	Special Topics in Health Care
or MMC 540	Public Speaking: Reports and Presentations
Specialization
Select one of the following specializations		12
Specialization Courses (FNP)
NURS 751	Advanced Primary Care Clinical I - FNP (4 credits)
NURS 752	Advanced Primary Care Clinical II - FNP (4 credits)
NURS 753	Advanced Primary Care Clinical III - FNP (4 credits)
Specialization Courses (AGPCNP)
NURS 765	Advanced Primary Care Clinical I - AGPCNP (4 credits)
NURS 766	Advanced Primary Care Clinical II - AGPCNP (4 credits)
NURS 767	Advanced Primary Care Clinical III - AGPCNP (4 credits)
Total Hours		41

Entrance Requirements for the Graduate School of Nursing in Addition to Graduate School Requirements

• BSN degree from an accredited nursing school
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Science GPA is evaluated as part of the admission process
• Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in the USA
• Actively working in practice. Preference is given to nurses with a minimum of two years of nursing experience.
• Current CPR certification
• Ability to perform Technical Standards for Registered Nurses
• Successful completion of:  Statistics course – three credits with a minimum grade of B or higher. Must be completed before registering for NURS 540

Application/Admission Process

Students may apply online through Concordia's direct online application at www.cuw.edu/apply. When applying directly, students will submit:

• Application form available at www.cuw.edu/apply
• Non-refundable application fee
• All official college transcripts leading to the bachelor's degree
• An essay that addresses the following topics:
  • Rationale for choosing a career as a primary care Nurse Practitioner
  • Career goals as a primary care Nurse Practitioner
  • Personal compatibility with the CUW mission
  • Plans for academic success, including time management, stress management, and professional communication
  • Any previous academic issues
• Professional resume
• Current unencumbered RN license
• Three letters of reference: two must be professional and/or academic and one must be from an individual who has worked with the applicant in a professional capacity and has a minimum of a Master's degree.
• Applicants who have completed graduate level classes and wish to have them evaluated must submit these transcripts and the transfer credit form.
• GRE exams are not required.

The deadline for fall admission is May 1.

The deadline for spring admission is October 1.

In addition to the Graduate Admission Requirements, there may be a pre-admission telephone interview.

The admission committee will review applications and make recommendations for admission. After the recommendation for admission is approved, a formal letter of acceptance or denial is sent to the student.

Transfer of Credit

The Graduate Nursing Program will accept up to 6 transfer credits of previous graduate level coursework into the MSN program based on the following criteria:

1. Coursework must have been completed within five years prior to admission to the program (or be approved by the MSN faculty committee).
2. Courses transferred must be comparable in scope and subject matter to courses offered in the MSN Program. The student will need to provide a course description and the course syllabus for any course requested for transfer. A transfer credit form must be completed and submitted to the Graduate Nursing Office for approval upon admission.
3. All courses transferred in must be at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
4. All transfer credits must be certified by the Registrar and approved for the degree by the Director of the Graduate Nursing program.
5. Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics will not be accepted as transfer credits.
6. Transfer credits will not be applied to the cumulative grade point average the student earns while in Concordia's MSN program.