Master`s Degree Programs in Nursing

Master`s degree programs in nursing prepare nurses for speciality roles in nursing practice. The programs also prepare nurses with a functional focus of educator, manager / administrator, clinical specialist, or nurse practitioner.

Master degree programs in nursing originally developed to meet the need for teachers and advanced practitioners. The first masters of science in nursing (MSN) programs were offered in the late 1800s in graduate programs at Yale, Harvard, and Johns Hopkins.

In the mid 1960s, a need for primary care practitioners was identified and certificate programs developed to prepare nurses as nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP), and family nurse practitioner (FNP). The curriculum was 1 academic year and included 4 months of classroom content in primary care and extensive clinical practice. Since 1975 these programs have moved into academic settings and are incorporated in MSN programs. Graduates of these programs now receive a certificate as a nurse practitioner and the MSN degree.

Educational Setting

Masters degree programs are offered in colleges and universities with graduate programs. The masters program is usually located in schools with baccalaureate in nursing programs.

Entry Requirements

Requirements for admission to most MSN studies include graduation from a BSN program. Other admission criteria may include RN licensure and evidence of scholastic ability as measured on qualifying examinations such as the Graduate Record Examination and grade point averages from undergraduate study. For schools with a generic MSN program, admission requirements may include BS or BA degrees in a field other than nursing. RN-to-MSN programs require graduation from an associate or diploma program and licensure as a registered nurse, and in some instances evidence of professional accomplishments and demonstration of knowledge equivalent to a BSN degree.

Educational Base

The Baccalaureate degree in nursing is the educational base for the MSN degree. The base includes liberal arts and sciences courses of a baccalaureate degree and, depending on the curriculum, a baccalaureate in nursing degree or equivalent competencies.

Curriculum

There are three major curriculum structures for the MSN. The common structure is that of the post baccalaureate curriculum. Courses build on the liberal arts and sciences and nursing curriculum of baccalaureate programs. The curriculum consists of core courses in nursing issues, research, statistics, and nursing theory; courses in the speciality major (e.g., medical surgical nursing, critical care, psychiatry, maternal-child health); and courses in the functional role (e.g., education, administration, practitioner). The typical curriculum includes 30-45 credit hours.

The generic MSN is the first degree for entry into the practice of professional nursing. In this model, the curriculum builds on the arts and sciences background of a baccalaureate degree and includes nursing courses of the baccalaureate curriculum and that of the post baccalaureate masters degree. Students may or may not earn the BSN en route to the MSN.

A third route to obtaining an MSN is becoming increasingly popular as nurses seek educational mobility. In this curriculum, registered nurse students with an associate degree or diploma enter the RN-to-MSN curriculum. Credit is awarded for previous knowledge in clinical nursing courses. Nursing research, professional concepts, issues, and statistics are taught at the MSN level with “bridging” content for the courses in the baccalaureate curriculum. The remainder of the curriculum is similar to the MSN curriculum.

The graduate from a MSN program is prepared to perform the following :

a. Incorporate theories and advanced knowledge into nursing practice.

b. Demonstrate competence in selected role(s).

c. Identify researchable nursing problems and participate in research studies in advanced nursing practice.

d. Use leadership, management, and teaching knowledge and competencies to influence nursing practice.

e. Assume responsibility for contributing to improvement in the delivery of health care and influencing health policy.

f. Assume responsibility for contributing to the advancement of the nursing profession.

Degree Granted

Graduates from masters programs receive the MSN or MA (Master or Arts). Several schools offer a MSNc, Master of Public Health, or Master of Education.

License and Certification

Graduates from a generic MSN are prepared to write the NCLEX-RN; most graduates of MSN programs are previously licensed as a registered nurse. Some schools of nursing prepare graduates for a speciality practice, and graduates may write certification examinations of nurse practitioner examinations in the speciality as an outcome of the degree.

Accreditation Agencies and Professional Organizations

MSN programs are accredited by the NLN Council of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs. NLN, ANA, and AACN advocate the interests of MSN curricula.

References :

Grace L. Deloughery : Issues and trends in nursing, Mosby Year Book, St. Louis, Missouri, 1991.

Reed SB and Hoffman SE : The enigma of graduate nursing education : advanced generalist? Or specialist? Nurs Health Care, 1986.

Brower HT, Tappen RM, and Weber MT : Missing links in nurse practitioner education, Nurs Health Care, 1988.

Geolot DH : NP Education : observations from a national perspective, Nurs Outlook, 1987.

Forni PR : Nursing`s diverse master`s programs : the state of the art, Nurs Health Care, 1987.

National League for Nursing : Characteristics of master`s education in nursing, New York, National League for Nursing, 1987.