Nursing (MSN)

Master of Science in Nursing 
Unit: School of Nursing (GN)
Academic Plan Code(s): NURSMSNAAG, NURSMSNAGP, NURSMSNFNP, NURSMSNNNP, NURSMSNPAC, NURSMSNPSY

Program Information

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is designed for baccalaureate-prepared nurses.

The University of Louisville School of Nursing is an essential partner of a research intensive academic health science center in a nationally recognized university serving a metropolitan community. The School of Nursing is a community in which faculty, staff and students collaborate to promote excellence in the profession of nursing. This is accomplished through research and scholarship that inform undergraduate and graduate education, support evidence-based practice and foster advances in nursing science.

Students are prepared to demonstrate excellence in nursing practice as a nurse practitioner in a variety of settings for the diagnosis and management of clients across the lifespan and to meet the evolving health care needs of society.

Note: Graduates of the Accelerated BSN program at UofL complete 8 hours of graduate level coursework during their program and are eligible to apply these 8 graduate credit hours towards their MSN core requirements.

Admissions Criteria

Criteria for Admission to the Master of Science in Nursing 

A holistic review process is used when considering applications for admission to the master's program. The holistic review considers multiple criteria for admissions, including the applicant's professional career goals, academic capabilities, GPA, work experience, leadership and community engagement.

The University of Louisville School of Nursing participates in Nursing's Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS), which provides you with an online application.  NursingCAS collects and processes your application documents and verifies your transcripts.  The School of Nursing will receive your application information from NursingCAS and use it to make admission decisions.

To be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program, the following items must be submitted:

To the Graduate School

Completed Graduate Admissions Application including a reduced application fee.

To NursingCAS

• Official transcripts representing all college coursework.  BSN degree must be from a regionally accredited institution and a CCNE-, ACEN- or NLN-accredited nursing program. Recommended undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale.  If applicable, recommended graduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on 4.0 scale.
• Applicants who have attended a college or university outside the United States are also required to submit a course-by-course evaluation of their transcript through World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). Please note that transcript evaluations can sometimes take several weeks.
• Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak of academic and/or professional nursing capabilities and potential. Recommendation should be requested from former faculty, current or immediate past employers, or other nursing/health professionals. Recommendations must be completed within the last year. 
• Current resume or curriculum vitae (CV) 
• Verification of unencumbered RN license from a US state board of nursing (Prior to clinicals a RN license in the state of Kentucky or a compact state is required). 
• Responses to all questions asked on the NursingCAS application.
• Students for whom English is not their primary language must show Proof of English Proficiency. 

Additional requirements for acute care specialties:

• Neonatal specialty: Minimum of one year of RN clinical experience in a Level III or Level IV NICU prior to admission. All NNP applicants must have the equivalent of two years of full-time RN clinical experience within the last five years in Level III and/or Level IV NICU inpatient setting before beginning clinical courses
• Adult-Gerontology Acute: One year of RN experience in the ICU or one year of RN experience in any area and a commitment to complete one year of RN clinical practice in the ICU prior to beginning clinical courses.  Applicants that do not have one year of RN experience at the point of application, but will complete one year before beginning clinical courses, will satisfy the work requirement. 
• Pediatric Acute Care:   One year of RN experience in an acute care setting  or one year of RN experience in any area and a commitment to complete one year of RN clinical practice in an acute care setting prior to beginning clinical courses.  Applicants that do not have one year of RN experience at the point of application, but will complete one year before beginning clinical courses, will satisfy the work requirement. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Courses Required for Specialties
NURS 607	Foundational Concepts of Evidence Based Practice	3
NURS 643	Quality and Safety in Advanced Practice Nursing	2
NURS 657	Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse and Vulnerable Populations	3
NURS 740	Advanced Pharmacology (Not required for Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Specialty)	3
NURS 741	Advanced Pathophysiology	4
NURS 742	Advanced Physical Assessment (Not required for Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Specialty)	3
NURS 749	The Business of Healthcare	2
NURS 807	The Professional Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse	3
NURS 726	Clinical Practicum for the MSN NP I (168 clinical hours) 1	2
NURS 727	Clinical Practicum for the MSN NP II (168 clinical hours) 1	2
NURS 728	Clinical Practicum for the MSN NP III (168 clinical hours) 1	2
NURS 729	Clinical Practicum for the MSN NP IV (168 clinical hours) 1	2
NURS 840	Clinical Seminar I	1
NURS 841	Clinical Seminar II	1
NURS 842	Clinical Practicum in the Advanced Practice Role 2	1
Minimum Total Hours		34

Minimum clinical hour requirements: 

A minimum of 672 patient care clinical hours (eight (8) credit hours) is required for all specialties with the exception of the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP).  The NNP requires a minimum of 756 patient care clinical hours (nine (9) credit hours).  One (1) credit hour equals 84 clinical contact hours. NURS 730 and NURS 731 are optional one (1) credit hour clinical practicum courses that can be used for clinical credit as needed in the program of study. Students complete an additional 84 hours of professional role clinical. 

Master of Science in Nursing - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Academic Plan Code(s): NURSMSNAAG

The patient population of the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner practice includes the entire spectrum of adults including adolescents, adults and aging adults. Acute care nurse practitioners work in the intensive care unit (ICU), progressive care unit (PCU), other  hospital units and specialty provider's offices.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Courses
NURS 754	Clinical Reasoning in Advanced Practice Nursing	1
NURS 777	The Adult/Gerontology Acute Care NP Role	1
NURS 779	Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care I	5
NURS 780	Procedures and Diagnostics for the Acute Care NP II	2
NURS 781	Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care II	3
NURS 783	Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care III	2
NURS 792	Pharmacology for the Acute Care APRN	1
Minimum Total Hours		15

Master of Science in Nursing - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Academic Plan Code(s): NURSMSNAGP

The patient population of the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner practice includes the entire spectrum of the adults including adolescents, adults and aging adults.  An Adult-Gero NP could work in the following settings:  internal medicine offices; health clinics; a specialty office; hospital rehab or a hospice unit; long term care facility; fast-track ER or adult urgent care facility.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Courses
NURS 753	Adolescent Well Child Theory	1
NURS 754	Clinical Reasoning in Advanced Practice Nursing	1
NURS 755	Diagnosis and Management of Adult Health in Primary Care	4
NURS 756	Procedures & Diagnostics for Adult Health	1
NURS 757	Diagnosis and Management of Women's Health in Primary Care	2
NURS 758	Diagnosis and Management of Mental Health in Primary Care	2
NURS 759	Diagnosis and Management of the Older Adult in Primary Care	3
Minimum Total Hours		14

Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner

Academic Plan Code(s): NURSMSNFNP

The family nurse practitioner (FNP) is prepared to care for individuals and families across the lifespan. A family NP could work in the following settings:  health clinic, adult or pediatric primary care office, inpatient rehab or hospice unit, a school, fast-track ER or urgent care facility.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Courses
NURS 754	Clinical Reasoning in Advanced Practice Nursing	1
NURS 755	Diagnosis and Management of Adult Health in Primary Care	4
NURS 756	Procedures & Diagnostics for Adult Health	1
NURS 757	Diagnosis and Management of Women's Health in Primary Care	2
NURS 758	Diagnosis and Management of Mental Health in Primary Care	2
NURS 759	Diagnosis and Management of the Older Adult in Primary Care	3
NURS 761	Pediatric & Adolescent Well Child Theory	2
NURS 762	Diagnosis & Management of Pediatrics in Primary Care	2
Minimum Total Hours		17

Master of Science in Nursing - Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Academic Plan Code(s): NURSMSNNNP

Neonatal nurse practitioners (NNP) provide health care to neonate, infants, and children through 2 years of age.  The NNP role includes the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness in neonate.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Courses
NURS 763	Advanced Neonatal Physiology & Pathophysiology I	3
NURS 764	Neonatal Diagnostic Reasoning I	1
NURS 765	Advance Neonatal Physiology & Pathophysiology II	3
NURS 766	Neonatal Diagnostic Reasoning II	1
NURS 784	Advanced Neonatal Pharmacology	3
NURS 785	Advanced Neonatal Assessment	3
NURS 786	Human Embryology and Genetics	3
NURS 844	Advanced Practice Care: Birth to 2 years of age	2
NURS 767	Neonatal Residency I (252 clinical hours) 1	3
NURS 768	Neonatal Residency II (252 clinical hours) 1	3
NURS 769	Neonatal Residency III (252 clinical hours) 1	3
Minimum Total Hours		28

Master of Science in Nursing - Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Academic Plan Code(s): NURSMSNPAC

Pediatric acute care nurse practitioners (PACNP) are prepared to provide advanced nursing care to meet the needs of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with complex, acute, critical, and chronic health conditions.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 754	Clinical Reasoning in Advanced Practice Nursing	1
NURS 761	Pediatric & Adolescent Well Child Theory	2
NURS 762	Diagnosis & Management of Pediatrics in Primary Care	2
NURS 800	Pathophysiology for Pediatric Acute Care	1
NURS 801	Pharmacology for Pediatric Acute Care	1
NURS 802	Procedures for Pediatric Acute Care	1
NURS 803	Diagnosis and Management for Pediatric Acute Care I: Special Needs in Chronic Illness	3
NURS 804	Diagnosis and Management for Pediatric Acute Care II: Acute Illness	2
NURS 805	Diagnosis and Management for Pediatric Acute Care III: Critical Illness	3
NURS 806	The Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Role	1
Minimum Total Hours		17

Master of Science in Nursing - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Academic Plan Code(s): NURSMSNPSY

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP) focus on individuals across the lifespan, families, and populations across the lifespan at risk for developing and/or having a diagnosis of psychiatric disorders or mental health problems. This includes assessment, diagnosis, and management of mental health and psychiatric disorders across the lifespan.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Courses
NURS 770	Adv. Psychiatric Assessment of Psychopathology and Clinical Interviewing Across the Lifespan	2
NURS 771	Foundations of Individual and Group Psychotherapy for the Adv. Practice Psychiatric Mental Health NP	2
NURS 772	Psychopharmacology	2
NURS 773	Diagnosis and Management of Children and Adolescents in Adv. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing	3
NURS 774	Diagnosis and Management of Adults in Advanced Practice Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing	3
NURS 775	Diagnosis and Management of Special Populations in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing	2
NURS 794	The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Role	2
Minimum Total Hours		16

¹

This course contains population specific patient care clinical hours.  These hours should be considered direct patient care clinical hours.  

²

This course contains 84 advanced practice professional role clinical hours.  These hours should not be considered as direct patient care. 

Master of Science in Nursing graduates from the UofL School of Nursing are prepared to apply for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) certification in their population track upon graduation; however, educational preparation does not guarantee professional licensure. If you have questions regarding Kentucky APRN licensure, please contact the Kentucky Board of Nursing (https://kbn.ky.gov/Pages/advanced-practice-registered-nurse.aspx). For APRN  licensure questions in other states, please contact the respective state board of nursing (https://ncsbn.org/contact-bon.htm).