Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leader (MSN)

Master of Science in Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leader
Unit: School of Nursing (GN)
Program Website 
Academic Plan Code(s): NUCLMSNEPN

Program Information

The Master of Science in Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leader is designed for individuals with a baccalaureate degree in another area who want to pursue a career in nursing. This program is referred to as the Master's Entry into Professional Nursing (MEPN).  The accelerated program provides the student with a general foundation in nursing and additional skills in the application of evidence based practice and leadership.  Upon completion of the program, the student receives both Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing Degrees. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for registered nursing licensure and the Clinical Nurse Leader Certification Examination offered by the AACN Commission on Nurse Certification.

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 science, practice and leadership, in a variety of settings for the benefit of clients across the lifespan and to meet the evolving health care needs of society.

Admissions Policies—Master of Science in Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leader

Students may be admitted into the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Clinical Nurse Leader program for a summer term only.  This degree is a graduate program for entry into practice, not advanced practice.

Criteria for Admission to the Master of Science in Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leader

A holistic review process is used when considering applications for admission to the master's program. The holistic review considers multiple criteria for admissions, such as:  the applicant's professional goals, academic capabilities, and grade point averages.  The admissions review also considers the number of completed prerequisite courses.

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 Degree Status, the following items must be submitted:
To the Graduate School

• Completed online University of Louisville Graduate Admissions Application, including a reduced application fee.

To NursingCAS

• Official transcripts representing all college coursework with a recommended cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.  A bachelor's degree must be earned from a regionally accredited institution.
• 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. Within the NursingCAS application, submit names and email addresses of individuals who can speak to your academic and/or professional capabilities and potential.
• Goal statement, 500 words or less, explaining your reasons for seeking the program, including short- and long-term professional goals. Describe how past educational, work, and/or life experiences have prepared you for this next step in the career. 
• Resume. 
• Students for whom English is not their primary language must show English Proficiency. 

To the School of Nursing, Office of Student Services

• Criminal background check submitted through CastleBranch.com
• An interview with faculty may be required.

Students who do not meet admission requirements may contact the University of Louisville School of Nursing Office of Student Services for an advising appointment.

Conditional Admission to MSN Degree Program:

Students who do not meet these admission requirements may be considered for admission in conditional status.

Applications will not be considered for Full or Conditional Degree status unless all application materials are available to the review committee by the application deadline.

Criteria for Admission in Visiting Student Status to the Graduate Nursing Program:

Students admitted as visiting students are non-degree. Students admitted in non-degree status may not be eligible for some financial aid sources. Visiting students from other schools may apply each semester for non-degree status by submitting the following:

To the Graduate School

• Graduate Admissions Application including an application fee.
• A letter of good standing from student's home school or transcripts from graduate school in which the student is currently enrolled verifying a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Important Note: All applicants, regardless of their application status, are required to submit official transcripts for all college work completed. An application fee is required of all applicants regardless of where previous degrees were earned. A reduced UofL application fee is assessed for nursing programs participating in the Common Application System (CAS).

The Master of Science in Nursing Curriculum
 

Master's Entry into Professional Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leader

The Master's Entry into Professional Nursing (MEPN) Program provides the student with a general foundation in nursing and additional skills in the application of evidence-based practice and leadership. Upon completion of the program, the student receives both Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing Degrees.

Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for registered nursing licensure and the Clinical Nurse Certification Examination offered by the AACN Commission on Nurse Certification. This is not an advanced practice registered nursing program. Prerequisites must be completed, or in progress, before being considered for admittance into the graduate program. All prerequisites must be completed prior to starting the program.

To ensure appropriate preparation for the program, the following prerequisites are required: Chemistry, Nutrition, Lifespan Developmental Psychology, Microbiology with lab, two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology with lab, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology. A minimum grade of C is required in all prerequisite courses. Students must consult with the program advisor for appropriate equivalencies.

Graduates from the UofL School of Nursing MEPN Program are prepared to apply for RN licensure upon graduation; however, educational preparation does not guarantee professional licensure. If you have questions regarding Kentucky RN licensure, please contact the Kentucky Board of Nursing (https://kbn.ky.gov/Pages/lpn-rn.aspx). For RN licensure questions in other states, please contact the respective state board of nursing (ncsbn.org/contact-bon.htm).

Graduates from the MEPN Program are also eligible to take the Clinical Nurse Leader Certification Examination offered by the AACN Commission on Nurse Certification.