Master of Science in Nursing
48 Semester Credits / 6 Semesters / 24 Months – Family Nurse Practitioner
30 Semester Credits / 3-6 Semesters / 12-24 Months – Health Care Leadership
30 Semester Credits / 3-6 Semesters / 12-24 Months – Nurse Educator
Delivery Mode: Online Hybrid
At United States University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, master’s degree programs in nursing are designed to prepare students with broad knowledge and practice expertise that builds and expands on baccalaureate level nursing practice. Students are prepared with a deeper understanding of the discipline of nursing in order to engage in higher level practice and leadership in a variety of settings and to commit to lifelong learning. Master’s education prepares the graduate to lead change to improve quality outcomes, advance a culture of excellence through lifelong learning, build and lead collaborative inter-professional care teams, navigate and integrate care services across the healthcare system, design innovative nursing practices, and translate evidence into practice (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, The Essentials of Masters Education, 2011).
The College offers MSN concentrations in Family Nurse Practitioner, Health Care Leadership, and Nurse Educator.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate and apply evidence-based findings to advanced nursing roles.
- Integrate cultural competence into advanced nursing roles.
- Integrate the Master Essential’s and specialty standards into the advanced nursing role.
- Compose professional written communication for advanced nursing roles.
- Speak professionally in advanced nursing roles.
- Demonstrate the advanced nursing role through leadership, collaboration, and caring science to improve health outcomes.
- Evaluate and apply quantitative and qualitative data to validate and guide decision making relevant to health outcomes.
- Integrate ethical reasoning into advocacy and decision making.
- Objectively evaluate and synthesize information in advanced nursing roles.
Family Nurse Practitioner
The Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) concentration is designed for registered nurses who want to provide evidence-informed practice to culturally diverse populations using the latest technology for learning and practicing. This Program is grounded in a Caring Science model to teach theoretical and evidenced-based practice of nursing. Students will learn how to implement best practices for promoting and managing the health of individuals, families and communities. The Program provides the opportunity to be mentored as FNPs with distinctive populations in a variety of settings and communities.
Graduates that earn an MSN-FNP degree are eligible to apply to the California Board of Registered Nursing for a Nurse Practitioner. As of 2020, the California Board of nursing accepts three methods for application for NP licensure. Please review the details of those methods athttps://www.rn.ca.gov/applicants/npnpf.shtml. All nurse practitioners must have a furnishing number to prescribe in California. Applications for furnishing numbers may be submitted at the time of nursing application. Per the California Code of Regulations, eligibility for Nurse Practitioner certification requires the possession of an active California registered nurse (RN) license.
- Method One: California-Based Nurse Practitioner Education Program
- Method Two: Non-California Based Nurse Practitioner Education Program.
- Method Three: Equivalency
USU is a California-Based Nurse Practitioner Program, and most learners are anticipated to apply for Method One:
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Method One: California-Based Nurse Practitioner Education Program www.rn.ca.gov/education/apprograms.shtml#np Documentation submitted directly to the Board of Registered Nursing:
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Completed Application for Nurse Practitioner (NP) Certification and applicable fee.
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Completed Verification of Nurse Practitioner Academic Program form submitted by the nurse practitioner academic program.
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Official, sealed transcript showing evidence of date of graduation or post-graduation nurse practitioner program.
Graduates are eligible to sit for a national certification exam from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Regulations vary from state to state, and non-California resident students are encouraged to carefully read the requirements and conduct further research in the state in which they intend to seek licensure as a Nurse Practitioner. There may potentially be other non-program requirements that students should be aware of, e.g. criminal background checks.
United States University actively monitors its state authorizations and state board of nursing program approvals for its MSN-FNP program. USU does not enroll in states where such approvals have not been received and remain current and on file with the Office of Accreditation, Regulatory Compliance and Institutional Effectiveness. Students are encouraged to review state authorization information here: https://www.usuniversity.edu/about/accreditation/ and encouraged to speak with their Enrollment Advisor prior to enrollment.
Course Delivery
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences has implemented instructional strategies to provide an interactive, engaged curriculum for our 100% online hybrid curriculum. Courses will utilize real-time face-to-face instruction during a scheduled immersion, supplemented with face-to-face instruction via web conference, phone conference, and/or live chats with fellow students and faculty. Students may work as teams with peers and mentors, participate in demonstrations, interact with computer-simulated patients, and actively examine case studies. Courses will include online and synchronous lectures, discussions, social networking, viewing videos, examining evidence, readings, and/or other activities needed to prepare for class.
Required Time On-Campus
Students in the FNP program will be required to complete one on campus 4-day immersion at one of our campus locations (San Diego, CA or Phoenix, AZ) during their MSN572 Advanced Health and Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan course. Immersion is required for course and degree completion, and must be taken concurrently with the MSN572 course. Students will be working with standardized patients and learning advanced clinical skills. Campus immersion dates are provided to students during orientation and there is also a schedule posted in the Nursing Caring Corner in D2L. Immersion dates may differ for students that have any changes to their degree plan such as, but not limited to, transfer credit, drop, fail or withdraw from courses, take leave from the University, or any change that may impact their program progress in any way. Students are encouraged to review the immersion schedule and plan work absences, travel, and transportation arrangements accordingly. All immersion related activities are at the student’s own expense.
Clinical Requirements
All FNP students are required to complete a minimum of 540 clinical hours. These hours start the second year of the program. FNP students must meet the Office of Field Experience requirements defined in the FNP Clinical Handbook at least 16 weeks prior to the clinical course(s). Most clinical hours are completed Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm so all students must plan their work schedule to accommodate clinical hours.
Health Care Leadership
The Health Care Leadership concentration is designed to build a foundation for the nurse leader/administrator/entrepreneur to meet the evolving needs of the emerging health care delivery models. This program is grounded in a Caring Science model to teach theoretical and the evidenced-based practice of nursing. With a focus on transformational innovation, this program of study provides students with the skills necessary to become the nurse leader/administrator/entrepreneur of the future. The program provides a customized clinical residency experience designed to support the goals of the emerging nurse leader/administrator/entrepreneur.
Nurse Educator
The Nurse Educator concentration is designed for nurses who want to learn how to design curriculum and courses utilizing technology and teach as a nurse educator in acute care settings, long-term care, academic settings, and in a variety of community-based healthcare organizations. Students will also be prepared to step into emerging nurse educator roles such as nurse educator entrepreneurs and consultants designed to improve patient outcomes as new health care delivery models develop. This program is grounded in a Caring Science model to teach theoretical and the evidence-based practice of nursing. Students will learn how to design teaching plans, implement evidence based teaching strategies, design and evaluate curriculum and implement active teaching methods to engage students in a student-centered learning environment. This program provides opportunities to work with teaching mentors/preceptors.
Curriculum Requirements
MSN Core Requirements
| MSN560 | Transitions in Practice: The Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse | 3 |
| MSN561 | Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 |
| MSN563 | Evidence Based Inquiry for Scholarship and Practice | 3 |
| MSN565 | Nursing Leadership and Health Policy | 3 |
| MSN600 | Evidence Based Capstone Project | 2 |
MSN600 - This course is non-transferable
Concentration Options
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner
Advance Practice Requirements
| MSN570 | Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| MSN571 | Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| MSN572 | Advanced Health and Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan | 4 |
MSN572 - This course is non-transferable
Specialty Requirements
| FNP590 | Health Promotion, Education and Disease Prevention Across The Lifespan | 3 |
| FNP591 | Common Illnesses Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| FNP592 | Common Illnesses Across the Lifespan - Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| FNP593 | Primary Health of Acute Clients/Families Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| FNP594 | Primary Health of Acute Clients/Families Across the Lifespan - Clinical Pra | 3 |
| FNP595 | Primary Healthcare of Chronic Clients/Families Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| FNP596 | Primary Healthcare of Chronic Clients/Families Across the Lifespan - Clinic | 3 |
| FNP597 | Clinical Residency and Practice Management | 3 |
MSN Health Care Leadership
Specialty Requirements
| MSN580 | Strategic Planning and Project Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| MSN581 | Innovation in Organizational and Systems Leadership | 3 |
| MSN582 | Leadership and Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| MSN584 | Quality Measures, Safety, and Improving Patient Outcomes | 3 |
| MSN586 | Entrepreneurship in Advanced Practice Nursing | 2 |
| MSN587 | Residency in Nursing Leadership and Systems Management | 2 |
MSN587 - This course is non-transferable
MSN Nurse Educator
Advanced Practice Requirements
| MSN553 | Advanced Health and Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| MSN570 | Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| MSN571 | Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
Specialty Requirements
| MSN530 | Curriculum Development and Teaching Strategies | 3 |
| MSN577 | Test Construction, Assessment and Evaluation of Learning Outcomes | 2 |
| MSN578 | Teaching Residency for Nurse Educators | 2 |
MSN578 - This course is non-transferable