Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Program Overview

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The Master of Science (MSN) degree in Nursing Program is designed for nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree who want the convenience and flexibility an online program can offer. The degree requires a minimum of 30 credits consisting of different combinations of courses: core, direct-care core, electives, specialty, and Practicum.  A B.S.N degree from an accredited program is required.

Three concentrations of nursing specialty are offered:

Nurse Educator

The Nurse Educator program prepares graduates for teaching roles in healthcare and academic settings.

Nursing Informatics

The Nursing Informatics program prepares graduates to function as nursing informatics specialists.

Nursing Administration

The Nursing Administration program prepares graduates for the role of nurse administrator in healthcare settings. 

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

A post-master's certificate may be earned by completing required courses.

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The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at Thomas Edison State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

Admissions Requirements

For nursing applicants, admission to the graduate nursing program is on a rolling basis.

Applicants must have earned a B.S.N. degree from an institutionally accredited college or university recognized under the TESU Transfer Credit Policy Guidelines and must be ready to participate in an online environment. Admission is based on:

  • Students with a GPA of 3.0 or above as reflected on the official transcript of the institutionally accredited colleges and universities recognized under the TESU Transfer Credit Policy and Guidelines awarding their B.S.N. degree are considered to have demonstrated the requisite knowledge and skills to handle graduate-level work and will be admitted without further requirements. Students whose GPA is less than 3.0 are invited to submit a resume and a personal statement describing their background and goals for consideration.
  • Relevance of work experience and career objectives to the program objectives.

Applicants to all programs offered by the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions must:

  • Have a current active RN license valid in the United States or a United States territory 

IMPORTANT: For a student's application to be processed, the University must be able to validate the student's RN license. If the student's state does not have an online RN license validation process, the student must submit a notarized copy of current RN license valid in the U.S. or U.S. territory to Office of Admissions and Enrollment Services, Thomas Edison State University, 111 W. State St., Trenton, NJ 08608.

  • Have proficiency in using a computer, browsing the web and sending and receiving email, including attachments.
  • Have minimum system requirements to access an online course: access to the internet, an internet browser such as Microsoft Edge, Firefox or Google Chrome. Additional requirements that may apply to nursing courses are specified in the University Catalog and "W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professionals Student Handbook." Some courses require access to PowerPoint and/or Excel software and a webcam.
  • Submit a completed application with nonrefundable fee.
  • For more information, visit the MSN Admission Requirements page.

Program Progression FAQs

How do I know if TESU will accept my previous graduate credit?

 

At the time of enrollment in the M.S.N. program, courses from other institutionally accredited colleges and universities can be evaluated for transfer credit. Courses for transfer must have been completed within the past seven years at an institutionally accredited institution recognized under the TESU Transfer Credit Policy and Guidelines with an earned grade of B or higher.  It can take several weeks for transfer credit to be reviewed and updated to academic evaluations.

 

When are nursing courses offered?

 

Graduate nursing courses are offered six times a year. View the updated registration dates for these terms.

Graduate electives are offered as per the online schedule.

 

Can I take more than one master’s course at a time?

 

Most students enrolled at Thomas Edison State University work full-time and take one or two courses a term. Graduate students may register for up to 9 credits per term. For students wanting to take more than 9 credits per term, please contact the graduate nursing academic advisor.

 

Can I take a master’s course before I complete my B.S.N.?

Remember that four courses in the BSN program at Thomas Edison State University are graduate level.  Students will take these courses as part of the degree program.

These courses are:

NUR-5160Advanced Health Assessment

3

NUR-5290Health Policy

3

NUR-5310Nursing Informatics: Concepts and Issues

3

NUR-5820Financial Management in Nursing Practice

3

How long will it take to complete the MSN program?

The MSN degree requires a minimum of 30 credits consisting of different combinations of courses: core, direct care core, electives, specialty, and practicum. Courses are offered during six terms a year. Each student progresses at their own pace. Many students can arrange their work and family schedules to take two courses a term. Some students complete the MSN program in as little as 12 months, and the maximum time allowed is seven years.

Factors that influence the time to completion include tuition assistance, family obligations and work responsibilities.

RN's who have completed their degree requirements for the BSN degree but have not been awarded the degree may apply for admission to the MSN degree program on a provisional basis and register for a graduate nursing course.

Outcomes and Program Competencies

On completion of the Master of Science in Nursing program, the graduate will be able to:

 

AACN The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021)

Master of Science in Nursing

Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice Descriptor: Integration, translation, and application of established and evolving disciplinary nursing knowledge and ways of knowing, as well as knowledge from other disciplines, including a foundation in liberal arts and natural and social sciences. This distinguishes the practice of professional nursing and forms the basis for clinical judgment and innovation in nursing practice.

Utilize interprofessional knowledge in the advanced nursing care of diverse individuals, families, and communities to enact clinical judgment and innovation in nursing practice.

Domain 2: Person-Centered Care
Descriptor: Person-centered care focuses on the individual within multiple complicated contexts, including family and/or important others. Person-centered care is holistic, individualized, just, respectful, compassionate, coordinated, evidence-based, and developmentally appropriate. Person-centered care builds on a scientific body of knowledge that guides nursing practice regardless of specialty or functional area.

Demonstrate person-centered, advanced nursing care for diverse individuals, families, and communities to promote positive health outcomes.

 

Domain 3: Population Health Descriptor: Population health spans the healthcare delivery continuum from public health prevention to disease management of populations and describes collaborative activities with both traditional and non-traditional partnerships from affected communities, public health, industry, academia, health care, local government entities, and others for the improvement of equitable population health outcomes.

Construct collaborative advanced nursing care for diverse communities for health promotion and disease management  population to improve outcomes.

Domain 4: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline
Descriptor: The generation, synthesis, translation, application, and dissemination of nursing knowledge to improve health and transform health care.

Appraise evidence-based advanced nursing care for diverse individuals, families, and communities to improve and transform health care.

Domain 5: Quality and Safety Descriptor: Employment of established and emerging principles of safety and improvement science. Quality and safety, as core values of nursing practice, enhance quality and minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.

Employ advanced nursing care for diverse individuals, families, and communities that promotes quality and safety.

 

 

Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships Descriptor: Intentional collaboration across professions and with care team members, patients, families, communities, and other stakeholders to optimize care, enhance the healthcare experience, and strengthen outcomes.

Collaborate with interprofessional team members and stakeholders in the provision of advanced nursing care for diverse individuals, families, and communities to optimize outcomes. 

Domain 7: Systems-Based Practice Descriptor: Responding to and leading within complex systems of health care. Nurses effectively and proactively coordinate resources to provide safe, quality, and equitable care for diverse populations

Lead in the provision of advanced nursing care and transitions of care for diverse individuals, families, and communities to provide equitable outcomes.

Domain 8: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies Descriptor: Information and communication technologies and informatics processes are used to provide care, gather data, form information to drive decision making, and support professionals as they expand knowledge and wisdom for practice. Informatics processes and technologies are used to manage and improve the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient healthcare services in accordance with best practice and professional and regulatory standards.

Use informatics and healthcare technologies in accordance with best practices that demonstrate professional, regulatory, and ethical standards in providing nursing care for diverse individuals, families, and communities.

Domain 9: Professionalism Descriptor: Formation and cultivation of a sustainable professional identity, including accountability, perspective, collaborative disposition, and comportment, that reflects nursing’s characteristics and values.

Integrate professionalism in advanced nursing care of diverse individuals, families, and communities.

Domain 10: Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development Descriptor: Participation in activities and self-reflection that foster personal health, resilience, and well-being; contribute to lifelong learning; and support the acquisition of nursing expertise and the assertion of leadership.

Choose personal and professional developmental activities that foster well-being and contribute to a culture of lifelong learning and leadership.