Master of Science in Nursing

The Master of Science in Nursing program is built on the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The program is designed to prepare students who are highly knowledgeable in advanced clinical nursing and whose education will enable them to make significant contributions to health care. The nursing program is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Albany State University's Department of Nursing prepares safe, competent, effective, and efficient nurses to provide or facilitate health care to diverse populations and underserved communities. Integral to this mission is a supportive and diverse faculty delivering comprehensive and technologically enhanced didactic and experiential learning activities. These learning activities support the holistic development of students as learners, leaders, and contributing members of society who embody the ideals of professional nursing in a global society. The completion of these learning activities will prepare the students for success on the national licensing (NCLEX-RN) or certification examination(s), demonstrating competency in the delivery of evidence-based nursing care.

Program Concentrations:

• The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program is designed for students desiring a Master of Science in Nursing as advanced practice registered nurses to provide comprehensive family-focused healthcare with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention.
• The Nurse Educator (NE) Program is designed for students desiring a Master of Science in Nursing who wish to work within an academic or healthcare setting as faculty/clinical instructors or staff-development specialists, respectively.
• The Nursing Informatics (NI) Program is designed for students desiring a Master of Science in Nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse who combines nursing science, information management science, and computer science to manage and process nursing data, information, and knowledge to deliver quality care to the public.

The purposes of the Master of Science in Nursing program are to prepare students who are:

1. Advanced practice nurses (family nurse practitioners or nurse educators who are able to practice nursing in changing and diverse health care settings),
2. Beginning researchers, and
3. Highly knowledgeable individuals who are capable of influencing policy-making that impacts health care delivery.

Admission Criteria: Master of Science in Nursing Programs

To enter the program leading to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with a concentration as either a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Nurse Educator (NE), or Nursing Informatics (NI), the student must first meet the requirements established by and apply to Albany State University’s Graduate School, which is the overarching school containing the various major-related concentrations and programs, and be accepted to the University in good standing. Please be aware that admission to the Graduate School does not guarantee acceptance into its graduate nursing programs. The prospective student should contact the Graduate Admissions Office or the Department of Nursing’s Graduate Nursing Programs Director well in advance of the planned entry date. Additionally, applicants should be aware of the following:

• The Family Nursing Practitioner (FNP) program currently accepts applicants every year.
• The Nurse Educator (NE) program currently accepts applicants every year, provided there are sufficient applicants to run the program-specific courses.
• The Nursing Informatics (NI) program currently accepts applicants every year, provided there are sufficient applicants to run the program-specific courses.

Applicants must:

FIRST, submit an application to Albany State University's Graduate School and be admitted in good standing.

• To enter the program leading to the Master of Science in Nursing Degree, the student must meet the requirements established for all graduate degree programs at Albany State University, as established by its Graduate School.
• AFTER being accepted as a graduate student at Albany State University, submit the completed application and the $20.00 application fee money order by the application deadline.
• Possess a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program.
• Students applying to the Family Nursing Practitioner (FNP) graduate program must also possess 1 year of clinical experience within a healthcare setting, preferably specialized in an adult medical-surgical area.
• Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or 2.0 (on a 3.0 scale).
• Complete the following undergraduate courses: Assessment in Health Care/Health Assessment (NURS 3510); Pathophysiology/Pathophysiology for RN's (NURS 3320/NURS 3620); Research/Research in Nursing (NURS 4131); and Introduction to Statistics (MATH 2411).
• Have documentation of current Professional Nursing Licensure in their state of practice prior to entering the functional track.
• Students intending to practice or satisfy clinical requirements within the state of Georgia must also provide documentation of current Professional Nursing Licensure in Georgia.
• Arrange for a personal interview with the Graduate Nursing Programs Director.
• Submit two (2) references regarding professional accomplishments and academic potential (if the references submitted to the Graduate School are not professional references).

Following admission to the nursing program, students must submit the following documentation prior to the course’s established pre-clinical deadline: certificate of immunization, current basic life support (BLS) for healthcare providers, malpractice insurance, proof of active health insurance (or enrollment into the student health insurance plan), a complete criminal background check, a drug test, and an annual health physical at the expense of the student.

Certificate of Immunization: Must be on file in Student Health Services indicating that all immunizations are current based on their age. Immunizations include Hepatitis B (or waiver), MMR, tetanus, varicella, tuberculosis, and any other immunization(s) deemed necessary by the University and/or the clinical site.

BLS Card: A current CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) basic life support (BLS) for healthcare provider's card. All students must be certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) in child and adult BLS for health care providers. This certification must be maintained throughout the program (renewed every 2 years). An outdated CPR certification will prohibit the student from attending clinical practice experiences.

Students are subjected to compulsory background checks per clinical agency requirements and may also be required to submit to random tests for the illegal use of controlled substances as provided by the law or regulations of the contracting agency. If the site refuses to allow a student to attend clinical experiences, the nursing program is not obligated to find another clinical site. The student may not be able to complete the nursing program at ASU. Therefore, it is important to conduct personal record checks prior to admission to the nursing program.

A student who has failed (C, D, F, or WF) two (2) graduate nursing courses—whether at ASU or another graduate-level program—will be ineligible for admission (or continuation) in the nursing program at ASU. Students who have been dismissed for two (2) nursing failures or for cause may request readmission after one (1) year of receiving notice of dismissal. For readmission policies, please refer to the appropriate section in the Graduate Nursing Student Handbook.

Post-Master’s Certification Programs

In addition to the criteria listed above, students who have a Master’s Degree in Nursing and graduated with at least a 3.0 GPA may be admitted for a Post-master’s certification in Nursing Education (NE) or Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). The applicant must meet with the Graduate Nursing Programs Director, the Family Nurse Practitioner Program Director, and/or a graduate nursing faculty advisor to design a program of study to complete post-masters requirements.

Not all programs are available to residents in all states. Please check the institution's State Authorization and Professional Licensure website(s) to ensure you reside in an authorized state.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing