Director of Master of Science in Nursing
Layna Himmelberg, Ed.D., MSN, CNE
PH 402.552.2776  TF 800.647.5500
himmelberg@clarksoncollege.edu

Program Specific Competency Goals

Upon completion of the MSN requirements for Nursing Health Care Administration, Nursing Education, Adult–Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner, the graduate will be able to demonstrate:

• Design educational strategies to improve culturally appropriate caring practices for clients, families, communities, and populations. (Diversity, Communication, Technology)**
• Synthesize complex knowledge of nursing to advocate for holistic client centered care for individuals, families, communities and populations. (Diversity, Critical Thinking)**
• Generate policies through teamwork and collaboration in the complex roles of educator, administrator or advanced clinician. (Diversity, Communication, Professionalism)**
• Construct health care strategies using evidence-based theoretical, scientific and contemporary knowledge. (Critical Thinking, Technology)**
• Demonstrate leadership skills to improve client health outcomes, facilitate change in health care systems and appraise ethical-legal dilemmas. (Diversity, Critical Thinking, Technology, Professionalism)**
• Create systems to promote safety and minimize risks of harm to clients and providers. (Communication)**
• Use information technology to interpret data, communicate and evaluate decision making. (Critical Thinking, Technology)**
• Advocate for professional behaviors that advance the profession and improve health care. (Communication, Professionalism)**

**Categories denoted in the parentheses represent relationship to Clarkson College’s student success skills, which are our institutional student learning outcomes, and include Communication, Technology, Critical Thinking, Diversity, and Professionalism

Admission Policies

Enrollment in Clarkson College degree programs is limited through a selective admissions process. Admission policies and procedures are available from: the Admissions office, the College website, or in the Academic Policies & Procedures section (AD-1).

Curriculum Requirements

The RN to MSN program at Clarkson College is designed to meet the needs of Registered Nurses (RNs) who wish to complete an accelerated bachelor of science and master’s degrees in nursing. Students who are admitted into the RN to MSN program are initially listed as RN to BSN students; however, upon completion of the BSN requirements and RN to MSN progression requirements, students will automatically transition into the MSN program. A Health Care Science Update course will be taken to validate knowledge in Pharmacology and Pathophysiology. Students with 2 or more years of work experience and expertise in leadership, population health, or evidence-based nursing may portfolio for validation credit in one 400-level nursing course. Students can enroll in up to eight credit hours of graduate level nursing courses while completing requirements for their BSN. Exiting at the BSN level upon completion of all requirements is an option for students deciding not to pursue the MSN at that time.

 

Service Requirements

Service reflects a holistic view that focuses on how individuals provide high quality, ethical and compassionate service in the field of health care and the community at large. Students will become familiar with service agencies, connect learning with practice and engage in civic service activities to live and demonstrate the Clarkson College Values of Learning, Caring, Commitment, Integrity and Excellence.

All students are required to complete designated service courses as a component of their program of study. Successful completion of service experiences is required to pass the designated service courses. Core and designated service courses are identified using the following symbol: ◊

Program requires Health and Safety – View Health and Safety Information

Required Courses for Master of Science in Nursing: RN to MSN Option

General Education Courses

(12 semester hours)

Courses	Semester Hours
IC HU EA - Health Care Core Course	3
IC HU EA - Health Care Core Course	3
IC HU EA - Health Care Core Course	3
IPE 301 - Interprofessional Education	0
ST 310 - Statistics OR GR 847 - Applied Statistics	3 3
Total Semester Hours	12

Major Courses

(12 semester hours)

Courses	Semester Hours
NS 352 - Evidence Based Inquiry in Healthcare for the RN-BSN/MSN Student	2
NS 475 - Principles of Leadership and Management for the RN to BSN/MSN	3
NS 481 - Population Health for the RN to BSN/MSN	3
NS 482 - Capstone/Practicum for the RN to BSN/MSN	4
Total Semester Hours	12

Undergraduate Support Courses

Courses	Semester Hours
HC 206 - Pathophysiology and Pharmacology: Current Practices	3
Total Semester Hours	3

**Note: Upon successful completion of HC 205 Health Care Science Update II, the student will receive three hours of earned semester hours and three hours of validation credit.

Major Courses (70 semester hours)

A direct transfer package of 93 semester hours of nursing courses will be granted to students. Students are required to take a minimum of 27 semester hours of classes at Clarkson College. Other courses may be transferred or challenged according to individual course policies.

Transition Courses

(7 semester hours)

Courses	Semester Hours
NS 349 - Pathways for Success	1
NS 356 - Concepts of Professional Practice for the RN to BSN/MSN	3
NS 357 - Physical Assessment	3
Total Semester Hours	7

Upon successful completion of the transition courses, the student is eligible to take the remaining undergraduate nursing courses.

MSN Core Requirement Courses

(19 semester hours)

Courses	Semester Hours
GR 798 - Essentials of Scholarly Writing	1
GR 847 - Applied Statistics	3
NS 807 - Theories and Concepts of Advanced Practice Roles	3
◊ NS 803 - Health Care Delivery Systems and Managed Care	2
NS 805 - Application and Evaluation of Theory in Nursing	2
◊ NS 808 - Nursing Law and Ethics	3
NS 812 - Research Design and Methods	3
NS 813 - Research Design and Methods II	2
Total Semester Hours	19

Specialty option courses

Nursing Health Care Administration

(23 semester hours)

Courses	Semester Hours
MB 808 - Health Care Leadership	3
MB 800 - Ethics in Leadership	2
MB 851 - Health Care Economics	3
MB 836 - Health Care Project Management	3
MB 827 - Finance for Health Care Leaders	3
MB 823 - Health Care Strategic Planning and Marketing	3
◊ MB 810 - Human Resources and Organizational Behavior	3
NS 898 - Nursing Health Care Leadership Practicum	3
Total Semester Hours	23

Nursing Education

(20 hours)

Courses	Semester Hours
NS 806 - Theories of Learning for the Nurse Educator	3
◊ NS 822 - Curriculum Development for the Nurse Educator	3
NS 823 - Evaluation Strategies for the Nurse Educator	3
NS 826 - Pharmacology, Pathophysiology and Health Assessment Overview for Nurse Educators	3
NS 827 - Teaching and Learning Strategies for the Nurse Educator	3
NS 894 - Nursing Education Practicum	3
NS 890 - Nurse Educator Transition to Practice	2
Total Semester Hours	20

Family Nurse Practitioner*

(28 hours)

Courses	Semester Hours
NS 830 - Advanced Physical Assessment	3
NS 832 - Primary Health Care I	3
◊ NS 834 - Advanced Nutrition	3
NS 836 - Pharmacology for Practitioners	3
NS 838 - Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NS 840 - Primary Care of Children and Adolescent	3
NS 842 - Primary Care of Women	3
NS 843 - Behavioral Health Care for Practitioners	2
NS 844 - Primary Health Care II	3
NS 852 - Family Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice	2
Total Semester Hours	28

*The Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progression through clinical courses. Though the program may be com­pleted online, students are required to attend on-campus weekends for specified clinical courses. Only one clinical course may be taken at a time.

Adult–Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner**

(28 hours)

Courses	Semester Hours
NS 830 - Advanced Physical Assessment	3
NS 831 - Primary Care of the Adult-Gerontology Client	3
NS 832 - Primary Health Care I	3
◊ NS 834 - Advanced Nutrition	3
NS 836 - Pharmacology for Practitioners	3
NS 838 - Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NS 843 - Behavioral Health Care for Practitioners	2
NS 842 - Primary Care of Women	3
NS 844 - Primary Health Care II	3
NS 853 - Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice	2
Total Semester Hours	28

**The Adult–Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progression through clinical courses. Though the program may be com­pleted online, students are required to attend on-campus weekends for specified clinical courses. Only one clinical course may be taken at a time.