Program Description

The Master of Science in Nursing entry-level (MSNEL) concentration prepares individuals with bachelor’s degrees in disciplines other than nursing to begin a career as a professional registered nurse, and pursue certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader®. The MSNEL concentration builds upon the student’s previous educational preparation at the baccalaureate level, and provides both foundational and advanced courses in nursing practice, with an emphasis on improving the healthcare outcomes for a specific group of patients through horizontal leadership at the point of care. Fifteen credits of graduate nursing core courses are included in the program and may be applied to further study toward the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Prior to admission, applicants must complete five prerequisite courses. Only one course may be repeated one time, this includes withdrawals. See the Admission section of this catalog for details.

Upon completion of the Entry-Level concentration, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®), apply for certification as a public health nurse in Minnesota, and sit for the national examination to become certified as a Clinical Nurse Leader.

The Entry-level curriculum includes classroom, lab, simulation, and clinical components, and utilizes traditional classroom, hybrid and online formats. Courses are offered on one weekday and weekends. This is a full-time graduate program, and students are expected to reduce outside commitments to accommodate the demands of this intensive course of study. The 51-credit curriculum is completed in 23 months, including one summer.

Nursing: Entry-Level Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
NURS 6132	Introduction to Clinical Nurse Leader	2
NURS 6150	Holistic Health Assessment and Clinical Experience for the CNL	3
NURS 6155	Pathophysiological and Pharmacological Basis for CNL Practice I	3
NURS 6165	Pathophysiological and Pharmacological Basis for CNL Practice II	3
NURS 6215	Nursing Interventions I	4
NURS 6240	Clinical Experience II	1
NURS 6345	Nursing Interventions II and Clinical Experience III	2
NURS 6350	Clinical Experience IV	1
NURS 6560	Clinical Immersion	2
NURS 6800	Nursing Ethics	3
NURS 7060	Evidence Based Practice	3
NURS 7080	Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice	3
NURS 7140	Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice	3
NURS 7170	Preceptorship I	1
NURS 7270	Preceptorship II	2
NURS 7272	CNL Role in Implementing and Sustaining Care Outcomes	3
NURS 7274	Transition to CNL Practice	3
NURS 7300	CNL Role in Improving Care Outcomes	3
NURS 8150	Leadership for Advanced Nursing Practice	3
STAT 7000	Introduction to Biostatistics	3
Total Credits		51

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Spring Term
NURS 6132	Introduction to Clinical Nurse Leader	2
NURS 6150	Holistic Health Assessment and Clinical Experience for the CNL	3
NURS 6155	Pathophysiological and Pharmacological Basis for CNL Practice I	3
Summer Term
NURS 6215	Nursing Interventions I	4
NURS 6240	Clinical Experience II	1
NURS 7140	Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice	3
Fall Term
NURS 6165	Pathophysiological and Pharmacological Basis for CNL Practice II	3
NURS 6345	Nursing Interventions II and Clinical Experience III	2
NURS 7060	Evidence Based Practice	3
Spring Term
NURS 6350	Clinical Experience IV	1
NURS 6560	Clinical Immersion 1	2
NURS 6800	Nursing Ethics	3
NURS 7080	Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice	3
STAT 7000	Introduction to Biostatistics	3
Summer Term
NURS 7170	Preceptorship I	1
NURS 7300	CNL Role in Improving Care Outcomes	3
NURS 8150	Leadership for Advanced Nursing Practice	3
Fall Term
NURS 7270	Preceptorship II	2
NURS 7272	CNL Role in Implementing and Sustaining Care Outcomes	3
NURS 7274	Transition to CNL Practice	3
Total Credits		51

¹

Taken during J-Term