Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing Program (RN to MSN)

Overview

The RN to MSN program provides a unique option for those students who want to continue their education after completing their associates or diploma degree in nursing and earning their RN license that ultimately results in achieving an MSN degree. The program is offered in an online learning environment and allows students to work full-time while continuing to pursue their educational goals. The program offers students 32-39 block credits for their associate or diploma degree in nursing, in addition to credit for any previously completed and required general education coursework. The student completes 18 credit hours of bachelor level nursing coursework and any remaining, required general education coursework. Upon completion of bachelor level coursework, students enter the MSN program and complete 36 credit hours of MSN Program coursework with a focus in Nursing Education or Nursing Leadership. This program option incorporates The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021), Entry-Level Professional Nursing Education sub-competencies, and Advanced-Level Nursing Education sub-competencies identified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing into the required coursework.

Explanation for Baccalaureate Equivalency for Graduates of the RN to MSN Degree

The RN to MSN program of study option is available for registered nurses who hold an associate degree or diploma in nursing who want to earn an MSN with a focus in Nursing Education or Nursing Leadership. Graduates do not earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), but are required to successfully complete certain baccalaureate coursework and the RN to MSN Bridge course prior to entering the MSN coursework. Upon completion of the RN to MSN program, students will have earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree which assumes a Baccalaureate Equivalent degree. The Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE), the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) identify the MSN as a higher degree than a BSN and provides academic achievement that is beyond a BSN. The student can use the MSN transcript as a BSN equivalent if the need arises. This is further supported by the incorporation of The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021), Entry-Level Professional Nursing Education sub-competencies, and Advance-Level Nursing Education sub-competencies identified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing into the required program of study.

Mission Statement

Mercy College of Ohio Division of Nursing prepares quality graduates to care for and serve diverse populations within healthcare systems reaching persons of our communities and global environment through critical thinking, clinical judgement, and scholarship with the evolution and implementation of evidence-based practice. The Division of Nursing inspires students to dedicate themselves to service, intellectual inquiry, social engagement, leadership, and lifelong learning in the spirit of the Mercy values. Through graduate education, the Division of Nursing provides graduates with a greater 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.

Admission Requirements for RN to MSN Program (Undergraduate Coursework)

There are three pathways to enter the RN to MSN Program depending on your educational record, review of required documentation, and candidate status.

Please Note: New candidates must first apply for admission to the College.

Candidates must submit a Graduate Application with RN to MSN Program selected, meet the following criteria, and submit the following documentation:

1. Possess a degree in nursing at the associate or diploma level from an institution: 
   1. with a professional accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA), and
   2. that is approved/accredited by a recognized accreditor and a regional accrediting organization recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
2. Submit official transcripts of previous associate or diploma nursing degree coursework with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 scale (Pathway 1), or minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0/4.0 scale (Pathway 2) and a conferred associate or diploma degree in nursing.
3. Block Credit/Transfer Credit: Applicants may receive blocked credit for a previously earned college degree or diploma in nursing from an accredited program. The Office of Student Records will review the transcript and determine the number of blocked credit hours that will be granted ranging from 32-39 credit hours for previous nursing coursework in an associate degree or diploma program. Submit other official transcripts for review for general education transfer credit.
4. Registered Nurse (RN) License Verification of an active, unencumbered RN license.
5. Submit a current professional resume or curriculum vitae.

Pathway 1:

This option is available for new candidates with an acceptable review of required documentation who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 scale or higher from their associate or diploma nursing program.

1. Candidate will be granted full admission into the RN to MSN Program.
2. Candidate must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 scale on the undergraduate general education and RN to MSN baccalaureate nursing coursework to remain eligible to continue into the graduate nursing coursework.
3. Candidate in Pathway 1 will need to complete the RN to MSN Candidacy Form only if their cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0/4.0 scale in the general education and RN to MSN baccalaureate nursing coursework.

Pathway 2:

This option is available for new candidates with an acceptable review of required documentation who have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0-2.9 from their associate or diploma nursing program. This will be a two-step process in which the candidate will first complete the required undergraduate coursework listed below, then submit an RN to MSN Candidacy Form to be reviewed for approval to begin the graduate coursework.

Admission requirements for RN to MSN Program

1. Candidate will be granted admission into the RN to MSN Program contingent upon completing the coursework outlined in step 2, and cumulative GPA.
2. Complete required undergraduate general education coursework and RN to MSN baccalaureate nursing coursework for the following courses NUR 304, NUR 324, NUR 374, NUR 384, NUR 414, and NUR 491 with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 scale for full admission or minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3-2.9/4.0 scale for provisional admission prior to beginning graduate coursework.
3. Submit RN to MSN Candidacy Form (to begin Graduate Coursework) the semester before taking NUR 414.
   1. Conditions of Provisional Admission
      1. Failure to meet any of the conditions below will result in program dismissal.
         1. Students are required to earn a grade of a “B” or higher in the first nine (9) credit hours of coursework to be fully admitted to the program.
         2. Students are required to follow and successfully complete an Academic Success Plan that includes meeting with:
            1. Mercy College of Ohio or Smarthinking Writing Tutor 1-2 times each semester
            2. Program Director/Program Coordinator 1-2 times each semester
            3. Other services identified to promote student success
4. Please note: If at the time of request for admission into the MSN program the student’s cumulative GPA is not a minimum of 2.3/4.0 scale in their baccalaureate coursework, the student remains eligible to continue in the RN to BSN Program.

Pathway 3:

1. Submit RN to MSN Candidacy Form before taking NUR 414.
2. Submit a current professional resume or curriculum vitae.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Integrate knowledge from nursing and other disciplines as the basis for clinical judgment.
2. Apply quality improvement strategies to promote a culture of safety.
3. Incorporate evidence-based practice to ensure effective nursing care.
4. Use informatics and healthcare technologies to manage and improve the delivery of nursing and health care services.
5. Demonstrate leadership strategies within the complex healthcare system to recognize and influence health policies and laws.
6. Collaborate in interprofessional partnerships to optimize health.
7. Provide health promotion and disease prevention interventions to improve population health outcomes.
8. Incorporate professional and ethical behavior, the commitment to lifelong learning, and professional values into nursing practice.
9. Provide holistic care to diverse populations across the lifespan.

Progression (Graduate Coursework)

Students must successfully complete 36 credit hours of MSN coursework in the Program of Study. A maximum of six semester credit hours can be transferred in accordance with the Mercy College Graduate residency requirement at the discretion of the Program Director. Courses considered for transfer must have been taken within 7 years of admission. Only Graduate level courses completed with a grade of “B” or 3.00 (on 4.00 scale) from an institution accredited by a recognized accreditor and a regional accrediting organization recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

To remain in “Good Standing” and progress in the program of study, a student is expected to earn a minimum of a “B” grade in all attempted graduate degree courses. A grade lower than a “B” is not considered passing, can only be earned in a graduate program one time, and must be repeated to improve the grade. At the end of each semester, a student must have earned a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 to be considered in “Good Standing.” 

Program Learning Outcomes (MSN)

1. Demonstrate the values of compassion, excellence, human dignity, justice, sacredness of life, and service within the advanced nursing practice role.
2. Employ holistic critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide nursing actions in advanced nursing practice situations.
3. Develop articulate communication skills for use in client care, teambuilding, advanced practice, education, research, and leadership.
4. Function as a leader in advanced nursing practice.
5. Integrate scholarship into advanced professional practice through intellectual inquiry, generating scholarly activities, and unique nursing knowledge through research, and applying new knowledge to advanced nursing practice.
6. Demonstrate professional expertise in knowledge development, clinical practice, research, systems leadership, and communication technologies.
7. Synthesize and integrate knowledge from nursing and relevant sciences to influence quality care in advanced nursing practice that affects healthcare outcomes across varied populations.

Health Requirements (MSN Program)

The College requires all students entering programs which include a clinical component, practicum, or field experience (health program) to comply with specific health requirements, such as documentation of positive titers, vaccinations, and other health requirements. Students may request waivers or extensions of vaccinations and other health requirements, which may be approved or denied by clinical facilities. If waivers/extensions are denied, it will prevent placement in clinical experiences and progression in the academic program. The College will make a reasonable attempt to find alternate clinical placements for students seeking waivers or extensions of vaccinations, but it is at the discretion of clinical sites whether students are permitted to participate in clinical experiences. The requirements may vary depending on the program of study and the clinical agency. Students in such programs can find information on criminal background checks, drug screens, and health requirements at https://www.mercycollege.edu/background. Current information is maintained on the College website and is subject to change. Students are responsible for all costs associated with criminal background checks, drug screens, and health requirements. Students who do not meet listed health requirements may not be able to fulfill the clinical, practicum, or field experience requirements and complete their program of study.

Please see the program administrator with questions regarding documentation for health records, including titer and vaccination requirements.

Degree Requirements

To earn the Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing (RN to MSN) degree students must complete all college requirements for the RN to MSN degree including:

General Education Requirements

Complete All of the Following Courses:

Oral and Written Communication (GCOM) - 6 minimum

Math, Statistics, and Logic (GMSL) - 3 minimum

Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSBS) - 6 minimum

Arts, Humanities, Culture, and Diversity (includes Religious Studies) (GAHD/GAHR) - 9 minimum

Natural Sciences, Technology, and Innovation (GNSI) - 6 minimum

Additional hours from one or more of the above categories - 6 minimum

Baccalaureate Nursing Course Requirements

Complete All of the Following Courses:

Required Master of Science in Nursing Program Course Requirements*

Complete All of the Following Courses:

Select One of the Following Track Specialties:

MSN Leadership Track Specialty Courses, Capstone I and II, and Practicum Courses

Complete All of the Following Courses:

MSN Education Track Specialty Courses, Capstone I and II, and Practicum Courses

Complete All of the Following Courses:

Credit Hour Requirements

*Required general education and baccalaureate nursing course descriptions are available in the current Mercy College Undergraduate Catalog.

Students may be required to take additional free elective credit to reach the 120 semester credit hours required for graduation. Free elective credit may be satisfied through prior coursework and transfer credit. See academic advisor for more details.

32-39 semester hours identified will have been completed by students in their associate degree or nursing diploma program.