Master of Science in Nursing, MSN - APRN

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Now accepting applications for Fall 2024

Application Deadline: March 15, 2024

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is offered online and addresses the most contemporary aspects of expert clinical practice and in-depth knowledge and experience in leadership, health systems design and evaluation, evidence-based practice, health policy, and applied research.

Our primary care program addresses the challenges facing today's healthcare provider through enhanced learning in Telehealth, integrated behavioral health assessment and management across all focus areas and content to prepare advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to assess, diagnose, and treat patients.

During the program, a few courses require a visit to campus for a multi-day learning intensive. Graduates of the program will be awarded the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and are prepared to sit for the certification exam and assume the role of an advanced practice nurse.

MSN Focus Areas

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Primary Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners (AGNP) are advanced practice nurses that specialize in providing primary care to patients, from adolescence throughout adulthood, and extending through advanced age.

This broad patient population affords AGNPs the opportunity for careers in many areas of medicine in which primary care is provided, such as medical home offices, internal medicine offices, ambulatory care centers, rural/underserved clinics, student or employee health centers, specialty clinics, rehabilitation centers, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities and correctional facilities. Also included are topics including telehealth, psych-mental health, opioid and substance use, and palliative care.

Nurse helping a patient

Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) are advanced practice nurses that specialize in providing primary care to patients from prenatal, throughout childhood, adulthood and extending through advanced age.

This broad patient population affords FNPs the opportunity for careers in many areas of medicine in which primary care is provided, such as family medicine, pediatric and women’s health, medical home offices, internal medicine offices, ambulatory care centers, rural/underserved clinics, student or employee health centers, specialty clinics, rehabilitation centers, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities and many specialty practices.

Also included are topics including telehealth, psych-mental health, opioid and substance use, and palliative care

Nurse examining patient

Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNP) are advanced practice registered nurses that specialize in the care of children from pre-natal through age 21 years of age.

This program prepares students in pediatric primary health care, providing knowledge and experience in well child care and the prevention and management of common pediatric acute illnesses and chronic conditions.

This program prepares students to provide high quality care to children within the context of their family, community, and environmental setting. Also included are topics including telehealth, psych-mental health, opioid and substance use, and palliative care.

Nurse helping a patient

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP) are advanced practice nurses that specialize in providing primary care behavioral health in the assessment, diagnosis and management of patients with behavioral health or mental health conditions.

This include psychotherapy and medication throughout childhood, adulthood and extending through advanced age. This broad patient population affords PMHNPs the opportunity for careers in many areas of medicine in which behavioral healthcare is provided, such as in-patient/outpatient behavioral health clinics, integrated family medicine, pediatric and women’s health, medical home offices, internal medicine offices, ambulatory care centers, rural/underserved clinics, student or employee health centers, specialty clinics, rehabilitation centers, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities and many specialty practices.

Also included are topics including telehealth, psych-mental health, opioid and substance use, and palliative care.

Plan of Study

Year 1 Fall Semester    
NRDNP 838 Advanced Pathophysiology 3 sh
NRDNP Advanced Clinical Assessment and Reasoning I 3 sh
NRDNP 860 Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics 4 sh
Year 1 Spring Semester    
NRDNP 856 Advanced Clinical Assessment and Reasoning II 3 sh
NRDNP 842 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics 4 sh
NRDNP 846 Frameworks for Leadership 3 sh
Year 1 Summer Semester    
NRDNP 864 Advanced Care Management I 6 sh
NRDNP 83 Applied Health Care Economics and Finance 3 sh
Year 2 Fall Semester    
NRDNP 865 Advanced Care Management II 6 sh
NRDNP 858 Scientific Underpinnings 3 sh
NRDNP 836 Informatics in Health Care Delivery 3 sh
Year 2 Spring Semester    
NRDNP 866 Advanced Care Management III 6 sh
NRDNP 858 Evidenced Based Practice, Quality and Safety 3 sh
NRDNP 708 Advanced Health Policy and Advocacy 3 sh
Year 2 Summer Semester    
NRDNP 848B Role Practicum 7 sh
Year 1 Fall Semester    
NRDNP 836 Informatics in Health Care Delivery 3 sh
NRDNP 836 Applied Health Care Economics and Finance 3 sh
Year 1 Spring Semester    
NRDNP 846 Frameworks for Leadership 3 sh
NRPHD 708 Advanced Health Policy and Advocacy 3 sh
Year 1 Summer Semester    
NRDNP 860 Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics 4 sh
Year 2 Fall Semester    
NRDNP 860 Advanced Pathophysiology 3 sh
NRDNP Advanced Clinical Assessment and Reasoning I 3 sh
Year 2 Spring Semester    
NRDNP Advanced Clinical Assessment and Reasoning II 3 sh
NRDNP 842 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics 3 sh
Year 2 Summer Semester    
NRDNP 864 Advanced Care Management I 6 sh
Year 3 Fall Semester    
NRDNP 865 Advanced Care Management II 6 sh
NRDNP 873 Scientific Underpinnings 3 sh
Year 3 Spring Semester    
NRDNP 866 Advanced Care Management III 6 sh
NRDNP 858 Evidenced Based Practice, Quality and Safety 3 sh
Year 3 Summer Semester    
NRDNP 848B Role Practicum 7 sh

 

Admissions

Prepare to empower patients and promote evidence-based care. Look toward the next stage by applying to one of the College of Nursing’s degree or certificate programs.

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Financial Aid & Scholarships

Learn more about Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), loans, and financial aid resources.

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Message from the Assistant Dean

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Catherine O. Durham
DNP, APRN, FNP, FAAN
Assistant Dean for Graduate Practice Programs
durhamc@musc.edu

The Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)  are designed to prepare advanced practice nurses in a population focus and are one of the highest levels of educational preparation for nurses. The MSN and DNP are the degree of choice for those who wish to impact quality and safety in health care, influence patient care outcomes by incorporating evidence-based practice into everyday care, and serve in leadership and executive level positions in major health care organizations to impact change. This degree focuses on the implementation of evidence from research and not on the creation of new science.

It provides the student with a framework for process improvement that will allow them to lead initiatives to improve the quality, safety, and cost of care in any health care setting. In an era of health care reform and ongoing change, the MSN and DNP graduate will be prepared to navigate a new health care system with the expertise to impact care at an individual, population and global level. The College of Nursing has been preparing expert professionals for over 140 years with a tradition of nursing excellence. We are dedicated to preparing leaders who will shape the health care of tomorrow.