Colleges

Degree Programs

Registered Nurses who are driven to expedite their professional mobility and who do not yet possess a BSN degree should consider our Accelerated RN to MSN online program. This program delivers an intensive, streamlined course of study that awards both a BSN and an MSN upon completion.

The Accelerated RN to MSN online program:

• Combines the curriculums of our RN to BSN and our Master of Science in Nursing degrees
• Allows RNs to focus on a single course of study that enables a significant advancement in their career prospects
• Offers the flexibility and convenience of 24x7 access to classes, which helps working nurses pursue their educational goals while continuing their careers and meeting their personal and family responsibilities

Options That Match Your Career Goals

As students work their way through the BSN portion of the program, they will focus on professionalism in healthcare delivery and learn about innovative healthcare concepts. In the MSN portion, students will have the opportunity to focus on one of two specializations: Nurse Educator or Adult Health Nurse Practitioner.

Nurse Educator

This specialization is designed for RNs who want to develop and train nurses to meet the challenges of a rapidly developing and continually changing healthcare environment. This is a good choice for those RNs who:

• Have a desire to be on the leading edge of clinical practice
• Hope to shape the future of healthcare
• Feel their strengths lie in the ability to encourage and educate others who are working in or entering the healthcare field
• Want to work in an intellectually stimulating environment

Adult Health Nurse Practitioner

This specialization is designed for RNs who want to acquire the advanced practical skills they need to address the ongoing needs of their adult patients. This is a good choice for those RNs who:

• Have a desire to manage and promote their patients’ long-term plan of care
• Would like to practice in collaboration with all members of their patients’ healthcare team
• Feel their strengths lie in critical thinking and making evidence-based decisions
• Want to educate and counsel their patients, encouraging healthy lifestyle choices

Credit for Your RN Experience

• RNs may receive 45 credit hours for their nursing experience.
• Nurses may receive academic credit for prior completed coursework (transfer of credit rules apply).
• Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Employment Outlook for Nursing

Nurse Educators

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “Enrollments in nursing programs at all levels have increased more rapidly in the past few years as students seek jobs with stable employment. However, many qualified applicants are being turned away because of a shortage of nursing faculty. The need for nursing faculty will only increase as many instructors near retirement.” (Emphasis added)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Registered Nurses, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm.

Advanced Practice Nurses

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 23 percent from 2006 to 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations. Generally, RNs with at least a bachelor's degree will have better job prospects than those without a bachelor's. In addition, all four advanced practice specialties — clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, and nurse anesthetists — will be in high demand, particularly in medically underserved areas such as inner cities and rural areas. Relative to physicians, these RNs increasingly serve as lower-cost primary care providers."

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Registered Nurses, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm.

Academic Requirements

To be admitted to the Accelerated RN to MSN degree completion program online at South University, prospective students must meet the following requirements:

1. Completion of all general education requirements with a grade of C or higher in specified courses.
2. ASN or diploma graduate of an accredited nursing program (i.e., either NLNAC or CCNE accredited).
3. Overall grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) in all nursing college work attempted.
4. Evidence of a current, unencumbered RN license in the state of clinical practice.
5. Three letters of recommendation: one academic, one clinical, and one other.
6. Admissions essay relevant to the program objectives.
7. Resume describing relevant work experience, along with professional and volunteer experiences.

Once enrolled in the program, students must meet the following criteria within the BSN course work before progressing to the MSN studies:

1. Completion of a three-credit-hour undergraduate course in descriptive and inferential statistics with a grade of B or better
2. Overall GPA of 2.75 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for all BSN-level courses

After progressing to the graduate-level studies, students must maintain a GPA of 2.75 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) in courses NSG5000, NSG5002, NSG5003. Students who are unable to maintain the minimum GPA requirements may exit to the South University RN to BSN completion program and may apply for graduate studies once they obtain a BSN.

How to Get Started

Set a course for your own career growth by enrolling in our online RN to BSN program. Click here to get started.

Not sure if the Accelerated RN to MSN online program is right for you? Click here to find out which program is the best match for your experience and career goals.

Acceptance into a South University nursing program or its completion does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain licensure or certification. The student should contact the state licensing board or professional certification body in each state in which the student intends to practice for specific requirements and the application process.