Graduate Admission Updates Open Doors for B.S.N Students

The College of Nursing has announced updates to its graduate admissions requirements, particularly benefiting those who have recently completed their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.). Recent graduates can now progress directly into nurse practitioner programs immediately after passing the NCLEX exam, heralding a new era of educational advancement opportunities for aspiring nurse practitioners.

"This pivotal change reflects our commitment to evolving nursing education and practice, ensuring we prepare our students not just for the challenges of today, but for the advancements of tomorrow," said Interim Dean of Nursing Kristi Stinson, Ph.D., R.N., A.P.N.-B.C. "By aligning our admissions criteria with the realities of the nursing profession, we’re opening doors for passionate individuals eager to make a difference in the lives of their patients."

Associate Professor Mary Ellen Roberts, D.N.P., R.N., A.P.N.C., who also serves as chair of the graduate nursing department, highlighted the broader vision behind these changes. "The current national trend is to allow students an opportunity to continue their education for advanced practice specialties while gaining experience as a registered nurse. This approach, coupled with coursework, transitions new B.S.N graduates from novice to expert, enabling them to provide high-quality, patient-centered care."

Acknowledging the value of hands-on experience, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research Kathleen Neville, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, said, "While many nurse educators maintain that prior clinical experience provides students with highly valuable knowledge, skills and exposure to real-life nursing practice, our revised admission criteria still enable students to gain that experience."

"The academic rigor of the B.S.N. program — with its focus on knowledge development, critical thinking skills and integration of strong experiential learning opportunities — coupled with the one year of RN employment prior to beginning their clinical rotations, ideally positions students to meet the academic challenges of the M.S.N. program," added Associate Professor Joyce L. Maglione, Ph.D., ANP-BC, FNAP.

For the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program, applicants are required to have one year of professional nursing experience in an acute care setting at the time of application, ensuring they are well-prepared for the specialized demands of the program.

For more information on the program and application details, interested applicants are encouraged to visit the College of Nursing's graduate admission requirements page.

Categories: Health and Medicine