Return to: School of Graduate Nursing: Programs/Courses
Characteristics of Graduates
The disciplinary and professional domains of nursing give direction to current and evolving nursing practice. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree prepares nurses for practice as advanced generalists, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), or for advanced nursing practice in a specialty leadership role.
The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is prepared through graduate nursing education as an advanced generalist nurse who provides and leads care at the point of care to individuals and groups or populations in all settings in which health care is delivered. The CNL designs, implements, and evaluates client care by coordinating, delegating and supervising care provided by the health care team. Nurses implementing these roles are prepared to provide leadership and assume accountability for client care outcomes through assimilation and application of evidence-based information to design, implement, and evaluate client plans of care.
MSN-prepared nurses in specialty practice demonstrate in-depth knowledge and skills in nursing and health care systems with diverse populations. Components of their roles are expert clinical practice or leadership, assessment of outcomes, research, teaching, collaboration, and consultation within health care systems or in the community. Nurses prepared through graduate nursing programs with advanced practice knowledge, critical thinking, and decision-making skills can function in a variety of nursing roles. Examples of such roles include clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, nurse administrator, or public health nursing leader. Nurses implementing these roles demonstrate specialized knowledge and skills. For example, nurses engaged in advanced clinical practice conduct in-depth assessments and demonstrate expertise in judgment and decision-making for purposes of health promotion/disease prevention, intervention, and follow-up in specified populations. Implementation of a particular role may emphasize some role attributes more than others and reflect the advanced practice nurse’s area of expertise.
Purpose The purpose of the master’s program is to prepare nurses with strong critical thinking and decision-making skills for generalist practice as a clinical nurse leader; as an advanced practice registered nurse in acute care, primary care, or psychiatric mental health; and for specialty practice in the areas of health systems management and public health nursing leadership.
Program Objectives
Graduates of the MSN program are expected to:
- Integrate theoretical and research based knowledge as a generalist leader or in an advanced nursing practice specialty.
- Provide care and comfort to individuals, families and groups experiencing complex health care needs.
- Provide care that reflects sensitivity to differences among culturally and ethnically diverse populations.
- Assume a leadership role in establishing and monitoring standards of practice to improve patient care in collaboration with other nursing experts.
- Use ethical principles to guide decision-making in nursing practice.
- Evaluate clinical practice in relation to professional practice standards and relevant statutes and regulations.
- Apply the research process to improve evidence based clinical practice and contribute to knowledge development.
- Engage in self-directed and purposeful activities in seeking necessary knowledge and skills to enhance career goals.
- Examine economic, political, and social forces affecting nursing care delivery in complex health care systems.
- Promote multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure quality, cost effective care.
- Contribute to the development of peers, colleagues, and others to improve patient care and foster the growth of professional nursing.
- Act as change agents to create environments that promote effective nursing practice and patient outcomes.
These core characteristics are in accordance with national guidelines for the Clinical Nurse Leader and professional standards of advanced nursing practice specialties.
Admission Individuals with BSN degrees apply for the MSN tracks leading to preparation in advanced practice or in leadership and management roles. Registered nurses with a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing area may apply for CNL MSN track. Non-nurse applicants with baccalaureate degrees in fields other than nursing apply for the Master’s-Entry Clinical Nurse Leader track.
Master’s Entry MSN: Applicants are offered admission to the Master’s Entry MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader track on the basis of intellectual capacity, healthcare experience, academic performance, maturity, clarity of goals, and other qualities appropriate to graduate study in nursing. Not all of these qualities are measured in absolute terms, and the decision to make an offer of admission is based on a balanced appraisal of the total application record.
The applicant must:
- Have a baccalaureate or master’s degree from a nationally accredited school
- Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Successfully complete the following prerequisite courses before enrolling:
- Human Anatomy & Physiology within the past five years
- A course in Microbiology within the past five years
- A course in life span development (conception to death)
- A course in statistics at the graduate or undergraduate level within the past 5 years
- The GRE is required only for those with an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.25 or lower from your first bachelor’s degree*
- Submit three satisfactory academic and professional recommendations. If possible, one should be from someone in healthcare.
- Submit a copy of your resume or CV
- Have prior work or volunteer experience in healthcare; exposure to nursing is recommended
- Be available for an interview if requested; this might be a phone interview with members of the admissions committee
Advanced Generalist and Specialty Practice Preparation Applicants are offered admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program on the basis of intellectual capacity, clinical and academic performance, maturity, clarity of goals, and other qualities appropriate to graduate study in nursing. Not all of these qualities are measured in absolute terms, and the decision to make an offer of admission is based on a balanced appraisal of the total application record. Applicants to advanced practice specialties who have limited relevant clinical experience may be admitted and gain that experience while enrolled in core/pre-clinical courses.
The applicant must:
- Have completed a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school. NOTE: Registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing area may apply for Clinical Nurse Leader MSN.
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate study.
- Complete a college-level course in statistics within the past five (5) years.
- Submit three satisfactory academic and professional recommendations.
- Submit a copy of your resume or curriculum vitae.
- Possess an unencumbered RN license.
- Be available for an interview if requested; this might be a phone interview with members of the admissions committee.
- International applicants have additional admissions requirements
Applicants who are non-native speakers of English must demonstrate a strong ability in academic English from the TOEFL or IELTS examination.
Technology requirements: All graduate nursing students are required to have a laptop. Students in the NP and CNS tracks programs are also required to have a smartphone (Apple or Android). Information on the laptop and smartphone requirements will be sent to enrolling students in the summer before classes begin.
Note: Relevant experience (determined by the specialty track to which the applicant is applying) is a prerequisite to enrolling in GNUR 6020 and 6025. Qualified applicants who have not passed the NCLEX may be considered as visiting students pending licensure.
Admission Procedures Applications for admission are obtained and submitted online from the School of Nursing website. In addition to submitting the completed application, the applicant must:
- Request that official transcripts of all academic work be forwarded by the institutions to the Office of Admissions and Student Services, Master’s Program, School of Nursing;
- Obtain three statements of recommendation from persons who can speak directly to the applicant’s ability to pursue graduate study. The statements of recommendation are to be sent by their authors to the Office of Admissions and Student Services, Master’s Program, School of Nursing. Forms to be used are available in the online application.
Application Deadlines The application deadline for fall entry is November 1.
All correspondence concerning admission should be addressed to the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, Office of Admissions and Student Services, School of Nursing, P.O. Box 800826, Charlottesville, VA 22908 or nursing-admissions@virginia.edu.
Matriculation After admission into the MSN program, a student has one calendar year in which to matriculate. A student who fails to begin classes within one year must re-apply for admission.
Degree Requirements Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 75 credits of approved graduate courses for students in the Master’s-entry MSN CNL track; 34-41 credits for the RN-CNL track; 47-50 credits for students in the Family or Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (NP); 46 credits for students in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP track; 49 credits for students in the Psychiatric-Mental Health NP track; and up to 60 credits of course work for students in the combined AG-ACNP/CNS tracks. The Health Systems Management track requires a minimum of 38 credits, and Public Health Nursing Leadership (PHNL) track requires a minimum of 38 credits. The combined PHNL/FNP or PNP track requires 59 credits. Course requirements are specified under the Program Description section.
Satisfactory completion of all course work as specified in the policy on grades, with a final cumulative grade point average of at least 3.000 (B).
MSN students have a maximum of 10 semesters from the date of matriculation in which to complete all graduation requirements while certificate specialty students have 6 semesters. Exceptions must be approved by the advisor, department chair, and the Program Director and are granted only under extenuating circumstances.
Enrollment and payment of tuition and fees for no fewer than two regular semesters or the equivalent are required.
