Nursing

 

Holloway Hall

Master's Degree

In an effort to meet the exceptional demands on health care practitioners, Salisbury University's Department of Nursing provides a rigorous, science-based preparation for advanced nursing practice.  Students who have an undergraduate nursing degree and who are licensed as a registered nurse can earn the M.S. in nursing as a family nurse practitioner or health care leader from a program that fosters excellence.

Taught by distinguished full-time faculty who practice what they teach, classes are conveniently scheduled for evenings and offer close faculty-student working relationships.  Faculty advisors assist each student to design a personalized progression plan and to identify and encourage learning experiences that are responsive to student interests and learning goals.

Full-time students can earn their degree in two years; part-time study can be completed in as little as three years.  Graduates of Salisbury University's Master's in Nursing programs are in demand and valued for their expertise and contributions.

The graduate program in the Department of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is proud to have educated many of the nursing leaders of the mid-Atlantic region and to continue professional relationships with many SU graduates.

Core Graduate Nursing Courses

All graduate nursing students must complete a core of courses that prepares them for evidence-based advanced nursing practice.  Core courses include epidemiology, qualitative and quantitative research, applied statistics and completion of a capstone/thesis requirement.

Family Nurse Practitioner Track

The Family Nurse Practitioner track prepares students for advanced certification as family nurse practitioners. In addition to the core courses, students in this track complete courses in advanced human physiology, advanced health assessment, family nursing, pharmacotherapeutics, adult health care management, women’s and children's health care management, and issues in advanced nursing practice.  The required courses include a total of 600 hours of clinical practice. 

A post-master’s family nurse practitioner certificate is offered to individuals with a previous master’s degree in nursing.  Students in this program must complete the following courses:  advanced human physiology, advanced health assessment, adult health care management, women’s and children’s health care management and issues in advanced nursing.

Students completing the family nurse practitioner program are eligible to take the AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners) or the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) certification exam required for practice as a family nurse practitioner.

Health Care Leadership Track

Advanced practice in health care leadership prepares graduate nurses to assume positions of leadership in a variety of health care settings.  In addition to the core graduate nursing courses, students in the health care leadership track will also take courses in health care systems, health care informatics, management and leadership theory and practice and an elective. Graduates of this track with the required administrative experience will be eligible to sit for the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center exam in advanced nursing administration.

Clinical Nurse Educator Track

The Clinical Nurse Educator track prepares graduate nurses to be highly qualified clinical educators in colleges/universities or health care settings.  In addition, to the core courses, students in this track will take advanced pathophysiology and either advanced health assessment or pharmacotherapeutics.  Students will also complete courses in college teaching, technology use in health care education and a clinical nurse educator practicum. Graduates of this track are eligible to take the National League for Nursing (NLN) Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam.

Admission Requirements

Prospective students must apply both to the University for admission to graduate study and to the Department of Nursing for admission to the program.  Specific admission requirements include:

Acceptance to graduate study by the University

  1. Submission of an official transcript to the Department  of Nursing validating graduation from an NLN- or CCNE-accredited baccalaureate degree program in nursing.
  2. Achievement of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the baccalaureate program.  Applicants with otherwise strong applications but a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 may be considered.
  3. Submission to the Department of Nursing of a 1-2 page narrative describing academic and professional goals.
  4. Submission to the Department of Nursing of a current curriculum vitae/resume.
  5. Submission to the Department of Nursing of two academic or professional references addressing potential for graduate study in nursing.
  6. Submission to the Department of Nursing of evidence of current RN licensure in the State of Maryland
  7. For international students, demonstration of proficiency in the English language.  Additional University requirements for admission of international students must be met.
  8. Completion of a personal interview with the Director of Graduate and Second Degree Programs or a member of the Graduate Program Committee.
  9. Admitted students will be required to meet all Department of Nursing health requirements.

Master's in Nursing Curriculum Guides:

Application Materials for Master's: