RN to BS   

This RN-BS program is for RN students (currently licensed as an RN) pursuing a BS as a nursing major.  A total of 120 credits must be completed to earn a BS degree. Upon admission to the nursing major at Salisbury University, students may receive up to sixty (60) academic transfer credits from their Associate Degree Program. They will therefore need to complete additional credits (see checklist below) for the BS degree. At least 30 of the credits must be upper division courses taken at SU. Upon satisfactory completion of all prerequisite and required coursework, Registered Nurses with an active unencumbered Maryland or compact RN license will be awarded 30 additional credits after completion of all required coursework at Salisbury University.

See Admission Requirements, Resources & Links below for the checklist and application materials.

 

RN to MS   

The RN to Master’s program is for RN students wishing to pursue a Master’s degree in nursing in the Clinical Nurse Educator or Health Care Leadership track. The prerequisite for enrollment in this program is an active unencumbered Maryland or compact RN license.   Upon admission to the nursing major at Salisbury University, students may receive up to sixty (60) academic transfer credits from their Associate Degree Program.  After completing all undergraduate non-nursing requirements for RN to MS students and 12 of the 18 undergraduate nursing credits required, students having a GPA of 2.75 or greater may apply to the graduate nursing program.   If accepted, and after completion of the remaining 6 required undergraduate nursing credits, students will take the 12 credits of graduate core courses (rather than 9-12 credits of SU nursing and non-nursing electives) and then continue with the courses in the specialty track they have selected.  Upon completion of their graduate program, students will be awarded 30 additional credits based on their active unencumbered Maryland or compact license and will receive a Master of Science degree in Nursing.  The RN to MS program provides the RN wishing to have a graduate nursing degree with a 9-12 credit efficiency over the more traditional route where the BS and MS in nursing are pursued separately.  

See Admission Requirements, Resources & Links below for the checklist and application materials.

 

RN  (RN to BS & RN to MS) Admission Requirements

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

1)      Application completed online for acceptance to Salisbury University for undergraduate study as a nursing major by February 1.

2)      Submission of all official transcripts to the University and formal evaluation of the transcripts with awarding/acceptance of transfer credits.

3)      For international students, demonstration of proficiency in the English language. Additional University requirements for admission of international students must be met.

4)      Acceptance to the University.

5)      Submission to the Nursing Dept. of the RN Student Application Form.

6)      Submission to the Department of Nursing of all official transcripts from any university/college attended.

7)      Submission to the Department of Nursing of evidence of current RN licensure in the State of Maryland or in a compact state.

8)   Submission to the Department of Nursing of a 1-2 page narrative describing academic and professional goals.

9)   Submission to the Department of Nursing of a current curriculum vitae/resume.

10) Submission to the Department of Nursing of two academic or professional references using the SU Recommendation Form addressing potential for further education in nursing.

11) Prior to enrolling in any nursing course, admitted students will be required to meet all Department of Nursing CPR and health requirements.

 

Upon completing 12 of the 18 undergraduate credits RN students must confirm selection of either the RN-to-BS or the RN-to-MS track – see individual checklists.

If selecting the RN-to-BS track additional undergraduate credits are required for graduation.

If selecting the RN-to-MS the student must notify the RN Coordinator who will take the request to the Director of the Graduate and Second Degree Programs. RN students who are successful in being admitted to the MS graduate track will continue to the graduate program following the admission process without being awarded a bachelor’s degree.

The RN-to-MS applicant must:

·         Complete the online application process to the University for Graduate Nursing Study.

·         Complete and submit the Application for Graduate Nursing Program form with an updated CV/resume and goals statement.

·         Schedule and complete a personal interview with the Director of the Graduate and Second Degree Programs or a member of the Graduate Program Committee.

·         Have achieved of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate coursework.  Applicants with an otherwise strong application but a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 may be considered.

·         Update CPR & Health Requirements annually.

 

 

Resources and Links

• Checklist for RN to BS
• Checklist for RN to MS
• RN Student Application Form
• Recommendation Form
• RN Orientation to SU - for all new RN-BS and RN-MS admits. 
  Requires that you login. Please follow these instructions:
  Enter "salisbury\username" (no quotes) as the username and your network password when prompted

 

Application Deadline February 1 for the following Fall semester enrollment

Application must be made online to Salisbury University for undergraduate study even if the student intends to complete the RN-to-MS. The student must be admitted to and complete all undergraduate courses before being formally admitted to graduate study or enrolling in graduate courses. The student must be admitted to Salisbury University before a decision can be made to accept the student into the nursing major. Application and enrollment may be made for the Spring semester but will be for non-nursing courses.

 

 

Specific Requirements, Courses, and Tracks

Ø      Non-Nursing Requirement

            Refer to RN to BS Checklist or the RN to Masters Checklist for the non-nursing requirements (including transfer credits, general education credits, and pre-requisite requirements).  These checklists are available from the Nursing Department and on this Nursing Website.  (The 3-6 credits of non-nursing >300 elective courses and the 6 credits of nursing elective courses listed on the RN to BS Checklist are not required for RN to Master’s students.)

Ø      Required Undergraduate Nursing Courses

            RN to Masters students are required to complete the following by enrollment (18 credits):

            NURS 319 Health Assessment (Fall)…………………………………..3 credits

            NURS 329 Research Methods (Spring)……………………………….3

            NURS 430 Community Health Nursing (Fall and Spring) ….3

            NURS 431 Community Health Nursing Practicum (Fall and Spring)….3

 

            NURS 440 Senior Seminar (Spring)……………………………………3

            NURS 441 Internship (Spring)…………………………………………....3

                        or

            NURS 442 Nursing Leadership and Management (Fall) …………2

            NURS 443 Nursing Leadership Practicum (Fall)……………………… 2

            NURS 490 Independent Study (Fall, Spring)…………………………...2

Ø      Graduate Nursing Core Courses

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

RN to Masters students who have been accepted into the graduate program complete the following core graduate courses:

            NURS 515  Epidemiology (Fall)…………………………………………3 Credits

            NURS 542  Qualitative Research in Health Care (Fall) .…3

            NURS 544  Quantitative Research in Health Care (Fall) ..3

            MATH 502 Applied Statistics (Fall)…………………………………….3

            Thesis, Capstone, or Internship ……………………………………….3

    

Ø      Graduate Nursing Tracks

The RN to MS student must select from the two Graduate Tracks to complete their Master of Science in Nursing after successful completion of the core courses. These are:

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.

The health care leadership track can also be adapted to provide the necessary courses and experiences for students interested in pursuing a career in nursing education