Direct Entry/Master of Science in Nursing - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Track

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Program Objectives

The Direct Entry/MSN program is designed for college graduates who hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing and want to pursue nursing as a second career.

Step 1: Cohorts begin each May. For the first 15 months (full summer, fall, spring and another full summer) you will have classes and clinicals on a full-time basis during the day, in the evening and on weekends.

Step 2: If you complete the required prerequisites and 52 nursing credits, you will earn the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in nursing and be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensing examination.

Step 3: Complete the MSN graduate coursework, part-time or full-time, in either education, administration, or adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner.

Please note that students must have a minimum of six months work experience as an RN prior to enrolling in course sequences that include a field experience.

Additional Requirements for the Direct Entry/MSN Program

Prerequisites*

Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
Anatomy and Physiology I and II (4 credit course with lab)
College Level Chemistry (4 credit course with lab)
Microbiology (4 credit course with lab)
Microbiology at Salem State has prerequisites (Biology and Chemistry).
Other accredited colleges may offer Microbiology without prerequisites.
Statistics (3 credits)

*Prerequisite Notes

Can be taken at any accredited college/university
Cannot be more than seven years old - no exceptions
Must be completed with grade of B or better by the beginning of the program in May

Course Requirements

Summer:

Fall:

Spring:

Summer:

Sub total: 52

NCLEX-RN Examination

Please note that students must have a minimum of six-months work experience as an RN prior to enrolling in course sequences that include a field experience.

Required Courses:

Sub total: 39

At the completion of this program, students will be eligible to sit for the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification exam in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care.

Total Credits: 91

Additional Information and Notes

Students enrolled in this program should familiarize themselves with the noted exceptions to both the Satisfactory Academic Progress and Leave of Absence policies applicable to this program.