Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Program Options

Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing offers a wide range of MSN programs.

All programs are designed for online delivery to meet the needs of the busy professional nurse desiring to advance knowledge and skills. The College of Nursing is recognized as one of the 50 best Master of Science in Nursing online degree programs in the nation.

The College also ranks among the nation’s Most Affordable Online Colleges for its nurse practitioner program.

• Fast-Tracked Pathway to MSN for RNs with a Non-Nursing Baccalaureate Degree
• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
• Nurse Educator
• Nursing Management Leadership (NML)
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (P-MHNP)

Program Outcomes

The graduate of the master’s degree program is able to:

1. Integrate theory, research and practice using critical thinking to promote safe and high quality patient care for individuals and populations in a variety of settings.  

2. Practice autonomously in a variety of professional roles to respond to the social, economic, ethical, political and legal issues impacting the needs of patients and the nursing profession.

3. Express caring in professional interactions which supports the values and promotes the growth and self-actualization of individuals, groups and communities.

4. Provide interprofessional collaborative leadership within the dynamic health care system in a culturally diverse society.

6. Analyze factors for delivering high quality patient care through utilization of informatics and technology.

Plan of Study

Upon admission, each student will be assigned an academic advisor.

The student is required to communicate with the advisor to develop a plan of study to assure that professional and educational goals and needs are met.

The plan of study will be reviewed each semester and revised as needed.

Online Classes

The Master of Nursing programs are offered via online education using a learning management system. This allows students to view course materials, check course calendars and participate in discussions.

Online education courses may use synchronous or asynchronous modalities to deliver course content.

The learning management system allows you to interact and collaborate with course faculty and classmates and do coursework from the convenience of your own setting.

Some clinical courses for FNP, AGACNP, and PMHNP require short campus visits. FNP and AGACNP programs meet on campus one time for each practicum course.

Admission Criteria

• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Please include all names associated with the transcipt for filing purposes.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a program accredited regionally and accredited by ACEN, CNEA or CCNE.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8/4.0
• Evidence of completion of undergraduate health assessment and nursing research with a minimum grade of “C” in both courses.
• Proof of current, unencumbered licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse.
• NNP: Must have the equivalent of at least two years of full-time clinical experience as an RN in a Level III or IV NICU within the past five years before starting clinical courses. May start theory courses without the required clinical experience and must hold and maintain a current Neonatal Resuscitation Program certificate.
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner students must have one year of experience (or the equivalent) in psych-mental health within the last five years prior to starting the psych-mental health specific theory or practicum courses.
• Evidence of one year professional nursing experience preferred.
• College may request to interview applicant.

Application Checklist

1. Application
2. $50 Application Fee
3. Official College Transcripts
4. Copy of current license to practice as a Registered Nurse.

Distance Education Student Eligibility by State:

All applicants are welcome to apply. However, due to restrictions on distance education imposed by individual states, the College cannot accept students that are residents of the following states (11-25-20).

The College has met state specific distance education requirements and has been given permission by the Board of Higher Education to provide this Post-Master's DNP education to students in all states except the ones in the table above. Students can contact the State Board of Nursing for further information. See below for addresses.

Your state not listed or other questions? If you are a potential out of state applicant and you do not see your state listed above or if you have other questions, please contact the Graduate Dean at (309) 655-2230 to determine the College’s authorization to offer distance education in your home state.