Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing
Prepare for one of the most fulfilling, fast growing, high-demand jobs in the nation. If you’re interested in a career in nursing and have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree but don’t yet have education or training in the field, the Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DE-M.S.N.) program at Georgian Court University is the perfect place to get started.
Beginning November 13th until November 15th, 2023, the Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing and Wellness at Georgian Court University will undergo the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) review accreditation of our Direct Entry Masters of Science in Nursing (DeMSN) program. Pursuant to the CCNE requirements, we are inviting public comments about our program to be sent to the CCNE. Comments will be accepted anytime upon receipt of this notice, until 21 days before the scheduled on-site evaluation. No comments will be accepted after October 23rd, 2023. Public comments about our program may be only offered in writing with an affixed signed signature. All third-party comments submitted to CCNE must be written in English, consistent with CCNE’s policy on Conduct of Business in English. Any and all comments submitted to CCNE in a language other than English will not be processed. Comments must be sent directly to:
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Attn: Third-Party Comments
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036
-or-
thirdpartycomments@aacn.nche.edu
DE-M.S.N. Program Highlights
Degree
24 months
Delivery
Cost
Total credits
Pace of courses
Financial assistance
Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing
GCU’s direct-entry M.S.N. degree is the only program of its kind in New Jersey, and one of only a few in the nation. It’s full time, fast paced, and face to face, and our unique partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health offers unparalleled access to the practitioners, technologies, and resources of New Jersey’s largest health provider.
Hands-on,
real-world training
Learn from practicing nurses from health systems across the region. Get hands-on, real-world training that will prepare you to hit the ground running, day one on the job. Engage in an innovative curriculum that takes you beyond bedside care and into emerging fields such as quality improvement and health informatics.
When you graduate, you’ll be ready to serve your community and advance the profession of nursing through ethical, compassionate, person-centered care.
The direct-entry M.S.N. degree (also sometimes referred to as an accelerated M.S.N. program) is designed for students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field who would like to pursue careers as registered nurses (RNs) or advanced practice nurses (APRNs). The program also helps students pursue leadership roles within professional nursing and provides a broad foundation for future advanced practice roles and specialties.
As a graduate student, you’ll be eligible for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan. The maximum loan amount is $20,500 per year, which covers over half the cost of the DE-M.S.N. program’s tuition and fees. You do not have to demonstrate need to qualify for this type of loan. You may also be eligible for various outside scholarships for graduate nursing students.
Program Information
The direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing program is an integrated sequence of coursework and lab work—80 credits in total—designed for college graduates with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees. As a cohort program, all nursing courses must be taken in sequence. The direct-entry M.S.N. degree prepares individuals for professional nursing practice at the graduate level and provides a foundation for future advanced practice roles and specialties.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| NU500 | Principles & Practices of Prof Nursing | 3.0 |
| NU501 | Nursing Research | 3.0 |
| NU502 | Foundations of Prof Nursing Practice | 4.0 |
| NU503 | Health Assessment | 3.0 |
| NU504 | Pathophysiology | 3.0 |
| NU505 | Pharmacotherapeutics | 3.0 |
| NU506 | Adult Nursing I | 6.0 |
| NU507 | Gerontological Nursing | 2.0 |
| NU508 | Behavioral Health Nursing | 5.0 |
| NU509 | Perinatal Nursing | 4.0 |
| NU603 | Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostics | 3.0 |
| NU604 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3.0 |
| NU605 | Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | 3.0 |
| NU606 | Adult Nursing II | 8.0 |
| NU607 | Pediatric Nursing | 4.0 |
| NU608 | Population Health | 5.0 |
| NU609 | Quality Improv & Safety: Adv Practice | 3.0 |
| NU610 | Health Care Informatics | 3.0 |
| NU611 | Nursing Leadership and Management | 3.0 |
| NU612 | Graduate Seminar for Prof Nursing | 3.0 |
| NU613 | Transition to Professional Practice | 6.0 |
| Total Credits | 80.0 | |
View the full curriculum and admission requirements.
JoAnn F. Cummings, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing and Wellness at GCU
Hamilton Hall (303)
jcummings@georgian.edu
732-987-2188
Judith Egan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing and Wellness at GCU
Hamilton Hall
jegan@georgian.edu
732-987-2197
Kathryn E. Fleming, Ph.D., MSN, RN, CPHQ, NEA-BC, FACHE
Assistant Dean
Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing and Wellness at GCU
Hamilton Hall (103)
kfleming@georgian.edu
732-987-2184
Deborah Kennard, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing and Wellness at GCU
Hamilton Hall (309)
dkennard@georgian.edu
732-987-2194
Cindy McVey, D.N.P.
Assistant Professor
Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing and Wellness at GCU
Hamilton Hall (107)
cmcvey@georgian.edu
732-987-2189
Denise E. Van Sant-Smith, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing and Wellness at GCU
Hamilton Hall
dvansantsmith@georgian.edu
Theresa A. Wurmser, Ph.D.
Dean
Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing and Wellness at GCU
Hamilton Hall (103)
twurmser@georgian.edu
732-987-2180
Students must meet general admission criteria/regulations for Georgian Court University. They must also have appropriate psychomotor, cognitive, and sensory capabilities to function in the professional nursing role and be able to tolerate physically demanding and stressful situations. As a cohort program, students are only admitted to the direct-entry M.S.N. (DE-M.S.N.) program for the fall semester. Admission is competitive: Meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not guarantee admission to the DE-M.S.N. program.
The DE-M.S.N. is designed for students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in any major other than nursing from an accredited institution. Students who meet the following requirements are eligible to apply for admittance to the nursing program:
- Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution before beginning the direct-entry M.S.N. program.
- Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. The GPA is cumulative and is calculated based on all previously attempted coursework.
- Applicants are required to fulfill the below nursing prerequisite core courses prior to admission. However, applicants may submit their applications while in the process of completing the coursework. These courses can be taken at any accredited university or community college in the United States.
- Applicants must earn a minimum of a B- or higher in ANY science or math class taken during the first enrollment in the course.
- All courses with a lab component must have been taken within the last 10 years.
| Didactic Hours | Clinical/ Lab Hours | Total Credits |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Anatomy & Physiology I (with lab) | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology II (with lab) | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Microbiology (with lab) | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Statistics (must include inferential statistics) | 3 | 3 | |
| Chemistry (with lab): Inorganic, Organic, or Biochemistry (A course that includes some biochemistry is preferred) | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Psychology (A course in developmental psychology) | 3 | 3 | |
| Ethics Course (Bioethics preferred) | 3 | 3 | |
| 25 |
The completed self-managed application packet must include:
- A completed graduate online application form.
- Applicant’s current resumé.
- Sealed and signed envelopes containing official transcripts of each undergraduate and graduate institution the applicant has attended. If the official seal has been broken, the transcript is considered unofficial and cannot be accepted for use toward application. Official transcripts electronically transmitted directly from the Office of the Registrar of each institution will be accepted in lieu of a paper copy.
- A personal interview may be required.
Accepted students will receive a health form that must be completed and submitted to the Office of Health Services. Candidates are evaluated on an individual basis. Strong consideration will be given to an applicant’s professional experience. Upon matriculation, all coursework is to be completed at GCU.
If you’re interested in our direct-entry M.S.N. degree, here are other programs at GCU you might want to explore:
Why earn your master’s in nursing at GCU?
At GCU, we’re passionate about improving the health of the communities we serve. Our students were the first to travel to the Meadowlands mega site to help give vaccinations during the height of the pandemic. Our faculty are hard at work every day as practicing health professionals and as educators training the next generation of nurses.
If nursing is your calling, here’s why Georgian Court is the best choice for your M.S.N. degree program:
Hackensack Meridian Health partnership
GCU’s nursing school is a partnership with New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health network: Hackensack Meridian Health, which includes some of the top-ranked hospitals in the state. For our students, this means intensive, hands-on experiences at clinical sites and access to cutting-edge technology like the state-of-the-art simulation center at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Experienced, student-centered faculty
Our faculty understand firsthand what students must learn to be exceptional nursing professionals. They include practicing nurses from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Drexel University College of Medicine, and Monmouth Medical Center. Several are nurse leaders and researchers, and many hold joint appointments at Georgian Court and Hackensack Meridian Health locations.
In-person training
Nursing is about relationships and helping people. Our program, delivered full-time on campus at GCU, is designed to provide the range of human interaction and face-to-face learning that is essential to success. Small class sizes and personalized attention also make a key difference for our students, and you can count on your professors being there to help when you need them.
Mercy values
Nurses are the most trusted professionals in America. It’s why earning your nursing degree in a program that emphasizes ethics is so important. Grounded in the Mercy core values of justice, respect, integrity, service, and compassion, Georgian Court University provides the ideal environment for fostering the character traits essential to this career.
Career flexibility
Health care systems need professionals who can navigate emerging fields like data mining, informatics, and quality performance. Our direct-entry M.S.N. program provides this critical training, along with advanced coursework in areas such as health assessment, pharmacology, and pathophysiology. For our graduates, this means more options and flexibility to pursue different leadership roles.
What can you do with a Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing?
The direct-entry M.S.N. program prepares you to sit for the NCLEX-RN and enter the profession as a master’s-prepared registered nurse. From there, this degree also provides the broad foundation to pursue advanced practice roles, specializations, and management positions.
In addition to training nurses who can work at the bedside, our program prepares you to analyze data and work with health care informatics. This opens additional opportunities to work in quality improvement—an urgent need in today’s hospitals and health systems—and gives you wider options in your career.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of jobs for advanced practice nurses is expected to increase by 45% over the next decade. Demand for nurse managers is projected to grow by 32% over the same period, making these among the fastest-growing careers in the nation.
Master’s in nursing jobs
Getting your Master of Science in Nursing degree will open a variety of career pathways as shown below. Note that the direct-entry M.S.N. program provides a foundation for future training in the specialties listed if desired. Further education and certifications may be required.
- Nurse practitioner
- Nurse educator
- Clinical nurse specialist
- Nurse anesthetist
- Psychiatric nurse practitioner
- Nurse midwife
- Informatics nurse
You might also pursue administrative and managerial roles in health systems, such as:
- Nurse administrator
- Nurse manager
- Director of nursing
Master’s in nursing salaries
Registered nurses with M.S.N. degrees have access to some of the highest-paying jobs in the field. Here are average salaries for some of the top M.S.N. nursing jobs:
- Registered nurse: $73,330
- Informatics nurse: $80,265
- Nurse educator: $84,060
- Nursing administrator: $104,280
- Clinical nurse specialist: $109,437
- Nurse midwife: $111,130
- Nurse practitioner: $111,680
- Nurse anesthetist: $183,580
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