Nursing, MSN

• Career Outlook and Income Trends

Concentrations

Earning an MSN prepares students to enter the workforce with the confidence to synthesize information, practice collaboratively in the community, manage the health of clients, promote health, prevent disease, and demonstrate leadership. There is no better feeling than when nurses can use their acquired knowledge and abilities to help those in need. 

• Family Nurse Practitioner

  The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) provides comprehensive primary healthcare services to individuals from infancy through adulthood. FNPs are prepared to provide care to individuals with acute illnesses, such as bronchitis or headaches, and chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

  Graduates of the FNP concentration provide preventive health services, patient education, disease management, illness prevention, and other kinds of care within the context of family and community. Family Nurse Practitioners are among those who, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), contribute significantly to providing healthcare to underserved populations residing in both urban and rural settings.

  Program

  Specific courses will be required of students who plan to take a national certification examination, and all students are required to pass a written comprehensive examination or satisfactorily complete culminating experience in the final semester of the program. Courses are selected and approved in conjunction with the student’s advisor. This program is online asynchronous with a few optional synchronous sessions. Program information including curriculum and graduation requirements can be found in the ETSU Graduate Catalog. 

  Cost

  Credits to complete this program: 51 credit hours

  TN Residents	eRate (Out of State, 100% online)	Out of State
  $646 per credit hour	$805.50 per credit hour	$1,487 per credit hour
  - Additional fees may be required. - Visit the Paying for College page to read more about costs and financial aid options. - The costs associated with attending ETSU can include both direct and indirect costs. Please review ETSU's Cost of Attendance for more details.

   

• Nursing Administration

  The Nursing Administration concentration provides a flexible learning environment and a highly individualized experience through which students gain a strong foundation in complex systems, organizational theory, financial management, and leadership practice. This program is designed for individuals interested in managing healthcare personnel and business operations typically found in a hospital or large service provider setting. Students completing this program are prepared to serve as nurse leaders at various levels, from unit manager to administration. Additionally, they are eligible to take the Nurse Executive Certification exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

  Program

  Program information including curriculum and graduation requirements can be found in the ETSU Graduate Catalog. Courses are offered in an asynchronous format and students are not required to come to campus. However, students complete three practicum courses which requires them to work with a preceptor at a location near them.

  Cost

  Credits to complete this program: 45 credit hours

  TN Residents	eRate (Out of State, 100% online)	Out of State
  $646 per credit hour	$805.50 per credit hour	$1,487 per credit hour
  - Additional fees may be required. - Visit the Paying for College page to read more about costs and financial aid options. - The costs associated with attending ETSU can include both direct and indirect costs. Please review ETSU's Cost of Attendance for more details.

   

• Nursing Education

  The Nursing Education concentration provides a firm foundation in teaching and learning principles, program development and evaluation, and methods to evaluate learning. The curriculum prepares graduates to assume the educator role with competence and confidence. The Nursing Education concentration is designed to prepare students to meet established nurse educator competencies in one of five advanced clinical-focused areas:

  • Adult Health Nursing
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
  • Critical Care Nursing
  • Women's Health and Perinatal Nursing
  • Pediatric Nursing

  Upon graduation, students are prepared to sit for the National League for Nursing (NLN) and Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) examination which denotes their expertise in nursing education. Most graduates with an MSN-Nursing Education intend to pursue careers as nursing faculty. Graduates also work in undergraduate pre- and post-licensure programs (LPN, Associate degree RN; BSN program; RN-to-BSN); and some graduates will pursue roles as clinical nurse educators in hospitals and other healthcare settings. 

  Program

  Specific courses will be required of students who plan to take a national certification examination, and all students are required to pass a written comprehensive examination or satisfactorily complete culminating experience in the final semester of the program. While most courses are asynchronous, there are specific courses that require an on-ground presence (e.g. nursing education practicum courses require the student to work with a preceptor to achieve required hours). Additionally, some course faculty may require synchronous class sessions. Courses are selected and approved in conjunction with the student’s advisor.

  Program information including curriculum and graduation requirements can be found in the ETSU Graduate Catalog.

  Cost

  Credits to complete this program: 42 credit hours

  TN Residents	eRate (Out of State, 100% online)	Out of State
  $646 per credit hour	$805.50 per credit hour	$1,487 per credit hour
  - Additional fees may be required. - Visit the Paying for College page to read more about costs and financial aid options. - The costs associated with attending ETSU can include both direct and indirect costs. Please review ETSU's Cost of Attendance for more details.

   

• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

  The Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration is designed to prepare registered nurses with a bachelor's degree in nursing for advance nursing practice. Students leave the program prepared to provide comprehensive psychiatric-mental health care across the life span to individuals, groups and families in diverse settings. 

  Program

  Program information including curriculum and graduation requirements can be found in the ETSU Graduate Catalog. All coursework in the program is online asynchronous. Courses are selected and approved in conjunction with the student's advisor. 

  

  Cost

  Credits to complete this program: 48 credit hours

  TN Residents	eRate (Out of State, 100% online)	Out of State
  $646 per credit hour	$805.50 per credit hour	$1,487 per credit hour
  - Additional fees may be required. - Visit the Paying for College page to read more about costs and financial aid options. - The costs associated with attending ETSU can include both direct and indirect costs. Please review ETSU's Cost of Attendance for more details.

   

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why should I pursue this program at ETSU?

  This program is designed for the working professional. As such, it can be completed online and, in most cases, at the student's own pace. The courses in the MSN program are asynchronous, allowing students to work on coursework when time is available. The faculty provide an innovative curriculum with state-of-the-art learning technologies. 

• What accreditations apply to this program? 

  This program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education  (CCNE).  

• Does my undergraduate degree have to be related to this field? 

  Applicants must have:

  • An unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse
  • A BSN from a nationally accredited program or non-nursing bachelor's with unencumbered RN license. Those with a non-nursing bachelor's degree must complete four bridge courses prior to registration in master's courses
  • Earned bachelor's with GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Met the remaining application criteria and processes as outlined in the catalog

  
  
  The prerequisites for students who do not have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing are:

  • NRSE 3525 Health Promotion and Research
  • NRSE 4620 Leadership and Professional Practice
  • NRSE 3200 Advancing Professional Practice
  • NRSE 3510 Population, Community, and Public Health Nursing
• Does the program require GRE?

  The GRE is not required. 

• Does the department/university help with clinical placement and locating preceptors? 

  Yes, the graduate clinical coordinator has many contacts and lists of preceptors used in the past to help students with clinical placement. However, the student is responsible to be proactive in the preceptor and clinical site search. 

• Is this program designed to meet the needs of adults who work full-time and/or have family obligations? 

  Due to the online asynchronous nature of the program, many students have been able to work part-time and full-time while completing their degree.

• What is the program's time to completion?

  Full-time students are able to complete the program in 5 semesters.

  Part-time students typically complete the program in 7-8 semesters.

• Is there a plan of study/course schedule available for review?

  Yes. Plans of Study are outlined on the College of Nursing website.

• When can I start?

  MSN-FNP: Fall or Spring semesters. 

  MSN-Nursing Administration: Fall semesters.

  MSN-Nursing Education: Fall semesters.

  MSN-Psychiatric/Mental Health: Fall semesters.

• Are scholarships available?

  Yes. Please visit the Nursing Scholarships page for more details. Students are also encouraged to visit the Paying for Graduate School website for information regarding ETSU graduate scholarships and other financial resources.