Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (Post-BSN to DNP with Master's Exit)
Description
The MSON offers the post-baccalaureate entry to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (post-BSN to DNP) with a master’s exit. This pathway provides all post-baccalaureate nursing students the opportunity to enter graduate school and have a direct pathway that allows them to exit at the master’s level or matriculate directly to the doctoral degree.
The post-BSN to DNP with the MSN exit is designed to provide students the opportunity to assimilate and utilize in-depth knowledge of nursing, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical and organizational sciences, with sophisticated informatics and decision-making technology to develop collaborative strategies that optimize the health of individuals, families, communities and systems. The DNP program curriculum is based upon the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) (2006) Essentials of Doctoral Education. The MSN program curriculum is based on the AACN (2011) Essentials of Master’s Education. These programs build upon a foundation of baccalaureate education. Grounded in the Mercy and Jesuit traditions, the DNP program emphasizes the student’s development as an expert clinician with strong leadership capacity, a commitment to service, and skills to act as change agents, translating clinical research into improved health care.
The Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist major prepares graduates for the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) role. Advanced clinical specialty courses prepare students for the role of Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult-Gerontology. The AGCNS major includes learning in the areas of advanced pathophysiology, advanced physical assessment, advanced pharmacology, and the role of the clinical nurse specialist. The clinical nurse specialist courses include a total of 500 hours of clinical practicum experience working with a clinical nurse specialist in a variety of settings.
The post-BSN to DNP with MSN exit with an Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist major requires a total of 66 credits. A total of 41 credit hours and 500 clinical hours must be completed for the MSN exit where the Master of Science in Nursing is conferred. An additional 25 credits and additional clinical hours are required for the completion of the DNP.
Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Students are urged to contact the specific Board of Nursing in the state in which they intend to practice in order to ensure they are in full compliance with the education, practice and certification requirements.
The program is taught in an engaging online format that is flexible and student-centered. Full-time and part-time options are available for degree completion.
The following program outcomes will be achieved at completion of the post-BSN to DNP with master’s exit:
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MSN Program Outcomes |
DNP Program Outcomes |
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1. Demonstrate professional role practice consistent with the competencies of the unique specialty at the master’s level. |
1. Demonstrate professional role practice consistent with the competencies of the Doctor of Nursing Practice. |
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2. Translate theoretical and conceptual knowledge into advanced nursing practice actions that promote optimal health care quality and patient safety outcomes. |
2. Formulate innovative theoretical and conceptual frameworks that ensure optimal health care quality and patient safety outcomes. |
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3. Integrate informatics, health care technology, and interpersonal collaboration in the delivery of person-centered nursing practice for individuals and populations. |
3. Translate evidence to produce innovative models of care that integrates informatics, health care technology, and interpersonal collaboration to affect pop |