Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

This master’s of science in nursing (MSN) online program is an accredited program by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the premier accrediting agency for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs.

This program is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN).

These online programs are endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC). Only seventeen schools in the nation currently have this endorsement, and this endorsement permits graduates to sit for the Holistic Nurse Certification (HNC) examination. The MSN Education Track program (and the PM certificate program in Nursing Education) prepares graduates to sit for the NCC Certified Nurse Educator exam. The MSN FNP program (and the PM Certificate Program) prepares graduates for FNP certification through either ANCC or AANP certification boards.

No. The master’s of science in nursing degree is from Xavier University and is awarded on meeting coursework standards that are independent of course delivery mode. Participants will earn an MSN degree.

Participation expectations vary by professor. Courses will be asynchronous with no set meeting times; however, practicum and scholarly project courses may include an online synchronous session (at the discretion of the instructor) at the end of the semester for student sharing/collaboration purposes. Nursing administration and faculty in this program are very sensitive to the need for flexibility of working professionals.

APRNs are nurses who have met advanced educational and clinical practice requirements. The four types of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing roles include:

• Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

Having a master’s degree in nursing opens the door for many different career opportunities. Some potential career paths for a nurse holding an MSN degree may include:

• Family nurse practitioner
  • A family nurse practitioner is an APN who may work individually or with a healthcare practice to provide family-focused medical care. A family nurse practitioner is able to develop treatment plans for acute and chronic illnesses, educate patients on disease prevention, conduct exams, perform diagnostics and screening evaluations, prescribe medications and emphasize preventative care. 
• Pediatric nurse practitioner
  • Similarly to a family nurse practitioner, a pediatric nurse practitioner may work independently or with a healthcare organization. A pediatric nurse practitioner works to provide services such as well-child exams, childhood immunizations, routine developmental screenings, diagnostic and treatment of childhood illnesses, provide counseling to families on health-related issues and interrupt lab results. 
• Nursing informatics specialist
  • Nurses working as nursing informatics specialists use their nursing education combined with information technology and apply them to patient care. Nursing informatics specialists can often work remotely while still maintaining a career within the health profession. 
• Geriatic nurse practitioner
  • A gerontological nurse practitioner focuses on serving the aging population. A gerontological nurse practitioner will often diagnose and treat age-related impairments such as blindness, hearing loss, dementia and malnutrition. A gerontological nurse practitioner is able to order diagnostic tests, interrupt results, design, coordinate and manage patient care, prescribe medications and counsel patients and their families. 
• Clinical nurse researcher
  • Clinical nurse researchers are vital to pharmaceutical and medical research. Using their clinical nurse education, they write proposals for grants, evaluate data, and analyze large amounts of information. 
• Psychiatric nurse practitioner
  • A psychiatric nurse practitioners treat patients with organic and function psychiatric disorders. Working alongside other mental health professionals, psychiatric nurse practitioners will use their nursing leadership qualities and nursing education to treat disorders ranging from depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. In order to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you must have a minimum of two years of nursing experience, 2,000 hours of clinical practice in a mental health setting, and will be required to complete 30 hours of continuing nursing education in mental health every three years.
• Forensic nurse consultant
  • Forensic nursing merges the healthcare profession with the justice system. Forensic nurses perform a variety of roles including evaluating and caring for victims of assault and abuse, neglect, and sexual crimes. While they treat the victims, forensic nurses collect the evidence and information needed for court. Forensic nurses may be asked to provide medical testimony in court. Forensic nurses can work in a variety of areas. While typically found in hospitals, they may also be available to work with non-profit organizations, be on call for law enforcement, teach community education classes or work in correctional facilities. 
• Nurse ethicist
  • Solving ethical issues that arise in the science of nursing is an art in itself. Nurses in the career path will use their nursing leadership qualities to weigh in on tough ethical issues such as quality of life decisions and capital punishment. Using their nursing education, nurse ethicists work on interdisciplinary teams to solve ethical issues that require careful conversation and research. 
• Nurse educator
  • Nurse educators shape the next generation of nurses. Educators develop lesson plans, supervise students’ clinical practice, and serve as mentors to students. Many educators are able to teach nursing education classes and work in a career path, caring for patients. 
• Legal nurse consultant
  • Nurses who specialize in law, either as a consultant or lawyer understand the ins and outs of many legal cases. A legal nurse consultant helps provide insight on evidence and medical records to law professionals.

Choosing the right nursing online program for your MSN degree is important. When evaluating different masters programs, keep the following in mind:

• Make sure the master’s programs are accredited.
  • Graduating from an accredited MSN program ensures that you received the best education possible for your degree.
• Research the state licensing requirements of where you want to practice
  • Make sure to research the state you plan to practice in. Knowing the state licensing requirements and if they will accept the MSN degree program you completed is critical to being able to use your degree once it’s completed. 
• Determine the tuition cost and financial aid options
  • Each school MSN program varies in overall tuition cost. Research the best option for you and speak with a financial aid officer about any grants, scholarships, or other ways to receive assistance with the tuition cost of the masters program. 
• Ask about in person requirements
  • Most accredited MSN programs require students to attend clinical and practicum parts of the program. See what the requirements are for the program you are interested in and think about how far you are willing to travel in order to complete these. 
• Take inventory of your technology
  • Make sure to take inventory of your technology equipment to ensure you have the right hardware and software needed for nursing online.

None of the MSN programs or Post Master’s certificate programs here (Education, FNP, Forensics) provide nursing licensure in any state. Nursing licensrue is a pre-requisite for admission to these programs.

If you would like to continue your collegiate nursing education beyond a master’s degree, Xavier also offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Population Health Leadership (DNP) program.