Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Bridging Your Practice for the Future.
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The UCCS Master of Science in Nursing Practice (MSN) program at UCCS prepares professional nurses to work in primary care or behavioral health care settings such as family practice, internal medicine, senior clinics, mental health sites, and other primary care clinics.

This online MSN program is designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of baccalaureate-prepared nurses. The program is founded on evidence-based practices and embraces ethical principles and culturally sensitive care.

Accreditation for the program is provided by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Student Learning Outcomes: 

Upon completion of the MSN program, the graduate will be able to:

• Apply theories and scientific evidence to provide holistic care to the individual
• Provide leadership within clinical and organizational settings to provide high quality, safe patient care
• Apply clinical reasoning to promote health and prevent disease for the individual, family, and community
• Critically appraise and apply current evidence in a clinical setting to ensure quality patient outcomes
• Use technology in the clinical setting to enhance safe and effective patient care
• Evaluate emerging trends, policy issues, and programmatic problems to improve health care delivery
• Use therapeutic, patient-centered communication in the delivery of health care
• Collaborate in inter/interprofessional care teams
• Provide patient-centered, culturally competent healthcare to diverse patient populations
• Use an ethical framework for clinical practice and clinical expertise to care for patients

This program will prepare you to work in primary health or behavioral/mental health care settings such as family practice, internal medicine, senior clinics, mental health, urgent care, and college health. This program is not intended to prepare you for emergency room or inpatient settings as these are best suited to preparation via an acute care nurse practitioner program.

The focus of study for the Master in Nursing program is to prepare students for an advanced practice role in a clinical setting.

The graduate nursing program builds upon and expands the knowledge, values and skills of the baccalaureate prepared nurse. The Johnson Beth-El offers three options of advanced study leading to a Master of Science in Nursing degree:

• Primary Care Adult-Gerontology (adult/gero) Nurse Practitioner
• Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

In addition to specialty courses which prepare for expanded clinical roles in adult/gerontology health, family health, or psychiatric-mental health; the student gains experience with research, health care policy, nursing theory, clinical problem solving/critical thinking and creativity.

• A bachelor's degree from an ACEN or CCNE accredited institution with an upper division major in nursing
• A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on the baccalaureate level
• Curriculum vitae or resume
• Current unrestricted Registered Nurse license from an approved state listed on our website
• All English as Second Language (ESL) applicants are required to meet a minimum standard of English proficiency for admission. This requirement can be met by one of the English Proficiency Requirements.
• Submission of all required application materials by posted deadlines (all required materials are listed in the online application)
• Transcripts from all institutions attended must be submitted for their evaluation and that unofficial transcripts can be used for the admission evaluation but an “Official” transcript from the BSN degree granting institution must be submitted prior to the start of the second term of attendance.

Note: Applicants with course-work from any foreign college to submit a course-by-course foreign transcript evaluation by a NACES or AICE member. (Please note: Official evaluations received directly from SpanTran, WES and ECE credential agencies may enable more efficient review and processing of transfer credit by UCCS.)

* Upon the successful completion of your online application, you will receive a private link to upload each foreign post-secondary transcript from institutions you have attended. These transcripts must include all courses and grades, must be issued in the original language, and be accompanied by certified English translations when applicable.

Application Process

The Master in Nursing program at the Graduate Nursing Department offers a rolling admission cycle for the MSN and DNP programs, giving you the flexibility to apply at any time. Our dedicated Graduate Option Coordinators review completed applications each month, ensuring a timely and efficient process. Whether you're looking to start in the Spring, Summer, or Fall, we have options available to meet your needs and goals.

Essay Questions

The online application will require answers to several essay questions. We strongly recommend drafting your answers to these questions before beginning the application so that you can complete it in one sitting.  

Essay Questions: the first is mandatory, then choose 3 of the remaining 6 questions to answer. Responses should be 250-300 words each.

1. What are you doing to find clinical spots? (mandatory question)
2. What professional or personal life obstacles have you had to overcome to be successful in your education or career?
3. What skills or characteristics do you possess that will make you a successful practitioner?
4. What opportunities do you see that might help improve health in your state?
5. What language or cultural expertise and experience do you have that enhances your ability to practice health care?
6. What interests do you have in historical, cultural or health related topics that have spurred your intellectual curiosity?
7. What professional life experiences do you have or community service have you done where you led efforts to overcome a problem or challenge?”

Deadlines

Completed applications will be considered up to January 5th for the Spring term, up to May 5th for the Summer term, and up to August 5th for the Fall term.

Notification

An applicant can expect to receive a decision within two weeks of their completed application being processed by Admissions and forwarded to the department for review.

Primary Care Adult-Gerontology (Adult/Gero) Nurse Practitioner
The Primary Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program prepares students with the knowledge and clinical skills to manage the unique needs of the aging population.

Students will gain competence to manage acute and chronic health conditions while promoting optimal health for the gerontology patient. The option prepares students to meet the requirements for national certification and prescriptive authority.

Primary care-based clinical hours are found by the student where they reside.

Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner
The Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner program prepares students with the knowledge and clinical skills across their lifespan.

Students will gain competence to manage acute and chronic health conditions while promoting optimal health for families. The option prepares students to meet the requirements for national certification and prescriptive authority.

Primary care-based clinical hours are found by the student where they reside.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program prepares students with the knowledge and clinical skills to manage clients with psychiatric disorders and substance abuse both in the primary care and acute care setting.

The option prepares students to meet the requirements for national certification and prescriptive authority. 

Psychiatric mental health clinical hours are found by the student where they reside.

Primary Care Nurse Practitioner 

Specialty Focus: Adult/Gerontology, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health

Complete one of the following Nurse Practitioner Specialty Tracks listed below.
NOTE: NURS 6982 is not required of all students.  Contact your program advisor for more information.
 

Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner

• NURS 6915 - Primary Care of Acute Care Conditions
• NURS 6925 - Primary Care of Chronic Care Conditions
• NURS 6950 - Primary Care of Geriatric Patients and Families
• NURS 6960 - Gender Health Primary Care
• NURS 6980 - Synthesis Practicum
• NURS 6982 - Pre-Synthesis Practicum

Family Nurse Practitioner

• NURS 6900 - Primary Care of Pediatric Patients and Families
• NURS 6915 - Primary Care of Acute Care Conditions
• NURS 6925 - Primary Care of Chronic Care Conditions
• NURS 6960 - Gender Health Primary Care
• NURS 6980 - Synthesis Practicum
• NURS 6982 - Pre-Synthesis Practicum
   

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

• NURS 6800 - Mental Health Assessment and Interventions Across the Lifespan
• NURS 6801 - Adult Psychiatric Diagnosis and Management for the PMHNP
• NURS 6802 - Geriatric Psychiatric Diagnosis and Management for the PMHNP
• NURS 6803 - Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Diagnosis and Management for the PMHNP
• NURS 6985 - Psych Mental Health Synthesis Practicum

  Adult/Gero NP = 47 Total Credits (includes 630 contact hours)  
Family NP = 47 Total Credits (includes 630 contact hours)

Psychiatric NP = 48 Total Credits (includes 630 contact hours)

The graduate nursing program accepts up to 12 transfer credits of graduate work. All classes will need to have grade 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale and would have to be approved by the graduate faculty as meeting the objectives of a graduate nursing course at UCCS.

Total program credits can be reviewed in the Academic Catalog (22-26 credits)

See the Bursars Office website for a tuition and fee estimate. 

Additional costs:
There are additional costs besides tuition that are incurred when obtaining licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse.  

The estimated costs below may include but are not limited to an application fee ($70.00-350.00), transcripts ($15.00) and fingerprinting and background check ($30.00-$58.00). Certification board examination fees (see links below) along with professional liability insurance ($600.00-$1500.00). These are estimates based on the states we admit from and can change at any time. You should use the links below to find the specific state Board of Nursing (BON) website where you plan to apply for licensure in order to find the most current information.  

• https://www.aanp.org/
• https://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/ 

Please refer to the link below for information on whether our curriculum meets the requirements for licensure in each state. 

Debbie Schultze

Academic Services Professional

(719)255-4458

dschult3@uccs.edu

For information about accreditation for this and all our programs, please view our accreditation page.