Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)

BU's baccalaureate and master’s programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Cir., NW, Suite 530, Wash., DC 20036, (202) 8887-6791.

BU's Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program prepares nurses to function as an Adult or Family Nurse Practitioner (42 or 53 credits), Community Health with a focus on Administration or School Health ( 39 credits), Administration (42 credits) and Nurse Anesthesia (66 credits) specialization.

Nurses who are already certified and currently practicing as a C.R.N.P., C.N.M., or C.R.NA. may receive credit for their previous education and complete a M.S.N. with 30 credits of coursework.
Nurses who are certified and currently practicing in PA as a school nurse may receive credit for their previous education and complete a MSN with 33 credits of coursework.
Nurses who have a MSN may take courses required for Nurse Practitioner certification.
Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for national certification examinations.

Admission for Nurse Anesthesia

Completed applications are due in the graduate office by July 1. Completed application packets consist of the following information:

Graduate school application and fee
Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended
Copy of current, encumbered Pennsylvania professional nursing license
Resume which includes description of professional nursing and clinical experience
Documentation of ACLS and PALS certification
Narrative describing personal and professional goals for graduate education and Nurse Anesthesia option.
Three current letters of professional and/or academic recommendation.
Documentation of at least eight hours of shadowing a CRNA with verification by that individual.
At least one year of current critical care experience.

Interviews with the Joint Admissions Committee will be conducted during the month of September.

Any questions or concerns should be directed to Arthur Richer, Director, Nurse Anesthesia Program, at aricher@geisinger.edu or 570-271-6763.

Admission for other M.S.N Options

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements for graduate studies, applicants with a B.S.N. must comply with the following criteria:

A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally-accredited school program
A license to practice professional nursing in the state of Pennsylvania
A minimum of one year of direct care clinical practice (post baccalaureate) within the past two years in the selected clinical specialty area (for the adult nurse practitioner option, this direct care experience must be in adult health)
An undergraduate quality point average (QPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Satisfactory completion of the following undergraduate courses: statistics, research and health assessment (as a separate course or integrated concept)
Three current letters of professional and/or academic recommendation
A resume which includes description of professional nursing or clinical experience
A narrative describing personal and professional goals for graduate education (rationale and goals for the selected area of advanced practice must be included)
Personal interview following submission of admission materials with option adviser.
Applications are due by Aug. 1 with interviews for the practitioner option being conducted during October for the spring semester and Jan. 1 for the fall semester with interviews being conducted during March.

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Program Options

» Nurse Anesthesia — This option is designed to prepare the graduate as a nurse anesthetist, focusing in the art and science of anesthesiology. Students develop competence in applying theory and research to practice and use their advanced knowledge, responsible decision-making and problem-solving, and communication skills to provide optimum care to the patient.

As advanced practitioners, students evaluate the patient preoperatively; anticipating requirements necessary in the perioperative and post-anesthesia phases and administer a safe and physiologically sound anesthetic. In addition, students demonstrate leadership as a clinician, teacher, researcher, advocate, manager and consultant.

» Adult and Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization — This option is designed to prepare the graduate as an adult nurse practitioner with an option for taking additional coursework to prepare as a family nurse practitioner. The core concept of role development focuses on developing competence in multifaceted roles of advanced nursing practice as practitioner, researcher, leader/manager, consultant and educator.

The program emphasizes the role of advanced practitioner as a provider of independent and collaborative direct health care to adults. In addition, a rural community focus enables students to develop competence in assessing a community, identifying health needs and implementing programs that may occur at the individual level in the practice setting. Thus, nurse practitioners are keenly aware of the effect of the community on the individuals and families seen in practice.

Student nurse practitioners provide direct care for individuals and families under the guidance of their clinical preceptors. They also engage in social, ethical and political actions to influence and initiate change in health care policy and its effect on health care delivery. Students are encouraged to continue their professional growth and aid the professional development of others by serving as role models and mentors.

» Nursing Administration Specialization — This option is designed to prepare the graduate to assume a leadership role in nursing administration. Through developing competence in the multifaceted role as nurse administrator, students engage in responsible decision-making, innovative problem-solving and development of leadership designed to be effective in managing an organization.

The program emphasizes the acquisition of essential management skills, including organizational assessment, budget and accounting, principles of management, information systems and ethical behavior in organizations.

As a nurse administrator, students serve in a direct role in impacting the delivery of health care for specific populations. Social, ethical and political actions are emphasized to initiate and affect change regarding the development of health care policy.

» Community Health Specialization — This option is designed to prepare the graduate in community health nursing with a focus in public health administration or school health nursing. The main focus is on preparing the graduate to assume a leadership/management role in a specific area of community health nursing, working with special populations and communities to promote and improve community health.

Students develop competence in the multifaceted role of an advanced community nurse and use their advanced knowledge, responsible decision-making, innovative problem-solving and communication to promote change in the community.

As advanced practitioners, they engage in the competent use of the nursing process to diagnose the health problems of special populations, to design programs to facilitate optimal wellness within the community environment, and improve the delivery of health care, health education, early detection and screening and prevention services. As advanced practitioners, they serve as consultants and engage in social, ethical and political actions to influence and initiate change in health care policy in order to promote community health.

» M.S.N. for nurses practicing as CRNA, CRNP, or CNM — This option recognizes individuals already certified and practicing as a CRNA, CRNP, or CNM by offering credit for clinical accomplishment and enables these individuals to complete core competencies of an advanced practice nurse without needing to repeat clinical requirements.

» M.S.N. for nurses practicing as a Certified School Nurse — This option recognizes individuals already certified and practicing as a PA Certified School Nurse by offering credit for clinical accomplishment and enables these individuals to complete core competencies of an advanced practice nurse without needing to repeat clinical requirements.

» Post M.S.N. for nurses who want Nurse Practitioner Certification — This option recognizes previous work in the M.S.N., and enables these individuals to complete the courses required for certification as a nurse practitioner.