Mar 29, 2024  
2020-2021 Nursing Student Handbook 
    
2020-2021 Nursing Student Handbook [FINAL EDITION]

MSN and Post Master’s Certificates: Curricula


Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Curriculum Plan

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS) Role Core Courses (22 Credits)

Credits

Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practioner (FNP) Role Core Courses (28 Credits) Credits  
NURS 601 Advanced Pathophysiology 3 NURS 601 Advanced Pathophysiology 3  
NURS 608 Advanced Physical Assessment 3 NURS 608 Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NURS 611 Introduction to Nursing Science 3 NURS 634 Nursing Leadership for Advanced Practice 3
NURS 634 Nursing Leadership for Advanced Practice 3 NURS 636 Dynamics of Family Health Care 3
NURS 639 Advanced Pharmacology 3 NURS 638 Issues in Health Care for Underserved Vulnerable Populations 3
NURS 663 Advance Practice Nursing: Current Perspectives 1 NURS 639 Advanced Pharmacology 3
NURS 664 The Health Care Environment: Technology and Health Policy 3 NURS 663 Advance Practice Nursing: Current Perspectives 1
NURS 684 Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice 3 NURS 664 The Health Care Environment: Technology and Health Policy 3
NURS 690 Population Health and Epidemiology 3 NURS 684 Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice 3
    NURS 690 Population Health and Epidemiology 3
TOTAL CREDITS 25 TOTAL CREDITS 28

 

APRN Role Options-CNS* & FNP** Specialty Courses

 

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS) Role (15 credits) Credits Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Role (24 credits) Credits
NURS 602 Adult-Gerontology CNS Practice Role Seminar & Practicum I (168 Clinical Hours) 5 NURS 648 Advanced Family Nursing I (112 hours) 4
NURS 603 Adult-Gerontology CNS: Management of the Late Adolescent through Older Adult (168 Clinical Hours) 5 NURS 649 Advanced Family Nursing II (224 hours) 6
*NURS 604 Adult Gerontology CNS Practicum III (168 Clinical Hours) 5 NURS 655 Advanced Family Nursing III (224 hours) 6
    NURS 658 Family Nursing I- Field Practicum (112 hours) 2
TOTAL CREDITS 15 TOTAL CREDITS 18
*Those CNS students wishing a broader critical care experience may take NUR 604 for 6 credits and complete 224 clinical hours   ** FNP role requires a minimum of 672 hours of advanced practice.  

TOTAL CREDITS

APRN Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) = 40 credits APRN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) = 46 credits

MBW:eab 12/09; revised 6/10, 9/10
DMC 9/11; revised 9/12; revised 9/13; revised 9/14; reviewed 2/16

 

MSN in Nursing Education Core Curriculum Plan (admissions starting 1/2014)


NURSE EDUCATOR MSN IN NURSING EDUCATION CREDITS
YEAR ONE: CORE COURSES  
NURS 601 Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NURS 608 Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NURS 634 Nursing Leadership for Advanced Practice 3
NURS 639 Advanced Pharmacology 3
NURS 652 Statistical Analysis and Interpretation 3
NURS 664 Health Care Environment: Technology and Health Policy 3
NURS 684 Using Research for EBP 3
YEAR TWO: NURSE EDUCATOR SPECIALITY COURSES  
NURS 611 Introduction to Nursing Science 3
NURS 685 Teaching and Learning Strategies  3
NURS 686 Assessment Methods in Nursing Education 3
NURS 687 Curricular Concepts in Nursing Course Development 3
NURS 689 Clinical practicum 3
NURS 691 Teaching practicum 3
MSN awarded-Total 39 credits minimum+240 clincal hours 3

Accelerated MSN in Nursing Education/PhD  


Accelerated Course Sequencing for MSN/PhD Program

Full time including fall, spring and summer semesters

Curriculum Accelerated MSN to PhD


  • NURS 601 Advanced  Pathophysiology 3 Credits
  • NURS 608 - Advanced Health Assessment 3 Credits
  • NURS 634 - Nursing Leadership for Advanced Practice 3 Credits
  • NURS 639 - Advanced Pharmacology 3 Credits
  • NURS 689 - Clinical Practicum 3 Credits
  • NURS 691 - Teaching Practicum 3 Credits
  • NURS 702 - Nursing Science I: Epistemology 3 Credits
  • NURS 720 - Curriculum Design and Evaluation 3 Credits
  • NURS 750 - Assessment, Measurement & Evaluation 3 Credits
  • NURS 825 - Advanced Research Design 3 Credits
  • NURS 826 - Quantitative Analysis I 3 Credits
  • NURS 853 - Evidence-Based Teaching Practice 3 Credits

MSN awarded-Total credits minimum + 240 clinical hours


  • NURS 705 - Psychology of Learning 3 Credits
  • NURS 706 - Philosophy of Education 3 Credits
  • NURS 813 - Nursing Science II: Synthesis in Nursing 3 Credits
  • NURS 814 - Nursing Science III: Theory Development in Nursing 3 Credits
  • NURS 815 - Qualitative Research I 3 Credits
  • NURS 820 - Current Issues in Higher Education Organizations 3 Credits
  • NURS 822 - Leadership in Nursing Education 3 Credits
  • NURS 827 - Quantitative Analysis II 3 Credits
  • NURS 900 - Dissertation Seminar I 3 Credits
  • NURS 901 - Dissertation Seminar II 3 Credits
  • NURS 950 - Dissertation Advisement 3 Credits
  • Electives may be required to support dissertation.

PhD awarded- Total 30 credits minimum plus NURS 950 Dissertation Advisement

 

Executive Nurse Leadership MSN Curriculum (2019)


Executive Nurse Leadership Core Courses (15 Credits) Credits
NURS 611 Introduction to Nursing Science 3
NURS 634 Nursing Leadership for Advanced Practice 3
NURS 652 Statistical Analysis and Interpretation  3
NURS 664 The Healthcare Environment: Technology and Health Policy 3
NURS 684 Using Research for Evidence-based Practice 3
Executive Nurse Leadership Program Speciality Courses (15 Credits)  
NURS 694 Healthcare Finance 3
NURS 695 Organizational Leadership in Healthcare 3
NURS 696 Organizational Leadership Practicum I (224 Hours) 4
NURS 697 Systems Health Leadership 3
NURS 698 Systems Health Leadership Practicum II (224 Hours) 4
Business Program Courses (9 Credits)  
BUS 615 Information Systems and Data Analytics 3
BUS 665 Managing Business Processes  3
MGT 622 Developing Management Skills 3
TOTAL CREDITS 41

 

 

RN to MSN Option Curriculum


Registered nurses holding a bachelor’s degree in another field of study are eligible to apply to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. Registered nurses must hold a license to practice in the State of Pennsylvania. The following admission requirements must be met in order to qualify for acceptance into the MSN program through the bridge option:

  • Completed application form (applicants can apply online at www.widener.edu)
  • Transcripts from ALL previously attended institutions of higher education
  • Licensure as a registered nurse in the State of Pennsylvania
  • Two letters of recommendation, preferably from professional nurses with graduate degrees, regarding the applicant’s practice and potential for a graduate level studies in the advance practice roles of Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) CRNP Nurse or Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist or in Nursing Education 
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in Nursing or Bachelor’s degree 
  • Completion of an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of “C” or better ( C- will not be accepted)
  • Satisfactory scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for all applicants from non-English speaking countries if applicable 
  • Transcript assessment 
  • Current resume 
  • Goal statement

Once matriculated, the student may begin the RN to MSN bridge courses listed below:

RN to MSN

NURS 443 Population Health for the RN (6 Credits)
NURS 446 Research Design for the RN (3 Credits)
NURS 447 Evidence Based Practice for the RN (3 Credits)

Students must complete all of the RN to MSN bridge courses with a grade of B or better (B – is NOT acceptable).

Program Advisement for the RN to MSN Program Student:

Students will be advised by the Coordinator of the RN to MSN Program until completion of the bridge courses. Upon completion of the RN to MSN bridge courses, the student will be advised by the designated MSN program advisor.
No more than 2 MSN courses can be taken prior to completion of the bridge courses.
Students are eligible to enroll in two (2) of the following courses listed below while completing the RN to MSN bridge courses.

NURS 611 Introduction to Nursing Science (required for CNS and Nursing Education) (3 Credits)
NURS 634 Nursing Leadership for Advanced Practice (3 Credits)
NURS 636 Dynamics of family Health Care (required for FNP) (3 Credits)
NURS 638 Issues in Health Care for the Underserved (Vulnerable) Populations (required for FNP) (3 Credits)
NURS 664 The Healthcare Environment (3 Credits)