Dec 10, 2024  
2023-2024 Nursing Student Handbook 
    
2023-2024 Nursing Student Handbook [FINAL EDITION]

MSN and Post Master’s Certificates: Curricula


For Course Descriptions please visit our Catalog 

 HTTPS://CATALOG.WIDENER.EDU

 

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN

 

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner 

Masters 

Credits

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner 

Post-Master’s Certificate 

Credits  
Required Courses (12 credits) 3 Required Courses (12 credits)    
NURS 634 Nursing Leadership for Advanced Practice 3 NURS 601 Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NURS 664 The Health Care Environment: Technology and Health Policy 3 NURS 608 Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NURS 684 Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice 3 NURS 636 Dynamics of Family Health Care 3
NURS 690 Population Health and Epidemiology   NURS 639 Advanced Pharmacology 3
Support Courses (16 credits)   NURS 605 Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner I  6
NURS 601 Advanced Pathophysiology 3 NURS 606 Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner II 6
NURS 608 Advanced Physical Assessment 3 NURS 606 Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner III 6
NURS 636 Dynamics of Family Health Care 3    
NURS 638 Issues in Health Care for Underserved Vulnerable Populations 3    
NURS 639 Advanced Pharmacology 3    
NURS 663 Advance Practice Nursing: Current Perspectives 1    
Specialty Courses (18 credits)      
NURS 605 Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner I  6    
NURS 606 Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner II  6    
NURS 606 Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner III 6    
TOTAL CREDITS 46 TOTAL CREDITS 30

                                                                                                                              

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Specialization, MSN

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist 

Masters 

Credits

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist 

Post-Master’s Certificate 

Credits
Required Courses (16 credits)   Advanced Practice CNS Courses (15 credits)  
NURS 611  Introduction to Nursing Science 3 NURS 602 Adult-Gerontology CNS Practice Role Seminar and Practicum I 5
NURS 634 Nursing Leadership for Advance Practice 3 NURS 603 Adult-Gerontology CNS: Management of the Late Adolescent through Older Adult Patient 5
NURS 663 Advanced Practice Nursing: Current Prespectives 1 NURS 604 Adult Gerontology CNS Practicum III in the Critical Care Environment 5
NURS 664 The Health Care Environment: Technology and Health Policy 3    
NURS 684 Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice 3    
NURS 690 Population Health and Epidemiology 3    
Advanced Practice Core Courses (9 credits)      
NURS 601 Advanced Pathophysiology 3    
NURS 608 Advanced Health Assessment 3    
NURS 639 Advanced Pharmacology 3    
Advanced Practice CNS Courses (15 credits)      
NURS 602 Adult-Gerontology CNS Practice Role Seminar and Practicum I 5    
NURS 603 Adult-Gerontology CNS: Management of the Late Adolescent through Older Adult Patient 5    
NURS 604 Adult Gerontology CNS Practicum III in the Critical Care Environment 5    
TOTAL CREDITS 40 TOTAL CREDITS 15
   

 

 

Executive Nurse Leadership Specialization, MSN

Executive Nurse Leadership 

Masters 

Credits

 Executive Nurse Leadership

Post-Master’s Certificate*

 
Required Courses (15 credits)      
NURS 611  Introduction to Nursing Science 3 *Questions regarding the ENL Post-Master’s Certificate please contact the School of Nursing at mnursing@widener.edu  
NURS 634 Nursing Leadership for Advance Practice 3    
NURS 652 Statistical Analysis and Interpretation 3    
NURS 664 The Health Care Environment: Technology and Health Policy 3    
NURS 684 Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice 3    
Nursing Program Courses (17 credits)      
NURS 694 Health Care Finance 3    
NURS 695 Organizational Leadership in Health Care 3    
NURS 696 Organizational Leadership in Health Care Practicum 4    
NURS 697 Systems Health Leadership 3    
NURS 698 Systems Health Leadership Practicum 4    
Business Program Courses (9 credits)      
MGT 622   Developing Management Skills 3    
BUS 665   Managing Business Processes 3    
BUS 615   Information Systems and Data Analytics 5    
TOTAL CREDITS 41    
     

Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) CRNP Specialization, MSN


Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) CRNP Specialization

Masters 

Credits

Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) CRNP Specialization

Post-Master’s Certificate 

Credits
Required Courses (12 credits)   Required Courses (24 credits)  
NURS 634 Nursing Leadership for Advance Practice 3 NURS 636 Dynamics of Family Health Care 3
NURS 664 The Health Care Environment: Technology and Health Policy 3 NURS 638 Issues in Health Care for Underserved Populations 3
NURS 684 Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice 3 NURS 648 Advanced Family Nursing I 4
NURS 690 Population Health and Epidemiology 3 NURS 649 Advanced Family Nursing II 6
Support Courses (16 credits)   NURS 655 Advanced Family Nursing III 6
NURS 601 Advanced Pathophysiology 3 NURS 658 Advanced Family Field Practicum 2
NURS 608 Advanced Health Assessment 3    
NURS 636 Dynamics of Family Health Care 3    
NURS 638 Issues in Health Care for Underserved Populations 3    
NURS 639 Advanced Pharmacology 3    
NURS 663 Advanced Practice Nursing: Current Perspectives 1    
Specialty Courses (18 credits)      
NURS 648 Advanced Family Nursing I 4    
NURS 649 Advanced Family Nursing II 6    
NURS 655 Advanced Family Nursing III 6    
NURS 658 Advanced Family Nursing Field Practicum 2    
TOTAL CREDITS 46 TOTAL CREDITS 24

Nursing Education Specialization, MSN 


Nursing Education Specialization

Masters 

Credits

Nursing Education Specialization

Post-Master’s Certificate 

Credits
Required Courses (33 credits)   Required Courses (24 credits)  
NURS 601 Advanced Pathophysiology 3 NURS 611 Introduction to Nursing Science 3
NURS 608 Advanced Health Assessment 3 NURS 687 Curricular Concepts in Nursing Course Development 3
NURS 611 Introduction to Nursing Science 3 NURS 691 Teaching Practicum 3
NURS 634 Nursing Leadership for Advanced Practice 3 NURS 705 Psychology of Learning 3
NURS 639 Advanced Pharmacology 3 NURS 750 Assessment, Measurement and Evaluation  3
NURS 652 Statistical Analysis and Interpretation 3    
NURS 664 The Health Care Environment: Technology and Health Policy 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 684 Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice 3    
Clinical Courses (6 credits)      
NURS 689 Clinical Practicum 3    
NURS 691 Teaching Practicum 3    
       
       
TOTAL CREDITS 39 TOTAL CREDITS 15

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, Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP), Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Executive Nurse Leader, 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 Director 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 or AGACNP) (3 Credits)
NURS 638 Issues in Health Care for the Underserved (Vulnerable) Populations (required for FNP or AGACNP) (3 Credits)
NURS 664 The Healthcare Environment (3 Credits)