MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY -- 120 MASON HALL
MURRAY KENTUCKY 42071-3302 -- PHONE: (270) 762-2193 -- FAX: (270) 762-6662
Master of Science in Nursing
Advanced Practice Nursing
The purpose of the master of science in nursing degree at MSU is to prepare advanced practice nurses within a rural setting. The MSU graduate nursing program offers three options of study: The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Nurse Anesthetist (NA). The Family Nurse practitioner and Nurse Anesthetist options are full time.
The Clinical Nurse Specialist is an advanced practice nurse with a concentration in a selected area of clinical nursing with a focus on adult health. Emphasis is placed on case management. The CNS is prepared to function as an expert practitioner, leader, researcher, educator, and consultant.
The Family Nurse Practitioner is an advanced practice nurse who provides primary health care services to all members of the family. Emphasis is placed on health promotion and preventive care across the lifespan. The FNP is prepared to manage a wide range of acute and chronic health problems in a variety of settings.
The Nurse Anesthetist is an advanced practice nurse who provides nursing care specific to anesthetic requirements across the lifespan.
Certification to practice advanced nursing is required by law and is expected by the Department of Nursing.
Academic Prerequisites:
The following areas of study must be completed prior to the first graduate course in nursing and are not credited toward the master's degree:
Statistics
- Health Assessment
- Anatomy
- Research
- Physiology
- Chemistry
In addition to the above listed courses, organic or biochemistry is required for the NA option.
Curriculum
Advanced Nursing Core
- Nur 503 Concepts and theories
- Nur 505 Issues in Rural Health Nursing
- Nur 530 Research in Nursing
- Nur 631 Research in Application in Nursing
Clinical Core Courses*
- BIO 522 Pathophysiology
- NUR 641 Advanced Nursing for Health Promotion/Maintenance
- NUR 642 Advanced Pharmacology
*integrated within anesthesia courses
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
40 credit hours total (part-time option)
- NUR 623 Advanced Adult Health I
- NUR 624 Advanced Adult Health II
- NUR 650 Advanced Nursing Practium
- NUR 698 Thesis
- NUR 699 Thesis
- or NUR 695 Research Project, electives as approved by Advisor
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
44 credit hours total (full-time option); research project required
- NUR 644 Primary Care of the Family I
- NUR 645 Primary Care of the Family II
- NUR 654 Advanced FNP Integration Practicum
- NUR 695 Research Project
Nurse Anesthesia (NA)
51 credit hours total (full-time option); research project required
- NUR 606 Scientific Foundations in Anesthesia I
- NUR 607 Scientific Foundations in Anesthesia II
- NUR 608 Scientific Foundations in Anesthesia III
- NUR 609 Scientific Foundations in Anesthesia IV
- NUR 632 Principles of Anesthesia Practice I
- NUR 633 Principles of Anesthesia Practice II
- NUR 634 Principles of Anesthesia Practice III
- NUR 635 Principles of Anesthesia Practice IV
- NUR 651 Clinical Practicum I
- NUR 652 Clinical Practicum II
- NUR 653 Clinical Practicum III
CNS - Thesis Option
| Fall 1 |
|
Spring 1 |
|
|
|
| BIO 522 |
|
NUR 642 |
|
|
|
| NUR 641 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fall 2 |
|
Spring 2 |
|
Summer |
|
| NUR 503 |
|
NUR 530 | |
NUR 649 |
|
| NUR 505 |
|
NUR 623 |
|
NUR 698 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fall 3 |
|
Spring 3 |
|
Total |
|
| NUR 631 |
|
NUR 650 |
|
|
|
| NUR 624 |
|
NUR 699 |
|
43 hrs. |
|
CNS - Research Project Option
| Fall 1 |
|
Spring 1 |
|
|
|
| BIO 522 |
|
NUR 642 |
|
|
|
| NUR 641 |
|
elective |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fall 2 |
|
Spring 2 |
|
Summer |
|
| NUR 503 |
|
NUR 530 | |
NUR 649 |
|
| NUR 505 |
|
NUR 623 |
|
NUR 695 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fall 3 |
|
Spring 3 |
|
Total |
|
| NUR 631 |
|
NUR 650 |
|
|
|
| NUR 624 |
|
elective |
|
46 hrs. |
|
CNS - MSN for APN, BSN
| Fall 1 |
|
Spring |
|
Summer |
|
| NUR 503 |
3 |
NUR 530 |
3 |
NUR 695 |
3 |
| NUR 505 |
3 |
NUR 623 |
4 |
elect |
3 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fall 2 |
|
Spring 2 |
|
Total |
|
| NUR 631 |
3 |
elect |
3 |
|
|
| NUR 624 |
4 |
elect |
3 |
32 hrs. |
|
Family Nurse Practitioner
(FNP)
| Fall 1 |
|
Spring |
|
Summer |
|
| BIO 522 |
3 |
NUR 642 |
3 |
NUR 645 |
7 |
| NUR 503 |
3 |
NUR 644 |
6 |
NUR 695 |
3 |
| NUR 505 |
3 |
NUR 530 |
3 |
|
|
| NUR 641 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fall 2 |
|
|
|
Total |
|
| NUR 631 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
| NUR 654 |
9 |
|
|
47 hrs. |
|
Postmaster's FNP Certificate
| Fall 1 |
|
Spring |
|
Summer |
|
| BIO 522 |
3 |
NUR 642 |
3 |
NUR 645 |
7 |
| NUR 641 |
4 |
NUR 644 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fall 2 |
|
|
|
Total |
|
| NUR 654 |
9 |
|
|
32 hrs. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nurse Anesthesa (NA)
| Summer I |
|
Fall I |
|
Spring I |
|
| NUR 606 |
5 |
NUR 503 |
3 |
NUR 530 |
3 |
| NUR 632 |
4 |
NUR 505 |
3 |
NUR 608 |
5 |
|
|
NUR 607 |
5 |
NUR 633 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Summer II |
|
Fall II |
|
Spring II |
|
| NUR 609 |
4 |
NUR 631 |
3 |
NUR 652 |
3 |
| NUR 634 |
2 |
NUR 635 |
3 |
|
|
| NUR 695 |
3 |
NUR 651 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Summer III |
|
|
|
Total |
|
| NUR 635 |
3 |
|
|
54 hrs. |
|
| |
CNS-thesis
|
CNS research project
|
CNS-APN, BSN
|
FNP
|
Post-master's FNP
|
NA
|
|
MSU appl.
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
NUR appl.
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
Transcript
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
Interview
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
GRE
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
Letters of recommendation
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
CPR
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
ACLS
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
Immunization
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
TB test
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
1yr. RN exp.
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
1yr. RN critical care exp.
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
Licensure
|
X
|
X
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
Adv. practice licensure
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
Liability insurance
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Admission Procedure:
1. All applicants must submit the MSU application for graduate addmission, official transcripts from each and all previous colleges attended, and GRE scores to: Graduate Admission and Registrar's Office, Murray State University, P.O. Box 9, Murray, KY 42071.
2. All applicants must submit the Department of Nursing's application for admission for advanced practice nursing to: Graduate Coordinator-Division of Graduate Nursing, Murray State University, P.O.Box 9, Murray, KY 42071.
In addition to 1 and 2, applicants for the CNS-APN, BSN option must sbmit a copy of their advanced licensure and a copy of their national certification.
Selected applicants will be notified of a required formal interview with the Graduate Selection Committee.
All materials (including GRE scores and references) must be received by:
April 15 - CNS, FNP options
September 15 - NA Option
Applications submitted after the appropriate date will be considered on a space-available basis.
Each student will be admitted without regard to race, creed, ethnic origin, age, gender, disability, or marital status.
Admission Requirements
Admission to MSU and Department of Nursing
Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited school
Licensure to practice as a registered nurse in Kentucky, advanced practice licensure required for CNS-APN, BSN option.
Proof of liability insurance, current immunization, and TB testing required before enrollment in clinical courses.
Undergraduate cumulative GPA. of 3.0 on 4.0 scale; postmaster's FNP certificate applicants GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Combined score of 800 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE (postmasters FNP certificate applicants exempt from GRE).
Three letters of favorable recommendation on forms obtained from the Department of Nursing and mailed to the Graduate coordinator of the Department of Nursing. Recommendations may determine invitation for interview.
Successful interview.
Current CPR certification, current ALS certification for NA option only.
One year RN experience required for FNP option; one year RN experience in critical care required for NA option.
Following the application deadline, the Graduate Committee will review all completed application packages and offer interviews to the most qualified applicants.
Application Materials
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format). This allows users to read a document in its original
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Graduate Admission Application
MS in Nursing Application
The purposes of the masters degree in nursing are to propare advanced practice nurses to:
provide advanced nursing care specific to the health needs of adults, families, or individuals across lifespan:
advance and extend nursing knowledge and skill through systematic investigation and experimentation: and
acquire a foundation for doctoral study.
The Murray State University MSU and BSN programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Information about these programs may be obtained from the NLNAC, 350 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014; or at 1-800-669-1656.
In addition, the Nursing Anesthesia option is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs.
Masters study in nursing gives students the opportunity to acquire and expand nursing knowledge and skills needed to provide advanced nursing care, to the end that wellness in society may be enhanced.
For Additional Information contact:
Nancey E.M. France PhD, RN, Graduate Coordinator
Department of Nursing
Murray State University
120 Mason Hall
Murray, KY 42071-3302
Telephone: (502) 762-6671
nancey.france@murraystate.edu
Trover Foundation/Murray State University
Nurse Anesthesia Option
435 N. Kentucky Ave.
Suite A.
Madisonville, KY 42431
(502) 824-3460
www.crnaky.com
Department of Nursing Homepage
Date Modified June, 2000
