Masters Entry Nursing Programs California

University Of California San Francisco School Of Nursing

The School of Nursing at University of California, San Francisco offers three pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree: a Direct Entry pathway, an ADN/RN to MSN pathway, and a BSN to MSN pathway.

The Direct Entry program is a three year program for persons with no previous nursing preparation who hold a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in a non-nursing field. Unfortunately, Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees do not meet admission requirements.

The university offers an ADN/RN to MSN pathway program for Registered Nurses who have earned an Associates degree in nursing and have not earned a Bachelors degree in any major. Participants enroll in one of several bachelor completion programs at Golden Gate University or John F. Kennedy University. Once a Bachelors degree has been earned, participants can move into the UC San Francisco MSN program.

Several specializations/roles are offered to those seeking an MSN degree including:

• Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Adult-Gerontology Occupational and Environmental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric/Mental health Clinical Nurse Specialist

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

2 Korat Way, Room 319CBox 0604

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Your Pathway To A Promising Career In Nursing Starts Here

Our Master’s Entry Program in Nursing program is a three-year accelerated program culminating in a Master of Science degree in nursing for people without previous nursing preparation but who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field.

Graduates of this program are prepared in advanced nursing roles, which are registered nurses with graduate academic preparation that qualifies them as experts in clinical practice, community health and policy. The advanced nursing role incorporates the functions of clinician, educator, health policy expert, consultant and/or researcher.

During the first year of the program, you will engage in concentrated study that culminates in licensure as an RN. Students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination as approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing . In the remaining two years of the program, you will matriculate into our Masters of Science program for graduate level nursing specialty training, choosing from a comprehensive selection of specialties and includes clinical rotations, fieldwork and residency hours at sites primarily in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. At the end of the three-year program, you will earn an RN license and an advanced master’s degree in the specialty you choose.

Please note that the prerequisites for this program were revised in March 2021. Visit our Requirements webpage to review the prerequisites.

Eligibility Requirements And Prerequisite Information

• ResidencyMust be a California resident or be eligible for in-state tuition
• Minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 or above in the last 60 semester units earned
• Provide evidence of health related work or volunteer experience
• Personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• Prerequisite CourseworkMust complete all prerequisite courses below from an accredited College or University by the time of NursingCas application submission.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, online courses, including lab, taken during shelter-in-place are acceptable. These courses must be C or better.

Prerequisite Coursework

*Science courses must be taken for a letter grade of C or better within the last seven years.

Please consult Assist for articulated or comparable coursework taken at any of the California community colleges or CSUs. If the course in question was taken at institutions other than California community colleges, please visit Articulation page.

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Loma Linda University: Loma Linda

Known as a Seventh-day Adventist organization, which offers 100 programs within eight schools, Loma Linda Universitys School of Nursing has been around since 1905.

LLUs accelerated BSN program comes with an option to apply for BS or MS or DNP upon completion.

Friendly staff and experts teach students to perform nursing duties in advanced clinical settings, preparing students to the fullest.

After graduation, there are various employment options, such as:

• Rehab Centers

Top 10 Nursing Schools In California

Annual In-State Tuition: $7,498 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 97.92%

Traditional: Yes

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: Yes

California has a plethora of incredible state schools, and residents can take advantage of low in-state tuition. California State University, Bakersfield is no exception. Located roughly midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Cal State Bakersfield has the feel of a college town. The nursing program offers plenty of options for undergraduate students, from a traditional BSN to a 15-month RN-to-BSN. Like most California schools, Cal State Bakersfield has a high NCLEX pass rate and is a nationally recognized university.

Annual In-State Tuition: $6,979 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 96.55%

Traditional: Yes

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: Yes

Located just north of Anaheim is another excellent school in the CSU system, California State University, Fullerton. Home to nearly 40,000 students, this ethnically diverse school has a low in-state tuition rate and a great location. Nursing students interested in a BSN have two main options: a direct-entry BSN and traditional BSN. The direct-entry BSN is for incoming freshman, and youll being your nursing degree your freshman year. The traditional CSUF pathway is for current students that want to become RNs. The CSUF pathway only admits 5-10 students per year, so this is a tougher program to enter.

Annual In-State Tuition: $11,442 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 91.07%

Traditional: Yes

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: Yes

Traditional: Yes

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: Yes

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Western University Of Health Sciences Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences is a private, non-profit educational institution with its main campus located in downtown Pomona, California. The College of Graduate Nursing which is part of the university, provides innovative nursing programs that offers a fully integrated curriculum for web-based learning. Its nursing programs have over the years earned a reputation of delivering successful learning outcomes, thereby transforming the lives of its students.

What To Expect In An Accelerated Nursing Program In California

After applying and being accepted, expect classes to focus on the nursing occupation and what it means to be a nurse, your responsibilities, skills, patient care, how to lead, manage, and much more.

Coursework involves roughly 20 different subjects.

Clinical training is an opportunity for students to have hands-on experience with patients in local hospitals under a doctors supervision or experienced registered nurse .

Students will devote 40 hours or more to the curriculum, where programs do not recommend full-time employment due to the programs fast pace and demand.

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What Is A Direct

A direct-entry masters in nursing program is for students with a non-nursing degree who would like to pursue a career as a registered nurse or advanced practice nurse . APRNs are nurses that have earned their masters degree. APRNs include nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists and clinical nurse specialists.

Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science Los Angeles

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science has constantly catered to the growing healthcare needs of the world population by delivering outstanding learning outcomes with its innovative Medicine, Nursing and Biomedical Science education. The private, non-profit institution was incorporated in 1966 in the state of California. The universitys School of Nursing offers a host of options to nursing students with its many programs and its Masters of Science in Nursing-Entry Level Masters Program is just one of them.

This two-year program expects students to complete the pre-licensure segment of the program by the end of the fifth semester after which they can take the NCLEX-RN and then apply for their Public Health Certificate. The research-based program, offered in the Spring and Fall semester teaches courses such as Pathophysiology, Medical Surgical, Advanced Nursing Theory, Maternal Child Nursing, Mental Health, Advanced Medical Surgical, Advanced Biostatics and Epidemiology, NCLEX-RN preparation and Nursing research.

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Careers For Masters In Nursing Graduates In California

Nursing is one of the fastest growing careers as greater than 2.7 million nurses have expanded into a wide range of specialized nursing positions from elder care to oncology. These highly trained nurses are not just in the hospitals or nursing homes, but they are in schools, in specialized medical care doctors offices, home care and rehab centers.

A certified nurse anesthetist is one of the highest paying nursing specialties, according to Nursing Link. They require more education and training than other positions. They must have several years of experience in an acute care setting then, in addition to their MSN, there is a two year training program. Additionally, they must pass the certification test.

Nursing management is another area of nursing that requires an advanced degree, has a great deal of responsibility, along with a good salary.

Certified midwives not only deliver babies, but also provide a variety of services for female patients, which includes GYN exams, prenatal and postnatal care, and they provide education on family planning. The mean salary for a nurse midwife in California is over $113,000 says the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

San Francisco State University School Of Nursing

The School of Nursing at San Francisco State University offers multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree including a traditional BSN to MSN pathway, an RN to MSN pathway, and a Direct Entry MSN pathway.

The Direct Entry pathway is designed for those with a Bachelors degree in a non-nursing discipline who would like to enter the nursing profession. Those students entering the MSN program through the Direct Entry pathway are admitted conditionally. They spend four semesters completing nursing theory and clinical course work to prepare them to take the national nursing licensing exam . Once they pass the exam and are licensed as a Registered Nurse, students then follow the MSN graduate course progression.

An RN to MSN pathway is available to Registered Nurses who hold a Bachelors degree in a non-nursing field. Students entering the MSN program via this pathway will likely be required to take bridge courses prior to beginning their MSN course progression.

Specializations available depend on the pathway. Those entering the schools Generic MSN program via the Direct Entry pathway can choose from one of the following graduate specializations:

• Nursing Administration
• Womens Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Community Public Health

Those entering the MSN program as RNs with Bachelors degrees in Nursing or other non-nursing fields have an additional option of a Family Nurse Practitioner specialization.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

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University Of San Diego: San Diego

The University of San Diego has a scenic campus at Alcala Park, where the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science is also located.

Since its inception in 1973, the school commits teaching its students what it means to be a nurse and sees it as more than just a career, but a calling.

The school offers a Masters Entry Program in Nursing that takes 21 months to complete. The program prepares students with its rigorous masters level courses, combined with strong fundamentals of nursing. Learn to think critically using an evidence-based approach, which is crucial in the evolving nursing profession.

In particular, the program has aDickinson Nursing Simulation Center, which helps students build confidence and experience through an advanced hands-on practice facility. The center commits to using a standardized patient, where professional actors play our real-life scenarios nurses will face in the workplace.

The school screens students once a year in the fall, with applicants screened as a cohort during the process.

The application process is competitive, with the program recommending that those seeking the MEPN must demonstrate the following to increase their chances of acceptance:

· Solid academic background, showcasing a high GPA score

· Impressive goal statement

· Health care experience

· An interview

Accelerated Nursing Programs In California

Nursing is one of the most prolific, growing fields today in the United States.

TheUS Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates nursing to grow 7% in the next ten years, faster than average.

If youre looking to become a nurse, an accelerated nursing program may be in your best interest because its faster than the traditional route. You will still get the same valuable education and experience but begin your career earlier than anticipated.

In California, nurses are the most paid in the country, providing a lucrative career and a rewarding one. There are over nine accredited Bachelors of Science in Nursing and 11 accredited Masters of Science in Nursing in California.

This guide dives into accelerated nursing programs in California, reviewing and covering each accredited school to help you in your decision making.

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Cost Of Attending The Program/other Expenses

All UCLA students pay fees as part of the registration and enrollment process. In addition to these fees, California nonresident students are charged tuition. View the current fee schedule. Students also will be required to pay for background checks and internet-based assessment tests and uniforms . Other expenses include housing, books, equipment for clinical, health clearance examination, immunizations and titers, health insurance and transportation.

Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science: Los Angeles

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is a non-profit, private institution incorporated in California in 1966. The institution is known for its innovative medicine and top-notch education.

There are many options for potential nursing students, including the Entry Level Master of Science Nursing Track .

The program takes two years to complete and is more research-focused than other MSN programs. It also consists of 81 credits to complete

Students are admitted either in the Fall or Spring semester each year as a cohort.

Charles R. Drew University states their nursing program is designed for students to learn how to take care of patients and their families in a supportive environment. Also, they want their nursing students to have a curious spirit and apply research to the nursing practice.

The second year of the program dives more into nursing research, community health, issues, theory, and clinical training. The clinical experience is a full immersion of the nursing field, preparing students for challenges, becoming problem solvers, and prioritizing care.

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Meet Our Students & Graduates

Nursings really special because there are a lot of cool things you can study. Where else can you go to school and see a baby born or view an open-heart surgery? As a nursing student at the UA, you get these wonderful once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

Melanie Begaye

I was drawn to the UA College of Nursing through the University of Arizona Cancer Center Native American Cancer Prevention undergraduate research program. I realized that being a nurse would help me achieve my goal of returning to the Navajo Nation and promoting wellness and traditional healing.

What Are The Admissions & Certifications Requirements

Admissions requirements for direct entry nursing programs will vary slightly from school to school and in different states, but in general will include:

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Letters of recommendation
• Completion of college-level pre-requisite courses, which may include statistics, human anatomy, biology and chemistry
• Personal statement or essay
• In some cases, schools may also require scores from standardized entrance exams such as the Graduate Record Examination

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California State University Stanislaus School Of Nursing

Both an RN to MSN Bridge pathway and BSN to MSN pathway are offered by the School of Nursing at California State University, Stanislaus. Those students entering via the RN to MSN Bridge program must complete a series of bridge courses before being allowed to progress through the graduate program.

A Master of Science in Nursing is offered in two specialty areas:

• Nurse Educator
• Adult-Gerontological Health

Applicants entering via the BSN to MSN program must hold a Bachelors degree in nursing from an accredited institution. Applicants entering via the RN to MSN pathway are required to hold both an Associates degree in nursing as well as a non-nursing Bachelors degree. They must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, and they must of completed an undergraduate Statistics course with a grade of C or better. Acceptable scores on the GRE or MAT exam are required. Candidates should hold a current license as an RN in the state of California.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Samuel Merritt University Oakland San Mateo & Sacramento

Samuel Merritt a private, not-for-profit health sciences institution has over 100 years of excellence in nursing education. It is interesting to note that the university is one of the largest sources of new registered nurses in California. When you enroll with Merritt for the Accelerated Bachelor of Sciences, you can be rest assured of being taught by an accomplished faculty and enjoy state-of-art facilities like the health sciences simulation center, the motion analysis research center, thereby giving you the best learning outcome.

This 12-month training program takes you through an intensive curriculum especially designed to train you for a nursing career in a very short period. The program is offered at all the three campuses of Merritt, having 288 seats available annually. Moreover, it has multiple start dates, making it one of the most convenient options to pursue an Accelerated Bachelors Sciences Nursing degree in California.

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Accelerated Nursing Program Vs Direct Entry

While researching MSN programs, you may come across accelerated and direct-entry MSN programs. Both are designed for professionals looking to change or advance their nursing career. Accelerated programs may award a BSN and MSN to graduates, or they may just award an MSN. Its important to research programs carefully and find one tailored to your educational background.

Typically, those pursuing a direct-entry nursing program do not have a bachelors degree in nursing or a related field. Those pursuing an accelerated MSN may already have their BSN.