Nursing MSN

Statement of Commitment to University Mission and Values

The College of Nursing and Health Professions subscribes to the values of Lewis University’s Mission: knowledge, justice, association, wisdom and fidelity. These values are consistent with the professional values expressed in the American Nurses Association Standards of Practice and the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics and are modeled by faculty in their professional nursing practice. The College of Nursing and Health Professions supports the University’s commitment toward maintaining our campus as a Sanctified Zone, which celebrates our diverse community.

MSN Vision

To develop nursing leaders with expertise in translating evidence into practice, in order to impact health outcomes for individuals, populations, and systems.

Program Outcomes

1. Exercise leadership in the design and implementation of systems changes using theoretical frameworks, analytical skills, and informatics to enhance quality and safety in the healthcare environment.
2. Develop collaborative approaches within a transdisciplinary environment to improve health care outcomes.
3. Synthesize knowledge to design health promotion and prevention strategies in collaboration with individuals and populations to promote culturally congruent health outcomes across the lifespan.
4. Utilize ethical principles and awareness of health policy and advocacy processes to influence practice.

Masters of Science in Nursing Programs

The Graduate Program in the College of Nursing and Health Professions offers the professional nurse several options for continuing formal professional education at the Masters level.

Healthcare Systems Leadership is a 42 credit hour program leading to a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree designed to provide the professional nurse with requisite knowledge and skills to assume leadership roles.  Graduates are prepared to function as leaders in the administration of nursing services and patient care services to improve the delivery of healthcare and the practice of nursing.  Graduates will incorporate knowledge and skills gained in the financial, economic, human resources, and organizational components of management.

Nursing Education is a 40 credit hour program leading to an MSN degree designed to provide a professional nurse with requisite knowledge and skills to assume nurse educator roles in academic nursing education programs, clinical staff development, continuing education, and community education in municipal, managed care, and private sector environments.  The Nursing Education specialization provides students with knowledge and experiences in curricular design, instructional methodology, program evaluation, and educational research that help them become valuable and highly marketable members of the nursing education professions.

MSN-MBA is a 66 credit hour program leading to a joint MSN/MBA degree.  Registered nurses interested in obtaining an MBA as well as an MSN have the opportunity to pursue a joint degree at Lewis. The credit hour requirement for the MSN portion of the program is 36 semester hours and the requirement for the MBA portion of the program is 30 hours. Requirements for both degree programs must be completed prior to graduation in the dual degree program

NOTE: The MSN/MBA curriculum and sequence of courses are subject to change without notice or obligation. Please contact the Office of Graduate Studies in the College of Nursing and Health Professions for current information.

Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist is a 48 credit hour program to prepare the professional nurse with the knowledge and skills to assume an advanced practice role as an Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist. Graduates are prepared to function as clinical experts who provide direct care, consultation, leadership, collaboration, coaching, research, and ethical decision-making and advocacy in a variety of settings.

Nurse Practitioner Programs: These specializations are prepared to provide primary health care in a wide variety of settings, including primary care clinics, hospitals, private practices, community health centers, and in the home.  The graduate will be prepared to perform physical examinations, diagnose and treat common acute and chronic illnesses, and order and interpret labs and other diagnostic testing.  Of special importance, nurse practitioner graduates will have advanced skills in patient education, health promotion, and disease prevention in the healthcare system.

Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner is a 47 credit hour program leading to an MSN designed to prepare the professional nurse with the knowledge and skills to assume an advanced practice role as an Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner.  

Family Nurse Practitioner is a 49 credit hour program to prepare the professional nurse with the knowledge and skills to assume an advanced practice role as a Family Nurse Practitioner.  

Post-MSN Certificate Programs: The Grauate Program in the College of Nursing and Health Professions offers post-MSN certificate programs in Healthcare Systems Leadership, Nursing Education, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the College of Nursing and Health Professions graduate programs is based on individual qualifications of the applicant without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national or ethnic origin, or disability. Students in the MSN program must meet Health and Clinical requirement by the end of the first semester of enrollment.  In addition, all incoming students born after January 1, 1957 and taking six or more credit hours per semester on the Romeoville campus, must have an updated immunization record sent to the Center for Health and Counseling Services.

Requests for exceptions to any of the stated admission criteria must be submitted in writing to the Director of Graduate Studies, and will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants to the MSN/MBA dual degree program must meet admission requirements for both the MSN program in the College of Nursing and Health Professions and the MBA program in the College of Business. 

Admission Criteria for Applicants to the Healthcare Systems Leadership and Nursing Education programs with a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing:

Applicants with a Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN)

1. Graduation from a BSN program, accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
2. Current licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in Illinois or state of practice.
3. (a) Minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA from BSN Degree; or (b) Minimum of a 3.2 cumulative GPA from post BSN, graduate level coursework of no less than 6 credit hours; or (c) Minimum of 3.2 cumulative GPA from MSN and post-MSN coursework for entry into post-MSN Healthcare Systems Leadership and Nursing Education Certificate Programs. Official transcripts from all previous academic programs are required. 
4. Successful completion of (a) a three-semester credit hour course in statistics and (b) a three-semester credit hour course in nursing research.  If not, equivalent courses must be taken prior to the first graduate level nursing course.
5. Two completed Lewis University College of Nursing and Health Professions’ recommendation forms: one reference must be from a nurse with a master’s degree or doctoral degree in the specialty for which you are applying; the second should be from your current supervisor or manager.
6.  A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
7. Essay (maximum 500 words) addressing (a) how your education and work experiences have prepared you for graduate studies; (b) how graduate study will facilitate achievement of your short and long term professional goals; and (c) how the Lewis University Mission integrates with your personal and professional identity. 

Applicants with a Registered Nurse license and a Non-Nursing Baccalaureate Degree:

1. Graduation from an associate degree or diploma nursing program.

2. Graduation from an accredited non-nursing baccalaureate degree program.

3. Current licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in Illinois or the state of practice.

4. Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA from a BA or BS program for entry into the MSN bridge program.  Official transcripts are required.

5. Successful completion of a three semester credit hour course in statistics, Concepts of Professional Nursing, Promoting Healthy Communities, and a three semester credit hour course in undergraduate nursing research.  These courses are available through the RN/BSN program as part of the MSN Bridge Program.

6. Two completed Lewis University College of Nursing and Health Professions' recommendation forms: one reference must be from a nurse with a masters degree or doctoral degree in the specialty for which you are applying; the second should be from your current supervisor or manager.

7. Essay (maximum 500 words) addressing (a) how your education and work experiences have prepared you for graduate studies; (b) how graduate study will facilitate achievement of your short and long term professional goals; and (c) how the Lewis University Mission integrates with your personal and professional identity.

Admission Criteria for Applicants to the Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Family Nurse Practitioner Programs with a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing:

1. Graduation from a BSN program, accredited by the NLNAC or the CCNE
2. Current licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in Illinois or state of practice.
3. (a) Minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA from BSN Degree; or (b)  Minimum of 3.2 cumulative GPA from post BSN, graduate level coursework of no less than 6 credit hours; or (c) Minimum of 3.2 cumulative GPA from MSN and Post-MSN coursework for entry into Post-MSN AGPCNP and FNP Certificate Programs. Official transcripts from all previous academic programs are required. 
4. Successful completion of (a) a three-semester credit hour course in statistics, (b) a three-semester credit hour course in nursing research; (c) a three-semester credit hour course in undergraduate pharmacology; (d) a three semester credit hour course in undergraduate health assessment; (e) a three semester credit hours course in undergraduate pathophysiology.  If not, equivalent courses must be taken prior to enrollment in the first graduate level nursing course.
5. Two completed Lewis University College of Nursing and health Professions' recommendation forms; one reference must be from a nurse with a masters degree or doctoral degree in the specialty for which you are applying; the second should be from your current supervisor or manager.
6. A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
7. One essay (maximum 500 words) addressing (a) the skills and qualities the applicant brings to the Nurse Practitioner/Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist role; (b) the most important things the applicant needs to learn to be a successful Nurse Practitioner/Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist; and (c) how the Lewis University Mission integrates with your personal and professional identity. 

Applicants with a Registered Nurse license and a Non-Nursing Baccalaureate Degree:

1. Graduation from an associate degree or diploma nursing program.
2. Graduation from an accredited non-nursing baccalaureate degree program.
3. Current licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in Illinois or state of practice. 
4. Successful completion of (a) a three semester credit hour course in statistics, (b) a three semester credit hour course in nursing research; (c) a three semester credit hour course in pharmacology; (d) a three semester credit hour course in health assessment; (e) a three semester credit hour course in pathophysiology; (f) 30-306 Concepts of Professional Nursing; and (g) 30-432 Promoting Healthy Communities. If not, equivalent courses must be taken prior to enrollment in the first graduate level nursing course.  These courses are available through the RN/BSN program for the MSN Bridge Program.
5. Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA from a BA or BS program for entry into the MSN bridge program. Official transcripts are required.
6. Two completed Lewis University College of Nursing and Health Professions' recommendation forms:  one reference must be from a nurse with a masters degree or doctoral degree in the specialty for which you are applying; the second should be from your current supervisor or manager.
7. One essay (maximum 500 words) addressing (a) the skills and qualities the applicant brings to the Nurse Practitioner/Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist role; (b) the most important things the applicant needs to learn to be a successful Nurse Practitioner/Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist; and (c) how the Lewis University Mission integrates with your personal and professional identity.

Admission Criteria for the MSN/MBA Program:

Must meet admission criteria noted above for MSN Program admission as well as admission criteria for MBA. 

Provisional Admission

An applicant with an undergraduate GPA between 2.75 and 3.0 and having met all other admission criteria may be provisionally admitted to the MSN program.  A grade of less than a B during the provisional admission will result in dismissal.  If after six credit hours, the student has a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher the student will be fully admitted to the MSN program.  If this criteria has not been met after six (6) graduate credit hours, the student will be dismissed from the program.

Transfer Credit and Grade Point

A maximum of nine semester credits of graduate-level coursework from regionally accredited institutions may be accepted for transfer if the courses are applicable to the student’s area of specialization as determined by the Director of Graduate Studies. Only courses carrying a grade of B or above will be considered. Grades from courses accepted for transfer credit are not calculated into the cumulative grade point average.

Academic Standing

A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained in order for a student to remain in good academic standing and to continue progression in the program.

Curriculum Implementation 

The core curriculum for students in all MSN Programs and specialty courses for Healthcare Systems Leadership and Nursing Education Programs is accelerated and offered in 8 week sessions. Nurse Practitioner specialization courses are offered in a traditional 16 week format.

MSN courses may be offered on any Lewis campus site, at selected cohort sites, or online.  Other than specific cohort program contracts, there is no guarantee that the entire MSN curriculum will be offered in entirety at any one location.

NOTE:  This curriculum and the sequence of courses are subject to change without notice or obligation.  Please contact the Office of Graduate Studies in the College of Nursing and Health Professions for current information.

Program Completion Time 

Students admitted into the Healthcare Systems Leadership, Nursing Education, Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner Programs must meet all requirements for the degree within a period of five consecutive years from the time of enrollment in graduate coursework after admission to the program.  Students admitted into the MSN/MBA program must meet all requirements for the degree within a period of seven consecutive years from the time of enrollment in graduate coursework. It is expected that students will begin taking courses in the semester immediately following date of admission.

Tuition and Fees

Published regularly by the Offices of the Bursar and Registrar, current tuition and fees can be found in the University Course Schedule.

Students are responsible for all fees related to background checks and health and clinical documentation in prepartion for clinical experiences.

Degree Offered: Master of Science

Total Credit Hours Required: 40-49