Enter Nursing with a Master’s Degree
Commit to a career that changes lives with Herzing University’s direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN-DE).
Go from non-nursing to MSN with Herzing's direct entry program
Designed for graduates of a bachelor's degree program in any other field of study, the MSN-DE offers you:
Completion time of 20-24 monthsi when attending full-time
On-site clinicals plus three hands-on intensives at designated Herzing sites
100% online didactic classes, including both on-demand and real-time learning with flexible scheduling
Approved to enroll students in select states*
Comprehensive preparation for the NCLEX-RN
A graduate-level education that equips you for leadership-track roles or further specialization
Earn Your MSN-DE Online and Prepare to Lead in Nursing
Our online direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing prepares you to enter nursing with an advanced degree. You will learn the role of the nurse and how to apply clinical best practice with current research to patient care, nursing leadership and evaluation of policy. You’ll also prepare to take the National Council on Licensure Exam – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN).
A generalist MSN can also establish the foundation you need for further study. Upon graduation and successful licensure, you can immediately specialize with an advanced certification in one of our additional programs such as family nurse practitioner (FNP), nursing educator (NE) or in one of our other pathways.You’ll also have earned the qualification you need to pursue doctoral study, either in a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program or a research-based Ph.D. program.
The online MSN-DE program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).**
About the Online MSN-DE Program
The online MSN-DE program covers 60-77 creditsi, including online coursework, skills training and clinical experience. It is designed to help you gain the clinical skills and experience you need to provide patient-centered care, pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN), and obtain licensure to practice as a registered nurse (RN).
As a graduate of this program, you will be able to:
- Prioritize patient-centered care using clinical judgment and the nursing process.
- Collaborate with patients, families and team members to provide safe and culturally competent care.
- Integrate evidence-based practice within diverse clinical settings to deliver optimal care.
- Minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through systems effectiveness and individual performance.
- Use information technology to communicate, mitigate error, support decision making, and manage patient care.
- Evaluate quality improvement processes to enhance patient outcomes.
- Integrate professionalism and advanced leadership skills within the interdisciplinary healthcare environment.
- Analyze national and global policies, legislative concepts, and economics to address population outcomes.
What Will I Learn in the Online MSN-DE Program?
Courses cover health science, patient populations, leadership theory, research methods, policy evaluation, and more. As part of the program, you will earn 9 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) dual credits.
Course topics include:
- Fundamental Concepts and Health Assessment
- Pathophysiology and Pharmacology
- Clinical I - IV
- Medical-Surgical Nursing I and II
- Mental Health Nursing
- Family Nursing
- Synthesis I and II
- Safety and Quality
- Integration of Concepts
- Scholarly Practice
- Technology and Nursing Informatics in Advanced Practice
- Systems-Based Practice
- Population Health
Due to the rigorous nature of the online direct entry MSN pathway, we implement several benchmarks to ensure you’re on track to successfully complete the program and develop the knowledge and skills you need to excel as an RN.
What’s Online and What’s In-Person in the Online MSN-DE?
The lecture portions of your courses are delivered entirely online. You’ll attend in-person clinical skills intensives, where you practice patient care skills with supervision from a Herzing nursing instructor, and you’ll also complete supervised clinical rotations at healthcare facilities near you.
Online
Lecture classes are asynchronous, with no set class times. Clinical instruction and peer collaboration requirements will be done via synchronous (live) distance learning, which will be required at times throughout the program.
Online peer collaboration and practicum supervision sessions are live. We offer flexible scheduling to help you complete these live sessions at a time that works for you.
In-Person
To become a nurse, you’ll need hands-on patient care skills. We help you build them with two types of in-person experience: intensives and clinicals.
- Intensives take place at designated sites. Over the course of your program, you will complete three intensives lasting two to four days each. At these intensives, nursing instructors will guide you through nursing skills using simulated scenarios in our nursing labs.
- Clinicals take place at working healthcare facilities near you. These can include hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and other sites. We have a dedicated team to help you secure your clinical placements.
Who Can Apply to the Online MSN-DE?
Applicants to the online direct-entry MSN program must be graduates of a bachelor’s degree program in a field other than nursing. In addition, applicants must:
- Have earned their degree at a regionally accredited U.S. university (or international equivalent) with a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scaleii
- Earn an aggregate score of 66 or better on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)
- Have completed the following courses, or the equivalent, prior to entry in the Master of Science in Nursing-Direct Entry nursing curriculum:
- Statistics
- Anatomy and Physiology I (minimum final grade of “B” required)
- Anatomy and Physiology II (minimum final grade of “B” required)
- Chemistry
- Microbiology
At Herzing University, students can complete their general education requirements as part of the program.
The Herzing University Difference
At Herzing, we want to help you reach your career goals and serve your community as a nurse. That’s why we provide:
- Convenient online education
- Mentorship from clinically experienced nursing faculty
- Hands-on intensives and clinical rotation
- Access to a clinical placement advisor and coordinator
- NCLEX-RN exam preparation as part of your degree
Tuition & Cost
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculums and processes to make our MSN Direct Entry program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
With Herzing University, you are never alone, and we offer many options to help you invest in yourself and earn your master's degree.
You're Much More Than a Number
At Herzing, we believe that providing you with a caring, supportive community will have a positive impact on your learning experience. We know our students by name and are committed to your academic, personal, and professional success. Discover why Herzing's student-first approach, individual attention, and caring community set us apart from other colleges and universities.