Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Push Your Nursing Career to the Next Level

The Master of Science in Nursing program studies teaching theories, current research findings, education in healthcare, principles of leadership, legal and ethical issues, clinical research, organizational management, and knowledge of educational trends and professional standards.

Designed with working professionals in mind, the coursework presents concepts in practical and quantitative terms so they can be applied to the workplace immediately. This program offers two concentrations—Education and Leadership—with tracks to suit your individual needs, as well as a Certificate in Nursing Education.

The Education Concentration applies nursing experiences with higher education through an academic and healthcare delivery setting for the nurse who is looking to:

Best Nursing School in 2021 Ranking

Practice as a nurse educator in an academic or health care delivery setting, applying principles consistent with evidence-based practice.
Apply teaching and learning theories, current research findings, and knowledge of educational trends and professional standards to curriculum and instructional design.
Utilize knowledge of continuous quality improvement methodology to evaluate all components of instructional design and delivery.
Design and implement change projects in nursing education and evaluate their impact.

The Leadership Concentration develops a high level of critical and strategic thinking for the nurse who is looking to:

Assume leadership roles in health care organizations.
Integrate leadership skills that facilitate collaborative relationships while functioning as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
Apply knowledge of health care payment systems to improve the utilization of clinical and fiscal resources.
Design and implement change projects in health care delivery systems and evaluate their impact.
Incorporate knowledge of evidence in clinical and organizational management to improve client outcomes.

Within the Leadership Concentration, there are three tracks.

For the nurse with a baccalaureate degree in nursing;
For the nurse with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree;
For the nurse without a baccalaureate degree.

The Certificate in Nursing Education is intended for Master’s Degree-prepared nurses who desire more education in the process of nursing education. Normal time to completion is one year.

Alumni Success Stories

Because of her work on her degree, Paige landed a new job a year ago as staff nurse in the Aerodigestive Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, working with children ages 6 months to 6 years with complex digestive issues. Her role includes bedside work, research and patient education. In addition, next fall she will be working as an adjunct faculty member in the Franklin Pierce nursing program, teaching nursing research and strategic planning.“Enrolling in the nursing education program at Franklin Pierce was the best decision I ever made,” said Kennedy. “It was absolutely worth it.”
Paige Kennedy '19
Staff Nurse, Aerodigestive CenterBoston Children's Hospital
Bondurant took on the challenge of starting the R.N to B.S program at Franklin Pierce in 2014, which is a program designed for working registered nurses who need a flexible and convenient program. Like most of her fellow classmates, Bondurant was a working nurse and volunteer throughout the duration of her Master program. Bondurant began working at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Manchester in 2011 on the Advanced Response Team (DHART), and since receiving her degree at Franklin Pierce, she has gone on to become the Chief Flight Nurse on the Dartmouth- Hitchcock Advance Response Team.
Molly Bondurant, '14
Chief Flight Nurse, Dartmouth Hitchcock Advance Response Team
Melinda Linane went back to school as an adult to pursue a career in nursing and earned two degrees with Franklin Pierce University. She is now currently working as the Nursing Director of Endoscopy at the North Shore Medical Center in Salem, MA.
Melinda Linane, '13, MSN '17
Nursing Director of Endoscopy

Admission to the Program

All applicants: completion of an associate degree, baccalaureate degree, or diploma from an accredited program in nursing and must hold a current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse;
Track I and II applicants: achievement of a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale and successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course with a “C” or higher;
Nursing Education Certificate: achievement of a minimum CGPA of 2.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale from an accredited master’s degree program.

Application Requirements

Completed graduate admission application;
Professional résumé;
A statement of professional goals including reasons for pursing graduate study;
All official transcripts from colleges or universities previously attended.

Nursing Student Handbook

Code of Conduct

Program Information & Outcomes

Accreditation

Additional Resources

Want to Know More?

Download a Nursing program sheet to view on-screen or print, or view the College of Graduate and Professional Studies Academic Catalog for specific degree requirements and course information.

CONTACT

Graduate Admissions (800) 325-1090

Office Hours

Mon - Fri:
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

or by appointment