Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

On February 26, 2005 the Board granted approval to proceed with the development of a graduate program in nursing at the College. On April 18, 2005 the OSF Healthcare System Board of Directors granted approval for a Master of Science in Nursing program. In fall 2006 the College admitted its first class of 15 MSN students with an expected graduation date of May 2009. This first class of 15 students exceeded the program’s admission goal of 10 students. The fall 2008 class has 17 students admitted. Societal, economic, and technologic forces affecting nursing practice and nursing education directed administration, Board, and faculty to plan changes to meet current and future needs in health care. Both the baccalaureate and graduate programs are outcomes of futuristic thinking and a desire to meet societal and professional needs.

Students entering the master’s program must enter with a bachelor’s degree. Students may present with a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) or a baccalaureate in a field other than nursing. Licensure as a registered nurse is required for the state in which they will partake of their clinical practicum. If the student’s baccalaureate degree is not in nursing, the student must successfully complete an undergraduate nursing concepts course and nursing research course from a regionally accredited college or university prior to enrolling in the master level nursing concepts course or nursing research course.

For Those Who Want to be Experts in Their Field
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an advanced practice in an adult health clinical specialty who functions as an expert clinician in their field. The curriculum follows the competencies delineated in the AACN (1996) Essentials of Master's Education for Advanced Practice Nursing. CNS graduates will meet the national certification examination by the American Nurse's Credentialing Center (ANCC).

For Those Who Love to Teach
The Nurse Educator (NE) track prepares nurses to teach in academic, staff development and patient teaching settings. The curriculum follows the NLN (2003) Core Competencies for Nurse Educators in preparation for the NLN-AC Nurse Educator certification exam. The courses are also offered as a Post-master Certificate for Nurse Educators.

For Those Who Want to Provide Primary Health Care

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program prepares graduates to provide primary health care to mothers, infants, children, adults, and geriatric patients in a variety of settings.  The FNP tract will focus on health promotion, injury and illness prevention, and assessment, diagnosis, management, treatment, and monitoring of common acute and chronic health problems.  The curriculum follows national APRN and AANC guidelines.  FNP graduates will be eligible to take the national certification examinations and apply for state licensure as an advanced practice nurse.

Post Master's Certificate
Completion of program requirements will qualify students for the Certified Nursing Educator (CNE) Examination after meeting the current requirements of the National League for Nursing.  Through a portfolio review, candidates may receive up to 2 Nurse Educator Practicum credits for teaching experience in an academic and/or staff education setting.  Two credits equal 120 contact hours. 

For more information call 815.395.5476 or e-mail the College's Graduate Affairs Department at msn@sacn.edu. To apply, click here.