Nursing, RN to MSN

Early Admission to MSN or DNP

The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing RN Options (Early Admission to MSN or DNP) curriculum is designed for registered nurses, who obtained their nursing education through either a CCNE, NLN, or ACEN accredited diploma or associate degree program to pursue undergraduate education with early admission to a graduate nursing program. Courses are taught by nursing leaders who are experts in their field. Faculty serves as educators, role models and mentors for their students.

The University of Pittsburgh RN Options track is for professional nurses who are enthusiastically committed to their role as patient care advocates ensuring best possible healthcare outcomes. The RN Options curriculum builds upon the professional nurse’s strengths and experiences to expand professional knowledge and practice skills which will provide potential career changing opportunities.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing recognizes its obligation to prepare professional nurses to be competent healthcare professionals. Graduates of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing possess critical appraisal/thinking skills, sophisticated clinical practice knowledge, and the ability to integrate the latest research findings to provide thorough, safe and effective patient care.

RN Options provides professional nurses an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills at a school of nursing with an international reputation for excellence. U.S. News and World Report recognizes the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing among the top 10 graduate schools of nursing in the United States. The School of Nursing is consistently ranked among the top 5 schools of nursing for research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Many healthcare organizations are recognizing the advantage of having more bachelors, masters and DNP prepared professional nurses. Research clearly indicates patients cared for by professional nurses with advanced degrees have a higher incidence of positive healthcare outcomes.

Application Guidelines

• Graduate from a CCNE, NLN or ACEN accredited associate degree program or diploma school of nursing
• A competitive (GPA) of 3.0 or above in previous academic work
• Valid registered nurse license (All students must obtain a Pennsylvania license)
• Complete RN Option online application

Additional Information

• Students may begin coursework at the Pitt-Johnstown campus, and complete the graduate portion of the program either online or at the Oakland campus (depending on the selected track).
• Course offerings are flexible, students may begin coursework in any term (fall/spring/summer).
• Deadlines for admission are August 1 (Fall Term), December 1 (Spring Term), and April 1 (Summer Term).
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Upon finishing 84 credits in the RN Options track, students must select an option to complete their remaining requirements in the Early Admission to the MSN or DNP selected program or complete the BSN curriculum.
• Students who pursue the Early Admission to the MSN or DNP track must: 1) take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); 2) apply to the specific program of selection; 3) provide necessary documentation for desired major; and, 4) complete the remaining 36 credits of which 24 bridge credits will be at the graduate level, to attain a BSN as well as achieve credits toward their MSN or DNP degree. Students who are offered conditional admission to an online MSN may complete the bridge credits online or onsite.
• Full and part time schedules are available.

RN Options Curriculum

(subject to change)

• CHEM 0190 - CHEM FOR THE HLTH PROFESSIONS * +
• CHEM 0192 - CHEM FOR HLTH PROFESSIONS LAB * +
• BIOL 0950 - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 1 & Lab * +
• BIOL 0970 - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2 & Lab * +
• BIOL 0980 - MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY * +
• BIOL 0981 - MEDICAL MICROBIOLGY LABORATORY * +
• NUR 0066 - NUTRITION FOR CLINCAL PRACTICE +
• PSY 0501 - LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT * +
• PSY Psychology (3 credits) * +
• ANTH Anthropology (3 credits) * +
• COMMRC Communication/Public Speaking (3 credits) +
• ENGCOMP English Composition (3 credits) * +

•  

• STAT * or
• NUR 0088 - INTRO TO BASIC STATSTC FOR EBP * +

•  

• SOC Sociology + (3 credits) *
• NUR 0067 - NSG RES: INTRO CRITL APPRL EBP
• NUR 0081 - FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING PRACT 2 + *
• NUR 0082 - NUR MGT ACUT/CHRNC HLTH PROBS (7 credits) * +
• NUR 1050 - NUR CRE MTHRS, NEWBRNS & FMLYS (5 credits) *
• NUR 1052 - NUR CARE CHILD & THEIR FMLYS (5 credits) *
• NUR 1154 - NURSING CARE OF OLDER ADULTS
• NUR 0086 - NURSING INFORMATICS
• NUR 1060 - NUR CARE CLIENTS PMH PROBLEMS (5 credits) *
• NUR 1079 - Professional Development and Practicum 2 (3 credits)
• NUR 1074 - PROF DVLP AND PRACTICUM 1
• NUR 1085 - ETHICS IN NURSING & HEALTH CRE +
• NUR 1120 - ADV NUR MGT ACU/CPLX HLTH PROB (5 credits) *
• NUR 1121 - ADVNCD CLINCAL PROBLEM SOLVING (5 credits)
• NUR 1127 - COMMUNTY HEALTH NURSING
• NUR 0087 - PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS

Early Admission to the MSN or DNP graduate level courses

• NUR 2004 - PATHOPHYSIOLOGY ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN (4 credits) * or
• NUR 220444 - PATHOPHYSIOLOGY ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN (4 credits) *
   
• NUR 2680 - INTRODUCTION TO GENETICS & MOLECULAR THERAPEUTICS (3 credits) * or
• NUR 2280 - INTRODUCTION TO GENETICS & MOLECULAR THERAPEUTICS (3 credits) *
   
• NUR 2010 - HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION IN CULTURALLY DIVERSE POPULATIONS (3 credits) * or
• NUR 2210 - HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION IN CULTURALLY DIVERSE POPULATIONS (3 credits) *
   
• NUR 2011 - APPLIED STATISTICS FOR EVIDENCED-BASED PRACTICE (3 credits) or
• NUR 2211 - APPLIED STATISTICS FOR EVIDENCED-BASED PRACTICE (3 credits)
   
• NURSP 2092 - LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (3 credits) or
• NURSP 2292 - LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (3 credits)
   
• NURSP 2090 - HEALTH CARE OUTCOMES (3 credits) * or
• NURSP 2290 - HEALTH CARE OUTCOMES (3 credits) * or
   
• NURSP 2061 - ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT THEORY (3 credits) * or
• NURSP 2261 - ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT THEORY (3 credits) *
   
• NUR 2031 - DIAGNOSTIC PHYSICAL EXAM ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN (3 credits) * or
• NUR 2231 - DIAGNOSTIC PHYSICAL EXAM ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN (3 credits) *
   
• NUR 2000 - RESEARCH FOR EVIDENCED BASED-PRACTICE I (2 credits) * or
• NUR 2200 - RESEARCH FOR EVIDENCED BASED-PRACTICE I (2 credits) *

Note:

* online courses

For those Students Interested in the “Early Admission to MSN”

Masters of Science (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) concentrations are available.

For additional information, please contact Pitt-Johnstown Nursing Department:

• Phone: 814-269-2995
• email: sub15@pitt.edu