Program Overview

The goals of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Regents Online Degree Program are to prepare nurses to:

• teach in a variety of academic and practice settings;
  
• provide advanced nursing care to rural, urban and underserved populations
  
• practice in collaborative and interdisciplinary relationships;
  
• assume positions of leadership in the health care delivery system;
  
• contribute to the current and evolving body of nursing science; and
  
• continue study at the doctoral level.

With this in mind, the purposes of the MSN RODP are:

• To increase access to graduate nursing education, especially for those nurses aspiring to teach in entry level nursing programs, manage professional practice work settings, and practice as advanced clinicians in a changing health care delivery system.
  
• To maximize the effective use of technology for delivery of graduate-level instruction. Distance delivery through the use of technology will increase access to graduate education, especially in remote areas of the state and for practicing nurses for whom time flexibility is a critical resource.
  
• To provide student access to web-based courses and degree programs. Web-based courses will reach populations not currently enrolled in graduate education, and will also permit students who are currently enrolled in on-campus courses to take additional courses, thus completing their programs sooner.
  
• To encourage and support collaboration among TBR institutions. Course development and delivery will be cost-effective because courses will be developed by one institution and used by all.

The use of national guidelines and standards is an important component in program development, review and evaluation. The Essentials of Masters Education for Professional Nursing Practice (AACN, 1996) was used to develop program outcomes and will provide a framework for review and revision. In addition, specific standards for concentrations within the Master of Science in Nursing program are incorporated into course objectives as appropriate. The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing (CEN) Nurse Educator Competencies (2002) provides the bases for the development and review of the nursing education concentration. The Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (NONPF, 2002) provides standards for the development and review of the family nurse practitioner concentration.

The MSN RODP includes four concentrations. The concentrations and number of hours required for graduation are identified below.

MSN RODP Concentrations by Credit Hours