Program Description

The program of study may be completed in any of three tracks:

• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The curriculum reflects a balance between liberal and professional education and is designed to foster intellectual inquisitiveness, analytical thinking, critical judgment, creativity, and self-direction under the guidance of quality faculty. Students are adult learners from diverse backgrounds who participate in the development of their own agendas for learning within a planned program of studies.

Family Nurse Practitioner

This track prepares students to provide direct care and to take leadership in the primary care of families. Primary care sites include outpatient clinics, work sites, college health services, emergency rooms, home health and other community-based settings. Upon completion of this track, students are eligible for certification in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and for national certification as a Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program prepares nurse practitioner students to provide a full range of mental health services to clients across the life span. This specialty emphasizes prevention, diagnosis, and management of both acute episodic and chronic mental illnesses. Although not setting specific, clinical rotations will primarily occur in in-patient, outpatient, and community residential settings. Upon completion of this track, students are eligible for certification in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and for national certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Graduate Nursing

Mission

To provide scientifically based nursing curricula to educate clinically competent, caring, nursing professionals with a commitment to excellence in practice, service, life-long learning, scholarship and self-care.

Vision

The Nursing program educates professionals prepared as leaders in practice, service, scholarship, and education, contributing to the advancement of the health and well-being of diverse communities.

Philosophy for Nursing Programs

Nursing is a practice-based profession encompassing both arts and sciences. Nursing provides health services to diverse individuals and groups. Nurses collaborate with multidisciplinary professionals and clients. Nursing care is aimed at facilitating health and wellness, thus fulfilling a contract between society and the profession. Safe, quality nursing interventions are evidence-based. The nursing community at La Salle University respects the humanity of the people they serve and recognizes the potential for healing within the person, integrating mind, body, and spirit.

Students bring their experience to the process of development as ethical, caring practitioners. 

Students and faculty relationships foster scholarship, collegiality, respect, and collaboration. 

1. Science
2. Holistic care
3. Professionalism
4. Population health
5. Environment

End of Program Outcomes

1. Prepare graduates to lead, evaluate, and redesign care systems that achieve equitable, high-quality outcomes for diverse and vulnerable populations. (AACN Domain 1,2,3,5)
2. Develop graduates with the ability to translate and evaluate evidence, contribute to nursing scholarship, and implement practice innovations. (AACN 1, 4, 5)
3. Strengthen competence in advanced interprofessional leadership, change management, and communication to improve care integration and outcomes. (Domains 6, 8, 10)
4. Equip graduates to engage in policy formation, advocacy, and regulatory processes that improve population health and address inequities. (Domain 3, 7. 9)
5. Foster professional identity formation, reflective practice, and ethical leadership while supporting lifelong learning and graduate-level role development. (Domains 9, 10)

Accreditation

The Master's degree program in nursing, the Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at La Salle University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Degree or Certificate Earned

M.S.N.

Required for Program Completion

• Courses 
  • 13-16
• Credits
  • 41-47 credits
• GPA
  • 3.0

Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program the student will be able to:

1. Integrate advanced nursing science, theoretical frameworks, research evidence, and clinical expertise to deliver person-centered, equitable care to diverse individuals, families, and populations across healthcare settings. (Domains 1, 2, 3)
2. Practice independently and collaboratively within interprofessional teams to deliver safe, effective, and high-quality direct and indirect care across complex healthcare systems and practice environments. (Domains 2, 6, 7)
3. Critically appraise, synthesize, and translate research and evidence from nursing and related disciplines to guide clinical decision-making, improve healthcare outcomes, and influence health policy and systems-level change. (Domains 4, 5)
4. Apply ethical principles, professional standards, and legal frameworks to guide decision-making and advocate for the well-being of individuals, families, communities, healthcare professionals, and populations in diverse local, national, and global contexts. (Domains 9, 10)
5. Implement evidence-based interventions and professional standards of practice to promote health, prevent disease, manage chronic conditions, and improve health outcomes for individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations. (Domains 3, 4, 5)
6. Demonstrate advanced communication and informatics competencies, including health information management and data-driven decision-making, to enhance quality, safety, and outcomes of care at individual, population, and systems levels. (Domains 4, 8)

Admission Requirements

Master of Science in Nursing Degree

The Standards for Admission to the Graduate Program in Nursing are as follows:

1. Online application
2. Professional résumé
3. A statement articulating your professional values, future educational and career aspirations utilizing the desired certification, and the reason for your track selection.
4. Current unencumbered R.N. licensure in the United States.
5. One year of current clinical experience as a registered nurse.
6. Two professional references. One academic reference and one supervisor reference.
7. For Post-MSN applicants who hold current CRNP licenses, one year of current NP experience in their area of NP certification.
8. Evidence of successful academic achievement in completing a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE-accredited program.
   1. Undergraduate coursework must include an introductory statistics course (including inferential and descriptive) and an undergraduate nursing research course.
9. Students with an undergraduate BSN or other RN entry level GPA of less than 2.67 are required to present test scores from the GRE (Graduate Record Exam), MAT (Miller Analogies Test) or GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test), to be considered for admission into the program. Students should aim for a score above the 50th percentile for the verbal and quantitative sections.
10. A criminal background check in the state of residence and state of Pennsylvania is required upon admission to the program and annually until graduation. If there is a positive finding on the criminal background check, a letter of explanation must be provided. This complaint/conviction will be reviewed by the graduate admissions committee and may result in rescinding of the offer of admission.

Students who have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their undergraduate program may be formally accepted into the Master of Science program upon receipt of all required documents for admission and a review by the Graduate Nursing Admissions and Progressions committee.

Course Sequence

MSN Tracks

Family Nurse Practitioner

Total Credits: 45* (3 Credits in Electives)

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Total Credits: 46* (3 Credits in Electives)

Post- Masters (MSN) Nursing Certificates

A Gap Analysis of prior MSN coursework is conducted to identify the courses needed for successful completion of the certificate program. This individualized review ensures that each student’s plan of study builds upon previous graduate-level nursing education while addressing any remaining requirements.

Post-Master’s Certificate Programs are designed for master’s-prepared nurses seeking to expand their scope of practice and advance their professional expertise. Certificates are available in the following tracks:

•    Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
•    Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Family Nurse Practitioner

Track specific course; requires a total of 692 clinical hours. 

**For post master’s certificate students who are already adult nurse practitioners, the clinical requirements are 308 hours.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Track specific course; requires a total of 692 clinical hours. 

Course Descriptions

Nursing (MSN)

All course descriptions may be found in the main menu under Graduate > Courses: A-Z.

Faculty

Interim Chair, Graduate Nursing Program: Dr. Beth Ann Swan
FNP Specialty Coordinator: Dr. Mary Palovcak
PMHNP Specialty Corodinator: Dr. Ann Storbrauck

Program Contact Information

Family Nurse Practitioner Track (Example Part-Time Plan of Study)

Family Nurse Practitioner Track (Example Full-Time Plan of Study)

Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Example Part-Time Plan of Study)

Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Example Full-Time Plan of Study)

PMHNP Track specific Didactic & Clinical Courses have a single Start Term (Fall semester; Starts with NUR 627/657)