Nursing, MSN

Curriculum

The MSN program comprises of foundational graduate nursing curriculum focusing on leadership, management and evaluative methods to improve care at multiple levels across the continuum of health care settings. Additionally, the curriculum cultivates nurses to manage point-of-care at the microsystem, or individual patient-level practice, as well as functional area content which covers information systems, healthcare policy, communication and organizational behavior to provide students with the knowledge and skills to improve outcomes in the areas of quality processes, cost savings, and patient satisfaction. Didactic and supervised clinicals help train nurses to integrate advance nursing knowledge in their master’s level nursing practice.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of USF’s MSN program will understand the rationale for care and competently deliver this care to an increasingly complex and diverse population in multiple environments at the point-of-care, across the lifespan with particular emphasis on health promotion and risk reduction services. At the completion of the program, the graduate will:

• Clinical leadership for patient-care practices and delivery, including the design, coordination, and evaluation of care for individuals, families, groups, and populations;
• Participation in identification and collection of health care outcomes;
• Accountability for evaluation and improvement of point-of-care outcomes, including the synthesis of data and other evidence to evaluate and achieve optimal outcomes;
• Risk anticipation for individuals and cohorts of patients;
• Lateral integration of care for individuals and cohorts of patients;
• Design and implementation of evidence-based practice(s);
• Team leadership, management and collaboration with other health professional team members;
• Information management or the use of information systems and technologies to improve health care outcomes;
• Stewardship and leveraging of human, environmental, and material resources;
• Advocacy for patients, communities, and the health professional team; and,
• Leadership in delivering competent and safe patient care to individuals and groups in a variety of settings based in liberal arts and the natural sciences.

Progression

Any graduate student whose cumulative grade point average falls below a 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation who fail to raise their cumulative grade point average to 3.0 by the time they have completed the next six (6) semester hours of graduate work are subject to disqualification from the program. Any graduate student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.5 in any one (1) semester are also subject to disqualification. Students who earn two (2) failures (grade of B- or below in theory courses) or Unsatisfactory (grade of U in clinical or practica courses) are disqualified from the nursing program.

The University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions reserves the right to add, amend, or cancel any of its programs, regulations, rules, policies, and procedures, in whole or in part, at such time as it may choose and for any reason. None shall be construed as, operate as, or have the effect of an abridgment or limitation of any rights, powers, or privileges of the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in the publications. Students are advised, however, that such information is subject to change without notice and they should consult with the Office of the Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions for current information. Information in this Publication does not constitute a contract between the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions and a student or an applicant for submission.

Graduate Progression

• Any graduate student who earns less than a “B-” in any pre-licensure course or a “U” (Unsatisfactory) in a pre-licensure clinical course must repeat the course earning a “B-” or better or a “S” (Satisfactory) before further pre-licensure courses may be taken.
• Any graduate student who earns less than a “B-” in any post-licensure graduate course or a “U” (Unsatisfactory) in a post-licensure practicum course must repeat the course earning a “B-” or better or an “S” (Satisfactory). If a student fails to earn a “B-” or “S” in a repeated course, they are disqualified from the program.
• If a graduate student has two (2) course failures, the student will be disqualified from the program.
• A graduate student admitted on a “conditional” status to the MSN program must fulfill the conditions of admission, as specified, to progress.

Pre-licensure courses in the MSN program include: NURS 601, NURS 602, NURS 610, NURS 618, NURS 619, NURS 622, NURS 624, NURS 634, NURS 635, NURS 636, NURS 637, NURS 638, NURS 644, NURS 645, NURS 646, NURS 661, & NURS 662. All other required courses in the graduate department are post-licensure.

All graduates of the program meet the Master’s Essentials and master’s degree outcome AACN Competencies and Curricular Expectations for Clinical Nurse Leader (SM) Education and Practice standards. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) Clinical Nurse Leader certification exam.

MSN Program Options

Four (4) curricular options are available to those interested in pursuing the Master of Science in Nursing: MSN Direct Entry Option (ME-MSN), MSN for Registered Nurses(RN-MSN), Dual Degree BSN-MSN 4+1 Option and Post Masters Clinical Nurse Leader Certification. The ME-MSN option is offered at USF’s Hilltop campus in San Francisco and in Orange County. The RN-MSN option is offered on a rotating basis Online, in Pleasanton, San Francisco, and San Jose. The dual degree options are offered at USF’s Hilltop campus in San Francisco.

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Nursing degree at the University of San Francisco, School of Nursing and Health Professions is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

All options of the MSN are included in the accreditation of the MSN degree program in the School of Nursing and Health Professions.

All graduates of the program meet the master’s degree outcome AACN Competencies and Curricular Expectations for Clinical Nurse Leader (SM) Education and Practice standards, and are eligible to sit for certification by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) as a Clinical Nurse Leader.

State Authorization

Please check our State Authorization Status List for the states and territories from which we can enroll students in specific online degree programs.