Program Overview

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Entry Into Practice (Direct Entry) Nursing MSN

The Entry into Practice (Direct Entry) Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) is a full-time, five-semester nursing program ideal for students with a non-nursing bachelor's degree who wish to pursue a nursing degree and become a registered nurse.

Program Details

• Credit Hours: 69
• Course Length: 12-16 weeks
• Estimated Program Length: 20 months
• The program offers a 1:20 faculty-student ratio in the classroom and 1:8 faculty-student ratio in clinical courses.

Why Study Nursing at UWF?

At the core of our curriculum is evidence-based nursing care with an emphasis on care coordination to a diverse patient population along the wellness/illness continuum across all care settings. You'll be ready to enter the nursing profession as a master's credentialed registered nurse prepared to meet the demands of an evolving healthcare system and advance into a leadership role.

What You Will Learn

The curriculum provides foundational nursing knowledge and practice expertise enhanced with master's coursework in areas such as leadership, evidence-based practice, and population health and promotion. You'll have many opportunities to combine classroom knowledge with experiential learning, perfecting your skills and building self-confidence before the launch of your career. Over 600 clinical hours will expose you to clinical specialties such as labor and delivery, surgical, pediatrics, population/public health, and mental health.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree in nursing/master's degree in nursing at UWF is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Courses & Requirements

Required Prerequisites

• BSC 1085+L - Anatomy and Physiology I (+Lab)
• BSC 1086+L - Anatomy and Physiology II (+Lab)
• MCB 1000+L - Fundamentals of Microbiology (+Lab)
• STA 2023 - Elements of Statistics
• Two additional science courses with a course prefix from CHM, BSC, PCB, DEP, HDF, HDS
• Two additional science courses with a course prefix from PSY, SOP, SYG, NUT, HUN
• Nursing prerequisites must have a grade of "B" or higher and cannot be older than 10 years at the time you are applying for admission.

Required Core Courses

• NGR 5108 - Foundations of Nursing Practice Across the Lifespan
• NGR 5108L - Foundations of Nursing Practice Across the Lifespan Clinical Immersion
• NGR 6003C - Health Assessment and Promotion Across the Lifespan with Lab
• NGR 5171 - Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
• NGR 5140 - Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
• NGR 5241 - Care of Adults Across the Lifespan - Common Health Problems
• NGR 5241L - Care of Adults Across the Lifespan - Common Health Problems Clinical Immersion
• NGR 5507 - Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan
• NGR 5507L - Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan Clinical Immersion
• NGR 6002 - Advanced Health Assessment
• NGR 5242 - Care of Adults Across the Lifespan - Complex Health Problems
• NGR 5242L - Care of Adults Across the Lifespan - Complex Health Problems Clinical Immersion
• NGR 5352 - Nursing Care of Women, Children, and Families
• NGR 5352L - Nursing Care of Women, Children, and Families Clinical Immersion
• NGR 6140 - Advanced Pathophysiology
• NGR 5636 - Population Health Promotion and Management Across the Lifespan
• NGR 5636L - Population Health Promotion and Management Across the Lifespan Clinical Immersion
• NGR 5700 - Systems Leadership and Health Policy
• NGR 5871 - Informatics and Healthcare Technologies in Practice
• NGR 6172 - Advanced Pharmacology
• NGR 6605 - Care of Persons Across the Lifespan - Transition to Professional Nursing Practice
• NGR 6605L - Care of Persons Across the Lifespan - Transition to Professional Nursing Practice Clinical
• NGR 5888 - Healthcare Quality and Safety in Professional Nursing Practice
• NGR 6803 - Integration of Evidence in Advanced Nursing Practice

Admission Requirements

• Must have earned a bachelor's degree.
• Minimum overall GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Minimum score of 75% on TEAS entrance exam.
• Letter of recommendation with a supervisor/professor with a non-electronic signature (academic/vocational) on school or company letterhead.
• Resume.
• Written essay criteria: Typed, double-spaced, APA format, clear, concise, approximately 500 words.
  • Describe the alignment of your personal values and the profession of nursing.
  • Identify your areas of interest as well as your professional goals.
  • Describe a relevant life experience or academic accomplishment that has prepared you for success in this program.
• Completed all General Education baccalaureate degree requirements including foreign language.
• Completed all Nursing common prerequisites with a grade of "B" or better.

Careers & Outcomes

A master's degree in nursing with a focus on direct entry into practice prepares graduates to seamlessly transition into advanced nursing roles, equipped with the clinical expertise, leadership skills, and evidence-based knowledge necessary to excel in healthcare settings.

Job Titles

• Nurse Practitioner
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Nurse Educator
• Healthcare Administrator
• Director of Nursing

Employers

• Baptist Health Care
• HCA Florida West Medical Center
• HCA Florida Ft Walton/Destin Medical Center
• Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital
• Santa Rosa Medical Center

Cost & Financial Aid

Tuition Rate Per Credit Hour

• In-state Tuition: $418.77 per credit hour
• Out-of-state Tuition: $1,078.41 per credit hour

Alabama, Military & Financial Aid

• Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition: Residents of Alabama are eligible for Alabama Differential Tuition, a reduced out-of-state tuition rate.
• Military & Veterans: The UWF Military & Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) serves as the campus advocate for military, dependents, and veteran students.
• UWF Financial Assistance: The University of West Florida offers various financial aid options for our students, including loans, scholarships, and grants for degree-seeking students.

Featured Courses

• NGR 5888: Healthcare Quality and Safety in Professional Nursing Practice
• NGR 5871: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies in Practice
• NGR 6605L: Care of Persons Across the Lifespan - Transition to Professional Nursing Practice Clinical
• NGR 5352L: Nursing Care of Women, Children, and Families Clinical Immersion

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