About the Program
Program Details
The Entry-level Master’s (ELM) program combines learning in basic nursing sufficient to prepare students to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination and to study for an advanced practice role in a clinical nursing specialty. For the first four semesters, students take theory and clinical courses, followed by an internship, to prepare them to take the licensure exam.
Students select a nursing specialty they wish to pursue. Upon successful completion of all graduate coursework, the Master of Science in Nursing is awarded.
Students may also fulfill the specialty requirement through one of the School of Nursing’s unique combined programs.
Master of Science in Nursing students may elect to also earn a Nursing Administration Specialty or Nursing Education Specialty in addition to the primary specialties offered. These two secondary specialties are not offered in conjunction with the MSN alone; students must earn a primary specialty as part of the MSN program and then may continue on to complete the coursework for the Nursing Administration or Nursing Education secondary specialty as a post-master’s student.
Philosophy
Consistent with the mission and purpose of the university, the School of Nursing is a Christian community of disciples, scholars, and practitioners. Its purpose is to advance the work of God in the world through nursing education, research, professional practice, community, and church service.
Health is defined and understood by the faculty as totality or completeness, whether for an individual, family, or community. That totality or completeness, within this conceptual definition, cannot be seen apart from the constitutive element of spirituality. Our conceptual approach to health highlights our distinctive role as a Christian university and provides the discipline of nursing with a distinctive domain for research and advanced nursing practice.
Program Benefits
- This program is offered full time during the first four semesters, followed by either full or part time during the later portion of the program.
- Students receive personalized attention in a supportive Christian environment from experienced faculty, many of whom are clinical nurse specialists or nurse practitioners.
- Clinical placement is carefully and thoughtfully arranged for a variety of settings by APU nursing faculty.
- Students may receive traineeships (partial tuition reimbursement) when available through a federal grant after passing the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.
- Financial aid is available through scholarships and loans.
Program Outcome Objectives
A graduate of the ELM Program:
- Synthesizes knowledge from theory and research to evaluate its applicability to professional nursing practice and health policy.
- Evaluates delivery of health care to individuals, families, and communities based on a theoretical frame of reference.
- Demonstrates clinical competence in an advanced nursing role incorporating consultation, leadership, management, and teaching in a specialized area of nursing practice.
- Utilizes the research process to improve health care and contribute to the body of nursing knowledge.
- Applies bioethical and spiritual concepts in nursing practice and health policy.
- Articulates how the basic tenets of the Christian faith inform nursing practice.
- Provides spiritual care with an understanding of the influential elements of one’s own spiritual formation and beliefs.
