Master of Science in Nursing - Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Entrance requirements

• Successful completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing school
• A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (science and undergraduate nursing GPA are appraised as part of the admissions process, a 3.0 GPA in those areas is strongly encouraged for review)
• Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in the USA, current CPR certification, and actively working in practice
• Successful completion of a three credit undergraduate statistics course within five years prior to admission to the MSN program. If you are accepted to the program, you must complete the statistics prerequisite before you register for NURS 540 Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
• Certified Background Check with Castle Branch required upon acceptance
• GRE exams are not required
• Application deadline for fall term is July 1st
• Application deadline for spring term is October 1st

Application requirements

• A current resume of your education and professional experience
• A formal essay addressing the following areas:
  • Your rationale for choosing a career as a nurse practitioner
  • Your personal compatibility with the CUW mission
  • Your plan for success in the program, including time management, stress management, and professional communication
  • Upon completion of your degree, where you envision yourself practicing and with what populations
• Three letters of reference: two must be professional and/or academic and one must be from an individual who has worked with the applicant in a professional capacity and has a minimum of a master's degree
• All official transcripts leading to your undergraduate degree (and any applicable graduate courses) 
• Unencumbered RN License

Contact Us

For additional information, please contact the Graduate Admission Office at graduate.admission@cuw.edu or 262.243.4300.

Please note: in clinical experiences, students are required to work in healthcare systems or clinics, and must comply with any vaccination requirements of the clinical sites.

Application / admission process

Students must apply online through NursingCAS. All students applying for admission to the program must submit:

• All official college transcripts leading to the bachelor's degree
• An essay that addresses the following topics:
  • Rationale for choosing a career in healthcare informatics
  • Career goals
  • Personal compatibility with the CUW mission
  • Plans for academic success, including time management, stress management, and professional communication
  • Any previous academic issues
• Professional resume
• Three letters of reference; two must be professional and/or academic and one must be from an individual who has worked with the applicant in a professional capacity and has a minimum of a master's degree.
• Applicants who have completed graduate level classes and wish to have them evaluated for transfer must submit these transcripts and the transfer credit form. GRE exams are not required.

The application deadline for fall admission is July 1st. The application deadline for spring admission is October 1st.

In addition to the Graduate Admission Requirements, there may be a pre-admission telephone interview.

The admission committee will review applications and forward recommendations to the Dean of the School of Nursing. After the recommendation for admission is approved, a formal letter of acceptance or denial is sent to the student.

Please note: in clinical experiences, students are required to work in healthcare systems or clinics, and must comply with any vaccination requirements of the clinical sites.

The master’s degree program in nursing at Concordia University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Concordia University of Wisconsin is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality
Assurance Commission to conduct practice experiences in the state of Washington for the RN-BSN, MSN/FNP and MSN/AGPCNP program tracks.

For more information, please go to Nursing Commission’s website at:
https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/NursingCommission/NursingPrograms.aspx

States have established standards of practice for the nursing profession. While at the present time, we cannot provide a particular state’s educational requirements for licensing, we can assure you that we will provide you with the contact information for the Board of Nursing for the state in which you are doing your study. We are currently not accepting new students from Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Tennessee or Wyoming. Additionally, Washington D.C. students are required to do clinicals in Virginia.

CUW’s flexible MSN practitioner programs offer individualized online learning options and progression plans. These plans may be completed over 3 to 4.5 years.

MSN progression plan options

• 3 year Fall Start
• 3 year Spring Start
• 3.5 year Fall Start
• 3.5 year Spring Start
• 4 year Fall Start
• 4 year Spring Start

How long is the program?
The program consists of 41 credit hours of coursework. The average progression is 3-4 years.

Is the program accredited?
Yes. The master’s degree program in nursing at Concordia University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

How can I apply for the program?
You can apply online here.

How do I register for classes?

• Log into the portal at my.cuw.edu
• Select the Student Services tab
• On the left side in the Registration Tools section, select look up classes
• Select the term of your class
• Narrow your search by selecting a subject and any other search criteria needed such as campus
• Online course numbers begin with an 8 and on-campus course numbers begin with a 5 (all MSN nursing courses are online, except MSN538 Advanced Health Assessment)

Am I given a CUW e-mail address?
Yes. Directions will be sent explaining how to set up an email account. The CUW email account is required for all correspondence from the School of Nursing and CUW. If a problem occurs during set up, the IT (information technology) Helpdesk can be reached at 262-243-4357.

Is a BSN needed?
Yes, a BSN is required prior to beginning any graduate course work.

Is there a residency requirement for the program?
Yes. There is a one-day mandatory on-campus orientation for all Nurse Practitioner students to attend before beginning MSN coursework. This orientation is held twice a year – usually once in August and once in January.

What does the academic advisor do?
Advisors help you develop a progression plan that meets your future academic goals.

Is financial aid/scholarships available?
Yes, loans are available for eligible students. There are limited funds available to support global travel as part of the MSN curriculum.

Concordia offers several Uncommon Scholarships. For more information, go to https://www.cuw.edu/admissions/financial-aid/uncommon-scholarships.html

There are also several outside scholarships available. Please contact financial aid for more information. Students are also free to search for scholarships in their focus of study.

Are courses offered online?
All classes are available online. Students use Blackboard (a virtual online learning management environment) for course delivery.

Is there a comprehensive examination at the end of the program?
No, there is not a comprehensive exam; however, students are required to prepare a portfolio.

What is the pass rate for students at CUW on the national NP certification examination?
Our pass rate is consistently above the national average.

What is the Global Perspectives course?
This course is designed for students to experience a culture different from their own. Graduate students take this course during winter break or spring break. Students explore health care in another culture and share the Word of the Lord.

Can Advanced Pathophysiology or Pharmacology be taken at a different university?
No, all MSN students are required to take MSN 836 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespans and BIO 842 Pharmacology at CUW.

Who can be a preceptor for NP students?
The preceptor must have at least two years of clinical experience and must be state-licensed and board-certified. A practicum proposal and preceptor form will be completed by the student. CUW faculty will review all documentation to assure the preceptor is appropriately credentialed and the site allows students to meet course objectives.

Do I need to find my own preceptors?
Yes. Students are responsible for networking in their communities and identifying a person willing to work with them as a preceptor. This process gets students involved in developing networking skills.

How many hours of clinical are needed?
Nurse Practitioner students must complete a minimum of 750 clinical hours to fulfill the program requirements. This requires at least 250 hours a semester, distributed over the entire semester, totals 30 days of 8 to 10 hour shifts. Normally done in 13 weeks.

How often does an instructor visit me in clinical?
Each NP student will have a clinical instructor visit them at least one time each semester at the clinical site. More visits may be scheduled if deemed necessary.

When do clinical courses begin?
Clinical courses must begin directly after health assessment and can be completed sequentially.

How are the clinical courses arranged?
There are two cycles to coincide with the two advanced Health Assessment offerings. The spring clinical rotation starts at the end of January with the first clinical, followed by the second clinical the next fall and finishing up with the final and third clinical the following spring. The fall clinical rotation starts at the end of August with the first clinical, followed by the second clinical the next spring and finishing up with the final and third clinical the following fall.

Do you have a post master’s degree track?
Yes, Concordia offers a Certificate After Graduate Education (CAGE) program.

How much will books cost?
Books cost about $4,000 for the program with the cost slightly increasing each year. There will be additional expenses related to Advanced Health Assessment and clinicals such as lodging, background checks, drug testing, and immunizations.

How do I get my books?
Books may be purchased at the University Bookstore on campus or ordered online at the bookstore website.