Graduate

Graduate Program

Prepare For an Advanced Nursing Career Meeting Families' Health Care Needs

IU South Bend's Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - family nurse practitioner program prepares registered nurses to become leaders in advanced nursing practice. They are trained in advanced health care assessment, diagnostic techniques and treatment plans for a wide range of health problems. Nurses expand their knowledge in health promotion, disease prevention, health education and counseling. Ultimately, through the accomplishments of our MSN graduates, it is our goal to improve regional health care delivery and the overall health of our local people and communities.

  • Complete a 42 credit hour, post-baccalaureate graduate degree on a part-time schedule, designed to meet the scheduling needs of employed RN's.
  • Undertake MSN studies as part of a small, cohesive cohort who remain together throughout the course of their graduate training.
  • Graduate from a highly competitive master's program. Attend an affordable, public university master's program that offers an exceptional education to graduate nursing students.
Learn more about the School of Nursing

MSN Admission Requirements

Admission requirements can be found in the campus bulletin.

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The School of Nursing accepts application between July 1st and August 31st. Please read carefully and follow the instruction on the following page.

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MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner Program Highlights:

  • Participate in a program that includes two major learning sections:
    • preclinical scholarly application courses that provide a core foundation for advanced practice
    • clinical courses that build on the preclinical foundation and add knowledge and applications used during direct clinical experiences
  • Learn from talented nurse instructors who are highly experienced both in the classroom and the clinic.
  • Study in a graduate nursing program that runs year-round. The one stipulation: all MSN requirements must be completed within six years of program enrollment.
  • Complete 600 clinical hours under the guidance of faculty members and preceptors.
  • Experience a variety of family practice health care settings in keeping with the student's individual career goals and the program's learning objectives.
MSN Program Requirements

Career Outlook for Nurse Practitioners

The future looks bright for those possessing advanced nursing education, such as an MSN - family nurse practitioner degree. As the population grows and more people need health care, consumers, insurance companies, and the government are all looking for ways to meet the demand for high-quality efficient health care. The skill set of a family nurse practitioner offers a way for consumers to receive excellent care that is more accessible than otherwise might be available. For this and other reasons, the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates an employment increase of 22 percent for nurses over a ten-year period ending in 2018. For more information about the nursing field, go to http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Registered-nurses.htm#tab-6.