Nursing: Direct Entry

The Direct Entry Master's in Nursing Program is a full-time, five-semester, 63-credit course of study designed for non-RN students who hold a B.S. or B.A. or higher degree in a field other than nursing. The curriculum begins in January and includes two summer sessions. This program offers the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) track.  The CNL is a role in the field of nursing designed to provide master's-prepared, point-of-care nurse leaders with the ability to manage and solve complex patient problems within a systems framework.

Students graduate as an advanced generalist with a master of science (MS) degree in nursing and upon passing certification examination, as a clinical nurse leader (CNL). Students take the CNL certification examination in their final semester.  Students complete a clinical immersion experience in NURS 952C Clinical Nursing Leadership Clinical, which includes 300 clinical hours.  Students are admitted with the stipulation that they must pass NCLEX-RN prior to completion of the program. The stipulation is met once the RN license is received. Students are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN after completing a total of 57 credits of accelerated study. Students conclude their CNL master's preparation in a clinical nurse leader capstone course, NURS 958 Clinical Nurse Leader Capstone , which includes a project and 200 clinical hours. Students take the CNL certification examination in their final semester.

Direct Entry Master's in Nursing Admission Requirements

A grade point average of 3.0 or better is suggested. Previous course work and professional experience is taken into consideration. Experience in health care is not required.  Prerequisite courses include Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II with lab, Microbiology at the cellular level, and Statistics with a grade of B or better.   Students who have not completed all prerequisite courses at the time of application may be admitted with the stipulation that all prerequisite courses are completed with a B or better prior to starting the program. 

Knowledge of the basic processes and methods of research is necessary for students entering the DEMN program. While many undergraduate programs include a research methods course, if a student does not have a background in research, he or she should enroll in an introductory research course or introductory nursing research textbooks may be used as self-study resources prior to matriculation in the DEMN program.

Letters of recommendation should be substantial with at least one academic reference and two references from current professionals with graduate education background. Letters of recommendation from family or friends are not acceptable. 

Direct Entry Master's in Nursing Accelerated Master's Program for Current UNH Junior Students

The Direct Entry Master's in Nursing Program provides an opportunity for accelerated admission to the graduate program for full time undergraduate UNH students who are not current nursing students and meet admission criteria.  Students may apply during the second semester of their junior year by the posted application deadline.  Application review continues until all seats are filled.  To be considered, undergraduate students must have completed all major requirements by the fall of their senior year. Direct entry courses taken during the spring of the senior year of undergraduate program will fulfill elective credits to complete B.A./B.S. degree requirements at UNH.  A grade point average of 3.2 or better is required. Previous course work is taken into consideration. Pre-requisite courses include Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II with lab, Microbiology at the cellular level, and Statistics with a grade of B or better.  Applicants who are in the process of completing a pre-requisite course spring semester must have instructor submit grade to date directly to the Department of Nursing by April 8.  Students who have not completed all pre-requisite courses at the time of application may be admitted with the stipulation that all pre-requisite courses are completed with a B or better prior to starting the program. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with the Graduate Program in Nursing coordinator and their discipline-specific adviser early on in their undergraduate program to plan this course of study.

The goal of the BSN program is to prepare baccalaureate generalist nurses. At the completion of the program, graduates are expected to:

• Synthesize core knowledge from the liberal arts, sciences, and nursing as the foundation of professional practice.
• Integrate knowledge and skills to assess, design, implement, and evaluate nursing care in a safe, compassionate, culturally sensitive, evidence-based manner.
• Engage clients, families, and communities in collaborative decision-making incorporating evidence-based knowledge and anticipatory guidance.
• Employ team leadership and collaborative skills with other health professionals to optimize client and system outcomes.
• Recognize the influence of complex health systems on health care practice and advocate for policies that promote a socially just, patient centered healthcare system.
• Engage in scholarly inquiry to identify, evaluate and integrate the best current practice.
• Integrates health promotion, clinical prevention strategies when providing care at the individual or population level.
• Incorporates principles of patient safety and risk mitigation when using healthcare technology and therapeutics in the provision of care.
• Uses effective written, verbal, and nonverbal communication strategies when engaged in professional practice.
• Embrace professional values embodied in the ANA code of ethics.

In addition to the BSN outcomes above, at the completion of the Master's nursing program, the graduate student is prepared to:

• Serve in a healthcare leadership and change agent role as part of a diverse, complex,and patient-centered health care system.
• Act as a practice scholar to design, direct and evaluate system changes to promote safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centered care.
• Use data analytic methods, information systems and technology to evaluate,integrate and apply knowledge that will improve programs of care, outcomes of care and care systems.
• Use translational science and analytic methods to develop, identify, implement, and evaluate best practices to improve health care and health care systems.
• Design and implement health promotion and clinical prevention strategies across the health/illness continuum to optimize health and disease management.
• Systematically use improvement methods to monitor and evaluate care processes and outcomes and applies data for continuous improvement and safety
• Advocate for social justice through policy, professional and political engagement.
• Applies leadership principles that support inter-professional practice.

In addition to the Master's Outcomes:
The CNL Graduate Will:

• Act as lateral integrator to design, direct, and evaluate system changes to promote safe, timely, efficient, effective, equitable, patient centered care.

• Transcript evaluation by a third party is not required as long as an application is in English. Translation services and evaluation services may be requested at the discretion of the academic department.
• Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
• International applicants may submit copies of official transcripts by emailing [email protected]. We will upload those transcripts to your application checklist. 
• Official transcripts will be required if admitted. These can be hand-delivered in a sealed envelope upon arrival, emailed to [email protected], or mailed hardcopy to UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall, 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824.