Lourdes University’s Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) coursework occurs through a combination of face-to-face and online instruction with clinical training conducted in various healthcare settings under the supervision of Lourdes faculty. Graduates will have the training to excel in their new careers as registered nurses and hold a master’s degree, allowing them to pursue further education such as advanced certification as a primary care nurse, DNP, or Ph.D. more quickly.
Direct Entry to Master of Science in Nursing
Master of Science
Lourdes University’s Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) program prepares anyone with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing to become a nurse in as little as 20 months.
The Lourdes DEMSN offers greater flexibility when compared to similar entry-level MSN programs. It utilizes Lourdes’ state-of-the-art clinical training facility to equip students for success.
Graduates will stand out in a job market where many employers prefer to hire nurses with advanced degrees.
Video Overview
Whatever field your bachelor’s degree is in, you can become a nurse with a Master’s Degree in as little as twenty months.
Plan of Study
DIRECT-ENTRY MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (DEMSN)
The direct entry master of science in nursing is a 66-credit program that can be completed in as few as 20 months. While most courses are offered at our campus, you’ll have the opportunity for online course delivery for some classes as well.
SEMESTER I
- NUR 501 Foundations of Professional Nursing and Theories Guiding Practice
- NUR 502 Health and Physical Assessment
- NUR 509 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology Concepts
- NUR 520 Clinical Practice, Clinical Judgement, and Role Development I: Care of Adults with Common Health Problems
SEMESTER II
- NUR 530 Advanced Nursing Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice
- NUR 575 Clinical Practice, Clinical Judgement, and Role Development II: Mental Health Nursing
- NUR 580 Clinical Practice, Clinical Judgement, and Role Development III: Care of Adults with Complex Health Problems
SEMESTER III
- NUR 609 Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
- NUR 618 Clinical Practice, Clinical Judgement, and Role Development IV: Nursing Care of Women, Children, and Families
- NUR 623 Clinical Practice, Clinical Judgement, and Role Development V: Population-Focused Nursing
SEMESTER IV
- NUR 624 Healthcare Systems Management and Policy in a Diverse Community
- NUR 627 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Globe
- NUR 628 Clinical Practice, Clinical Judgement, and Role Development VI: Synthesis of Concept-Based Practicum
SEMESTER V
- NUR 626 Nursing Informatics
- NUR 639 Clinical Practice, Clinical Judgement, and Role Development VII: Contemporary Nursing Leadership/Management
- NUR 641 Knowledge Integration and Transition into Practice
Learning Outcomes
DEMSN Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
- Synthesize liberal education and nursing knowledge within a systems framework for advanced nursing roles.
- Exhibit critical thinking and evidenced-based decision-making incorporating scientific inquiry as a foundation to reach appropriate clinical judgement for health promotion, disease prevention, and management of illness.
- Develop leadership through the analysis of the organization, policy, and financing of systems and their effect on individuals and populations for optimal outcomes.
- Utilize effective communication, inter-and intra-disciplinary collaborative skills, and interprofessional partnerships to impact care through collaboration, management, coordination, and delivery.
- Incorporate the Franciscan ethics and standards of professional nursing, portraying the core values and ethics of accountability, caring, communication, clinical reasoning, critical thinking, and lifelong learning.
- Demonstrate leadership to plan change and promote quality outcomes affecting culturally diverse individuals and populations providing high quality and safety care.
DEMSN Handbooks
The Lourdes University College of Nursing Handbooks are a guiding source of accredited and approved nursing programs.
2024-2025 DEMSN Student Handbook
2023-2024 DEMSN Student Handbook
2022-2023 DEMSN Student Handbook
Spring 2022-2023 DEMSN Student Handbook
Admission Requirements
The Direct-Entry MSN is designed for students who already have a conferred bachelor’s degree in any non-nursing field.
To apply, you will need to provide:
- A completed online application.
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Official transcripts from all educational institutions attended, showing an undergraduate or graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher for the last 60 credits of the program.
- Applicants for whom English is a second language must demonstrate the following minimum satisfactory TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores: 550 for the paper-based exam; 213 for the computer-based exam; or 79-80 for the internet-based exam.
- Official course-by-course evaluation of foreign credentials for international transcripts.
- Proof of passed federal and civilian background check completed by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI).
- Proof of current Basic Life Support (BLS) card with expiration at least 18 months after start of DEMSN Nursing Major.
- Satisfactory completion of College of Nursing health and professional requirements.
PRE-REQUISITE COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Successful completion of pre-requisite courses with a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.75 (on a scale of 4.0) and no pre-requisite course having an earned final course grade of (C-) or less at either the undergraduate or graduate level unless identified as graduate level course:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with lab) (BIO/BIL 330)
- Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with lab) (BIO/BIL 331)
- Chemistry (with lab) (CHM 140/CHL 140)
- Microbiology (BIO 335)
In addition, you must have earned at least a C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) in each of the courses listed above. You may be required to take or re-take pre-requisite courses prior to beginning Direct Entry MSN courses. For more information about the DEMSN admissions requirements, feel free to reach out to our enrollment team.
Nursing Learning Laboratory
Lourdes College of Nursing has two learning laboratories to accommodate all types of skills practice and simulation of patient care scenarios. Dedicated lab staff support the development and mastery of technical nursing skills in the Flasck Nursing Center while building students’ confidence and competence. Individualized support from lab staff assists students with perfecting clinical skills such as vital signs, physical assessment, injections, urinary catheters, IV insertions and medication administration.
The new simulation laboratory supports the development of critical thinking and team collaboration as students work through realistic situations in a safe, protected learning environment. Using standardized patients, high-fidelity manikins, and other technology, students can assess and provide nursing care for specific symptoms, diseases, and conditions taken from real-life scenarios.
Pregnancy and Birth Simulations
High-fidelity mother and baby manikins provide a level of complex interactivity during the learning scenarios. Simulations permit students to participate in pregnancy and birth scenarios from pregnancy care to the actual birth as well as nursing care of mother and newborn following the birth.
