Graduate School of Nursing

Vision

The School of Nursing at the University of San Francisco advances the mission of the university by preparing professional nurses who provide a moral compass to transform health care in order to promote equity and positively influence quality, delivery, and access to care.

Mission

The mission of the School of Nursing is to advance nursing education within the context of the Jesuit tradition. The school uses dynamic and innovative approaches in undergraduate and graduate nursing education to prepare professionals for current and future practice domains. The goal is to effectively link classroom and clinical experiences with expectations for competence, compassion, and justice in health care within the context of the highest academic standards.

Values

Congruent with the core values of the university, the values of the School of Nursing are to:

• Create and maintain an environment that promotes excellence in the nursing academic endeavor based on
  • mutual respect
  • transparency
  • collaboration
  • professionalism
  • creativity
  • diversity
  • cultural sensitivity
  • spirituality
• Demonstrate the personal values of
  • integrity
  • academic excellence
  • respect for self and others
  • compassion and caring
  • personal growth, responsibility, and accountability
  • professionalism
  • a passion for justice
  • personal health and well-being
• Positively influence nursing practice and health care environments by promoting
  • health and wellness
  • holistic, patient-centered care
  • patient advocacy
  • a spirit of inquiry and evidence-based practice
  • safety and quality improvement
  • cost effective care
  • emerging technologies balanced with a humanistic approach
  • professional and ethical decision-making
  • increased access to care, especially for vulnerable populations
  • lifelong learning

Degrees

The School of Nursing offers two graduate degrees:

• Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) *

The nursing programs are accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Master of Science in Nursing

The M.S.N. program at the University of San Francisco is designed to prepare graduates in the role of the clinical nurse leader (C.N.L.). The emerging role of the C.N.L. is a national initiative in response to patient care needs and the current health delivery environments. A clinical nurse leader (C.N.L.) is a master's-prepared nurse generalist who assumes accountability for the healthcare outcomes of a specific group of patients within a unit or setting through the assimilation and application of research-based information to design, implement, and evaluate patient outcomes at the point of care. The C.N.L. is a provider and a manager of care who designs, implements, and evaluates care by coordinating, delegating, and supervising the care provided by the health care team, including licensed nurses, technicians, and other health professionals. More information on the role can be found at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Publications/WhitePapers/ClinicalNurseLeader.htm.

The program is designed for four types of students:

• The registered nurse who has a baccalaureate degree in nursing (B.S.N.-M.S.N.)
• The registered nurse who has a baccalaureate degree in another discipline (R.N.+B.S.-M.S.N.)
• The registered nurse without a baccalaureate degree (Accelerated Option) (R.N.-M.S.N. Accelerated Option)
• The non-nurse with a baccalaureate degree who is seeking entry into the nursing profession [Masters Entry C.N.L.] (M.E. C.N.L.-M.S.N.). Graduates are eligible to sit for NCLEX (R.N. licensure exam) at completion of program.

Learning Outcomes

Specific Learning Outcomes of the MSN Program are:

1. Design, coordinate, and evaluate care to individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations; understand the rationale for care and competently deliver this care to an increasingly complex and diverse population in multiple environments. Provide care at the point of care to individuals across the lifespan with particular emphasis on health promotion and risk reduction services.
2. Synthesize data, information, and knowledge to evaluate and achieve optimal client outcomes.
3. Ensure that clients, families, and communities are well-informed and included in care planning and act as an informed leader for improving care.
4. Advocate for the client by taking action if decisions or activities are against the wishes or interests of the client; give the client the opportunity to make informed decisions about healthcare before it is provided. Serve as an advocate for the profession and interdisciplinary healthcare team.
5. Use appropriate teaching principles and strategies as well as current information, materials, and technologies to teach clients, groups, and other healthcare professionals under their supervision.
6. Use information systems and technology that put knowledge at the point of care to improve healthcare outcomes.
7. Participate in systems review to improve quality of client care delivery and at the individual level to critically evaluate and anticipate risks to client safety with the aim of preventing medical error.
8. Delegate and manage the nursing team resources (human and fiscal) and serve as a leader and partner in the interdisciplinary healthcare team.
9. Assume accountability for the ongoing acquisition of knowledge and skills to effect change in healthcare practice and outcomes and in the profession.

Admission Requirements

For admission to the MSN Program, the School of Nursing requires the following:

• 3.0 GPA in the last 58 units of undergraduate (or graduate) study
• A written goal statement
• Two signed letters of recommendation
• A resume
• One official transcript from all colleges and universities attended
• GRE (Graduate Record Examination - General Test) scores
• A completed application form and fee
• For international students, an official TOEFL score (600 minimum score on the paper test or 250 CBT is required) and a Certificate of Finance
• For nurse applicants, a valid R.N. license in California

To learn more:

• Please see .
• Please see Healthcare Systems Leadership.
• Request Information
• Apply Online