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Nursing: Direct-Entry Master’s

  • Master

Created for career changers, the Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) program helps you gain clinical expertise and stand out in your medical community as a practice-ready, master’s-prepared RN.

Program Overview

The Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing program from the University of Jamestown facilitates a pivot from your current profession and points you toward nurse leadership. This accelerated path into the medical field does not require a healthcare background and is ideal if you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.

Through an accessible hybrid design, you will complete coursework online and participate in transformative healthcare clinicals in Fargo, ND. Additionally, our state-of-the-art learning center in Fargo provides hands-on simulations that will further enhance your ability to graduate highly trained with real-world nursing experience. Our dedicated, compassionate faculty guide you through rigorous curriculum to ensure you are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam upon graduation.

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Also available:

The University of Jamestown offers specialized degrees that can help you grow personally and professionally. Learn about our other nursing programs.

Admission

For admission into the Direct-Entry MSN program, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Non-nursing bachelor’s degree
  • 2.85 GPA
  • Prerequisite courses completed at UJ or another institution

Review our streamlined admission process for the Direct-Entry MSN program.
To be considered for admission, you must apply and be accepted to the University of Jamestown prior to applying for acceptance into the nursing program and meet the following requirements:

  • A bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing conferred by a college or university accredited by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education
  • A 2.85 or higher cumulative GPA
    • If your undergraduate cumulative GPA does not meet the minimum 2.85 requirement but is at or above 2.5 (no rounding will be applied), and you meet all other program requirements, you may take the TEAS (Version 7.0). If you score 75% or above (no rounding will be applied), you will be considered qualified for admission.
  • Prior to formal admission to the DEMSN program, the following prerequisite courses, or their equivalents, must be successfully completed with a grade of C or above within seven years of entry to the DEMSN program:
    • Statistics
    • Developmental Psychology
  • The following courses must be successfully completed with a grade of C or higher and with a cumulative average grade of B within seven years of entry to the DEMSN program:
    • Anatomy and Physiology I (must include a lab component)
    • Anatomy and Physiology II (must include a lab component)
    • Microbiology (must include a lab component)
  • Prerequisite courses outside of the seven year window must be audited or reviewed by the program director on a case-by-case basis.
  • To succeed in our Direct-Entry MSN program, you will need foundational knowledge in science and mathematics. If you need to complete nursing prerequisites, take them online with UJ. Our courses are offered three times per year. Each course lasts eight weeks, and all instruction is fully online. We offer the following courses for prospective nursing students online:
    • HLTH208: Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions I
    • HLTH209: Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions II
    • HLTH216: Microbiology
    • MATH205: Statistics
    • PSYC203: Developmental Psychology

Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended should be mailed directly from the institution(s) to UJ at this address:

Admissions Office
University of Jamestown Accelerated
3110 N. Central Ave., Ste. L-190
Phoenix, AZ 85012

Official transcripts sent directly from issuing institution(s) are also accepted electronically. Please email them to OnlineAdmissions@UJ.edu

Benefit from UJ's connections with top-tier healthcare organizations.

Set yourself apart with a holistic nursing program that combines advanced nursing knowledge with hands-on healthcare experience. Ask us about tuition assistance from our healthcare partners!

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization serves 1.4 million patients and nearly 200,000 health plan members across 250,000 square miles. The integrated health system has 45 hospitals, 211 clinic locations, more than 160 Good Samaritan Society senior living centers, 2,900 Sanford physicians and advanced practice providers, 540 active clinical trials, and nine world clinic locations around the globe.

Jamestown Regional Medical Center (JRMC) is a regional medical facility providing inpatient and outpatient services to more than 55,000 people in the south-central region of North Dakota. Founded in 1929, JRMC has been serving the community and surrounding area of Jamestown for more than 85 years. Today, JRMC is a nationally recognized Level IV Trauma Center, fully equipped and professionally staffed. Their mission is to exceed expectations and be the difference in the lives of those they serve.

Anne Carlsen is a nonprofit organization that serves families and individuals with disabilities or delays from ages birth through adult. Their experienced staff provides compassion, training, services and support in communities across the region serving over 4,000 individuals yearly with physical locations in Fargo, Moorhead, Jamestown, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Devils Lake, Minot and Bottineau. Anne Carlsen is tirelessly committed to nurturing abilities and changing lives.

SMP Health – Ave Maria is recognized as a leading provider of long-term care, short-term rehabilitation and transitional care services in southeast North Dakota. It is a Catholic healthcare ministry sponsored by the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation and serves individuals of all faiths. They offer 100 skilled care beds, 10 of which are in private transitional care suites, specifically for individuals who require short-term therapy and/or recovery. The care team includes over 200 full- and part-time employees.

Why UJ for Nursing?

  • Our small class sizes and clinical groups allow for more personalized support and discussion.
  • We graduate nurses who are prepared to make a difference in our ever-changing healthcare system.
  • We prioritize your success by providing outstanding faculty. Our clinical instructors also teach in the classroom for un-matched, hands-on experience.

State-Of-The-Art Facilities

UJ is proud of their state-of-the-art simulation lab, where nursing students gain real-life experience before entering the workforce.

Pass Rate

UJ nursing students achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examinations (2022-2023).

Fully Accredited

The University of Jamestown is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Upon completion of this DEMSN program, you will be prepared to:

Apply current evidence and sound clinical judgement in the provision of compassionate, patient-centered care in any healthcare setting.

Analyze the impact of social, political, economic and technological trends on patient health behaviors, nursing practices and the healthcare delivery system.

Collaborate with patients, families and interdisciplinary team members to promote optimum states of health and wellness.

Synthesize concepts from nursing practice and other disciplines to form the foundation of your professional nursing practice.

Demonstrate leadership, accountability and cultural humility when managing care for diverse patients across the lifespan and continuum of care.

Promote patient and staff safety by utilizing quality improvement processes within complex systems of healthcare.

Utilize innovative technologies to enhance communication and access to equitable, holistic health services for individuals, families and populations.

Jimmie Voices

A smiling nursing student wearing a hijab and scrubs standing in a medical simulation lab with a mannequin patient in a hospital bed behind her.
I’m able to balance my family and at the same time attend my school in order to achieve my education.
Hawa Riji
DEMSN Student

Required Coursework

Course Title Credits

Semester 1

NRSG 501

Introduction to Professional Nursing

4

NRSG 510

Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice

6

NRSG 506

Health and Physical Assessment

3

NRSG 502

Healthcare Technologies and Informatics

3

Semester 2

NRSG 531

Care Management I: Adult and Child Health

7

NRSG 532

Nursing Care for the Childbearing Family

4

NRSG 530

Evidence Based Practice for Quality and Safety

3

Semester 3

NRSG 533

Care Management II: Adult and Child Health

7

NRSG 534

Nursing Care for Mental Health and Illness

4

NRSG 535

Healthcare Policy and Politics

3

Semester 4

NRSG 544

Care Management III: Adult and Child Health

7

NRSG 545

Nursing Care for Populations and Communities

4

NRSG 602

Organizational Theory and Leadership

3

Semester 5

NRSG 606

Transcultural Nursing and Health Challenges

2

NRSG 610

Advance Pathopharmacology & Physical Assessment for the Nurse Leader

4

NRSG 698

Professional Nursing Practice: Synthesis & Capstone Practicum

4

NRSG 697

Leadership in Complex Health Systems

4

Total Semester Credits Required: 72

The Direct-Entry MSN curriculum is comprised of 17 courses, totaling 72 credit hours. Embedded in the coursework are 120 hours of lab and 675 hours of clinical experience.

View Course Catalog

The Direct Entry Masters of Science in Nursing program at the University of Jamestown is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

We’re all about making your education accessible.

Tuition for the Direct-Entry MSN program is paid by the course, so you can manage costs as you advance. Ask us about tuition assistance from our healthcare partners!