Career Prospects

Graduates of the MSN program will be able to:

• Integrate findings from the sciences and humanities to continually improve nursing practice across diverse settings.
• Collaborate within interprofessional teams using effective leadership skills, ethical awareness, and critical decision making to promote quality and safety outcomes within the healthcare system.
• Use appropriate quality improvement methods and healthcare technologies to integrate, coordinate, and improve care.
• Employ evidence-based practice methods to initiate changes in practice settings and to disseminate results.
• Examine strategies to advocate for policies that improve the health of the public and the profession of nursing.
• Incorporate organizational, client-centered, and culturally sensitive concepts in the implementation of evidence-based clinical prevention for individuals, families, and identified populations.
• Demonstrate advanced level expertise in performing direct or indirect nursing interventions that influence healthcare outcomes for individuals, populations, or systems.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master’s program requires approval by the MSN Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee. Admission of applicants is based upon the following criteria:

1. Complete the application at bellarmine.edu/apply-now.
2. BSN from a CCNE or ACEN accredited nursing program.
3. Minimum GPA of 3.0 is required
4. Goal statement: The goal statement is your opportunity to tell us (as specifically as you can at this time) about your career plans after you finish your master’s degree. This statement provides us with a sample of your writing ability and helps faculty determine your fit with Bellarmine’s offered program.
5. Two professional references. The strongest recommendations are from managers, directors, professors or others in a supervisory capacity. Recommendations from friends, other students, or co-workers are not appropriate. 
6. Resume describing relevant work, professional, and volunteer experiences.
7. Proof of active, unrestricted license to practice nursing in Kentucky and/or compact state.
8. Final official transcript(s) from each college or university attended should be mailed to the Office of Graduate Admission and should not be marked “Issued to Student.” Note: It is the student’s responsibility to request all official transcripts. Official transcripts must be mailed directly from the institution to Bellarmine University and should not be marked issued to student or addressed to the student.
9. If any transcript(s) or undergraduate degree(s) is from an international institution, you must provide an official copy of a third-party course by course credential evaluation Bellarmine University. The following organizations offer this service and information regarding processes and fees are available at: www.aacrao.org, www.wes.org, and www.ece.org. The Office of Graduate Admission reserves the right to request a certified copy of the original transcript(s).
10. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (if requested). 
11. In 2018 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported healthcare facilities across the United States are increasingly requiring healthcare workers be vaccinated for vaccine-preventable diseases to reduce disease outbreaks. Therefore, those who choose not to be vaccinated for personal, religious, or medical reasons are not eligible for admission to the School of Nursing. https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/vaccinationlaws.html

Admission Deadlines

We review applications throughout the year. We suggest applying 2-3 months prior to the semester within which you would like to begin.

International Applicants

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission, please submit the following:

Language Proficiency. Language proficiency is required to ensure that students within the department of nursing are able to communicate with a diverse population. The department of nursing accepts one of the following as evidence of required language proficiency:

• TOEFL-iBT (internet-based test) and receive a total score of 83 or higher AND a score of 26 or higher on the speaking test OR
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and receive a total band score of 7 or higher AND a speaking band score of 8 or higher OR
• Language training at an approved center. Bellarmine University recognized the following standards and centers: English Language Services level 112 (https://www.els.edu); Interlink Level 5 (http://interlink.edu/); Intensive Language Program at Indiana University Level 6 (http://iep.indiana.edu/); and other centers may be approved at the discretion of the Admission, Progression and Graduation committee of the Department of Nursing.

International students who are exempt from language proficiency requirements are the following:

• Students who are citizens of or have completed a degree from a TOEFL exempt country.
• Students who have a secondary or high school diploma earned in TOEFL exempt countries.
• International students who have completed at least one year of full time university study or its equivalent (i.e., a minimum of 24 earned credit hours or its equivalent and earned a 2.0 GPA) in a TOEFL exempt country. Only official score reports will be accepted.

Financial Affidavit. All applicants must provide credible evidence (e.g. a bank statement, letter on bank stationary attesting to the availability of funds, etc.) of the ability to fund the cost of attending Bellarmine University for one academic year. If funds are provided by another person on behalf of the student, an affidavit must accompany the financial information.

Proof of Passport. Scan of passport ID page must show validity for 6 months post completion of the program.

Accreditation

The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing, Master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Bellarmine University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).