Nursing, MS—Direct Entry (Boston)

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Nursing, MS—Direct Entry 

Part I: Prelicensure

The direct-entry nursing student enters the accelerated master’s program as a graduate student. The first 16 months (four semesters) of the program consists of intensive, sequential undergraduate classes and clinical. Students are then prepared to take the National Council Licensure Exam upon completion of 64 program semester hours to earn an RN license. Students earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing after this part of the program. Financial aid will be granted on an undergraduate basis during the prelicensure phase of the program.

Entry RN Work Experience

Once a student graduates with a BSN, they are required to participate in an online, 0-semester-hour professional seminar for two semesters prior to progressing into their master's coursework. In addition, after passing the licensure exam, students must practice as a nurse for 6 to 12 months prior to progression into the master's core courses.  Students may begin the master's core courses during the required practice period, with approval from the specialty concentration director. 

Finding RN employment is the responsibility of the student, as it is professional nursing experience. Northeastern will help support the student in preparation for the job search. Please see MS Nursing for more information about the master's phase of the direct-entry program.

Part II: Return to Master’s Specialty Tracks

In the master’s program, students are required to take professional, research, and clinical core courses, as well as clinical courses specific to their concentration. Full- or part-time academic study is available to students. Most students return to the master’s segment of the program taking coursework as a part-time student while continuing to work and increasing the amount of professional RN experience accrued. Completion of the master’s degree can take four to six semesters, depending on the student’s program plan and concentration. Upon completion of the requirements for their concentration, the student receives a Master of Science degree and is eligible to take the national certification exam in their area of advanced nursing practice. Financial aid is awarded on a graduate basis during this portion of the program.

Bouvé College of Health Sciences School of Nursing

The goal of the School of Nursing is to promote clinical judgment development and prepare students to practice nursing competently and compassionately in rapidly changing practice environments. All efforts are designed to build nursing knowledge; enhance nursing practice and patient safety; foster professional identity; and ultimately improve the health outcomes of patients, families, and communities across the continuum of care. This approach is built on eight pillars: leadership; quality care; scientific reasoning; practice excellence; diversity, equity, and inclusion; innovation; interdisciplinary collaboration; and practice excellence. The clinical program takes place in the community where people live, as well as in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and long-term-care facilities.  The curriculum culminates in courses that allow students to apply their leadership and management skills while integrating the full scope of the professional nurse’s role through a clinical practicum.

In addition to completing academic coursework, students participate in cooperative education as specified by their plan of study, which gives them the opportunity to integrate the theory and practice of nursing in selected settings. Numerous community and institutional healthcare agencies in the Greater Boston area and beyond offer students an opportunity to gain experience in providing patient care to a variety of patients and families and to understand that nurses have major roles in wellness and health promotion, acute care, and long-term care.  Students in the program are highly encouraged to engage in research activities and explore global educational opportunities, both of which can be integral components of their studies.

The baccalaureate degree, the accelerated bachelor’s degree (ABSN in Burlington and Fall River, Massachusetts), and the direct entry master’s degree programs in nursing at Northeastern University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791, and are also approved by the Board of Registration in Nursing of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The ABSN program in Charlotte is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791, and approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing. Accreditation and approval indicate that the program meets educational standards for faculty, curriculum design, teaching quality, and overall university support. 

Academic Standards and Progression Policy (Undergraduate Students, Direct Entry, Accelerated Program for Second-Degree and Transfer Track Students)

Academic standards and progression policies are reviewed and updated annually.

Students in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Prelicensure Nursing Major of BSN, ABSN, Transfer Track, or DE (baccalaureate portion) will be dismissed from their major for any of the reasons noted in the catalog or a course failure, effective the following academic semester.

Course Failure

• Students who do not meet the required minimum grade of a C (73.0%) in two professional courses will be dismissed from the program. Professional courses include labs, clinical, and didactic classes that are designated nursing (NRSG) courses. Only one professional course can be repeated, and each course can be repeated once.
• Students must retake the failed professional course as a requirement for progression in the program. Students can repeat the failed course the next time it is offered within their specific program.
• Students will not be permitted to progress to the nursing clinical courses without successfully repeating the failed course.

Course Withdrawal

Only two professional course withdrawals will be permitted (excluding leave of absence). Students can only withdraw from each professional course once. More than two professional course withdrawals will lead to dismissal from the program.  Based on the requirement that the theory course and the clinical/lab course are taken concurrently, a withdrawal in either the theory course or clinical lab course results in the student withdrawing from both courses. Personal leaves of absence will be considered on an individual basis. 

Academic Appeals

It is the policy of the university that all students shall be treated fairly in evaluations made of their academic performance, standing, and progress. The School of Nursing policy regarding academic appeals is consistent with Northeastern University. For more information about academic appeals policies and procedures see the Bouvé Appeals Policy at Academic Appeals.

Program policies and standards may be found in the Pre-licensure Handbook. Students are expected to adhere to the policies and standards of their program major as stated in the Student Handbook to progress through their curriculum as planned. Students seeking any exceptions to the program policies and standards specified for their program major can petition the School of Nursing Academic Standing Committee for their requests.

Nursing Program Requirements

The nursing program offers multiple attendance options for students, as outlined below:

For First-Year (Freshman) Students (Including N.U.in) and Current Northeastern Students Changing Majors to BSN

• Four-Year Plan with Two Six-Month Co-Ops:
  • At least one co-op must involve working directly with registered nurses providing patient care.
  • All co-op experiences outlined in the academic plan must be completed with a grade of "S" (Satisfactory).

For those with a previous college degree or 62 college credits

• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing  or Transfer Track:
  • Requires either a prior bachelor’s degree with 66 transfer credits or a transfer track with 62 college credits (including prerequisites).
  • Features a 16-month, full-time hybrid program of nursing courses combining online coursework, clinical placements, and hands-on skills lab experience.
  • The Transfer Track includes an additional 4-credit Northeastern English course alongside nursing courses.
• Direct Entry Program:
  • Acceptance into the DE program includes the accelerated, pre-licensure, in-person program as well as an MSN program that will follow (NP specialty tracks).
  • Initial phase is 16 months (four semesters) of intensive undergraduate nursing courses and clinical training.
  • Students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam after completing 64 semester hours to earn an RN license.
  • A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is awarded upon completing this phase, with financial aid provided at the undergraduate level during the pre-licensure phase.

Graduation Requirements

All students, regardless of their entry point, must complete 130 semester hours of academic credit to meet university and nursing curriculum requirements and graduate within their expected time frame.

Clinical Attendance Policy

Attendance in clinical is mandatory for all students. In the case of an illness, injury, or extenuating circumstance, which requires a student to miss clinical hours, students are required to make up missed hours. Clinical hours are to be completed on the clinical makeup day or as approved by the clinical coordinator. Failure to meet clinical course objectives due to missed clinical hours will result in course failure. To be eligible to make up hours, students are required to communicate an absence before clinical in a method required by the faculty.

Students must be fully compliant with onboarding and clinical clearance requirements to start the clinical course (see Documentation of Immunity and Clinical Clearance) and throughout the course. In addition, to the university’s immunization requirements, students will adhere to the policies and procedures of assigned clinical sites and are required to complete a background check. Students must be in compliance of all clinical clearance requirements at all times during the clinical portion of the program. Students in Boston and Burlington will need to register in Exxat, an Education Management Platform for Health Sciences that tracks clinical compliance. Students in Charlotte will need to register with both Complio and My Clinical Exchange. All students will be advised at clinical orientation what is needed for their assigned clinical placement. If a student is noncompliant with health insurance and clinical clearance requirements, the student will be removed from clinical immediately.

Grounds for Clinical Warning, Removal from Clinical Site, and Clinical Course Failure

The following reasons will result in clinical course failure:

• Failure to meet clinical course outcomes and/or competencies
• Failure to demonstrate safe clinical practice
• Failure to adhere to the School of Nursing Code of Professional Conduct

Clinical Requirements

Please see School of Nursing Clinical settings policies.

Technical Standards for Admission, Academic Progression, and Graduation

In addition to classroom learning, students’ clinical education experiences occur in settings, like hospitals, in which patient safety is the priority. For this reason, students who, upon enrollment in any of the nursing programs, seek accommodations from Disability Access Services at Northeastern must also request an assessment of accommodations that would be needed for clinical education.  

Certain functional abilities are essential for the delivery of safe, effective nursing care during clinical education activities. Therefore, the School of Nursing has determined that certain technical standards are requisite for admission, progression, and graduation from the nursing programs. An individual must be able to independently, with or without reasonable accommodation, meet the following technical standards:

1. General abilities
2. Observational ability
3. Communication ability
4. Motor ability
5. Intellectual, conceptual, and quantitative abilities
6. Behavioral and social attributes
7. Ability to manage stressful situations

Individuals unable to meet these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, will not be able to complete the program.  

General Abilities

The student is expected to possess functional use of the senses of vision, touch, hearing, and smell so that data received by the senses may be integrated, analyzed, and synthesized in a consistent and accurate manner. A student must be able to respond promptly to urgent situations that may occur during clinical training activities and must not hinder the ability of other members of the healthcare team to provide prompt treatment and care to patients. 

Observational Ability

The student must have sufficient capacity to make accurate visual observations and interpret them in the context of laboratory studies, medication administration, and patient care activities. In addition, the student must be able to document these observations and maintain accurate records.  

Communication Ability

The student must communicate both verbally and nonverbally in order to elicit information and to convey that information to others. Each student must have the ability to read and write accurately and comprehensively in English. The student must be able to thoroughly comprehend and fluently speak the English language so as to facilitate communication with patients, families, professionals in healthcare settings, instructors, and other students. The student must also be able to present information in a professional, logical manner and to provide counseling and instruction in order to effectively care for patients and their families.  

Motor Ability

The student must be able to perform gross and fine motor movements with sufficient coordination needed to perform complete physical examinations utilizing the techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, and other diagnostic maneuvers. A student must develop the skills needed to perform or assist with procedures, treatments, administration of medication, and the management and operation of diagnostic and therapeutic medical equipment. The student must possess the physical and mental stamina to meet the demands associated with extended periods of sitting, standing, moving, and physical exertion required for satisfactory and safe performance in the clinical and classroom settings.

Intellectual, Conceptual, and Quantitative Abilities

The student must be able to develop and refine critical thinking skills that are essential to nursing practice. Critical thinking involves the abilities to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize objective and subjective data and to make decisions, often in a time-urgent environment, that reflect consistent and thoughtful deliberation and sound clinical judgment. 

Behavioral and Social Attributes

Compassion, integrity, motivation, effective interpersonal skills, and concern for others are personal attributes required of those in the nursing programs. The student must be able to work under supervision of a clinical instructor or preceptor; this is essential to ensure patient safety. The student must exercise good judgment and promptly complete all responsibilities in the classroom and clinical settings. The ability to establish culturally competent relationships with individuals, families, and groups and to respond effectively to patients who have different intellectual capacities is critical to nursing practice. 

Ability to Manage Stressful Situations

The student must be able to adapt to and function effectively in stressful situations in both the classroom and clinical settings, including emergency situations. These stressors include personal, patient care/family, faculty/peer, and/or program-related issues. 

Disability and Special Needs

Students with special needs are encouraged to contact Disability Access Services to register and request services. Students must notify the instructor at the beginning of the semester if they plan to use DAS services throughout the course. The staff in that office is available for assistance.

State Board Nursing Examination

In Massachusetts, North Carolina, and several other states, the registering board requires that graduates taking the National Council Licensing Examination meet standards of “good moral character." Students may review the GMC requirement specified at Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 112, sections 74, 74A, and 76; Licensure Policy No. 00-01 under “Rules & Regulations” on the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing website.

North Carolina requirements for licensure can be found on the North Carolina Board of Nursing website.  

Please visit Bouvé College of Health Sciences Program Learning Outcomes for the specific student learning outcomes for this program.

Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Core Requirements

A grade of B or better in the BSN clinical courses is highly recommended for progression into the MSN portion of the program. Progression is at the graduate specialty director’s discretion.

Students must successfully complete all courses with a grade of C or better except where otherwise indicated.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Semester 1
HLTH 2100	Interprofessional Ethics for Individual and Population Health	4
NRSG 2215	Cultivating Nursing Professional Identity and Practice	3
NRSG 2222 and NRSG 2221	Health Assessment and Fundamental Nursing Skills and Lab for NRSG 2220 and NRSG 2222	5
NRSG 2350	Integrated Pathophysiology and Pharmaceutical Interventions for Nursing Practice	6
Semester 2
NRSG 3320 and NRSG 3321	Nursing Care of Adults 1 and Clinical for NRSG 3320	6
NRSG 3333 and NRSG 3334	Comprehensive Assessment and Advanced Nursing Skills and Lab for NRSG 3333	4
NRSG 3400 and NRSG 3401	Nursing and the Promotion of Mental Health and Clinical for NRSG 3400	5
Semester 3
NRSG 3420 and NRSG 3421	Nursing Care of Adults 2 and Clinical for NRSG 3420	6
NRSG 3344 and NRSG 3345	Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family and Clinical for NRSG 3344	3
NRSG 4504 and NRSG 4505	Nursing Care of Children and Clinical for NRSG 4504	3
NRSG 5220	Introduction to Research Methods and Application for Healthcare	4
Semester 4
NRSG 4604 and NRSG 4605	Public Health Community Nursing and Clinical for NRSG 4604	5
NRSG 4610	Managing and Leading in Healthcare	4
NRSG 4889 and NRSG 4996	Transition into Nursing Practice and Clinical for NRSG 4995 and NRSG 4889	6

Program Credit / GPA Requirements

64 total semester hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required