To become licensed as a RN, the student only needs to have completed an accredited nursing program and have earned either an Associate or Bachelor's degree (ADN or BSN) in nursing, or in some instances, a nursing diploma. However to advance in nursing practice, nurses must specialize and gain work experience and associated skills such as nursing leadership, nursing education or research, and they must also acquire a graduate degree in nursing. These programs allow the nurse to study subjects and acquire techniques required to become an Advanced Practice Nurse. They can then specialize in a particular field of nursing, such as Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwifery or Nurse Anesthetist. Individual clinical specialties such as psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, or cardiology will also have their own advanced training for MSN students wishing to focus on one field.
These programs are also known as "RN to MSN", "RN to MSN Fast Track" or "RN to MSN Pathway", however different schools treat the terminology very differently. Some schools only admit RNs who hold a BSN; however, many will also admit non-nursing students who have gained a bachelor's degree in another field and wish to progress towards the MSN.These programs may or may not award the BSN. If this is important to the student, it will be necessary to verify the exact status of the chosen program; otherwise, the student only graduates with the MSN qualification. For example, South University offers an intensive Accelerated RN-to-MSN Program to non-BSN qualified RNs, and allows the student to earn both the BSN and the MSN. Saint Peter's College in New Jersey admits non-BSN RNs into their RN to MSN Bridge Program, but requires that students achieve competence in undergraduate nursing courses. These students graduate with only the MSN, not the BSN.
Different schools have different entry criteria. For example, Capital University offers a MSN Fast Track to RNs who hold an Associate degree or diploma in nursing. The applicants must have a valid and current RN license for the state of Ohio, where Capital University is located, as well as professional references. However, because the basic entry for a MSN program is the completion of a baccalaureate degree, the student will need to be admitted to Capital University's BSN-completion program and successfully graduate from this. Alabama's Samford University also offers an RN to MSN to experienced ADN or hospital diploma holders who are also licensed RNs. The seven-semester program consists of two semesters of four separate, prerequisite bridge courses which must be successfully completed before the student can start the MSN program proper.
Students are usually required to complete general education courses before they will be allowed to start the RN to MSN program. Credits should be earned in subjects including English Composition, College Algebra or Math, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Developmental Psychology, Speech and other electives.
Most RN to MSN curricula are part of the school's traditional MSN program, so that all student's curricula vary between schools; for example, at Capital University, students are allowed to complete nursing courses such as Nursing Theories, Nursing Research and Nursing Informatics while they are still enrolled in the BSN program. Students at Saint Peter's College will finish Current Issues in Health Care, Client Education, Nursing Theory and Nursing Research in Level 1 of the MSN, with associated subjects such as Advanced Pathophysiology, Pharmacology for Prescriptive Practice and Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning. When they move to Level 2, they can begin specialty courses in Advanced Practice Adult Nursing, in addition to a Master's Project and 270 hours of practical experience in a clinic. At Samford University, RN to MSN bridge students with a specific concentration, such as Family Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Educator, can take courses such as Family Practice or Leadership and Management.