Master of Science in Nursing
Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with three tracks:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – starting Fall 2024
Graduate students are prepared to utilize research and provide advanced practice nursing and leadership to the profession.
Full-time and part-time educational opportunities, as well as post-master’s certificates, are available. Certification examination pass rates can be found HERE.
Program Description
The purpose of the MSN degree program is to prepare professional nursing leaders in advanced specialty areas of nursing. Areas of concentration in this graduate program can be practiced in a variety of health care delivery systems and settings. The program builds upon baccalaureate preparation in nursing and is based on processes of advanced clinical practice; advanced theoretical application; social, economic, and political interpretation; professional role development; and legal and ethical analyses. The program provides the opportunity for students to think and write analytically and theoretically, to strengthen an area of practice, to apply theory to practice, to apply meaning and understanding in practice, and to develop skills of inquiry. Clinical credit hours for each track are on a 1:4 ratio (1 credit = 4 contact hours).
Learning Outcomes
Once you graduate from our MSN degree program, you will be able to:
- Utilize best evidence as a basis for decision-making in advanced nursing practice
- Evaluate health care policy issues and trends that affect advanced nursing practice
- Provide leadership to promote effective change and quality improvement through integration of advanced nursing knowledge, theories, and research
- Use ethical principles to guide advanced nursing practice and decision-making
- Integrate professional integrity, Christian caring, and a broad base of knowledge into advanced nursing practice
- Demonstrate collaborative and interprofessional approaches in advanced nursing practice
- Apply principles of population-based health promotion, disease prevention, and/or comprehensive care across the lifespan in the provision of advanced nursing practice
MSN Tracks
Family Nurse Practitioner
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track prepares registered nurses to fulfill the role of a competent health care provider responsible for managing the care of families in the primary care setting. The focus of the FNP track is to provide the knowledge and clinical skills necessary for health promotion, disease prevention, assessment, and management of common acute and chronic illnesses.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) track prepares nurses to manage adults across the life span that have acute, critical, and complex chronic conditions in acute care settings. Nurse practitioners with this specialty provide care ranging from disease prevention to acute and critical care management, restoring health, and/or providing symptom management.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) track prepares advanced practice nurses to deliver primary health care to individuals across the adult lifespan from adolescence through end of life. Nurse practitioners with this specialty have the knowledge and clinical skills necessary for health promotion, disease prevention, and management of acute and chronic illnesses in adults and older adults.