RN to MSN Programs in North Carolina

There are 7 schools based in North Carolina that offer an RN to MSN bridge program and a number of nationally accredited nursing schools that offer their RN to MSN programs online to registered nurses in North Carolina. Contact and accreditation information for these schools can be found listed below.

According to the Advance for Nursing 2009 Salary Survey, 12.4% of working nurses in North Carolina hold a master's in nursing. This leaves plenty of room and demand for master's educated nurses in all facets of advanced nursing practice from nurse educators to advanced practice nurses. Master's educated nurses also reported higher median hourly pay than did baccalaureate, associate and diploma educated nurses according to the same salary survey.

The RN to MSN program is designed for diploma and associate educated registered nurses to bridge the baccalaureate nursing education into the master's nursing education. Students can select from a variety of concentration or specialization tracks that fit their strengths and area of nursing practice they intend on pursuing a career. Generally, the RN to MSN curriculum focuses on enhancing students' knowledge of nursing theory and research as well as evidenced based practice. Advanced practice concentrations incorporate more clinical practice experiences and the application of nursing theory and research to practice and patient care.

To keep within curriculum guidelines and maintain accreditation by the CCNE or NLNAC, RN to MSN programs must incorporate the BSN curriculum and clinical requirements. There is no skipping over the baccalaureate education content prior to MSN curriculum. The goal is to fill leadership roles in all areas of nursing with highly skilled, competent and knowledgeable master's educated nurses and the RN to MSN is accomplishing just that. An RN to MSN program will take about three years to complete and is a very focused program. If this sounds like too much of a commitment at this time, you can still pursue higher education and create greater career mobility. The RN to BSN programs in North Carolina can often be completed in as little as one year. The RN to BSN is a stepping stone to an MSN program, which could be completed at a later date online or at a campus in North Carolina.

Online RN to MSN Programs Offered in North Carolina

Learn more about the RN to MSN bridge programs offered in North Carolina, including admissions and specialization tracks, by requesting information from the schools listed below.

Schools Offering Online RN to MSN Programs in North Carolina

Frontier Nursing University

Program: ADN-MSN Bridge - Nurse-Midwifery (Online)

Grand Canyon University

Programs: MBA and MSN in Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems (Bridge) (Online), MS in Nursing - Public Health (Bridge) (Online)

Western Governors University

Programs: MS in Nursing - Education (RN to MSN Option) (Online), MS in Nursing - Leadership & Management (RN to MSN Option) (Online)

Capella University

Program: MSN - Nurse Educator Bridge

Chamberlain College of Nursing

Program: RN to BSN to MSN Online Bridge Option

Gonzaga University

Programs: RN to MSN - Health Systems Leadership, RN to MSN - Nurse Educator

Grand Canyon University

Programs: Bridge to MS in Nursing: Nursing Education (RN License Required), MBA and MS in Nursing - Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems (Bridge), MS in Nursing - Health Care Informatics (Bridge), MS in Nursing - Leadership in Health Care Systems (RN License Required) (Bridge), MS in Nursing - Public Health (Bridge)

Grantham University

Program: RN to MSN Option

Herzing University

Program: Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Bridge

Loyola University New Orleans Online

Program: BLEND Program (MSN Bridge)

Nebraska Methodist College

Program: RN to MSN / Educator or Executive

South University

Programs: Master of Science in Nursing - Accelerated RN-MSN, Master of Science in Nursing - Accelerated RN-MSN - Adult Health Nurse Practitioner, Master of Science in Nursing - Accelerated RN-MSN - Nurse Educator

Western Governors University

Programs: M.S. in Nursing - Education (RN to MSN Option), M.S. in Nursing - Leadership and Management (RN to MSN Option)

Colleges & Universities Based in North Carolina Offering an RN to MSN Program

Duke University School of Nursing

The School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Programs Offered: ABSN, RN to MSN, MSN - (Concentrations: Adult Cardiovascular Care, Adult Critical Care, Adult Primary Care, Clinical Research Management, Family Nurse Practitioner, Gerontology, Nurse Anesthesia, Nursing and Health Care Leadership, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, Oncology, Neonatal/Pediatrics), DNP, PhD, Post-Master's Certificates

  • Duke University - School of Nursing, DUMC 3322, 307 Trent Drive, Durham, NC, 27710, PH: 919-684-9163

East Carolina University

CCNE accredited programs and NLNAC accredited programs

Programs Offered: BSN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN, MSN - (Concentrations: Adult Nursing Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Health, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership, Nurse Midwifery), PhD

  • East Carolina University - School of Nursing, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, PH: 252-328-5358

Gardner Webb University

CCNE & NLNAC accredited programs

Programs Offered: ADN, RN to BSN, RN - MSN, MSN - (Concentrations: Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, MSN/MBA)

  • Gardner Webb University, Campus Box 312, Boiling Springs, NC 28017, PH: 704-406-4000

Queens University of Charlotte

CCNE accredited programs

Programs Offered: ASN, BSN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN, MSN - (Concentrations: Health Systems Management, Clinical Nurse Leader, Nurse Educator Practices)

  • Queens University of Charlotte - Vail Program of Nursing, 1900 Selwyn Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28274, PH: 704-337-2276

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

CCNE accredited programs

Programs Offered: BSN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN, MSN - (Concentrations: Adult Nurse Practitioner (including ANP/Oncology option), Health Care Systems - Administration, - Clinical Nurse Leader, - Education, - Informatics, - Outcome Management, Children's Health (PNP, CNS), Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health, Women's Health (including dual option: WHCNP & FNP), Post-Master's programs with the MSN concentration options, Doctoral

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB # 7460, Carrington Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460, PH: 919-966-4260

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

CCNE and NLNAC accredited Programs

Programs Offered: BSN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN, MSN - (Concentrations: FNP, Nurse Educator), Post-Master's certificate

  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington - School of Nursing, 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403-3297, PH: 910-962-3208

Western Carolina University

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited Nursing School.

Programs Offered: BSN, accelerated BSN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN, MSN - (Tracks: Nurse Educator, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Administrator), Post-Master's certificates

  • Western Carolina University - Department of Nursing, 209 Moore Hall, Cullowhee, NC 28723, PH: 828-227-7211

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