RN to MSN Bridge Programs in Washington
Three schools based in Washington offer RN to MSN or MN programs. There are multiple online RN to MSN options offered by accredited nursing schools based outside of Washington. Listed below are the RN to MSN programs offered in Washington along with specialization track options, accreditation information and contact information.
Choosing to pursue an RN to MSN is a big decision that involves a significant time and financial commitment. The payoff can be well worth your time both financially and personally. The Washington Center for Nursing released their Update on the Washington State Nursing Workforce in April, 2009. According to the update there is a strong demand for nurses in all practice areas and job ads for nurses throughout Washington are quite prevalent. They also report that turnover has been high. Turnover may be due to job dissatisfaction and the aging nursing workforce in Washington. The average age of working nurses in Washington is 48.5 years old, which is higher than the national average. What all this means is that there is opportunity for master's educated nurses in Washington and an RN to MSN program is a streamlined pathway to career advancement.
Job dissatisfaction due to frontline nurse managers has been a major reason for nurses leaving the workforce. Frontline managers with less than adequate training in areas of dispute resolution and human resource management has been frequently documented. Many thought leaders have voiced their support for more master's educated nurse administrators and managers to fill frontline nurse manager positions with the expectation that job satisfaction for staff nurses will improve. Also, as floor nurses age the physical requirements of the job become too demanding. Many nurses have chosen to pursue their master's in nursing so that they may have the opportunity to move into less physically demanding positions.
Nurses with specializations in education are in high demand as the state, its colleges and universities work toward solutions to the nursing shortage and nurse faculty shortage. Advanced practice nurses will continue to see demand for their services as health systems reform their methods of patient care and move toward more cost-effective strategies that involve advanced practice nurses. As you can see, there are many opportunities for the master's educated nurse.
It is no joke that RN to MSN programs are extremely focused and take about three years to complete, however, the personal and professional rewards can be very worthwhile. Learn more about the RN to MSN options offered in Washington by using the provided information to contact schools. If the RN to MSN program sounds like too much of a time commitment at this point, then pursuing an RN to BSN program in Washington may be a welcome alternative.
Online RN to MSN Programs Offered in Washington
Walden University School of Nursing
The Walden University RN - M.S. programs are Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited.
Programs Offered: RN - M.S. (Leadership and Management, Informatics, and Education)
Capella University
Capella University offers a Master's in Nursing (MSN) Nurse Educator Bridge program for registered nurses that have a bachelor's degree in another area and a current RN license. This program is ideal for those that are interested in becoming nurse educators or clinical nurse leaders.
Programs Offered: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Nurse Educator Bridge Program
- Click Here to request information from Capella University's MSN Bridge Program.
American Sentinel University - School of Nursing
The RN to MSN completion program is offered online and accepts RN's with current licenses and either a community college degree or a nursing diploma. Courses are open for enrollment once a month. Get more information today.
Programs Offered: RN to MSN Online (Tracks: Nursing Management and Organizational Leadership, Case Management, Nursing Education, and Nursing Informatics), RN to BSN
- Click Here to request information from the American Sentinel University's Online RN to MSN Completion Program
Frontier School of Midwifery & Family Nursing - Distance Education
The Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of College and Schools.
Programs Offered: ADN - MSN Bridge Nurse Midwifery (accredited by ACME), ADN - MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (accredited by the NLNAC), and ADN - MSN Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (accredited by the NLNAC). FSMFN also offers an online DNP program accredited by the AACN.
- Click Here for more information about the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing distance education programs.
Graceland University
All nursing programs at Graceland University are CCNE accredited. Practicums are completed in the student's community. The FNP specialization requires a four day on-campus focus session during the BSN portion and two more on-campus focus sessions to during the MSN portion.
Online Programs Offered: RN to MSN - (Specializations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator/Clinical Nurse Specialist) Applicants specify their specialization interest after contacting the schools and during the application process.
- Click Here to request information from Graceland University about the RN to BSN/MSN programs.
Loyola University New Orleans - School of Nursing
The MSN - Blend and MSN program are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The Blend program is designed for registered nurses with bachelor's degree in another field who wish to pursue a master's of science in nursing degree.
Program Offered: MSN - Health Care Systems Management, MSN - BLEND Health Care Systems Management
- Click Here for information about the Loyola University Online MSN Programs.
Western Governors University - Nursing
Western Governors University offers an online RN to MSN degree program for registered nurses with an associate's degree. WGU is Regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as well as Nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council.
All of the Western Governors University nursing programs are Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited. The Online RN to MSN programs are currently accepting applications. Request information today.
Programs Offered: RN to BSN, RN to MSN - (Tracks: Nursing Education or Nursing Leadership & Management)
- Click Here to request information from WGU's Online RN to MSN Programs
Schools Based in Washington Offering an RN to MSN Program
Pacific Lutheran University School of Nursing
The Entry-Level MSN program is designed for students with a bachelor's degree in another field and who currently do not have a registered nursing license. The programs are CCNE accredited.
Program Offered: Entry-Level MSN
- Pacific Lutheran University School of Nursing, Ramstad Building #214, Tacoma, WA 98447, Ph: 253-535-7672
University of Washington - Tacoma
CCNE accredited
Program Offered: ADN-BSN-MN
- Nursing and Healthcare Leadership University of Washington Tacoma, 1900 Commerce Street, Tacoma WA 98402, PH: 253-692-4470
Washington State University - College of Nursing
CCNE accredited
Program Offered: RN-MN - (Tracks: Community-Based/Population Focused Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (P/MHNP))
- College of Nursing, 412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane WA 99202, PH: 509-324-7360
