State Regulations and Restrictions

Drexel’s Dual Accelerated RN-BSN-MSN program is uniquely designed for nurses who have a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing. The program emphasizes the development of competencies related to the use of technology, evidence-based practice, customization of care, health team and interdisciplinary leadership, and outcome and risk assessment within the selected specialty track.

Second degree registered nurses (RNs) who wish to pursue a BSN in an accelerated time frame may take 15 quarter credits at the BSN level and then directly matriculate into one of the MSN Advanced Role programs. To get started, complete the admission process to the MSN program of your choice and seek initial advisement from that program's academic advisor. The graduate program department chair will then review your file for program eligibility.

Upon graduation, you will be prepared to:

• Take on leadership roles in a variety of healthcare settings
• Practice within a legal and ethical framework of healthcare delivery
• Demonstrate critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision-making
• Integrate technologies and relevant theories into the organization and synthesis of health data required to develop plans of care for patients, families, and communities
• Demonstrate leadership through involvement in the development of outcome-based standards of care and practice-based health policy issues
• Evaluate and modify the quality and effectiveness of clinical practice based on current research findings, standards of care, and patient outcomes
• Contribute to the advancement of nursing, healthcare, and humanity through communication, collaboration, and education

Program Features

• Consistently ranked among the best online Master's in Nursing Programs by U.S. News & World Report
• After successfully completing the 15 undergraduate bridge credits and being accepted into the MSN program, you will progress directly into graduate-level coursework
• The BSN is awarded at the same time you complete the MSN
• Emphasizes evidence-based approaches to the solution of clinical problems, assessment of nursing and healthcare outcomes, clinical decision-making, and the design of nursing care for clinical populations at the clinical unit or similar small system level, lateral care integration, and clinically-based leadership
• Practicum experiences provide opportunities to deepen your skills and develop additional competencies for the advanced role

MSN Concentration Courses

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner (Individual Across the Lifespan)
• Family Nurse Practitioner (Individual Across the Lifespan) with Emergency Specialization
• Nursing Education
• Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Management
• Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Primary Care and Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (Dual Option)
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Public Health Nursing
• Quality, Safety, and Risk Management
• Women's Health/Gender Related Nurse Practitioner

Program Level Outcomes: https://drexel.edu/provost/offices/assessment/outcomes/grad-program/CNHP/

Deadline

August 15, 2025

Admissions Criteria

You must complete the admission process to the MSN program of your choice and seek initial advisement from that program's academic advisor. The graduate program department chair then reviews your file for program eligibility.

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• Graduation from a nursing program that is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education for Nursing (ACEN)
• GPA of 3.0 or above on all previous coursework, or 3.25 or above on the last 60 credits of the bachelor's degree
• If your GPA is lower than a 3.0, your application will be considered on an individual basis
• While previous clinical/work/volunteer experience is not required, it may make your application more competitive
• A current, unrestricted United States RN license

Required Documents

With multiple ways to submit documents, Drexel makes it easy to complete your application. Learn more by visiting our supporting document submission guide.

• A completed application
• Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended
• Two professional letters of recommendation from colleagues or supervisors who can attest to your clinical knowledge, skill, and potential aptitude for graduate study
• Letters must include the address, phone number, and signature of your recommender
• References will not be accepted from colleagues or family members
• Personal statement describing your interest in the MSN degree and particular concentration area
• Resume including specific details of your responsibilities and job experiences
• A copy of your United States RN license (License verification from your nursing license registry website is acceptable)
• Additional requirements for International Students

An admissions interview may be required.

Curriculum

This program is organized into four 10-week quarters per year (as opposed to the traditional two-semester system) which means you can take more courses in a shorter time period. One semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits.

Graduate students who utilize student loans (FAFSA) must maintain a minimum enrollment of 4.5 credits per term.

For Full List of courses, please visit Drexel Online.

Program Outcomes

• Practices within a legal and ethical framework of health care delivery.
• Advances the role of advanced nursing practice in the health care system through scholarship, clinical experience and political involvement.
• Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision-making.
• Integrates multiple technologies and relevant theories into the organization and synthesis of health data required to develop plans of care for patients, families and communities.
• Integrates culturally sensitive health promotion activities that contribute to the health and wellness of the community into clinical practice.
• Demonstrates leadership in nursing and health care through involvement in the development of outcome-based standards of care and practice-based health policy issues.
• Evaluates and modify the quality and effectiveness of clinical practice based on current research findings, standards of care and patient outcomes.
• Contributes to the advancement of nursing, health care and humanity through communication, collaboration and education.

Nursing Program Mission and Values

The Nursing program faculty and staff are committed to educating nurses to embrace both the art and science of nursing, to integrate caring into practice, to think critically and practice competently, compassionately and safely in complex rapidly changing practice environments. The Nursing program supports administrators, faculty, staff and students in developing holistic evidence-based programs, which create healing and caring environments at all levels that reflect innovative education, interdisciplinary practice and research.

The highest goals of the program include demonstrating efficacy, quality and cost-effectiveness of evidence-based nursing interventions in promoting health, preventing disease, preserving human dignity, reducing health disparities and caring for the sick and injured.

All efforts in the Nursing program are designed to build nursing knowledge, enhance nursing practice, foster professional integrity, promote innovation, engage in interdisciplinary collaboration and ultimately improve the health outcomes of patients and families from diverse communities across the continuum of care.

The Nursing program is committed to excellence in nursing education through educational programs that are:

• Authentic: We value a deep connection to others, appreciation of diverse opinions and respect for the other’s frame of reference. We value going beyond objective assessment to understand the context of the other, creative use of self and engagement in the artistry of the caring-healing process—the essence of Nursing.
• Complex: We value complexity science by recognizing that our Nursing program is a complex, dynamic, unpredictable, emerging, self-organizing and adaptive system that cannot be reduced to the sum of its members. As such, we seek that administrators, faculty, staff and students develop skills to improvise, build on the innovations of others, develop positive interpersonal interactions, appreciate the reciprocity that our actions have on the larger system and ourselves and embrace surprise as an opportunity to learn, make sense of our dynamic reality and make a positive impact on the health of our clients.
• Rigorous: We continuously review and redesign programs, courses, technology-infused learning systems and educational products for depth and quality with the learner's experience and background in mind.
• Relevant: We continuously examine changing market forces, the progression of nursing knowledge and the best practices in health care and education to redesign educational programs. There is a strong commitment to population-focused care practice in diverse communities; therefore, we strive to ensure clinically relevant education and simulation experiences. Our faculty serves as excellent role models for developing clinicians.
• State of the Art: We value the use of technological innovation and patient simulation scenarios which foster advanced and evidence-based interdisciplinary communication and teamwork, multiple patient management and crisis resource management skills, provision of culturally relevant care, decreased prevalence of errors and adverse events and a higher intellectual standard in both undergraduate and graduate nursing education.
• Learner-Friendly: In consideration of the demanding, fast-paced lives of our students and nurse consumers, we offer high-quality educational programs in convenient and contemporary formats, including access to academic online courses with attention to user-friendly interfaces as well as resources to enhance academic success. In addition, the College of Nursing and Health Professions is committed to being a challenging and rewarding work environment for faculty, staff and administrators. Information and data on all aspects of the college’s operations are widely shared with faculty, staff and students and all are encouraged to participate in its decisions and activities.