Graduate Nursing Program

Graduate Nursing Programs

Have you have achieved all that you can with a BSN and now you want to accomplish more?

A graduate degree in nursing will prepare you to use the knowledge that you have gained through experience and your former education to build an expertise in a specific area of nursing.

Find out more about our specialty areas and program offerings by clicking on the links below. When you register in your first class you will receive a more detailed orientation to the program.

MSN Program Outcomes

A.  Demonstrate self-responsibility for continuous professional learning.

B.  Integrate theoretical models for improving healthcare outcomes for clients, families, and populations.

C.  Employ systematic inquiry and quality improvement strategies to enhance evidence based nursing practice and health care outcomes.

D.  Exhibit leadership excellence in systems to collaborate and communicate practice problems through interdisciplinary teams.

E.  Demonstrate clinical competence in Master's prepared nursing roles.

F.  Evaluate health care systems, policy, and finance to improve client care within the health care system.

G.  Implement safety and quality initiatives in health care to improve health outcomes and promote culturally responsive, timely, and equitable patient-centered care.

H.  Utilize Informatics to plan, examine, and enhance safety and quality processes in health care organizations.

Prospective Students
Admission Criteria
Contact Us
Graduate Nursing Handbook
Nursing Administration (NA) Plan of Study
Nursing Education (NE) Plan of Study
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Steps for International Student MSN Application
Doctor of Nursing Practice(DNP)

MSN programs, and DNP programs are all online. These programs do not meet the requirements for International students who require on campus courses.

Fort Hays State University Department of Nursing does not accept applications for the nursing program from the following states: Alabama, Tennessee, and Utah.

Clinical Clearance Requirements

The MSN Programs at FHSU requires preceptor led clinicals.  The clinical practicum for MSN-NA Program is associated with NURS 876 and offered in the Spring semester.  It consists of 90 practicum hours.  The clinical practicum for MSN-NE Program is associated with NURS 867 in the Fall semester and NURS 869 in the Spring semester.  It consists of 135 practicum hours.  Please note that clinical clearance requirements include obtaining student liability insurance, a background check, drug testing and immunization records.  

Fort Hays State University works diligently with students to secure clinical contracts across the United States.  On rare occasions due to locations or state or facility requirements, we are unable to negotiate a contract.  In this event, if another site cannot be obtained at the students location, a clinical site in Hays, Kansas will be provided for the student.  If this occurs, students will need a Kansas license and will need to come to Kansas for their practicum experience.  We encourage you to start the collaborative process of obtaining a preceptor early in your program.  If you have questions about this process, please contact the Nursing Department at Nurs.Contracts@fhsu.edu.

Prospective Graduate Students

Dear Prospective Graduate Student:

Thank you for your interest in Fort Hays State University's graduate program in nursing. Our nationally accredited program prepares post-BSN nurses in the advanced specialty roles of nurse administrator or nurse educator. Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Post-Master's curriculum options are available in Nursing Administration and Nursing Education tracks.

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at FHSU is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

The Nursing Administration (NA) track courses include administrative management in health organizations, nursing administration in complex organizations, and experience working with expert nurse administrators. The Nursing Education (NE) track courses include curriculum planning and evaluation, teaching strategies in nursing, and experience working with expert teachers in various nursing education programs. The Department of Nursing offers the MSN degree and Post-Master's credential in Nursing Administration and Nursing Education via the Internet with supplemental audio conferencing. This means that you can take these online courses from the comfort of your own home, plus have opportunities for live interaction among faculty and other students. The administration and education experiences needed for the NA and NE tracks can be taken near your place of residence to aid in the convenience of balancing your education with family and job responsibilities.

FHSU Department of Nursing requires one (1) application as well as other requirements before you can be admitted to the Masters of Science in Nursing Program. See the following URL for information: http://www.fhsu.edu/gradschl/programs. One application is the Graduate School form - http://www.fhsu.edu/gradschl/apply - which is submitted to the Graduate School.  The application should be submitted February 1 for the summer, July 1 for fall semester, and October 1 for the spring semester. Please browse this site for information regarding the curriculum for each of the tracks we offer, scholarships that are available and other pertinent information.

If you have any questions, please call me at 785-628-4511. I look forward to receiving your application and communicating with you in the future.

Sincerely,

Jenny Manry
Professor
Chair of Department of Nursing
jamanry@fhsu.edu