Additional Requirements for Nursing

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Admission to graduate nursing programs:

1. Admission to the University (Apply online through graduate admissions) 

Master of Science in Nursing – Education and Administration Tracks 

Application for admission to the MSN Program should be made through the Gayle Bolt Price School of Graduate Studies. Application for admission to the MSN/MBA Program should also be made to the School of Graduate Studies, and applicants must meet admission requirements of both programs.

Graduates from the Hunt School of Nursing Accelerated BSN, Traditional BSN, or Davis RN-BSN programs will be seamlessly admitted into the MSN program within 1 year of graduation. Applicants will only be required to show proof of meeting criteria 2, 3, and 5 listed below. 

 In order to enroll students from a variety of backgrounds with the greatest potential for successfully completing the program, the following criteria for acceptance will be used: 

1. Baccalaureate degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution with a nationally accredited program. (Applicant with a baccalaureate degree in another field may be accepted). 
2. Current, unrestricted licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse.
3. GPA of 2.70 on all undergraduate work OR GPA of 2.70 for last 64 hours of undergraduate or graduate work
4. Current, official, satisfactory Criminal Background Check results from the current state of residence AND any other state lived in during the past 10 years, using package code ga98.
5. Completion of an undergraduate or graduate statistics course with a grade of “C” or better; a grade of “Pass” in a statistics course taken during the Spring 2020 semester will be reviewed for consideration on a case-by-case basis.

Doctor of Nursing Practice- Post-baccalaureate- Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP)

Application for admission to the DNP-Family Nurse Practitioner program should be made through the School of Graduate Studies. The following criteria for acceptance will be used.

Graduates from the Hunt School of Nursing ASN to RN-BSN, Accelerated BSN or Traditional BSN will be considered for seamless admission into the DNP-FNP or DNP-PMHNP program within 1 year of graduation.  Applicants will only be required to show proof of meeting criteria 1, 2, 3, and 9 listed below. 

• A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution with a nationally accredited nursing program
• Current, unrestricted licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse
• GPA of 3.0 on all undergraduate work OR GPA of 3.0 for last 60 hours of undergraduate or graduate work
• Transcripts of all previous college studies 
• Three letters of recommendation (professional and academic) submitted on provided form. At least one of the references should be from a supervisor or administrator. The graduate school does not accept references from pastors, friends or family members.
• Two years of full-time active RN practice (1,100 hours per year) over the past three years with a Statement of Description of Work Experience – Verification of RN Practice
• Current, official, satisfactory Criminal Background Check results from the current state of residence AND any other state lived in during the past 10 years, using package code ga98.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae
• Satisfactory completion of a graduate or undergraduate general statistics course, which included probability theory, inferential statistics, and descriptive statistics

RN applicants with a baccalaureate degree in another field may be accepted but must meet additional requirements prior to admission. The requirements include completion of an undergraduate or graduate statistics course, BSN-level nursing research course, and BSN-level communication skills in nursing course. A grade of “C” or higher must be earned in each course in order to meet requirements (a grade of “Pass” in a statistics course taken during the Spring 2020 semester will be reviewed for consideration on a case-by-case basis).

Doctor of Nursing Practice- Post Master’s (DNP)

The following criteria will be used for consideration of acceptance: 

• Current, unrestricted licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse. 
• Cumulative GPA of 3.20 on all previous graduate coursework as evidenced by official graduate by official graduate transcripts.
• MSN degree from a regionally accredited institution with a nationally accredited program. 
• Certifications in practice area (if applicable). 
• Three letters of recommendation (professional and academic) submitted on provided form. At least one of the references should be from a supervisor or administrator. The graduate school does not accept references from pastors, friends or family members.
• Current curriculum vitae.
• Written essay addressing goals related to doctoral education in nursing, including description of a practice project interest
• Current, official, satisfactory Criminal Background Check results from the current state of residence AND any other state lived in during the past 10 years, using package code ga98.
• Validation of the number of hours of nursing practice completed at the post-baccalaureate level as part of a supervised academic program submitted on the provided form.

Doctor of Nursing Practice- Post-Baccalaureate – Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP-PMHNP)

Application for admission to the DNP-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program should be made through the School of Graduate Studies. The following criteria for acceptance will be used.

Graduates from the Hunt School of Nursing ASN to RN-BSN, Accelerated BSN or Traditional BSN will be considered for seamless admission into the DNP-FNP or DNP-PMHNP program within 1 year of graduation.  Applicants will only be required to show proof of meeting criteria 1, 2, 3, and 9 listed below.  

• A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution with a nationally accredited nursing program
• Current, unrestricted licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse
• GPA of 3.0 on all undergraduate work OR GPA of 3.0 for last 60 hours of undergraduate or graduate work
• Transcripts of all previous college studies 
• Three letters of recommendation (professional and academic) submitted on provided form. At least one of the references should be from a supervisor or administrator. The graduate school does not accept references from pastors, friends or family members.
• Two years of full-time active RN practice (1,100 hours per year) over the past three years with a Statement of Description of Work Experience
• Current, official, satisfactory Criminal Background Check results from the current state of residence AND any other state lived in during the past 10 years, using package code ga98.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae
• Satisfactory completion of a graduate or undergraduate general statistics course, which included probability theory, inferential statistics, and descriptive statistics

RN applicants with a baccalaureate degree in another field may be accepted but must meet additional requirements prior to admission. The requirements include completion of an undergraduate or graduate statistics course, BSN-level nursing research course, and BSN-level communication skills in nursing course. A grade of “C” or higher must be earned in each course in order to meet requirements (a grade of “Pass” in a statistics course taken during the Spring 2020 semester will be reviewed for consideration on a case-by-case basis).

Out-of-state FNP/PMHNP Applicants

Students enrolled in the Hunt School of Nursing (HSON) Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner and/or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs (DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP) whose primary residence is outside of North Carolina, are responsible for securing their own practicum site in collaboration with the HSON.  Students may be required to attend a practicum site in a state other than their state of primary residence depending on the individual state regulations and availability of appropriate sites.  In the event a student is unable to secure a practicum site in their primary state of residency, the student will be required to return to North Carolina to complete practicum hours to fulfill graduation requirements.