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MSN Admission Requirements

[ MSN Application Process ]
[ MSN Prospective Students ]

[ MSN Application ]

The MSN applicant must:

• Meet the admission requirements for graduate education at Florida International University and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.  Administrators and faculty use an evaluation matrix to evaluate applicants to the NP/CNS program. (CLICK HERE for the admission evaluation matrix).  NOTE:  The evaluation matrix DOES NOT apply to Anesthesiology Nursing applicants.  See admission requirements on the Anesthesiology Nursing Website.
   
• Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
   
• Possess a current State of Florida RN license. Out-of-state students must obtain a license to practice in Florida.
   
• Have a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commisssion (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Anesthesiology Nursing applicants may be accepted with a baccalaureate degree in an appropriate area other than nursing. However, they must be a registered nurse (RN), have completed an Associate Degree in Nursing and be licensed to practice nursing.
   
• Have completed a minimum of one year of clinical nursing practice as an RN. Anesthesiology Nursing applicants must have completed a minimum of one year of clinical experience as an RN in a critical care setting.
   
• Have successfully completed an introductory course in statistics (3 credits) and health assessment (3 credits) at the undergraduate level, as well as computer application skills (word processing).
   
• Have completed an essay as described below. The essay, no more than two (2) double-spaced typewritten pages is required for admission to the MSN program. Please address the following points:
  • Reason for your decision to enter the graduate program in your chosen specialty.
  • Your goals and expectations as an advanced nurse practitioner.
  • Describe how you have practiced the roles listed below and how you expect to improve your performance through graduate study.
  • Quality care provider
  • Teacher, manager, consultant
  • Practitioner who integrates psychosocial, developmental, and cultural aspects into care.
  • Change agent in the professional arena.
  • Developer of innovations in care protocols and care delivery.
     
• Have provided three (3) letters of reference. Admission to the MSN program requires three references from persons in an educational, administrative, or collegial capacity who have worked closely with you in the past five years. At least one letter must be from an employer or immediate supervisor. A professor is strongly recommended as a second person if your previous education was fairly recent. It is important that at least one of the three persons has first-hand knowledge about your clinical competence in nursing.
  
  The forms for the letters of reference are included in the application materials obtained from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Complete the top portion of the forms and give them to your selected individuals. Inform the person who is completing the reference that the completed form should be returned directly to the FIU College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University Park Campus, Graduate Nursing Program, HLS 2 Room 485, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199.
   
• Have an interview with a member of the MSN program faculty. In cases involving great distances, a conference call arrangement may be used in lieu of a personal interview. The MSN program secretary will arrange the interview after all admission materials have been received.
   
• Have proof of liability insurance prior to registration for the first clinical specialty course.

In addition:

• The Florida Board of Nursing and clinical agencies require the disclosure of conviction records for misdemeanors and/or felonies; therefore, this information is required at the time of admission to the program. Applicants are required to submit to state and federal background checks. Findings in background checks may affect a student's ability to participate in clinical experiences and complete the program, and/or obtain advanced licensure. For FIU's policies and procedures related to substance abuse, CLICK HERE If you have questions about the background check, contact Dr. Sherry Pontious, Director of Academic Programs, 305-348-7741.
  
  Nursing majors are responsible for transportation expenses related to clinical experiences. They are required to carry health and accident insurance. To safeguard the health of both nursing students and their clients, students must submit proof of immunizations on entry into the nursing program. Students must submit proof of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification prior to entering clinical courses. CPR certification, immunizations, and health insurance must be kept current during enrollment in the major.

• If an applicant is using the GRE as part of the admission evaluation matrix (CLICK HERE for the evaluation matrix), the GRE examination must have been taken within the past five years unless the applicant has successfully completed a previous graduate degree program. The GRE results should be sent directly to the:
  • 1) FIU Graduate Admissions Office, P.O. Box 659004, Miami, Florida 33265-9004. 
  • 2) FIU College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Graduate Program, University Park Campus, HLS 2 Room 485, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199.

  • You may take the test a maximum of five times in one year. For information on the GRE exam, you may call the Educational Testing Service at (609) 771-7670 or write:

    GRE, Educational Testing Service
    P.O. Box 6000
    Princeton, NJ 08541-6000
    http://www.gre.org/

    Computer-based testing (CBT) is now available at test centers worldwide.  Appointments are scheduled on a first-come basis.  To register, call 1-800-GRE-CALL.

Admission Requirements for Post Master’s Certificate Programs

• Master's degree in Nursing with a clinical specialty from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• Graduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
• State of Florida RN licensure.

[ Post Masters Application ]

For International Students (Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools):

• Applicants, whose native language is not English, must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and obtain a score of 500 or higher on the written examination or 213 or higher on the computerized examination. 
• A photocopy of applicant’s Florida RN license or CGFNS certification must be filed with the University application in lieu of the TOEFL requirement.
• A Florida RN license is required prior to starting a clinical nursing course.

• International students who have received a U.S. degree are not required to submit TOEFL scores.  Information about the examination may be obtained by writing to:

  TOEFL/TSE Publications
  P.O. Box 6154
  Princeton, NJ 08541-6154
  USA

Students who do not meet the stated requirements for graduate admission MUST petition the Graduate Program (NP/CNS) Admissions Committee.  Contact the Office of the Director of Admissions and Student Services for procedure. 

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NOTE: Florida International University and College of Nursing and Health Sciences' policies, procedures, requirements and regulations are continually subject to review in order to serve the needs of the University/College’s publics and to respond to the mandates of the Florida Department of Education, Board of Governors, the Legislature, and other regulatory and accrediting agencies.  Changes in programs, policies, procedures, requirements, and regulations may be made without advance notice.