Online Master's Degree in Nursing
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Salve Regina University's online master's degree in nursing is an accessible and intensive program for nurses who hold a B.S. in nursing and are seeking to provide advanced care in a variety of settings, including independent practice. We offer specializations in family nursing and psychiatric mental health, both of which provide the didactic and experiential learning necessary for certification as a nurse practitioner.
Delivered online in a thoughtful blend of live and self-paced courses, our master's degree in nursing offers the flexibility required for working adults while also fostering personal connections with faculty and peers that are the hallmark of the Salve Regina experience. A skills-based colloquium on campus is required when students reach the clinical portion of the course sequence.
After completing 48-51 credits of graduate-level coursework and a minimum of 750 clinical hours, students receive the Master of Science in nursing and are eligible to sit for the national certification examination.
In addition to the master's degree, Salve Regina offers graduate certificates in family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner for nurses who already hold a master's degree and wish to transition their career. Qualified graduates are also eligible to progress seamlessly into our post-master's Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
Degree type
Master's (M.S.)
Family nursing and psychiatric mental health specializations
Program format
Online
14-15 courses (48-51 credits)
Average time to complete
28-32 months
Application deadline
Rolling admission
Fall, spring and summer starts available
Today's patients are experiencing significant barriers to receiving quality health care, and nurse practitioners play a critical role in serving the community and enhancing patient care outcomes. Salve Regina's master's degree in nursing empowers the next generation of nurse practitioners to be the leaders in providing holistic care across the lifespan.
Dr. Sharon Stager, associate professor and associate chair of graduate nursing, Department of Nursing
The Salve Difference
Dedicated Faculty
Salve Regina offers an accredited, high-touch nursing program with access to dedicated faculty who are subject-matter experts in their field. Students are provided both an academic advisor and a success coach to support them with course selection and progression to attain degree completion.
Flexible and Affordable
Salve Regina's master's degree in nursing offers six different start dates per year and preferred tuition rates for nurses from partner institutions and members of the military. Most coursework is completed online and at your own pace – easily accommodating the busy schedules of professional nurses.
Purpose-Driven Education
Guided by Salve Regina's mercy mission, our program prepares nurses to provide empathetic, compassionate care across the lifespan. Our holistic approach to nursing practice provides the in-depth knowledge and skills needed to become a leader and advocate for healthy living and social justice.
My aspiration was to not only become a nurse practitioner but also to emerge as a leader who embodies the true essence of empathy and care for others. During my graduate studies at Salve, I acquired the knowledge and work ethic necessary to become a compassionate and competent nurse practitioner, and I gained the confidence to validate that this role was indeed my calling.
Dr. Kelly Burke '13, '17 (M), '19 (DNP), nurse practitioner, Mass General Brigham, and lecturer, Department of Nursing
Master's in Nursing Curriculum
Salve Regina's master's degree in nursing is designed for individuals who hold a B.S. in nursing from an accredited institution (with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0) and have an RN license. The flexible format of our online program is ideal for nurses who are working varying shifts or unconventional schedules.
Specialization in family nurse practitioner
Family nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who provide independent and collaborative health care based on evidence, scientific knowledge and science-based theory. Salve Regina's specialization in family nurse practitioner addresses a growing need for practitioners to provide high-quality patient care across the lifespan.
14 classes | 48 credits
Required courses:
- NUR503: Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
- NUR505: Foundations of the Advanced Practice Nurse
- NUR511: Global Influences in the Advanced Management of Care
- NUR512: Advanced Health Assessment
- NUR514: Advanced Healthcare Informatics
- NUR520: Research for Evidence-Based Practice
- NUR534: Advanced Care for the Maternal and Family Unit
- NUR535: Pharmacologic Principles for Advanced Practice Nursing
- NUR536: Advanced Care for the Pediatric Patient
- NUR540: Application of the Advanced Practice Nurse Role I
- NUR550: Advanced Practice Care I
- NUR552: Advanced Practice Care II
- NUR555: Application of the Advanced Practice Nurse Role II
- NUR565: Application of the Advanced Practice Nurse Role III
These courses include a minimum of 750 direct, supervised clinical hours across the lifespan. After earning the M.S. in nursing, graduates are prepared to sit for the national certification examination for family nurse practitioners.
Specialization in psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
Today's health care providers are faced with immense mental health issues presenting in populations from pediatric to geriatric. Salve Regina's specialization in psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner addresses a growing need to provide high-quality patient care across the lifespan.
15 classes | 51 credits
Required courses:
- NUR503: Advanced Physiology and Pathology
- NUR505: Foundations of the Advanced Practice Nurse
- NUR511: Global Influences in the Advanced Management of Care
- NUR512: Advanced Health Assessment
- NUR514: Advanced Healthcare Informatics
- NUR520: Research for Evidence-Based Practice
- NUR535: Pharmacologic Principles for Advanced Practice Nursing
- NUR542: Advanced Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan
- NUR546: Assessment, Diagnostics, Evaluation and Psychotherapies
- NUR554: Advanced Leadership in Healthcare
- NUR558: Psychogenomics, Psychopharmacology Management and Counseling
- NUR568: Mental Health Across the Lifespan
- NUR570: Clinical I
- NUR575: Clinical II
- NUR580: Clinical III
These courses include a minimum of 750 direct, supervised clinical hours across the lifespan. After earning the M.S. in nursing, graduates are prepared to sit for the national certification examination for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners.
The baccalaureate degree programs in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, post-master's certificate in family nurse practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Salve Regina are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. These programs are also accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Learn More About Salve Regina's Online Master's in Nursing
Our flexible and affordable nursing programs empower you to achieve your personal and professional goals. Embrace a rewarding career – connect with Salve Regina about pursuing our master's degree in nursing with specializations in family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.