Academic Programs
Nursing – RN to MSN
Overview
If you’re a registered nurse ready to lead, specialize, and make a deeper impact in healthcare, Bluefield University’s RN to MSN degree is designed with your future in mind. This flexible, career-focused program allows you to move seamlessly from your RN credential to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) — saving time while opening doors to advanced roles in leadership, education, and specialized care.
At Bluefield, you won’t just earn a degree — you’ll gain the confidence, clinical insight, and leadership skills to shape the future of healthcare in your community and beyond.
RN to MSN Degree Opportunities
- Designed for Working Nurses
We understand your schedule isn’t 9–5. That’s why our RN to MSN program is built with flexible online coursework, allowing you to balance work, family, and your education. - Accelerated Pathway
Skip the traditional step of earning a separate BSN. Our streamlined pathway helps you move faster from RN to MSN, saving both time and money. - Career-Focused Curriculum
Every course is intentionally designed to prepare you for real-world nursing leadership, advanced practice, and healthcare innovation. - Support That Goes the Distance
From enrollment to graduation, you’ll be supported by faculty mentors, advisors, and a community that cares about your success.
What You’ll Learn
Bluefield University’s RN to MSN program equips you with advanced knowledge and practical skills to lead in today’s evolving healthcare environment.
Core Areas of Study:
- Advanced Nursing Practice & Clinical Decision-Making
- Healthcare Leadership & Administration
- Evidence-Based Practice & Research
- Nursing Education & Patient Advocacy
- Ethics, Policy, and Population Health
You’ll graduate ready to take on higher-level responsibilities, influence patient outcomes, and drive change across healthcare systems.
Quick Program Details
Tuition: $420 – $525/$705* Per Credit Hour
Next Start Online: October 2026
Time to Complete: 1-4 years*
*Time to complete can be reduced with prior learning and transfer credits
Available Concentrations
Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration Courses
Prepare to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care across the lifespan as a Family Nurse Practitioner, diagnosing, treating, and managing a wide range of health conditions in diverse clinical settings.
Courses:
- Primary Care of Infants, Children & Adolescents Didactic
- Primary Care of Infants, Children & Adolescents Practicum
- Primary Care of Adults in Families Didactic
- Primary Care of Adults in Families Practicum
- Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum
- Transition into Leadership for the Nurse Practitioner
Cost per Credit: $420 (BSN) > $525 (MSN)
Total Credits: 82 (36 BSN + 46 MSN)
Total Cost: $39,270
Nursing Leadership/Education Concentration Courses
Develop the skills to lead healthcare teams and shape the next generation of nurses through a Leadership/Education track focused on administration, instruction, and advancing quality patient care.
Courses:
- Management Theory & Leadership
- Strategies for Curriculum & Instruction
- Seminar in Leadership
- Strategies for Effective Instruction
- Practicum in Teaching
- Practicum in Leadership
Cost per Credit: $420 (BSN) > $525 (MSN)
Total Credits: 80 (36 BSN + 44 MSN)
Total Cost: $38,220
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Concentration Courses
Gain the expertise to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, delivering compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals and families.
Courses:
- Theory and Practice in Addictions Care
- Advanced Practice PHHN Seminar
- Foundations of Advanced Practice in PMH
- Advanced Practice PMHN Practicum
- Diagnostic and Psychopharmacological Strategies
Cost per Credit: $420 (BSN) > $705 (MSN)
Total Credits: 91 (42 BSN + 49 MSN)
Total Cost: $52,185
Career Outlook
Earning your MSN opens the door to a wide range of leadership and specialized roles in healthcare.
Career Opportunities Include:
- Nurse Manager or Healthcare Administrator
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- Nurse Educator
- Case Manager
- Public Health Nurse
- Specialized Clinical Roles
With the growing demand for highly skilled nurses, an MSN positions you for career advancement, increased earning potential, and greater professional influence.
Courses & Competencies
Master of Science in Nursing
Total Credits: 82-91 depending on concentration
For a full breakdown of each course, reference the academic catalog located in Academic Resources.
Undergraduate Core Requirements (Completed Prior to Graduate Core)
- Health Tech & Informatics for Profession
- Concepts of Professional Nursing
- Transcultural Nursing
- Pathophysiology
- Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
- Nursing Care of Older Adults
- Women’s Health/Newborn Nursing
- Nursing Research & Theory
- Evidence-based Complex Nursing Practicum
- Nursing Care of Communities
- Nursing Leadership
- Professional Nursing Synthesis/Capstone
MSN Core Requirements (Completed After Undergraduate Core)
- Foundations for Advanced Practice
- Health Care Informatics
- Research Sustaining
- Advanced Nursing Research Strategies I & II
- Advanced Nursing Research Analysis
- Health Promotion & Disease Prevention in Diverse Populations
- Financial, Ethics, Org Behavior & Health Policy
- Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
- Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
- Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan Didactic
- Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan Practicum
- Capstone