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MSN Admission Requirements
Students are admitted into the MSN program based on a thorough review of all required materials provided to the HCSM Faculty Committee of the School of Nursing. Students may be admitted unconditionally or provisionally.
- A completed application to our MSN program - (Non-refundable application fee $40)
- A BSN degree from an accredited college or university.
*Registered nurse applicants with a bachelor’s degree in another field can qualify for the HCSM program upon successful completion of Loyola’s MSN Bridge to Leadership Education in Nursing at a Distance (BLEND) Program. - Official transcripts from each college/university attended.
- A current unencumbered Registered Nurse license.
- A minimum of one year of recent experience.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on all course work, or a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on the last 60 hours in an undergraduate accredited nursing program.
- * For RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on all undergraduate work plus a minimum grade of B on each course taken in the Loyola BLEND program.
- Three recommendations from persons knowledgeable about the applicant’s aptitude for graduate school, such as former professors or master’s prepared nursing supervisors.
- A formal interview.
- A typewritten, double-spaced personal statement not to exceed one page in length describing career goals and interest in pursuing graduate education.
- Prior to admission or as a condition of progression, evidence of completion of a 3 credit hour undergraduate level statistics course with an earned grade of C or better prior to NURS 735.
- Upon admission into the program - Certified Background Check: Sixty days prior to enrollment, students are required to apply for a certified background review, at their own expense, by a provider designated (www.certifiedbackground.com) by Loyola University New Orleans (School Code: LO22) with the results reported to Loyola University New Orleans School of Nursing.
Requirements for Post-Master's to DNP Program
Loyola University New Orleans offers an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program for Post MSN-DNP students in two tracks:
1. Nurse Practitioner track: applicants must hold current license and certification as a nurse practitioner in one of the following areas:
- Adult
- Family
- Gerontology
- Pediatrics
2. Executive Leadership track: applicants must have a master’s degree in nursing and have an interest in Executive Leadership.
Students are admitted as a cohort for this 39+ credit program. The number of credits will be determined by transcript evaluation to give credit for supervised practice hours taken at the master’s level. This program is online with students coming to campus for 1 week each year prior to summer classes and prior to graduation to defend their capstone project.
- A completed application to our DNP program - (Non-refundable application fee of $75)
- BSN or equivalent and master’s in nursing from a school accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or by the Commission on Collegiate Education in Nursing (CCNE).
- Official transcripts from each degree-granting college or university attended.
- Copies of current, unencumbered RN License and advanced practice license (if applicable) in the state in which all clinical practicums for this program will occur, NP certification (if applicable).
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on earned graduate degree course work.
- Minimum of one year, recent post-master’s work experience.
- Three completed letters of recommendation (using the Loyola University New Orleans Doctor of Nursing Practice Recommendation Form via the online application) from persons knowledgeable about the applicant’s aptitude for doctoral study, such as former professors.
- Copy of a current Basic Cardio Life Support (BCLS).
- Two page type-written, double-spaced essay must be submitted online when filling out an application, addressing three areas: 1) description of goals for doctoral study, 2) research translation area of interest for the DNP Scholarly Project, and 3) career goals.
- A formal in-person or web-based interview with one or more Loyola School of Nursing faculty members. Applicants are required to have all necessary equipment in order to complete the web-based interview (i.e. webcams, speakers & microphone if needed).
- Prior to admission or as a condition of progression, evidence of completion of a 3 credit hour graduate-level statistics course with an earned grade of B or better prior to NURS 920 Biostatistics.** (credits earned more than five year prior to enrollment will not ordinarily be considered). Loyola University, School of Nursing offers an advanced statistics course (elective) in the summer session that will satisfy this requirement.
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A minimum of 1,000 practicum hours is required to earn a DNP degree. A maximum of 500 graduate practicum hours, evidenced by transcript review or validated form, may be applied towards this requirement.
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Upon admission into the program - Certified Background Check: Sixty days prior to enrollment, students are required to apply for a certified background review, at their own expense, by a provider designated (www.certifiedbackground.com) by Loyola University New Orleans (School Code: LO22) with the results reported to Loyola University New Orleans School of Nursing.
- Computer system that complies with Loyola University Blackboard Specification requirements
A deposit of $500 will be required when a student accepts an offer of admission to the DNP program. This deposit will be applied to the tuition bill after the final drop/add period in the second semester. The deposit will not be refunded for any reason should the student who accepts admission subsequently not enroll in the semester authorized for admission.
Student Progression
Students must earn a B (83%) or higher to successfully complete each theory course and a Pass in each practicum course. Any course in which a grade of B or a Pass is not earned must be repeated. No course can be repeated more than once.
Any student receiving a grade of F in any course will be dismissed from the program.
Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Only DNP courses are calculated for the GPA. A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation for one semester. A student on academic probation has one regular semester (fall or spring or summer semester) to remove the academic deficiency. If the deficiency is not removed in the allotted time, the student will not be allowed to continue in the program.
Requirements for Post-Baccalaureate - DNP Program
Loyola University New Orleans offers an online Post-Baccalaureate to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP) program in a Family Nurse Practitioner track.
Students are admitted as a cohort for this 78-credit program. This program is online with a one-week campus orientation required each year and a campus visit to defend the capstone project at the conclusion of the program.
- A completed application to our Post BSN-DNP program - (Non-refundable application fee of $75)
- BSN from a school accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or by the Commission on Collegiate Education in Nursing (CCNE).
- Official transcripts from each degree-granting college or university attended.
- Proof of current, unencumbered RN license, in the state in which all clinical practica for this program will occur.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on all course work.
- Minimum of one year’s recent nursing work experience.
- Three letters of recommendation (using the Loyola University New Orleans Doctor of Nursing Practice Recommendation Form via the online application) from persons knowledgeable about the applicant’s aptitude for doctoral study, such as former professors.
- Copy of a current Basic Cardio Life Support (BCLS).
- Two page type-written, double-spaced essay must be submitted online when filling out an application, addressing three areas: 1) description of goals for doctoral study, 2) research translation area of interest for the DNP Scholarly Project, and 3) career goals.
- A formal in-person web-based interview with one or more Loyola School of Nursing faculty members.
- Upon admission into the program - Certified Background Check: Sixty days prior to enrollment, you are required to apply for a certified background review, at their expense, by a provider designated (www.certifiedbackground.com) by Loyola University New Orleans (School Code: LO22) with the results reported to Loyola University New Orleans School of Nursing.
A deposit of $500 will be required when a student accepts an offer of admission to the DNP program. This deposit will be applied to the tuition bill after the final drop/add period in the second semester. The deposit will not be refunded for any reason should the student who accepts admission subsequently not enroll in the semester authorized for admission.
Student Progression
Students must earn a B (83%) or higher to successfully complete each theory course and a Pass in each practicum course. Any course in which a grade of B or a Pass is not earned must be repeated. No course can be repeated more than once.
Any student receiving a grade of F in any course will be dismissed from the program.
Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Only DNP courses are calculated for the GPA. A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation for one semester. A student on academic probation has one regular semester (fall or spring or summer semester) to remove the academic deficiency. If the deficiency is not removed in the allotted time, the student will not be allowed to continue in the program.
Post-BSN Graduation Criteria
Students are eligible for graduation upon completion of the 78 credit Post-BSN DNP curriculum with a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Students are required to complete the degree within five years of the first term of enrollment.
Transfer Credits
Students who have earned academic credit at another accredited college or university may be allowed to transfer a maximum of six credit hours upon approval. In all cases, course work will be evaluated for equivalence to Loyola requirements; therefore, students must provide course descriptions and/or other supporting materials to assist faculty in the evaluation process. The minimum acceptable transfer grade for graduate work is a B.
Read the Transfer of Academic Credit Policy for more information.
Professional Liability Insurance
Loyola University New Orleans’ School of Nursing provides Professional Liability Insurance coverage (limits $1,000,000/$3,000,000) for students while in their practicum experiences.
Licensure Requirements
Each student must sign a declaration stating that she/he has a current, unencumbered, unrestricted, and valid registered nurse license and there are no grounds for disciplinary proceedings. If at any point during the program a student’s RN license becomes encumbered or restricted, the student is obligated to immediately inform the director of the School of Nursing.
Certified Background Check
Certified Background Check: Sixty days prior to enrollment, students are required to apply for a certified background review, at their expense, by a provider designated (www.certifiedbackground.com) by Loyola University New Orleans (School Code: LO22) with the results reported to Loyola University New Orleans School of Nursing.
Timeframe for Completion of Degree Requirements
Students are required to complete the degree within five years of the first term of enrollment.
Join a Loyola University New Orleans School of Nursing Graduate Program today.