Adult-Gerontologic Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN

Master of Science in Nursing

College of Health Sciences and Education
Chair of Graduate Nursing, Melissa Weidner, PhD, CRNP

Faculty

Sarah Brown, Assistant Professor of Nursing, BSN, MSN, DNP Misericordia University

Kimberly Conaboy, Assistant Professor, BSN Penn State University; MSN, DNP Misericordia University

Alexis J. Falzone, Assistant Professor of Nursing, BSN Misericordia University; MSN, FNP Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Timothy Race, Assistant Professor of Nursing, BSN Misericordia University; MSN Wilkes University

Daniel Satterfield, Assistant Professor, BSN, MSN, DNP Misericordia University

Melissa Weidner, Assistant Professor of Nursing, BSN Misericordia University; MSN and Post Masters Certificate Thomas Jefferson University; PhD Walden University

Mission of the Nursing Department

The Nursing Department at Misericordia University embraces the charisms of mercy, service, justice and hospitality while preparing future nurses and nurse leaders for a life of service and global citizenship.  Students will actively engage in an evidence-based educational experience that promotes critical thinking and intellectual curiosity, grounded in the sciences and liberal arts.  The focus is to provide ethical, safe and humanistic care as part of the multidisciplinary healthcare team to optimize health outcomes for diverse individuals, families, and communities.

Vision of the Nursing Department

The Nursing Department at Misericordia University aims to be a leading provider of nursing education that inspires and empowers a diverse community of future nurse leaders to advance the profession and optimize health of all persons in a collaborative, culturally sensitive and rapidly expanding health care environment.

MSN Program Philosophy 

Guided by the mission and values of Misericordia University, and the goals for graduate education, the master’s in nursing (MSN) program prepares graduates for advanced practice nursing roles.  The MSN program builds on the knowledge gained in the bachelor degree program to prepare students to be competent practice-ready advanced practice nurses in various areas of healthcare.  Foundational nursing concepts include mastering clinical judgment, effective communication, providing compassionate care, considerations of diversity, equity, and inclusion, upholding ethical principles, optimizing evidence-based practice, influencing health policy, and enhancing social determinants of health.  All graduates of the MSN program are prepared and eligible for national, advanced practice role certification based on the focus of their particular program. 

MSN Program Outcomes

(for students admitted Fall 2025 and after)

 Upon completion of Misericordia University’s MSN program graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate competence in advanced practice nursing’s foundational knowledge including clinical reasoning and the application of evidence-based practice from nursing and associated disciplines.  (Concept: Clinical Judgment)
2. Apply person-centered care techniques that establish a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion to create positive patient outcomes. (Concept: DEI)
3. Express and articulate the exchange of information with patients and other members of the healthcare team utilizing various modalities, including verbal, written, and technological methods. (Concept: Communication)
4. Employ the principles of bioethics to examine ethical issues related to advanced practice nursing.  (Concept: Ethics)
5. Practice person-centered care by relating to all human beings in a compassionate manner through caring, empathy, and respect. (Concept: Compassionate care)
6. Integrate current evidence with clinical expertise to formulate a culturally competent health care plan. (Concept: Evidence-based practice)
7. Examine health policy at multiple levels to positively impact patients and the nursing profession.  (Concept: Health policy)
8. Model the advanced nursing practices of assessment, health promotion, and patient teaching to support increased access to care through the recognition of the social determinants of health. (Concept: Social Determinants of Health)

*Concepts are from the 2021 Essentials from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

 

(for students admitted prior to Fall 2025)

The MSN program at Misericordia University is designed to assist graduates to:

1. Demonstrate competence in advanced practice nursing core competencies and skills used to provide health promotion, illness prevention, and disease management in a variety of settings for diverse individuals, families, and communities (Concepts: Majority of health care needs, context of family).
2. Critically and accurately assess, diagnose, and manage health problems in outpatient and inpatient settings, using integrated evidence-based advanced practice nursing care healthcare services in a variety of settings to improve outcomes for individuals, families and communities (Concept: Integration).
3. Articulate and interpret the certified nurse practitioner role to policy-makers, third-party payers, consumers, and other health care providers (Concept: Clinical).
4. Work in collaborative and interprofessional relationships, communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and assume accountability in the context of social, political, and legal considerations of health care (Concept: Accountability).
5. Critically evaluate and apply theories and research from nursing and related fields to provide high quality, cost-effective, culturally-sensitive, accessible advanced practice nursing care in a variety of health care settings (Concept: Accessibility).
6. Demonstrate critical thinking, information management, leadership and ethical decision making in the care of individuals, families, and population in a variety of health care settings (Concepts: Majority of health care needs, context of family and lifespan).

Admission Criteria for MSN Program

(for students admitted Fall 2025 and after)

Applicants are eligible for full admission to the MSN programs if they have a BSN degree and an undergraduate/graduate GPA of 3.00 or greater.

Applicants who have an undergraduate/graduate GPA of 2.75 to 2.99 and meet all other admission requirements, may be considered for provisional admission to the MSN programs.   Applicants in this category will be enrolled in NSG 540 - Advanced Pathophysiology for the APRN, DNP 700 - Navigating Graduate Studies in Nursing, and DNP 701 - Fundamental Knowledge and Role Concepts for the APRN. To be granted full and unconditional matriculation into the MSN program, a grade of “B” or higher must be obtained in all three classes.  Should the student obtain lower than a “B” in any of the courses, they will be formally dismissed from the graduate nursing program with no option for readmission. Each course may only be taken once. 

Denied Admission - Applicants who have less than a 2.75 GPA will be denied admission to the MSN program. 

List of required admission documents for MSN Program:

1. Completion of an online application.
2. Official transcripts from all previous college work, including graduate and undergraduate. 
3. Copy of unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse.
4. Two letters of reference (one from current or most recent employer, one from former faculty member)
5. Resume or Curriculum Vitae
6. Statement of personal and professional goals (typed, 500 words).
7. English language proficiency- if English is not your first language, or if English is not the primary language spoken in your home, you must submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The Internet based TOEFL exam has four subsections: writing, speaking, reading, and listening, with a grading scale for each section from 1 to 30 (30 being the highest score). Misericordia University will look closely at the score for each section rather than the total score. Applicants must attain the minimum scores of 22 for ALL sections in order to be considered for admission to the graduate nursing program. Students should indicate on the registration form that they wish their test results be sent directly to Misericordia University. The TOEFL code for Misericordia University is 2087.

Applicants for the Post-Master’s certificate for either the Family/Individual Across the Lifespan program, must have already completed a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and meet all admission requirements for the MSN program. The program of study will be determined through a gap analysis, which involves reviewing the applicant’s completed coursework and clinical experiences. This review will compare the applicant’s background with the required program standards and the national nurse practitioner competencies necessary for certification, ensuring the appropriate program of study is established.

Admission Criteria for BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP Programs

Applicants for the BSN to DNP program must have at least a 3.25 GPA from their BSN program and applicants for the MSN to DNP program must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 from their graduate degree program or post-master’s certificate program.

Denied Admission - Applicants who have less than a 3.25 GPA will be denied admission to the BSN-DNP program, but if they have a GPA between 3.00 to 3.24 the student will be offered admission to the MSN program.  Additionally, if the student has a GPA between 2.75 to 2.99 the student will be offered provisional admission to the MSN program.  The progression requirements are listed in the MSN Admission Criteria. For applicants to the MSN to DNP program with a GPA of less than 3.0 from their graduate degree program or post-master’s certificate program will be denied admission.

List of required admission documents for the BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP Program:

1. Completion of an online application.
2. Official transcripts from all previous college work, including graduate and undergraduate.
3. Copy of unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse.
4. Two letters of reference (one from current or most recent employer, one from former faculty member).
5. Resume or Curriculum Vitae
6. Statement of personal and professional goals (typed, 500 words)
7. If applying for MSN to DNP, a Master of Science in Nursing degree from a CCNE or NLN accredited institution, license to practice as an advanced practice nurse (CNM, CRNA, CNS, or CRNP), and a copy of current national board certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse is required.
8. English language proficiency- if English is not your first language, or if English is not the primary language spoken in your home, you must submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The Internet based TOEFL exam has four subsections: writing, speaking, reading, and listening, with a grading scale for each section from 1 to 30 (30 being the highest score). Misericordia University will look closely at the score for each section rather than the total score. Applicants must attain the minimum scores of 22 for ALL sections in order to be considered for admission to the graduate nursing program. Students should indicate on the registration form that they wish their test results be sent directly to Misericordia University. The TOEFL code for Misericordia University is 2087.

Program Scheduling

All master’s level nursing options are available in a part-time format. Selected courses are offered in an online and may be in an accelerated format. All MSN-FNP courses are asynchronous with the exception of clinical courses unless otherwise specified in the course syllabus and the required two On Campus Intensives.

Graduate Program Progression and Retention

1. MSN and DNP students must attain a GPA of 3.0 or better and maintain or exceed a 3.0 GPA for each semester of the graduate program.  The initial grade calculation happens at the end of the first semester and every semester after that.
2. Any matriculated student who earns a GPA of less than 3.0 for any semester will be placed on probation. Students may be placed on probation only one time during the MSN or DNP Programs. If a student on probation fails to increase his/her GPA to the required level during the subsequent probationary semester, or if the student’s GPA falls below the required level in any subsequent semester, the student will be dismissed from the program. These policies supersede those in the university’s graduate catalog.
3. Please see the university graduate catalog for specific information on progression and retention in graduate programs.  University Catalog
4. Grade replacement is not permitted in MSN, PMC, BSN to DNP, or MSN to DNP programs.  This policy supersedes that in the university graduate catalog.
5. Any student who receives a grade of F in any course or who does not meet grade expectations, will be dismissed from the MSN, PMC, BSN to DNP or MSN to DNP program. The student may never re-enter the graduate nursing program including entry into the post-master’s certificate programs. These policies supersede those in the university’s graduate catalog.
6. Once accepted into a program, all students must maintain matriculation on a continuing basis until the student has completed all program requirements, unless otherwise approved by the Chair of the Graduate Nursing Department.

Dismissal

1. Academic Dismissal

• Should a student fail to meet the terms of probation or meet the retention criteria after being placed on departmental probation, the student will automatically be dismissed from the Graduate Department of Nursing. Once dismissed from the program the student will not be able to apply for readmission to the Graduate Nursing Programs, including the post-master’s NP program.
• Additionally, any student who is found guilty of cheating in any form, will be automatically dismissed from the program with no option for return. 

2. Professional Behavior and Civility Dismissal

• Graduate Nursing Department faculty members endorse the American Nurses’ Association Code of Ethics for Nurses (2025) and use this framework as a Student Code of Ethics.
• Serious infractions of the Student Code of Ethics will result in immediate dismissal from the graduate nursing program with no option for readmission.
• Chair of the Graduate Nursing Department along with the appropriate program director, will make a determination of the degree of seriousness of any infractions.
• Students dismissed for ethical violations cannot re-apply to the Graduate Nursing Department for any further program of study.
• Additional sanctions may be determined by the university as per the university catalog.
• Students will be contacted within 72 hours of the infraction to determine next steps. 

Curriculum Information

The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program equips students to serve as primary healthcare providers for adolescents over the age of 16, adults, and older adults. This program emphasizes the management of both acute, episodic, and chronic health issues in primary care settings. Students will complete the graduate nursing core courses, specific advanced practice role courses, clinical experience along with a minimum of 750 hours of supervised clinical experience under qualified preceptor, and a total of 44 credit hours for the masters of science degree.

The graduate nursing courses support the development of clinical skills and professional roles, focusing on areas such as clinical judgment, effective communication, compassionate care, diversity, equity, and inclusion, ethical principles, evidence-based practice, health policy advocacy, and improving social determinants of health. Adult-Gerontology specialization courses reflect the changing trends in health care that require application of advanced clinical skills, the development of collaborative roles, and prepare the student to take care of adolescents over the age of 16, adults, and older adults. The graduate nursing core culminates in a capstone course in which all candidates for the master of science degree in nursing demonstrate the ability to integrate theory, evidence-based research, and clinical practice.

Upon graduation, students are eligible to sit for national adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner certification exams administered by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners or the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

BSN to DNP Program

For those students who enroll in the BSN-DNP program, the BSN to DNP program offers a smooth transition from the BSN level, requiring 70 credit hours of coursework and 1000 clinical practice hours. This track allows Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner students to concurrently take DNP courses while progressing through their graduate studies. The program can be completed part-time over three and half years, or ten semesters. After completing the MSN degree requirements by the end of the eighth semester, students graduate with an MSN and are eligible to sit for the national adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner certification exam. To meet DNP program requirements, students complete an additional two semesters, earning the DNP degree after the tenth semester in the winter of their third year. DNP coursework is mostly asynchronous online, with occasional synchronous sessions for specific assignments at the discretion of the program faculty.

NO POST-MASTERS AGPCNP in revised curriculum.