Loyola University New Orleans offers two online RN to MSN degree programs for registered nurses who have not earned a BSN, and want to specialize as family nurse practitioners (FNPs). Their Traditional RN to MSN Option is designed for RNs with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), while their RN to MSN Bridge Option requires RNs to have both an ADN along and a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing subject. Both programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and feature online courses delivered through asynchronous instruction. After completing either MSN program, RNs will be eligible to sit for national APRN certification exams administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and/or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).
Loyola University New Orleans’ Traditional RN to MSN Option
The traditional online RN to MSN program at Loyola University is for registered nurses who possess an Associate Degree in Nursing, and want to pursue both their BSN and MSN through one continuous program. This pathway is not designed for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree of any kind, as it includes the full undergraduate education necessary to prepare RNs for graduate-level training. Traditional RN to MSN students earn their BSN after completing a total of 120 credits: 114 credits of undergraduate general education and nursing courses, and six credits of graduate nursing coursework. However, students may transfer up to 90 credits towards the BSN requirements, with no more than 64 credits coming from their associate degree program (from a two year institution).
After completing the BSN portion of the program, students will move directly into the remaining graduate coursework necessary to earn their MSN. For FNP students, this includes 42 credits, as well as 720 clinical practice hours. MSN students must make three campus visits throughout their course of study: one for an on-campus orientation, and two for clinical training intensives that take place once per year.
Loyola University New Orleans’ RN to MSN Bridge Option
For registered nurses who hold both an ADN and a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, Loyola University offers an online RN to MSN Bridge program in the FNP specialty. This pathway includes all of the coursework, clinical placement, and campus visit requirements of the school’s MSN FNP program, with the addition of two three-credit “bridge” courses meant to prepare students for graduate-level nursing coursework. These prerequisite courses cover topics in population health, health promotion, professional communication, and current issues in the field of nursing. The first course is seven weeks, while the second course runs for an entire 16-week semester.
Once students have successfully passed their bridge courses with a “B” grade or higher, they can move into Loyola’s online MSN program in the FNP concentration. This program requires 48 credits, and the completion of 720 clinical practice hours. Those pursuing the program full-time can expect to graduate in around two years, or six semesters. A part-time option is also available, which can typically be completed within four years (12 semesters); however, students have five years to finish the program, if necessary.
Overview: Loyola University New Orleans Online: School of Nursing
Programs Offered: FNP
Degree Types: RN to MSN (ADN required), MSN (RN plus Non-Nursing Bachelors required)
Accreditation: CCNE
Instruction Methods: Classes use asynchronous instruction. Students can view course materials on their own time and communicate with professors and classmates through online discussion boards.
Phone Number: (866) 789-9809
Social Media: Facebook and Twitter
Loyola University New Orleans Online Online RN to FNP Programs
Traditional RN to MSN Option – Family Nurse Practitioner specialization
Program Overview
Program Specialty: Family Nurse Practitioner
Degree Type: RN to MSN (ADN required)
Program Structure: Online with one on-campus orientation and on-campus intensives (one per year) with clinical hours requirements
Program Requirements
Clinical Hours Requirements: 720 clinical hours required
Number of Credits Required: 162 credits needed to graduate (114 undergraduate plus 48 graduate credits) (students may transfer up to 64 credits from their ADN program and up to 90 credits total)
Number of Campus Visits Required: 3 (throughout entire program)
Program Options
Curriculum Options: Full-time and Part-time
Program Length: Program can be completed in ~3.5 years; however, the actual program length depends on total number of transfer credits
Program Start Date: Fall, Spring and Summer admission
Number of Terms: 10 to 12+ semesters (depending on number of transfer credits)
Requirements and Tuition
Application Requirements: ADN required; current RN license; at least 1800 hours of nursing experience within the last year
GPA: Minimum GPA 3.0
Standardized Testing: Not required
Tuition: ~$55,044 + fees to ~$89,760 + fees (based on 30-96 undergraduate credits and 48 graduate credits) (actual tuition costs will depend on the number of credits transferred into the program)
Cost Per Credit Hour: $526 per credit hour (undergraduate) + $818 per credit hour (graduate)
Eligibility Restrictions: Program does not currently accept students from Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington
RN to MSN Bridge Option – Family Nurse Practitioner specialization
Program Overview
Program Specialty: Family Nurse Practitioner
Degree Type: MSN (RN plus Non-Nursing Bachelors required)
Program Structure: Online with one on-campus orientation and on-campus intensives (one per year) with clinical hours requirements
Program Requirements
Clinical Hours Requirements: 720 clinical hours required
Number of Credits Required: 54 credits needed to graduate (6 undergraduate, 48 graduate)
Number of Campus Visits Required: 3 (throughout entire program)
Program Options
Curriculum Options: Full-time and Part-time
Program Length: Full-time program takes 2 years to complete; Part-time program can typically be completed within 4 years (maximum of 5 years)
Program Start Date: Fall and Spring admission
Number of Terms: Full-Time: 6 to 8 semesters; Part-Time: ~12 semesters
Requirements and Tuition
Application Requirements: ADN plus non-nursing bachelors required; current RN license; at least 1800 hours of nursing experience within the last year
GPA: Minimum GPA 3.0
Standardized Testing: Not required
Tuition: ~$42,240 + fees (based on 6 undergraduate credits and 48 graduate credits)
Cost Per Credit Hour: $526 per credit hour (undergraduate) + $818 per credit hour (graduate)
Eligibility Restrictions: Program does not currently accept students from Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington
