Master of Nursing Program

Yes. The Master of Nursing is a direct-entry program built for people whose bachelor's degree is in another field, so a BSN is not required for admission. You complete 66 credit hours across four full-time semesters and sit for the NCLEX-RN to become a registered nurse. Other schools call this a direct-entry MSN, or an entry to nursing, pre-licensure or second-degree nursing program; at Vanderbilt, the credential is the MN.

Both paths lead to the same MN degree and NCLEX-RN exam preparation. The difference concerns post-MN plans: MN path suits students wanting to practice as RNs while keeping options open; MN + PMC suits those knowing their advanced practice specialty and wanting a smooth transition without a second application (adding 3-4 semesters after earning the MN, usually beginning within weeks of graduation).

Yes. All MN students, no matter the pathway, complete the same MN coursework, graduate and take the NCLEX-RN.

Yes. Applicants choose a specialty simultaneously with the MN application. After admission, continuation into that specialty is expected. Uncertain applicants typically choose the generalist MN path.

MN applicants wishing to continue their education in the post-master’s pathway can choose from 8 VUSN specialties, including: adult-gerontology primary care, family, nurse-midwifery, pediatric primary care, psychiatric-mental health, women’s health/gender-related and dual specialties in adult-gerontology primary care and women’s health/gender-related or family nurse practitioner and nurse-midwifery. The nursing informatics, emergency, neonatal, pediatric acute care and adult-gerontology acute care programs require prior RN experience. All MN graduates can enter them later through a two-year seamless transition process once they have the required nursing experience.

No. Application to the specialty post-master’s program must occur when submitting the MN application. Generalist MN students deciding later to pursue advanced practice can apply to DNP or Post-Master's Certificate programs toward the end of their MN or after graduation.

If you are still exploring your options or want RN experience before choosing a specialty, the MN path is usually the best choice. You can begin your career as an RN and take time to learn more about different areas of nursing and advanced practice roles before applying for further study. You enroll as a Post-Master's Certificate student to become a nurse practitioner or nurse-midwife. Specialty programs are 3-4 semesters long after you earn your MN degree.

Yes. All MN students complete the same four semester curriculum. The difference comes afterward. MN + PMC students continue into their chosen advanced practice specialty once the MN portion is finished.

The MN portion is the same length for both paths. However, MN + PMC students should plan for the additional time and cost required to complete the advanced practice specialty that follows (3-4 semesters after they graduate with MN degrees). Details about total cost and duration depend on the specialty.

MN generalist students begin in both fall and spring semesters. MN + PMC students only start in the fall semester to ensure they can seamlessly progress to the specialty portion of the curriculum as a Post-Master's Certificate student upon graduation with their MN degree.

Yes! Admission into an advanced practice specialty is included in the MN + PMC path. No second application is required after the MN portion.

You can get it! You should choose the MN path. This option lets you begin practicing as an RN after you finish your degree. You can then apply to Post-Master's Certificate program or DNP when you feel ready to specialize. These additional education programs require 3-5 semesters for the PMC and 5-6 for the DNP.

Both paths are selective. The MN + PMC path may require more clarity about your long-term goals because you specify which advanced practice specialty you want to pursue. Applicants who prefer to build RN experience first often find the MN path more flexible.

MN starts in both the fall and the spring semesters. MN + PMC starts in the fall only to allow for seamless progression to the Post-Master's Certificate coursework.

MN program graduates earn a master's after four semesters and take the NCLEX-RN to become registered nurses. They then start the Post-Master's Certificate program to become nurse practitioners or nurse-midwives.

VUSN's previous PreSpecialty program allowed students to sit for the NCLEX after three semesters, but they did not earn a degree until they finished their full six-semester program as advanced practice nurses. 

While the NCLEX-RN is a national exam, eligibility is determined by state Boards of Nursing. In the past decade, changes in some state licensing requirements created difficulty for students who had their MN education but were not yet graduates, resulting in those students being denied licensing.

MN graduates practice as registered nurses in providers' offices, hospitals, including ICUs and acute care units, long-term care facilities, schools, clinics, imaging centers, and other settings that employ RNs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% employment growth for registered nurses from 2024 to 2034, with about 189,100 openings each year on average. Vanderbilt does not guarantee employment outcomes. See the Occupational Outlook Handbook for wage and outlook details.

That depends on your goals and finances, and Vanderbilt does not guarantee employment or salary outcomes. What the MN offers a second-career student is speed and optionality: you enter nursing in four semesters rather than completing a second bachelor's degree, you graduate with a master's rather than an entry-level credential, and the MN Post-Master’s path leads into advanced practice without a separate application. Weigh total program cost against BLS wage data for registered nurses in the markets where you plan to work.

Yes. The Master of Nursing is built for people whose bachelor's degree is in another field, so no BSN is required for admission. You complete 66 credit hours across four full-time semesters, earn the master's, then sit for the NCLEX-RN to become a registered nurse. A GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is recommended, and prerequisite courses must be finished before the term begins.

You need a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing and a set of prerequisite courses: human anatomy, human physiology, microbiology, lifespan development or developmental psychology, nutrition, and statistics. The MN then runs four full-time, in-person semesters, so plan to live within daily commuting distance of Vanderbilt's Nashville campus. Applications ask for three reference letters and a $75 fee.

Yes. Direct entry master of nursing programs admit students with non-nursing bachelor's degrees straight into graduate study. Vanderbilt confers the MN degree at the end of four semesters, before you sit for the NCLEX-RN to become a registered nurse. Earning the degree first avoids the licensure problem some students met under the school's earlier PreSpecialty structure, which closed to new students in fall 2024.