Due to the fact that the Tennessee Center for Nursing indicates that the state is undergoing a critical nursing shortage, there is a growing importance for students to join the accredited Master’s in Nursing degree programs in Tennessee to fulfill a growing demand for quality patient care services. In fact, experts suggest that there may be as many as 500,000 new job openings for registered nurses and advanced practice nurses by 2025! If you are interested in becoming a valuable part of this in-demand helping profession to meet the health needs of underserved populations across the “Volunteer State,” read on to learn more about our first listing (A-S) of master’s degree programs in various nursing specialty areas that have been accredited by the ACEN or CCNE within Tennessee.
Belmont University
Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing
As a student-centered private Christian institution of more than 6,900 students of diverse backgrounds and faiths, Belmont University is situated on a 75-acre urban campus within just two miles southwest of downtown Nashville. According to the U.S. News and World Report, Belmont is ranked as the 7th best college and 2nd top up-and-coming school in the South. In addition, the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing is acclaimed for having the 234th best graduate nursing programs in the nation.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Boasting an overall pass rate of 95% for national certification, the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program leads to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree for advanced practice in treating common acute and/or chronic illnesses in families across the lifespan. Focused on personal student-instructor interaction to boost student success, the program is campus-based with classes meeting once or twice each week and some online content.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1900 Belmont Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 460-6142
leslie.higgins@belmont.edu
https://www.belmont.edu/grad-nursing/
Carson-Newman University
Division of Graduate & Adult Studies
First established in 1851 by Tennessee Baptists as a private co-educational Christian liberal arts institution, Carson-Newman University is nestled on a 90-acre rural campus at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains within just 28 miles from Knoxville. As one of only two universities to receive the Presidential Award in General Community Service in 2012, C-N is ranked as the 12th best college in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. The Division of Graduate & Adult Studies is also home to the nation’s 295th best graduate nursing degrees.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Requiring the successful completion of 45 credits, the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track is designed to prepare registered nurses with the substantive knowledge, professional competence, and clinical skills needed to effectively provide direct patient services at an advanced level in the healthcare system. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to more into this advanced practice role by taking the national certification examination.
Nurse Educator (NE)
Rooted within the context of Christian beliefs and values to prepare registered nurses for the advanced practice role, the Nurse Educator (NE) track is focused on the pedagogical skills and clinical abilities that are most essential in training the state’s next generation of highly motivated, caring, and compassionate nurses. Students will need to complete at least 35 credits, including an advanced practice project or Master’s thesis.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1646 Russell Avenue
Jefferson City, TN 37760
(865) 471-3223
adult@cn.edu
https://www.cn.edu/graduate-and-professional-studies/programs/master-of-science-in-nursing-msn
East Tennessee University
College of Nursing
Based on a beautiful 340-acre suburban campus in Johnson City within the shadows of the Buffalo and Cherokee Mountains, East Tennessee University is a comprehensive public institution that serves over 15,000 students. Through the Regents Online Degree Program (RODP) in a collaborative effort among the Tennessee Board of Regents system, the College of Nursing is recognized for being the 99th best graduate nursing school with the 71st best online graduate nursing programs nationwide by the U.S. News and World Report.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Offered fully online from anywhere in the state, the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) concentration is designed to prepare registered nurses for providing comprehensive primary health care services to individuals from infancy through late adulthood with acute or chronic illnesses. With a specific emphasis on providing healthcare to underserved populations in urban and rural settings, the program requires at least 46 credits with 720 patient contact hours.
Nursing Administration
Structured to provide a flexible online learning environment and highly customizable experience, the MSN Nursing Administration track builds a strong foundation in complex systems, financial management, leadership practice, and organizational theory in an effort to prepare nurses for assuming administrative roles. For completion, students will need to complete at least 36 credits with a nursing administration practicum experience.
Nursing Education
Whether nurses are interested in teaching as faculty members in pre-licensure programs on college campuses, offering continuing education to clinical staff, or educating patients, the MSN Nursing Education track requires 40 credits online and 240 hours of teaching practicum. Depending on future career goals, the program offers competencies in five advanced clinical-focused areas, including Adult Health Nursing, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, Critical Care Nursing, Pediatric Nursing, or Women’s Health & Perinatal Nursing.
Nursing Informatics
Featuring a total of 38 credits and 240 practice contact hours, the MSN Nursing Informatics track strives to integrate nursing science, information science, and computer science to prepare registered nurses for becoming informatics nurse specialists. Upon completion, graduates will be well-equipped with the skills for identifying, collecting, processing, and managing data to support nursing practice in today’s healthcare field.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
807 University Parkway
Johnson City, TN 37604
(423) 439-4578
nursing@etsu.edu
https://www.etsu.edu/nursing/graduateprograms/msn.php
King University
School of Nursing
As a comprehensive private doctoral-level Presbyterian institution focused on spiritual transformation for its more than 2,120 students, King University is located on a 135-acre wooded campus just two minutes away from bustling downtown Bristol in the “Birthplace of Country Music.” King is ranked as the 73rd best college and 17th top school for veterans in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. The School of Nursing is also highly regarded for having the 442nd best graduate nursing degree programs in the United States.
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Focused on preparing professional BSN nurses for advanced nursing specialty practice with leadership in the nursing profession, the MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program is offered in a traditional on-campus format to learn the theoretical knowledge and practice skills needed to function in our increasingly complex healthcare system. With classes meeting just one day per week to balance working full-time, the program requires at least 45 credits.
MSN Administration
With the goal of preparing graduates to apply the specialized knowledge and skills in mid to upper-level management positions, the MSN Administration track places an emphasis on the interpersonal attributes of nurse leaders along with the theories related to financial management, healthcare policy, economics, resource management, human resources, and organizational leadership. All students must complete at least 35 semester hours with a minimum of 240 clinical practicum hours.
MSN Education
Featuring a total of 39 semester hours and at least 360 clinical practicum hours under the guidance of a preceptor, the MSN Education track is focused on preparing nurses to function as educators in staff development, health education, and/or training nursing students at university campuses. All graduates will be well-equipped with the educational strategies needed to promote holistic learning in individuals with diverse backgrounds and developmental levels.
Dual MSN/MBA Program
Offered in a part-time format online to accommodate busy working professionals, the Dual MSN/MBA Program enables students to focus their studies in administration while earning both the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) concurrently. Over the course of five semesters, students will be required to complete at least 62 credits with 240 total clinical hours of practicum.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1350 King College Road
Bristol, TN 37620
(800) 362-0014
admissions@king.edu
https://www.king.edu/programs/nursing/msn/
Lincoln Memorial University
Caylor School of Nursing
As a private values-based liberal arts institution, Lincoln Memorial University is nestled on a main 1,000-acre rural campus in Harrogate within the Appalachian Mountains. Serving more than 3,900 students, LMU is ranked as the 66th best college and 7th top up-and-coming school in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. The Caylor School of Nursing is also renowned for being the 442nd best graduate nursing school with the 90th best nursing-anesthesia program in the nation.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
For graduate students with a BSN from an accredited institution, the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program will provide the preparation needed to assume advanced practice roles with competencies in family health promotion and culturally competent clinical management of common acute/chronic conditions. Within the 17-month program, students acquire 43 credits and at least 720 clinical hours in direct practice across the lifespan.
Nurse Anesthesia (NA)
Offered only in a full-time format over the course of 28 months, the MSN Nurse Anesthesia (NA) program prepares registered nurses for delivering anesthetics in the advanced practice specialty role across the lifespan. Along with 81 credits in the classroom, students must successfully complete five semesters of clinical practicum, a comprehensive examination, and a scholarly research project for graduation.
Family Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (FPMHNP)
With a focus preparing registered nurses with the advanced practice competencies needed for mental health promotion and culturally competent clinical management of psychiatric conditions throughout the age spectrum, the Family Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (FPMHNP) can be completed in four semesters full-time or seven semesters part-time. All students must obtain at least 44 credits and 660 clinical practice hours.
Accreditations
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (CANAEP)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway
Harrogate, TN 37752
(423) 869-6328
sherry.pearman@lmunet.edu
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia
Master’s Program
Since being founded in 1950 under the sponsorship of Madison Hospital, the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia has grown into a major health-related private institution based in the suburb of Madison outside the state’s capital. With a reputation for helping students become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) in today’s high-tech medical industry, MTSA is nationally recognized for excellence in having the 90th best nursing-anesthesia program in the entire United States.
Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia
Enrolling up to 72 accepted applicants each year into the 28-month program, the Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia is designed to develop essential competencies in patient safety, perianesthetic management, critical thinking, and communication to be vigilant in the delivering of anesthetics to patients of all ages. With enriching learning experiences at a variety of institutions in the Nashville area, the program requires the completion of 135 quarter hours.
Accreditations
Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (CANAEP)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
315 Hospital Drive
Madison, TN 37115
(615) 732-7662
info@mtsa.edu
http://www.mtsa.edu/Programs/Masters
Middle Tennessee State University
School of Nursing
Positioned in the geographic center of the state on an 800-acre urban campus in the city of Murfreesboro with a community of over 24,000 students, Middle Tennessee State University is the oldest and largest public research-intensive institution in Tennessee. Through the Regents Online Degree Program (RODP) in a collaborative effort among the Tennessee Board of Regents system, the School of Nursing is committed to offering flexible online graduate nursing programs to prepare students for meeting the dynamic healthcare needs of society.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Requiring the completion of at least 46 credits with 720 clock hours of direct patient contact, the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track is offered fully online with practicum in any approved clinical setting across the state to prepare nurses for providing advanced primary healthcare services to individuals from infancy through late adulthood. In order to meet Tennessee’s health needs, the program has a unique emphasis on providing patient care within underserved diverse populations in urban and/or rural areas.
Nursing Administration
In an effort to construct a strong foundation of knowledge in complex healthcare systems, leadership practices, organizational theories, and financial management concepts, the MSN Nursing Administration track is offered in a flexible online format that offers the highly individualized experiences needed for success. All students must complete at least 36 credits, including a nursing administration practicum, before graduation.
Nursing Education
Offering specializations in the five advanced clinical-focused areas of Adult Health Nursing, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, Critical Care Nursing, Pediatric Nursing, or Women’s Health & Perinatal Nursing, the MSN Nursing Education track consists of 40 credits completed online and 240 hours of teaching practicum. The program is ideal for registered nurses seeking to teach as faculty members at the university level, offer continuing education to clinical staff members, and/or educate the general public on health concerns.
Nursing Informatics
Designed to prepare registered nurses with the knowledge and skills needed to identify, collect, process, and manage data in supporting nursing practice, the MSN Nursing Informatics track is focused on blending nursing science with information science and computer science. After completing the mandatory 38 credits and 240 practice contact hours, graduates are well-qualified for becoming informatics nurse specialists.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
(615) 898-5950
jenny.sauls@mtsu.edu
http://www.mtsu.edu/nursing/academic.php#msn
Southern Adventist University
School of Nursing
Established in 1892 as a co-educational private institution by the Seventh-day Adventist Church to nurture Christ-likeness and encourage the pursuit of truth, Southern Adventist University is located on a beautiful 1,000-acre rural campus in southeastern Tennessee within the town of Collegedale with over 2,500 students. Not only is Southern ranked as the 30th best college in the South, but the School of Nursing is nationally acclaimed for having the 442nd top graduate nursing programs by the U.S. News and World Report.
Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)
Offered with an emphasis in Acute Care or Primary Care, the Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) track requires the completion of at least 48 credits to prepare registered nurses with the proficiencies in cultural competence, evidence-based practice, and health promotion to deliver patient-centered care to older adults.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
In order to prepare registered nurses with a BSN degree from an accredited institution to advance their career into becoming a primary healthcare provider for individuals and families from birth through late adulthood, the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track includes the completion of at least 48 credits.
Nurse Educator
Featuring an online format with a total of 38 credits covering topics in nursing research, advanced pathophysiology, health promotion, health policy, assessment, pharmacology, nursing curriculum design, educational technology, classroom instruction, and teaching practicum, the Nurse Educator track offers preparation for training the future generation of registered nurses.
Dual MSN/MBA Program
In collaboration with the School of Business and Management, the Dual MSN/MBA Program is available on-campus or online to pursue both degrees concurrently in preparation for assuming upper-level management or administrative roles in diverse healthcare settings.
Accreditations
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
4881 Taylor Circle
Collegedale, TN 37363
(423) 236-2940
nursing@southern.edu
https://www.southern.edu/academics/academic-sites/nursing/msn.html
Although there are plentiful job opportunities available for registered nurses with a BSN degree, it is highly recommended that qualified individuals consider participating in one of these accredited Master’s in Nursing degree programs in Tennessee to advance career options in a specialized area of nursing and enjoy even more rewarding benefits in leadership.
For Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs in Tennessee (T-Z), click here.
