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Master's Entry to Nursing Practice (MSN)

Academics

About the Program

If you have any bachelor’s degree and the passion to become an RN, we can help you become a master’s prepared nurse in just two years. Our Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP) Program is one of only two programs in the state of Virginia that allows people with any bachelor’s degree from any accredited institution to enter nursing practice with their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Your bachelor’s degree does not even need to be in a healthcare or science discipline, although certain prerequisites and requirements do apply.

As a master’s-prepared RN, you will enter your chosen field with higher-level credentials than 87% of your colleagues. This can translate into great career potential in a highly competitive field. And when you graduate from Sentara College, not only will you be eligible to apply for the NCLEX nursing exam, you’ll also receive placement assistance within Sentara, which can mean fast placement and great career development opportunities.

The MENP Program is a challenging and accelerated one, so you’ll need a strong track record of achievement to qualify. We accept no more than 30 of the most dedicated and motivated candidates we can find each year. Candidates will need to have earned their bachelor’s degrees with an overall GPA of 3.0, and earned at least a “B-” in all of the prerequisite courses. If that sounds like you, contact a recruiter using any Plan a Visit link or apply today.

If you already have your RN license and a bachelor’s degree, then our Clinical Nurse Leader MSN may be for you. And if you do not qualify for the MENP Program but wish to become an RN, our Traditional BSN Program can get you there.

Your Educational Experience

As a student, you’ll learn in classrooms, skills labs, clinical settings, and online, thanks to the College’s emphasis on hybrid learning. You’ll learn material when it’s convenient for you, then come together in class to discuss what you’ve learned; or in skills labs, where you’ll apply that knowledge in a safe environment that can simulate nearly any medical condition you might encounter. You’ll gain 945 hours of hands-on experience – far surpassing the requirements for licensure or of other programs. So you’ll graduate from Sentara College uniquely prepared for one of the most challenging and rewarding careers anywhere.

Career Opportunities With Your MSN

Master’s-prepared Registered Nurses can take leadership roles at the bedside and within their units, because they have skills and knowledge that go beyond many of their peers. Graduates are poised to rise quickly, because they are able to handle complex clients, improve patient care outcomes, and facilitate the interprofessional collaboration that leading healthcare organizations demand.

Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice MSN Program at a Glance

  • The Program is offered every August
  • 945 hours of hands-on experience in skills labs, simulation, and clinicals
  • To apply, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  • Full-time, accelerated program
  • The Program can be completed in two years including summers
  • Graduates obtain a Master of Science in Nursing degree and are eligible to apply to take the NCLEX licensure exam upon completion of the Program
  • Enjoy priority placement within Sentara
  • 130-year legacy of educating the exceptional nurses in the acclaimed Sentara healthcare system and elsewhere
  • Small clinical groups for maximum personal attention
  • Exposure to all clinical settings in renowned Sentara hospitals
  • Now accepting applications for August 2025
  • 2024-2025 tuition, fees, and total cost of attendance

To learn about this program's state authorizations and compliance disclosures, please click here.

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Quick Facts

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Accreditations & Certifications

Sentara College and the Master's Entry to Nursing Practice (MSN) are accredited and certified by:

Sentara College of Health Sciences is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)(abhes.org).

Sentara College of Health Sciences is certified to operate an institution of postsecondary education in Virginia by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

The master's degree program in nursing at Sentara College of Health Sciences is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

The Master's Entry to Nursing Practice Program has initial approval from the Virginia Board of Nursing.

Transfer Information

IMPORTANT NOTE: These lists contain courses currently offered at local and online colleges and are intended as a quick reference guide only. This is not necessarily a complete list at the referenced college and does not take the place of a transcript review from our College. Other courses at the referenced colleges below may satisfy our general education course requirements. Sentara College of Health Sciences will assist you with approval of general education courses not on the below list.

All coursework must be completed with a "C-" or higher.

General Education Course Equivalents at Select Colleges

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