Millikin University's School of Nursing offers graduate courses in Decatur, Illinois leading to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree for individuals who want to advance their careers beyond the baccalaureate level. There are four tracks within the MSN program:
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The Nurse Educator (NE) Track for RNs who already have their BSN degree.
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The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Track for RNs who already have their BSN degree.
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The Master’s Entry into Nursing Practice: Pre-licensure (MENP-PL) Track for individuals (non-nurses) who hold a non- nursing bachelor’s degree and are interested in entering the nursing field with their MSN in order to be eligible to take the National Council of State Board of Nursing Licensure Exam in any state in the U.S. to become Registered Professional Nurses (RNs).
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The Nurse Anesthesia ProgramTrack prepares qualified, experienced Registered Nurses in the Advanced Practice Nursing specialty of nurse anesthesia.
Clinical Nurse Leader Track
The Clinical Nurse Leader emerged following research and discussion with stakeholder groups as a way to engage highly skilled clinicians in outcomes-based practice and quality improvement. In practice, the CNL oversees the care coordination of a distinct group of patients and actively provides direct patient care in complex situations. The master's degree-prepared clinician puts evidence-based practice into action to ensure that patients benefit from the latest innovations in care delivery. The CNL evaluates patient outcomes, assesses cohort risk, and has the decision-making authority to change care plans when necessary (taken from AACN website, 2009).
Coursework in the CNL track builds strong leadership skills through development of analytical skills combined with assessment and inquiry techniques. Students will gain a strong foundation in nursing issues, nursing theory, research, and evidence-based practice to improve patient outcomes. There are 400 practice hours required including an 8-week CNL residency consisting of a minimum of 300 hours. These practice hours are arranged collaboratively with the student, faculty, and a clinical mentor. The graduate of this program is well-prepared to continue to doctoral nursing education. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has a national certification exam for the Clinical Nurse Leader and graduates of this track are eligible to take the examination. http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CNC/index.htm
Nurse Educator
The Nurse Educator track is designed for nurses who seek opportunities teaching in schools of nursing, continuing education programs, or a staff development. A strong emphasis is placed on experiential learning opportunities focusing of teaching pedagogy and assessment of learning. Students receive a strong foundation in curriculum development, methods of inquiry, nursing theory, the role of education in health care and evidence-based practice to enhance clinical outcomes. The Nurse Educator Track incorporates collaborative teaching with a skilled educator mentor. The graduate of this program is well-prepared to continue to doctoral nursing education. Graduates will be eligible to take the Certified Nurse Educator examination from the National League for Nursing (NLN) following completion of the required length of time in an educator role after graduation. http://www.nln.org/facultycertification/index.htm
Master's Entry into Nursing Practice: Pre-licensure (MENP-PL)
The Master's Entry into Nursing Practice: Pre-licensure (MENP-PL) Track is for individuals (non-nurses) who hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree and are interested in entering the nursing field with their MSN in order to be eligible to take the National Council of State Board of Nursing Licensure Exam in any state in the US. to become a Registered Professional Nurse (RN). The track consists of an intensive, fast-paced curriculum delivered in the classroom and clinical and practical settings five days a week for 30 continuous months, providing the opportunity for entry-level nursing practice into the graduate level. Successful students are conferred an MSN degree upon graduation and are prepared to take the professional registered nurse licensure exam (NCLEX-RN) as well as the Clinical Nurse Leader certification exam. https://www.ncsbn.org/nclex.htm
Nurse Anesthesia Program Track
The coursework in the MSN Nurse Anesthesia Track prepares qualified, experienced Registered Nurses in the Advanced Practice Nursing specialty of nurse anesthesia. The NAP is jointly conducted by Millikin University and Decatur Memorial Hospital (DMH). A strong emphasis is placed upon performance learning opportunities focusing on advanced knowledge and technical skills required for unrestricted nurse anesthesia practice. The required clinical practicum consisting of approximately 2500 hours of clinical experiences is conducted at DMH and their affiliate institutions. Once the clinical practicum experiences begin, students do not follow the traditional University semester calendar. Graduates of this program will be eligible to take the National Certification Examination offered by the Council of Certification of Nurse Anesthetists.