The ADN to MSN Bridge consists of six courses (20 credits) designed to “bridge” the differences between the educational preparation of the associate degree nurse and the baccalaureate nurse. These six courses will be completed over twelve months in four 12-week terms, prior to the start of the student’s designated specialty track in the master’s program. The Bridge is an entry option to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program for nurses without a bachelor’s degree.
All Bridge students attend Frontier Bound in Hyden—an orientation to the Bridge and to the School. While at Frontier Bound, students will participate in activities for their first term courses and will be oriented to the rest of their Bridge courses. Students will complete the Bridge courses in their communities.
After completion of the Bridge course sequence, students will return to campus for an intensive called “Crossing the Bridge,” which starts the coursework in their chosen clinical specialty track. Crossing the Bridge is a required on-campus session.Crossing the Bridge is a required on-campus session. The Master of Science in Nursing degree will be granted upon completion of all remaining coursework in the clinical specialty track. No Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is awarded as part of the Bridge entry option.
Students accepted to the Bridge entry option will complete the Bridge courses in the following sequence:
First term:
N400 Physical Assessment (3-0)
N401 Communication (3-0)
Second term:
N404 Statistics (3-0)
N406 Leadership (3-0)
Third term:
N407 Theories and Research (3-0)
N408 Community Health (3-0)
Fourth term:
N409 Community Health Practicum (0-2)
Crossing the Bridge
Coursework in Clinical Specialty Track (4/[5-0])
The objective of the Bridge entry option is to provide the opportunity for students to attain the educational competencies of the baccalaureate nurse, and the Bridge curriculum focuses on preparing the associate degree nurse for the advanced practice nursing role. This is congruent with the mission of the Master of Science in Nursing program to provide a high quality education that prepares nurses to become competent, entrepreneurial, ethical and compassionate nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who will provide primary care for women and families residing in all areas with a focus on rural and medically underserved populations.