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Why You Should Pursue AMU’s RN to MSN
Are you a registered nurse seeking to position yourself for advanced nursing practice? American Military University's online RN to MSN program is designed specifically for registered nurses looking to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN degree) and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN degree).
The RN to MSN program also enables you to choose a concentration, which can help serve as preparation for opportunities as a nurse educator, nurse leader, or community and public health nurse.
This accelerated RN to MSN program is ideal for registered nurses holding a current RN license and an associate-level nursing education or diploma. Not all nursing programs accept diploma holders, but American Military University does, providing an advantage for those with a diploma.
AMU’s 147-credit accelerated RN to MSN stands out among online programs for its unique structure. As you complete the BSN degree, you will replace three bachelor's degree courses with three master's degree courses, saving you valuable time. You also save on tuition because these three substituted graduate-level courses are charged at the undergraduate rate.
Additionally, our program awards a BSN degree upon completion of the first 120 credits, another program distinction. If, for whatever reason, you needed to pause in the program at that point, you have the bachelor’s at a minimum.
Alternatively, you could pursue American Military University's BSN degree through our RN to BSN program and a nursing master's degree through our standalone MSN degree program. The BSN degree is a 120-credit baccalaureate program, while the MSN degree requires 36 credits, for a combined total of 156 credits.
AMU’s RN to MSN option provides a faster, frictionless path for those aiming for both bachelor’s and master's-level achievement.
American Military University has no waitlist for this nursing program. If you meet AMU’s admission requirements, you can get started as soon as you complete your admission and registration steps. Admission advisors will walk you through the process.
Nursing classes start the first Monday of every other month, so you can be in control and begin on your schedule. Most classes are 8 weeks in duration with an end-of-program practicum in your area of specialty that will run for 16 weeks.
A Guide to Becoming a Nurse in the Armed Forces
Serving our nation and protecting our servicemembers as a nurse can be a deeply rewarding path and may enable you to travel to locations worldwide. If you are in the military or thinking of enlisting and are interested in becoming a military nurse, there are several steps you should know.
First, understand that the military does require nurses to hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) at a minimum.
These are possible steps in the process:
- Enroll in an accredited BSN program.
- Take and pass the NCLEX-RN®1 exam to become a registered nurse. (You must have already taken this exam to enroll in AMU’s program.)
- Get licensure as a registered nurse in your state. Requirements vary by state.
- Choose which branch you will join and speak to a recruiter about your goals
- Enroll in the Basic Officer Leader Course
As a military-friendly higher education provider, AMU takes pride in supporting the ambitions of servicemembers and those exploring enlistment. We count many veterans among our faculty and staff and they understand the challenges and opportunities of military life.
1 NCLEX-RN® is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
Accreditation for AMU’s Online RN to MSN
American Military University is part of American Public University System (APUS). The baccalaureate and master's degree programs in nursing at American Public University System are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).
To achieve CCNE accreditation, the University undertakes a rigorous self-assessment process to examine the program’s quality, its faculty and their credentials, and program outcomes to determine the readiness of graduates to successfully take on the challenges of the profession.
Employers often require those they hire to be graduates of accredited programs. Accreditation by CCNE stands as your assurance that the University is committed to continuous quality improvement throughout this program.
AMU’s parent organization American Public University System is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This also signals program quality and it enables eligible individuals to seek federal financial aid.
Concentration Tracks for AMU’s RN to MSN
To focus your learning, the master’s degree portion of your studies will involve selecting an area of concentration.
American Military University offers these specialization tracks: Nurse Educator, Nurse Leader, and Community and Public Health Nurse.
The Nurse Educator Track
The Nursing Education track positions you to teach and help prepare ambitious learners interested in a nursing career. You will be responding to the critical shortage of nurse educators. Many nursing programs have waitlists for students seeking entry, and this shortage is impacting the ability of nursing programs to admit more students. As part of this track, you will demonstrate your nursing education abilities by completing a 16-week practicum.
The Nurse Leader Track
A wave of retirements spurred by the pandemic resulted in vacancies in nursing leadership. This track is for registered nurses who wish to extend their responsibilities beyond patient care to support the vital managerial and operational functions of healthcare organizations. You will complete a specified number of hours in clinical practice experiences engaging in leadership activities in a selected setting in your community.
The Community and Public Health Nurse Track
Develop the capacity to be a changemaker and advocate for healthcare policies that improve the health of a community by enrolling in this track. You will pay particular attention to disease prevention, health equity, patient care, and patient safety. Additionally, you will learn to be a champion for community health initiatives. This program includes a clinical practice practicum to implement population health programs in your selected community setting.
Can This Program Be Done Online?
AMU’s RN to MSN can be completed fully online, with the exception of two courses. As part of NURS401 Caring for Today’s Veterans, nursing students will visit a veteran service center. Additionally, the practicum experience as part of the master’s degree program involves a face-to-face clinical experience under the supervision of a preceptor at a healthcare setting in your community.
Are There Advantages to Taking This Program Online?
Flexibility is crucial for registered nurses managing uncertain schedules and seeking to further their education. American Military University's RN to MSN online program allows nurses to take control of their learning to address personal and professional development.
By enrolling in an online program, you'll have the opportunity to connect with registered nurses from various backgrounds and locations around the world. This diverse mix of perspectives creates a powerful learning environment. Our online program provides a robust learning experience that allows you to explore these different facets of patient care and nursing practice.
You get to hear about experiences from nurses representing practice areas worldwide in our classes. Students often appreciate hearing how a military treatment facility compares to a small rural community hospital, for example.
Online learning does require good time management skills and self-discipline, as well as a certain comfort level with technology use. But the flexibility and rich learning it affords can make this learning method an appropriate option for those who choose it.
Your registered nursing license is worth transfer credit at American Military University. With a current active, unencumbered RN license, you are awarded 30 transfer credits, putting you that much closer to your degree.
AMU also considers the following options when evaluating your background for transfer credit.
- Military service and education
- Academic credit in the form of coursework or earned degrees
- Professional training and certification
- Credit by exam, like CLEP or DSST
- Government training
- Public safety training
- Prior learning, evaluating your real-world experience to assess whether academic credit can be awarded
American Military University will evaluate your transfer credit options at no cost with preliminary results shared within 2 to 3 days of submission of all material.
See complete transfer credit policies on our University website1.
How Long Does it Take to Go From RN to MSN?
The length of time to go from RN to MSN through an academic program of study often depends on transfer credits and the educational background of the individual upon admission.
In its RN to MSN, American Military University requires a minimum of an associate degree in nursing or diploma. Licensure as a registered nurse is also required. AMU does award 30 credits for your RN license. So that helps move you more quickly to your two program milestones—the conferred BSN and MSN.
An RN to MSN program will begin with general education courses, followed by BSN coursework. This portion of the program can take 4 years of full-time study. If you are an RN with a non-nursing bachelor's degree, you may move to the master’s in nursing coursework more quickly than those with an associate degree. You likely have transferable general education courses that will also help to accelerate your progress through the program.
The MSN portion can take an additional 12 to 24 months of coursework. Most MS in Nursing programs conclude with clinical hours through a practicum, which can take 16 weeks or more.
Keep in mind that completion time will always be dependent on transfer credit accepted and the number of courses completed each session.
Nursing Pathways and Degree Types
The educational journey undertaken by those who aspire to a master’s degree program in nursing or higher levels of learning in the health professions involves many acronyms and possible paths. To help define some of the abbreviations and programs you may discover, here are some common ones you may find:
The registered nurse (RN) credential is awarded to individuals who pass the National Council Licensure Examination, the NCLEX-RN® and obtain licensure in the state where they intend to practice.
These associate degrees—associate degree in nursing, associate of science in nursing, and associate of applied science—represent entry-level programs, often undertaken through a community college. These programs typically prepare students to take the NCLEX-RN, which is a national certification exam that must be successfully completed to earn a license as an RN. Some education providers offer associate-degree-to-MSN degree programs, like the ADN to MSN, for example.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is offered by both traditional and online colleges and universities. The BSN can be earned through a standalone program with no prior healthcare experience and will prepare students to take the NCLEX-RN for RN licensure. Some colleges and universities offer BSN to MSN degree programs, for those students who have already earned their bachelor’s in nursing. For those individuals who are registered nurses, there are RN to BSN programs. AMU offers one and it is designed for those whose education goals do not currently extend beyond the bachelor’s level.
These graduate programs allow those who have a bachelor’s in a non-nursing discipline to enter a master’s degree program in nursing (MSN). Students gain advanced education in nursing theory, patient care, professional nursing practice, population health, and other important areas of knowledge and skill.
The Master of Science in Nursing is a more rigorous educational journey at the graduate level. These programs prepare students for advanced practice, and some offer specializations for family nurse practitioner, nursing informatics, and other professional nursing practice areas. You may find ADN or ASN to MSN programs, as well as accelerated RN to MSN programs, available for those who are seeking a streamlined path to earn both a BSN and MSN degree.
These doctoral programs award terminal degrees, representing the pinnacle of academic achievement. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is a practice doctorate, ideal for those who wish to remain clinically active or seek leadership positions within their healthcare organization. You may find opportunities to enroll in associate degree to DNP, RN to DNP, BSN to DNP, and MSN to DNP programs, as well as standalone DNP programs. Those who wish to conduct nursing research or teach academically may wish to pursue a Ph.D., which is a research doctorate.
NCLEX-RN® is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
How to Pay for This Degree
AMU’s team of financial aid advisors is ready to provide guidance in identifying funding sources that may be available to you:
You may be eligible for support through the GI Bill®. AMU’s financial aid advisors help you understand, navigate, and maximize your benefits.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official website: http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Because our institution is accredited, qualified individuals may seek federal financial aid. Visit studentaid.gov to learn how you may qualify. After reviewing the website, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in order to apply.
Many employers provide tuition assistance as an employee benefit. Check with your human resources department to see if this is an option for you. Some healthcare organizations have a partnership with our university, affording unique benefits to the partner’s employees. Ask your HR department if AMU is partnered with your organization.
AMU does not award scholarships but can share information about organizations that have awarded our students a scholarship. Since a scholarship is considered “gift” funding, it does not need to be repaid. Loans, on the other hand, come from private lenders, such as banks and credit unions. Loans do need to be repaid.
Some students pay from personal funds. AMU accepts the following out-of-pocket methods of payment:
- Credit Cards
- E-Checks
- Digital Payments
The University also offers an automatic debit plan, so that you can spread out tuition payments on a predetermined schedule and your credit card is charged directly.
NOTE: The RN to MSN program is not eligible for military tuition assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
An RN to MSN is a nursing program for RNs to consolidate their learning and undertake both a baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master’s-level study. Typically, they will have come into the program with an associate degree or diploma. Ultimately, students will have completed BSN coursework and MSN courses to earn a nursing master’s degree. This enables advanced practice in the healthcare field.
To become a military nurse, you will need a minimum of a BSN degree. You also need to take and successfully complete the National Council Licensure Examination, the NCLEX-RN®. Once you pass that exam, you need to get licensed in the state where you will practice. If you are in the early stages and not yet enlisted, speak with a recruiter for your chosen branch of the military for guidance on the steps involved with becoming a military nurse.
Differences in curriculum should be considered when evaluating the difficulty of a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) and a master’s in nursing (MSN). Each nursing degree has its own challenges, however, an MSN typically involves a more rigorous curriculum and covers advanced topics such as leadership, administration, and specialized nursing roles.
These programs are for students who have earned a BS in nursing (BSN) and wish to pursue a graduate degree to get a master’s in nursing (MSN) in order to advance their practice. An MSN program will typically offer specialty tracks. Such specialties could focus on nursing education, primary care nurse practitioner, mental health nurse practitioner, and family nurse practitioner preparation. They generally require 1 to 2 years of full-time study, depending on the curriculum and any clinical practice hours necessary for program completion.
Speed to completion often depends on enrollment status as a full-time or part-time student and level of education upon entry. Both are graduate programs, however, the DNP is a doctoral program—the Doctor of Nursing Practice—and requires the highest level of scholarship and rigor. Each program requires at least 2 years of full-time coursework. MSN programs will usually conclude with a clinical practice experience called a practicum under the supervision of a preceptor. A DNP may also require clinical practice hours and concludes with a scholarly project. This project may take another 1 to 2 years to complete.
Some programs, known as Direct-Entry programs, enable those with a non-nursing bachelor’s to go straight into a nursing master’s degree (MSN). However, if your goal is to become licensed as a registered nurse, you may wish to earn your BSN first. This will prepare you to take the NCLEX-RN exam in order to gain licensure. You also get experience working in clinical settings.
The Registered Nurse to Nurse Practitioner path is a highly specialized choice. For those who have no college degree, entry-level general education coursework in arts and humanities, social sciences, history, mathematics, and natural sciences, will be required. These courses are often part of an associate degree program. You may begin by earning your associate degree in nursing (ADN or ASN), which can take about 2 years of full-time study. Next, you will complete bachelor’s degree coursework over 2 more years, completing more advanced nursing courses to earn a BSN. To become a nurse practitioner, you will need to successfully complete a nurse practitioner track in an MS in Nursing program. This usually involves another 1-2 years of study at a minimum, including completion of a practicum in the specialty.
Consider your personal and professional goals when answering this question. As part of the evolution of professional nursing, a BS in Nursing is now considered the minimum level of education for registered nurses, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). In fact, AACN issued a position paper on this, citing more complexities in healthcare, given a shift away from hospital-based care and a focus on preventive care. Hospitals with Magnet® designation typically require nurses they hire to hold a BSN. For those who aspire to higher levels of responsibility and wish to address a specialized niche, an MSN may be the appropriate choice. The role of Nurse Practitioner, for example, requires an individual to hold an MSN at a minimum. A nurse practitioner is able to diagnose and treat illness and prescribe medications, much like the care delivered by a physician. A nurse practitioner track is a popular specialization offered by some MSN academic programs.
NCLEX-RN® is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
Magnet ® is a registered trademark of the American Nurses Credentialing Center.