Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing

http://www.montana.edu/nursing/

Mission

The Montana State University Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing enhances the health of the people of Montana, our nation, and the global community through education, creation of knowledge, and service.

Vision

The Montana State University Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing transforms lives and communities in the people's interest.

Core Values

  • Excellence: we pursue exceptional outcomes.
  • Integrity: we commit to honesty, ethical behavior, and accountability.
  • Inclusion: we create a civil, supportive, and respectful environment where difference and diversity are sources of strength.
  • Collaboration: we believe that working together produces better outcomes.
  • Curiosity: we expect inquiry, exploration, creativity, and innovation.
  • Stewardship: we care for and conserve the human, economic, physical, and environmental resources.

Undergraduate Programs

The undergraduate professional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing and is nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The Traditional BSN Program is designed for college students pursuing their first undergraduate degree. The curriculum is composed of two blocks: pre-nursing courses and nursing courses. Students are required to apply for acceptance into the MSU state-wide nursing program. Once accepted into the BSN program, MSU nursing students are placed at one of the five College of Nursing state-wide campuses located in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Missoula. It is also possible for a student to complete all of the required pre-nursing coursework at institutions other than Montana State University and apply to the MSU BSN program.

The Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing at Montana State University offers an Accelerated BSN (ABSN) Program for students with a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Students are required to have completed the same pre-requisite courses. Once admitted to the nursing major, students complete the BSN degree in an accelerated 12 month schedule. Once accepted into the ABSN program, MSU nursing students are placed at one of the five College of Nursing state-wide campuses located in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Missoula. It is also possible for a student to complete all of the required pre-nursing coursework at institutions other than Montana State University and apply to the MSU Accelerated BSN program.


Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Montana State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).  


Application to the Traditional BSN Program

All students must apply for placement into the Traditional BSN program. The number of available placements are regulated to provide the best utilization of financial, clinical, and faculty resources. Applications to the Traditional BSN Program are open twice a year, with corresponding admissions in both the Fall and Spring semesters. Application timelines and requirements can be found on our Traditional BSN Application website.

Application to the Accelerated BSN Program

All students must apply for placement into the Accelerated BSN Program. The number of available placements are regulated to provide the best utilization of financial, clinical, and faculty resources. Applications to the Accelerated BSN Program open once a year, with admissions in the Fall semester. Application timelines and requirements can be found on our Accelerated BSN Application website.

Transfer Students

The above criteria and procedures for application and progression through the nursing curriculum apply to transfer students as well as MSU-Bozeman students. Students who have been enrolled as nursing students at any other institution (have nursing courses on their transcripts) must provide a letter from their Dean or Director regarding their academic standing at their departure from that program. They also must apply through NursingCAS during a typical application timeline. Course equivalency evaluation will occur once eligibility has been assessed. 

In order to facilitate transcript evaluation, transfer students provide a copy of the original transcript(s) from all institutions of higher education they have attended to the College of Nursing. Out-of-state transfer students may need to provide course syllabi if the course does not appear in the MSU transfer equivalency site. Transfer students are encouraged to work with a MSU-Bozeman College of Nursing Adviser before application to the program of nursing.

Expenses

Nursing education has unique costs. To cover the expense of simulation equipment, lab supplies, NCLEX-RN test preparation, distance delivery support, etc., all nursing students accepted into the program are assessed a nursing program fee each semester. In addition, nursing students separately pay for their uniforms, stethoscope, immunizations, background checks, drug screening, and current professional healthcare provider CPR certification. 

Dean

Sarah Shannon, PhD, RN, FAAN
406 994-3783 | sarah.shannon1@montana.edu
PO Box 173560, Bozeman, MT 59717-3560

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Susan Wallace Raph, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
406 994-5726 | sraph@montana.edu
PO Box 173560, Bozeman, MT 59717-3560

Director of Academic Programs and Evaluation

Paul Swift, MEd
406 994-2577 | paul.swift@montana.edu
PO Box 173560, Bozeman, MT 59717-3560

Undergraduate Program Coordinator

Debbie McCray
406-994-2660 | dmccray@montana.edu
PO Box 173560, Bozeman, MT 59717-3560

 

Bachelor of Science in Nursing 

Pre-Nursing Courses

Below is a sample of how a pre-nursing student might work their way through the prerequisite courses required before entering into nursing coursework. Each student's coursework and progression may vary. 

Freshman YearCredits
FallSpring
CHMY 121IN - Introduction to General Chemistry
& CHMY 122IN - Introduction to General Chemistry Lab
4  
COMX 111US - Introduction to Public Speaking3  
M 121Q - College Algebra (Students with MSU Math Placement levels of 400 or above are exempt from this requirement)3  
IA, IH, or D CORE3-4  
Electives3  
BIOH 201 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I  5
BIOM 250 - Microbiology for Health Sciences: Infectious Diseases
& BIOM 251 - Microbiology for Health Sciences Lab
  4
SOCI 101IS - Introduction to Sociology
or PSYX 100IS - Intro to Psychology
  3-4
WRIT 101W - College Writing I (Students with a conferred baccalaureate degree are exempt from this requirement)  3
Year Total: 16-17 15-16
Sophomore YearCredits
FallSpring
BIOH 211 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II4  
STAT 216Q - Introduction to Statistics3  
WRIT 201 - College Writing II3  
HDFS 101IS - Indiv and Fam Dev: Lifespan
or PSYX 230 - Developmental Psychology
3  
IA, IH, or D CORE3-4  
CHMY 123 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
& CHMY 124 - Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry Lab
  4
NUTR 221CS - Basic Human Nutrition  3
NRSG 116 - Introduction to Professional Nursing  2
D, IA, or IH CORE  3-4
Year Total: 16-17 12-13
Total Program Credits: 59-63

Nursing Program Courses

After successful application and placement into the nursing program, Traditional BSN Program students complete the following plan of study over four consecutive semesters (these classes are not offered during summer semesters). 

Junior YearCredits
FallSpring
NRSG 314 - Concepts in Psychosocial Nursing2  
NRSG 316 - Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics for Nurses I3  
NRSG 323 - Professional Development I: Professional and Ethical Nursing1  
NRSG 327 - Foundations of Nursing Care2  
NRSG 328 - Foundations of Nursing Lab3  
NRSG 329 - Adult Health Assessment3  
NRSG 400 - Nursing Simulation1  
NRSG 317 - Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics for Nurses II  3
NRSG 324R - Professional Development II: Evidence Based Practice   3
NRSG 332 - Nursing Concepts for Health Promotion  2
NRSG 334 - Nursing Practice for Health Promotion  1
NRSG 354 - Nursing Concepts in Reproductive Health  2
NRSG 357 - Nursing Concepts in Pediatric Care  2
NRSG 359 - Nursing Practice in Reproductive Health and Pediatric Care  3
NRSG 400 - Nursing Simulation  1
Year Total: 15 17
Senior YearCredits
FallSpring
NRSG 400 - Nursing Simulation1  
NRSG 403 - Professional Development III: Care Management2  
NRSG 408 - Nursing Concepts in Chronic Care2  
NRSG 409 - Nursing Practice in Chronic Care2  
NRSG 426 - Nursing Concepts in Population Health 2  
NRSG 427 - Nursing Practice in Population Health2  
NRSG 431 - Nursing Concepts in Psychiatric/Mental Health2  
NRSG 432 - Nursing Practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health1  
NRSG 400 - Nursing Simulation  1
NRSG 412 - Professional Development IV: Nursing Leadership and Transition to Practice  2
NRSG 452 - Health Policy & Economics   2
NRSG 470 - Nursing Concepts in Acute Care  2
NRSG 471 - Nursing Practice in Acute Care  2
NRSG 480 - Management of Healthcare Systems   2
NRSG 498 - Professional Internship  3
Year Total: 14 14
Total Program Credits: 60

Elective credits as required to meet the minimum of 120 required credits for graduation.

Accelerated BSN Program:

The College of Nursing at Montana State University offers an Accelerated BSN (ABSN) Program for students to earn a second baccalaureate degree in nursing. This option is available only to students who already have earned a baccalaureate degree in a discipline other than nursing. Students are required to have completed the same prerequisite courses as the traditional students EXCEPT for WRIT 101 and CLS 101. Once admitted to the nursing major, they complete the BSN degree in an accelerated 12 month schedule. The ABSN nursing courses are offered to students receiving placement at one of five MSU nursing campus sites: Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Missoula.

NOTE: Required pre-requisite courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better and no more than one repeat of a course is permitted regardless of when or where taken. A passing grade of C or better is required for all nursing curriculum courses.

CHMY 121IN
CHMY 122IN
Introduction to General Chemistry
and Introduction to General Chemistry Lab
4
CHMY 123
CHMY 124
Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
and Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry Lab
4
BIOM 250Microbiology for Health Sciences: Infectious Diseases3
BIOM 251Microbiology for Health Sciences Lab1
BIOH 201Human Anatomy and Physiology I5
BIOH 211Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
M 121QCollege Algebra3
STAT 216QIntroduction to Statistics3
NUTR 221CSBasic Human Nutrition3
WRIT 201College Writing II3
COMX 111USIntroduction to Public Speaking3
HDFS 101ISIndiv and Fam Dev: Lifespan3
or PSYX 230 Developmental Psychology
SOCI 101ISIntroduction to Sociology3
or PSYX 100IS Intro to Psychology
NRSG 116Introduction to Professional Nursing2
Total Credits44
Senior YearCredits
Fall
NRSG 318 - Accelerated Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics for Nurses 4
NRSG 323 - Professional Development I: Professional and Ethical Nursing1
NRSG 327 - Foundations of Nursing Care2
NRSG 328 - Foundations of Nursing Lab3
NRSG 329 - Adult Health Assessment3
NRSG 333 - Concepts in Health Promotion and Psychosocial Nursing4
NRSG 334 - Nursing Practice for Health Promotion1
NRSG 400 - Nursing Simulation1
Year Total: 19
Total Program Credits: 19
Senior YearCredits
Spring
NRSG 324R - Professional Development II: Evidence Based Practice 3
NRSG 358 - Nursing Concepts in Reproductive Health and Pediatric Care4
NRSG 359 - Nursing Practice in Reproductive Health and Pediatric Care3
NRSG 400 - Nursing Simulation2
NRSG 452 - Health Policy & Economics 2
NRSG 460 - Nursing Concepts in Acute and Chronic Care 4
NRSG 461 - Nursing Practice for Acute and Chronic Care 3
Year Total: 21
Total Program Credits: 21
Senior YearCredits
Summer
NRSG 400 - Nursing Simulation1
NRSG 406 - Professional Development V: Care Management and Informatics in Healthcare Systems 3
NRSG 412 - Professional Development IV: Nursing Leadership and Transition to Practice2
NRSG 426 - Nursing Concepts in Population Health 2
NRSG 427 - Nursing Practice in Population Health2
NRSG 431 - Nursing Concepts in Psychiatric/Mental Health2
NRSG 432 - Nursing Practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health1
NRSG 498 - Professional Internship3
Year Total: 16
Total Program Credits: 16

Graduate Programs Available


Master of Nursing (MN) - Clinical Nurse Leadership (CNL)

  • BSN to MN

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

  • Family Nurse Practitioner 
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan
  • Post-Masters Doctor of Nursing Practice

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Online Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education

To learn more about the graduate offerings in Nursing, and to find out specifics on applying to any program see the department website: http://www.montana.edu/nursing/prospective/index.html. 

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Montana State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).  


Dean

Dr. Sarah Shannon, PhD, RN, FAAN
406 994-3783 | sarah.shannon1@montana.edu
PO Box 173560, Bozeman, MT 59717-3560

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Dr. Susan Wallace Raph, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
406 994-5726 | sraph@montana.edu
PO Box 173560, Bozeman, MT 59717-3560

Director of Academic Programs and Evaluation

Paul Swift, MEd
406 994-2577 | paul.swift@montana.edu
PO Box 173560, Bozeman, MT 59717-3560

General Inquiries

graduatenursing@montana.edu