Nursing (BSN to MSN)

The Master of Science in Nursing (BSN to MSN) program prepares students at an advanced level, with a focus on nursing scholarship and research. Students will study healthcare policy, advanced research, healthcare informatics, leadership and management, financial resource management, curriculum development, teaching and learning process, assessment and evaluation of learning, and practicum capstone courses.

Emphasis will be placed on evidence-based practice, professional development, and scholarly practice, preparing nursing professionals with advanced theoretical skills and applied research methods.

Program goals and objectives.

• Develop Advanced Clinical Competence: Equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver advanced nursing care, utilizing the latest evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes across diverse populations.
• Foster Leadership and Advocacy: Prepare students to assume leadership roles in healthcare settings, advocating for policy changes, improving healthcare systems, and driving innovations in nursing practice.
• Promote Interprofessional Collaboration: Encourage effective collaboration among healthcare professionals by fostering communication, teamwork, and shared decision-making to enhance patient care and healthcare delivery.
• Enhance Ethical and Legal Practice: Instill a deep understanding of ethical principles, legal standards, and cultural sensitivity in students, ensuring they practice with integrity and uphold the highest standards of nursing care.
• Support Research and Scholarly Inquiry: Cultivate a commitment to research and scholarly inquiry, encouraging students to contribute to the body of nursing knowledge and engage in practices that are informed by the latest research findings.
• Commit to Lifelong Learning and Professional Growth: Encourage continuous professional development and lifelong learning, preparing graduates to adapt to the ever-changing healthcare environment and advance the nursing profession throughout their careers.

• Asynchronous Courses Online
• BSNs: Earn Your Master’s Degree
• Job Placement Assistance
• Veteran & Military Benefits Eligible

All applicants to Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts must meet the General Admission Requirements for all Programs, including the entrance exam where required, and the additional admission requirements for this program.

• Meet the following admission policies of Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts: immunization, health screening, background check, and CPR Certification (See Policies of Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in the School Catalog and “Admissions”).
• Submit a completed application for the program. It is recommended that interested applicants meet with the admission advisor to complete the application.
• Submit proof of current Registered Nurse (RN) license.
• Submit official transcripts from an accredited institution showing the obtained BSN degree and the graduation date. Copies are not accepted.
• Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4-point scale) or higher in all college coursework.
• Submit a 3-page typed Statement of Purpose or Letter of Intent.
• Submit three (3) letters of recommendation to the nursing program. These may come from employers, immediate work supervisors, health-related facilities where the applicant has volunteered, or faculty from previous college/university coursework. These letters of recommendations must be submitted on formal organizational stationery.
• Submit proof of health-related or community work, e.g., volunteering at health fairs, hospitals, clinics, working with the homeless, mentoring or tutoring other students, Big Brother or Big Sister. These experiences must be substantiated with a document or letter of verification on formal organizational stationery.
• Applicants will be asked to participate in an interview with the Nursing Program Director or Associate Program Director, either in person or via Google Meet, if necessary.
• Applicants will be rank-ordered based on the following score, which includes: • GPA in Prerequisite Courses • Personal Letters of Recommendation • Community Work • Health Related Experience

The Master of Science in Nursing (BSN to MSN) program admission track is a six (6) semester distance education program for RNs to complete their Master of Science Degree in Nursing in two years. Each semester is 15 weeks long and covers two (2) courses. Course instructors will open a new lecture each weekday, and assignments must be submitted by the deadlines set by the course instructors and as indicated in the course syllabi.

At Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts, students receive 540 hours of didactic instruction in professional courses. The two (2) practicum courses require the student to do five to six hours each week with a preceptor for eight (8) weeks. Students must obtain their local preceptor based on their work or residence. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts has agreements with multiple healthcare facilities in the Bay Area, California, where students can complete their practicum in an alternative setting.

The expected program completion time is 90 weeks, excluding holidays and vacation periods. The Instructor-to- Student ratio is 1:25 during lectures and 1:1 during clinical externships.

Upcoming start date for this program: January 4, 2027.

Tuition and fees. Registration Fee (non-refundable) $100.00; Student Tuition Recovery Fund $0.00; Textbooks $400.00; Tuition $14,400.00. The addendum lists a total program cost of $14,937.50, which does not equal the sum of the listed charges; confirm the total with the campus. Total program cost excludes transportation, room and board, and personal expenses.

Total fees per period of enrollment. Period 1: $2,625.00; Period 2: $2,450.00; Period 3: $2,475.00; Period 4: $2,500.00; Period 5: $2,425.00; Period 6: $2,425.00.

Cost of Attendance, 2026–2027 (one academic year). Tuition & Fees $4,900.00; Books $175.00; Transportation $6,300.00; Food & Housing $17,876.00; Personal Expenses $638.00; Loan Fees $216.00; Laptop Fees $450.00; Total Cost of Attendance (One Academic Year) $30,555.00. Individual student costs will vary.

Financial aid. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts participates in various federal and state student financial assistance programs, including the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, Direct and Direct PLUS Loans, Cal Grant, Sallie Mae® and Campus Door loans, and veteran benefits, for those who qualify. Each campus has a Financial Aid Advisor. Gurnick's FAFSA school code is 041698.

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Other fees, as applicable. ATI TEAS $120; background check $33–$75; drug testing $74–$148; CPR $55–$80; fingerprinting $81 and up; licensing board fees $200–$500 depending on the exam and license; campus parking permit $25; graduation ceremony fee $20–$50. Some of these fees may be paid by Gurnick Academy for some programs.

Career paths. Registered Nurse, Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife, Nurse Practitioner.

School Performance Fact Sheet, calendar year 2024. Nursing (BSN-to-MSN) – 36 Semester Credit Hours at the Concord campus reported an on-time completion rate of 87% (13 of 15 students available for graduation); a job placement rate of 92% (12 of 13 graduates available for employment employed in the field) (published None).