Department of Nursing

The mission of the Department of Nursing is to provide a high quality, accessible, enriching education to students pursuing a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Our learning community cultivates graduates who are prepared with the knowledge, skills and competencies to advance professional nursing practice in a diverse, global and technological society. The Department of Nursing is committed to academic excellence, collaborative community involvement and promotion of scholarly achievement. The mission of the Department of Nursing is congruent with the missions of Metropolitan State University of Denver and the School of Professional Studies.

Academic Programs

The Nursing Department offers a baccalaureate degree program with three tracks leading to a major in nursing, the Accelerated Nursing Option (ANO), Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Completion Option (BRNCO), and Traditional Nursing Option (TNO).

• Nursing Major - Accelerated Nursing Option, B.S. 
• Nursing Major - Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Completion Option, B.S. 
• Nursing Major - Traditional Nursing Option, B.S.   

Accreditation

The Accelerated Nursing Option, Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Completion Option, and Traditional Nursing Option are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (formerly the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, acenursing.org.

For more information, call the Department of Nursing at 303-556-4391, go to West Classroom 247, or visit our website, msudenver.edu/nursing.

Student Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the MSU Denver Nursing Program, graduates should be able to achieve the following student learning outcomes:

1. Communication

• Analyze the effectiveness of written, verbal, non-verbal and electronic communication.
• Examine the effectiveness of therapeutic communication skills when providing nursing care to patients (individuals, families, groups, communities and populations).

2. Critical Thinking and Clinical Reasoning

• Assess the use of critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills when providing nursing care to patients (individuals, families, groups, communities and populations)
• Appraise current evidence and compare it with institutional policy.
• Evaluate the impact of the environment on the health of the patient (individuals, families, groups, communities and populations) and the delivery of nursing.

3. Patient Safety

• Integrate QSEN competencies into the delivery of nursing care
• Evaluate the effectiveness of processes related to maintaining patient safety in the clinical setting

4. Leadership and Management

• Analyze the power, politics, policy and regulatory guidelines on the health of patients.
• Integrate management principles in planning and delivering nursing care to patients.

5. Professionalism and Professional Values

• Assess the professionalism of interactions with faculty, student colleagues, health care team members and patients (individuals, families, groups, communities and populations).
• Evaluate personal development of professional values and value based behavior.

Accelerated Nursing Option (ANO)

The ANO is a second degree program for students with a previous non-nursing baccalaureate degree. 

Students who wish to enter the ANO must apply to the University and to the nursing program. Information on admissions requirements and the application process is available through the Department of Nursing, in West Classroom 247, 303-556-4391, or online at msudenver.edu/nursing.

Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Completion Option (BRNCO)

The BRNCO is available to RNs with an associate degree or diploma in nursing.  Thirty semester hours of lower-division nursing credit will be awarded for prior nursing education to qualifying students.

Students who wish to enter the BRNCO must apply to the University and to the nursing program.  Information on admission requirements and the application process is available through the Department of Nursing, in West Classroom 247, 303-556-4391, or online at msudenver.edu/nursing.

Traditional Nursing Option (TNO)

Students who wish to enter the TNO must apply to the University and to the TNO nursing program.  Information on admission requirements and the application process is available through the Department of Nursing, in West Classroom 247, 303-556-4391, or online at msudenver.edu/nursing.