Master of Science in Nursing: Online RN to MSN Pathway
Our RN to MSN Pathway offers a Fast Track to Nursing Leadership
No BSN is Required
For Busy Registered Nurses
- Advance directly from an RN to MSN
- Convenient online courses let you continue working
- Ranked among the Top 15 Regional Universities South1
- Choose from four nursing specialization tracks
Are you seeking a fast track to advanced nursing roles? The online RN to MSN pathway prepares you to succeed as a nurse leader or educator — without BSN degree requirements.
What Makes Us Unique?
Your Needs, Fulfilled. Our online RN to MSN pathway is designed by working nurses, for working nurses. Get the flexibility to pursue your next nursing position as you continue thriving in your current job.
Finish Faster. Complete two bridge courses and then advance to the core MSN courses. This format lets registered nurses earn a master’s degree in 2.5 years.
Learn More Today
Complete the form to learn more about this program.
Become a Nursing Leader Faster and On Your Terms
Registered nurses have a faster way to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and become principled nurse leaders. With the CCNE-accredited RN to MSN pathway program from Queens University of Charlotte, you can work toward an advanced degree immediately — no BSN required.*
Our Presbyterian School of Nursing designed this pathway program to offer registered nurses a fast track to a master’s degree. You can complete the online RN to MSN pathway program in 2.5 years, getting the flexibility to succeed at work and in the classroom.
*An unencumbered, current license is required for this pathway.
Move Into Higher Salary Nursing Roles
More than 4 million nurses could retire by 2030.2 So, it’s vital for registered nurses to earn a master’s degree that prepares them for the top roles that health facilities will need.
Because our online RN to MSN pathway program offers four specializations, you’ll get ready for roles in the area where you want to make a difference. You can also boost your earning potential. For instance, the average salary for nursing directors is $88,173 per year.3
View Job and Career OutlookTailor Your Nursing Program with Four Specializations
After completing the RN to MSN bridge and core courses, you will advance into one of these specialization tracks:
Career-Focused Courses
14 Online Coursess
Small Class Sizes
This program offers registered nurses a fast track for advancing from an RN to MSN online, as there is no BSN degree requirement. You’ll start with two RN to MSN bridge courses to prepare for the core coursework. From there, you’ll move into the Master of Science in Nursing courses. Courses that may interest you include:
- Leadership Principles and Practices
- Informatics in Health Care
- Educational Principles and Practices
- Integrative Clinical Concepts
Admissions Made Easier
No GRE/GMAT requirement
Transfer Credits Accepted
Our admissions process requires no exams, no application fee, and there is no BSN requirement. As a result, it’s easier for registered nurses with an associate or non-nursing bachelor’s degree to begin the RN to MSN Pathway. To join our CCNE-accredited master’s degree program, you will need:
| Completed application. You can start yours today with no application fee. |
| Minimum GPA: 2.5 |
| Official transcripts from each institution you have attended |
| Associate Degree in Nursing or above |
| Current, unrestricted license to practice nursing in the state where you will complete any practicum |
Visit the MSN’s Admissions page to learn more about transfer credits, application deadlines, and more.
View the Application ProcessSave Time and Money in a Program Without a BSN Requirement
Total Tuition: $26,187
Yellow Ribbon Institution
Fast track your nursing education in an online RN to MSN pathway program that you can complete in 2.5 years. No BSN is needed to start, helping registered nurses reduce the time and cost of earning a credential that leads to higher-salary nursing positions. Furthermore, U.S. News & World Report ranked us the No. 26 Best Value School,1 signaling the return on investment that our MSN program provides.
View the Tuition DetailsFinancial Aid
Nothing should stand in the way of pursuing the CCNE-accredited Master of Science in Nursing degree at Queens. We can guide you toward financial aid and other resources that make it easier to pay for school, such as:
- Employer tuition reimbursement
- Third-party scholarships
- Military benefits
- Alumni tuition discounts
What You Will Learn
Enabling registered nurses to advance as principled nurse leaders is a top priority for Queens’ School of Nursing. With our RN to MSN pathway, you’ll take flexible online courses that instill the expertise needed to improve patient care and policies at your facility.
- Develop a theoretical basis for safe advanced practice that includes nursing theory, health policy, and related disciplines.
- Promote professional environments that reflect advanced communication processes.
- Plan therapeutic interventions which interface with accepted standards, quality improvement processes, and evidence across varied populations and settings.
- Develop a broadened contextual basis of scholarship and data analysis, which informs best practice in varied health care and educational settings.
- Engage in culturally sensitive practice, which reflects advocacy and dignity.
- Evaluate resources at a systems level.
- Distinguish relevant global health care trends which support practice initiatives across populations.
- Differentiate health information technologies, which maximize evidence-based care and quality in health care and education settings.
- Appraise individual and collective workplace environments that support values-based practice.
Faculty Spotlight
Annette Hines, RN, Ph.D., CNE, Director of the Presbyterian School of Nursing; Associate Professor
Hines has been on faculty with Queens University of Charlotte since 2000. During her time at Queens, she has been promoted from instructor to assistant professor. She served as the Assistant Dean for The Presbyterian School of Nursing at Queens for three years. She was the winner of the student-nominated, university-level Joseph W. Grier Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2007. Dr. Hines was honored in the North Carolina Great 100 Nurses list in 2017.
- Ph.D. from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- M.S. in Nursing degree from East Carolina University
- B.S. in Nursing from Duke University
Personal Support, Professional Nurse Faculty
Our online RN to MSN pathway program is led by faculty who not only excel as instructors— they have also succeeded in the nursing field. Prepare to follow in their footsteps in small, supportive online classes as you seek our CCNE-accredited Master of Science in Nursing degree.
- Small class sizes
- Individualized attention
- Expert mentorship
The Online Student Experience and Its Advantages
Queens has a student-first approach to online learning that prioritizes what you need to succeed, including 24/7 tech support. You will benefit from smaller class sizes and experience our rich, interactive learning platform that makes connecting with your studies simple.
Learn More About Online LearningSources:
- U.S. News & World Report (2021). Best Colleges Rankings 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2021, from https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/queens-university-charlotte-2957.
- American Journal of Nursing (March 2021). “NewsCAP: Nursing workforce crisis looms with 4 million nurses retiring by 2030.” Retrieved December 9, 2021. https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/fulltext/2021/03000/newscap__nursing_workforce_crisis_looms_with_4.12.aspx.
- Payscale (2021 November 28). Average Nursing Director Salary. Retrieved December 9, 2021, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Nursing_Director/Salary.