UNC Greensboro introduces its new Prelicensure Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing (PELMSN) Program, expanding opportunities for individuals not currently nurses to change their careers and become nurses. The Prelicensure Master’s is a direct entry pathway, often called a Direct Master’s Entry (DME) program.
UNCG’s School of Nursing’s new Prelicensure MSN is the first direct-admission master’s nursing program approved in the state and in the UNC System.
This game changing announcement comes on the heels of UNCG’s School of Nursing’s recent launch of another innovation, the first-year BSN direct admission initiative.
An Attractive Pathway to an MSN
The DME pathway offers a more streamlined entry into the School of Nursing’s highly regarded Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
“As the demand for nurses continues to surge, we’re ecstatic to offer groundbreaking programs that will help more students enter the field and pursue rewarding careers in nursing,” says UNCG School of Nursing Dean Debra Barksdale.
This pathway is designed for individuals who possess a non-nursing bachelor’s degree; the program allows applicants to earn an MSN, instead of having to earn a second bachelor’s degree, providing an attractive advanced education opportunity for applicants seeking to become registered nurses.
Prelicensure MSN students will have a 24-month curriculum with 73 credit hours over six semesters, including two summer sessions. While there are a few online courses, most courses are in-person, including clinical rotations in acute, outpatient, and community health care facilities in the Triad region.
Upon program completion, students will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become licensed as registered nurses (RNs). The first student cohort will be admitted and enrolled for spring semester, starting January 2025, and will complete the program two years later in December 2026.
Addressing Workforce Shortages
The new PELMSN program enables UNCG’s School of Nursing to expand its enrollment and to increase the number of new nurses.
“This is a pivotal moment for both the university and our School of Nursing. With the approval of our Prelicensure Entry-Level MSN program, we are not only expanding academic pathways but also providing future nurses to address the workforce shortage,” says Senior Associate Dean for Academics Yvonne Eaves.
A recent Health Resources and Services Administration report projects the nursing shortage will improve in most states over the next decade; however, North Carolina is one of ten states that will have the highest number of RN shortages by 2036. UNCG nursing graduates are essential to the health of NC’s citizens.
According to the Sheps Health Workforce NC, UNCG graduates have the highest percent (92.9%) of BSN graduates who work in NC and in rural areas of all 4-year UNC System institutions that offer the BSN. UNCG’s School of Nursing is committed to continuing this tradition with our Prelicensure MSN graduates and doing its part to contribute to the RN workforce.
“This program, the first approved in the state, reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation in nursing education,” says Eaves.
Supporting Future Students
SON Administrative Support Specialist Akila Hardy-Cole celebrates the new program as it offers an alternative career path.
“This program removes hurdles for individuals like me who want to become a nurse,” says Hardy-Cole. “It provides an option for professionals to bypass traditional pathways of obtaining a nursing license by not having to earn another bachelor’s degree.”
Hardy-Cole believes working professionals who have an interest in health care and seek a career change make great candidates for the new program.
“This program will enable me to advance my education, by earning a master’s degree, and to become a nurse at the same time,” says Hardy-Cole. “I can accomplish two dreams simultaneously without spending unnecessary time or money and become both a successful RN and graduate level healthcare leader.”
These initiatives place UNCG at the forefront of nursing education in the state. UNCG is thrilled to be the first school in the UNC System to offer these opportunities, reaffirming its commitment and preparedness to provide aspiring nurses with the best education and experience possible.
“We are not just preparing nurses – we are shaping the future of healthcare in the Southeast and beyond,” says Barksdale.
Story written by Amy Burtch, AMBCopy LLC
Photography provided by the School of Nursing
