MSN - Clinical Nurse Leader

Frequently Asked Questions

This program will allow individuals to earn a Master of Science in Nursing degree by building on the foundation of their prior degree.  Upon completion of the MSN - CNL program, graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN® exam, the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) certification exam, and are prepared for entry into the professional nursing workforce.  Graduates of the program can advance their study via post-masters education to prepare for advanced specialty practice (e.g. NP) and/or other advanced nursing degrees (e.g. PhD/DNP).

Is this program accredited?

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has accredited undergraduate and graduate programs in The University of Iowa College of Nursing until 2009.

Will I be eligible to pursue advance study in nursing with this degree?

Yes. Students who are interested in specialization in nursing for a specific population would do so post-masters or through doctoral study.

Do I have to take the GRE?

No, the GRE is not required for this degree program. Students who have long term plans of earning a PhD in nursing should take the GRE.

Do my prerequisites have to be completed before applying to the program?

No. All prerequisites do not have to be completed in order to apply for admission to the program. However, selected prerequisites must be completed by the end of the summer session prior to the start of the program (see below). Prerequisites for the program include the following:

• Biology (equivalent to 002:002 at Iowa)
• General Chemistry (equivalent to 004:007 at Iowa)
• General Psychology (equivalent to 031:001 General Psychology at Iowa)
• Statistics (minimum of 07P/143/ 22S:102 Intro to Statistical Methods or 22S:101 Biostatistics or 171:161 Introduction to Biostatistics) at Iowa.
• Microbiology (equivalent to 061:164 at Iowa; completed within 10 years of the start of the program)
• Anatomy (equivalent to 060:110 at Iowa)
• Pathophysiology (equivalent to 096:114 AND 096:115 at Iowa)**

** Please note that Pathophysiology requires successful completion of courses in Animal Biology (002:002), General Chemistry (004:007), Microbiology (061:164) and Anatomy (060:001). Students who are selected for admission will enroll in the first pathophysiology course in the fall semester immediately before starting the program and the second course is built into the curriculum during the first semester of the program.

• Epidemiology (equivalent to 173:140 at Iowa)
  

Do my prerequisites have to be taken at The University of Iowa?

No. Students can take prerequisites at any accredited institution of higher education. Prospective students can access the online Transfer Equivalency Data Base at http://isis5.uiowa.edu/isis/courses/transfer.page to identify comparable courses at other institutions that meet the requirements. Students should select the institution from the first drop down menu and select College of Nursing from the second drop down menu, then click search. This will lead to a list of courses that have been evaluated for comparability to The University of Iowa courses.

Can I work during this program?

It is strongly suggested that students do not work while enrolled in the MSN - Clinical Nurse Leader program. The curriculum is designed in a "lock step" manner that is intensive. Students should prepare to focus only on studies for the duration of this program.

Is there Financial Aid available for students in the program?

The Financial Aid Office at The University of Iowa coordinates available financial aid. All students should complete the FAFSA. Some College of Nursing scholarships are available to MSN - Clinical Nurse Leader students once they have begun classes in the program.

What are the costs for the program?

Tuition and fees can be found on the Registrar's web site for The University of Iowa at the following web site: http://www.uiowa.edu/registrar/fees/index.html

What do you mean by "full-time lock step" program?

The MSN - Clinical Nurse Leader program is a full time program of study beginning every January. Students will carry a full-time load each semester (including summer). Students progress through the program as a cohort. If you need to leave the program, you could not return until one year later pending available space.

How many students are admitted to the program?

We currently admit 64 students in each cohort. It is our hope to grow the program to accommodate 75 students.