Generalist Entry Master’s in Nursing (MSN) for Non-Nurses: Clinical Nurse Leader

The following doctoral programs are included in the Direct Entry Pathway: 

• Adult Health and Gerontology Primary Care (DNP)
• Advanced Public Health (DNP)
• Family (DNP)
• Primary Care Pediatric (DNP)
• Psychiatric-Mental Health (DNP)
• Nursing Science (PhD)

Applications to the Direct Entry Pathway program are completed through NursingCAS at the same time as your GEM application. You must commit to one doctoral program. 

If you are accepted into the Direct Entry Pathway program, you will be assigned a faculty adviser from your selected doctoral program. Your faculty adviser will help you plan the next stages of you career while you are still in the GEM program. 

You must maintain good standing throughout the GEM program to retain early acceptance in the doctoral program. In addition, you must complete the following:

DNP

• GEM capstone project related to DNP specialty area (agreed upon by the student, DNP program director and the GEM capstone faculty).
• Consistent academic progression and fulfillment of GEM program requirements.
  • Any probationary occurrence in the GEM program will lead to withdrawal of the conditional acceptance into the DNP program.
• Volunteer/work experience in inpatient or community setting associated with DNP specialty area prior to graduating from the pre-licensure program and obtaining an RN license.
• Pass NCLEX-RN before enrolling in DNP program.
• Work experience as a RN associated with DNP specialty area prior to starting the DNP program.

PhD

• GEM capstone project related to the student’s research interest (agreed upon by student, PhD faculty mentor and the GEM capstone faculty).
• Consistent academic progression and fulfillment of GEM program requirements.
  • Any probationary occurrence in the GEM program will lead to withdrawal of the conditional acceptance into the DNP program.
• Volunteer/work experience with research projects prior to graduating from the prelicensure program and obtaining an RN license.
• Pass NCLEX-RN before enrolling in PhD program.
• GEM student must spend required GEM volunteer hours working on their PhD faculty mentor’s research. This experience can also be gained through a paid research assistant position.

Other doctoral degree options

The Direct Entry Pathway is a selective program with a very limited number of available spots. Students are advised to explore the option of applying to a doctoral program at Rush after completing a prelicensure program. Individuals who successfully complete the GEM program at Rush University are eligible to transfer up to 12 credit hours of coursework towards a doctoral program.

A Generalist Entry Master’s Science in Nursing is a direct pathway to a nursing degree for students who have their bachelor’s in another field. It is sometimes called a Direct Entry MSN or DEMSN.

Yes, you can skip a BSN and get your MSN, and Rush only offers graduate programs in the field of nursing. This is in alignment with a national push to prepare more nurses with master’s degrees because of their ability to provide a higher level of care. But a bachelor’s in something other than nursing is required to enter the nursing profession with an advanced degree through Rush’s GEM program. 

MSN students take specific leadership courses that prepare them to support and lead teams. They learn how to deliver competent, holistic and contextually appropriate nursing care. 

Students who already have their BSN and want to expand their knowledge can apply to some Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) tracks offered at Rush University.

Yes. Rush’s MSN is a generalist Master’s, which means you’ll graduate prepared to provide comprehensive, holistic care to any patient population or community. Your education will be rooted in a health equity framework that ensures graduates are prepared to provide patient-focused care.

An MSN clinical nurse leader, or CNL, is a master’s-prepared nurse. This degree was developed to address the need to improve patient care. A certification exam is required to be designated a CNL. Rush graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX and CNL exams for certification.

Students are required to successfully complete several courses by the application deadline, and a laboratory component is recommended for each of these courses. To find a complete list of prerequisites, visit our Admissions page.

Nearly half of the courses in this program can be completed online and are offered asynchronously, so you can complete them on your own time. Many students prefer the flexibility of this option. These courses are pre-identified, so students cannot choose which classes they can complete online rather than in-person.

Students are discouraged from working while enrolled in the first two terms because they provide the building blocks of your knowledge. After those terms, work is encouraged. Rush offers financial aid and helps students attend conferences through the Dean’s Scholarship Fund.

Program coordinators facilitate student clinical experiences mostly at Rush and sometimes at other locations around Chicago. They are designed to provide an intensive immersion experience of 200 hours on a unit aligned with your interest. You’ll also get to use the Sim Center to practice your skills. By the time you’ve completed the program, you’ll have over 1,120 clinical hours of experience with children, adults and older adults.

Most clinical experiences take place at Rush University Medical Center, but some may take place at other locations in Chicago. These experiences are coordinated by the team at Rush University, and students are never responsible for finding their own clinical placement.

Yes, you can move from the MSN program to some DNP programs through the Direct Entry Pathway. You’ll choose from one of six doctoral degrees and apply simultaneously to the GEM and DNP or PhD track you are interested in pursuing. Another way to move between programs is to graduate from the MSN program and apply to the DNP program after.

Yes. The traditional track is the most expedient way to complete your degree, but the non-traditional track offers a slower pace to begin and ramps up as you progress through the program. This may suit your schedule better, especially if you’re a parent or caregiver. 

While the traditional track has courses during each day of the week (M-F), the non-traditional track has a few days per week when students are not expected to be in class. The traditional track takes six terms to complete, and the non-traditional track takes just a little longer at eight terms.

Rush University provides students with a dedicated team that includes an academic advancement director, program director, program coordinator, administrative assistant and assistant dean. You’ll also have two advisors — an academic advisor to help you through the program and a professional nursing advisor who supports your future nursing career as a mentor.

The Nursing Learning Lab offers tutoring, content review, book and supply rentals, academic support, peer tutoring, open lab practice sessions and other resources. 

And Rush University has a Wellness Center, Student Diversity Office and Office of Student Accessibility Services among other services for students.