School of Nursing

Dean: Dr. Mary W. Stewart
Mississippi State University-Meridian
Riley Campus
2212 5th Street
Meridian, MS 39301
601-696-2277
info@nursing.msstate.edu
Website: nursing.msstate.edu

The mission (why we exist) of the School of Nursing is to provide access and opportunity to exemplary graduate nursing education in Mississippi and beyond.  

Our vision (where we want to be): To be a community of nurse scholars, leading graduate nursing education and ensuring a better life for all through learning, discovery, service, advocacy, and caring for what matters. 

The foundational tenants of the School of Nursing are learning, discovery, service, and advocacy. These principles emanate from a commitment to caring and creating a community of belonging for all persons.

MSU-SON Foundational Tenets and Broad Goals for Program Graduates  

Learning: Graduates will apply specialized nursing competencies in dynamic and diverse health care settings.  

Discovery: Graduates will create solutions to better the world’s health starting in their own backyard.  

Service: Graduates will engage in making life better for citizens and communities.  

Advocacy: Graduates will lead change for health equity, access, and social justice. 

Master of Science in Nursing Program

Director: Dr. Kayla L. Carr

The Master of Science in Nursing program offers an educational pathway to practice as a Registered Nurse for those who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field of study. The education sequence consists of 58-semester credit hours offered over an accelerated, three term format. The competency-based program is face-to-face and consists of lecture, laboratory, and clinical practicum courses. Graduates of the program meet entry-to-practice competencies for the role of Registered Nurse and upon graduation are eligible for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.

The program was granted Phase II approval in February 2024. Active recruitment began immediately after. MSU-SON intends to seat its inaugural class in the 2024-2025 academic year. MSU-SON submitted application for initial national accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) in November 2023. MSU-SON will seek Phase III: Full State Accreditation by IHL while concurrently pursuing national accreditation by CCNE in November 2024.  

 Program of Study

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021) and the AACN Essentials of Master's Education (2011) serve as the framework for the curriculum. Other professional standards, guidelines, and competencies incorporated in the curriculum include the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Core Competencies (2023), the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) NCLEX Test Plan (2022), and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) Competencies (2022).

Students can expect purposeful didactic, simulation, and/or clinical practice experiences that enable students to provide care to individuals and populations with diverse life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. Likewise, planned experiences foster interprofessional collaborative practice.

End of Program Student Learner Outcomes 

1. Synthesize knowledge from nursing, previous learning, and life experiences as a basis for professional nursing practice. 

2. Provide, coordinate, and manage person-centered care for individuals, families, populations, and communities across the four spheres of care. 

3. Communicate, collaborate, and apply leadership skills to participate in and lead interprofessional health care teams to improve health outcomes. 

4. Critically appraise evidence-based studies for application to practice with diverse populations within different healthcare practice settings. 

5. Use quality improvement strategies to inform clinical practice, promote change, and improve quality of care for individuals, families, and populations. 

6. Contribute to a culture of safety and support the development of strategies designed to mitigate unsafe environments. 

7. Coordinate resources and generate innovative solutions within complex systems of health care to ensure safe, quality, equitable care that influences health outcomes. 

8. Use information, communication technologies, and informatics tools to advocate for equitable access and assist patients and consumers to use these tools to engage in care and improve health. 

9. Express one's identity as a nurse through actions that reflect integrity; a commitment to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy, and service for diverse patients, families, and populations. 

10. Display actions aligned with a capacity to engage in self-reflection and leadership, continued lifelong learning through a spirit of discovery, and ongoing commitment to personal well-being.