Nursing, B.S./Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, M.S. (R.N. to M.S. Accelerated Programs)

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April 27 th

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R.N. to M.S. Accelerated Pathway Application Process for Registered Nurses with a Non-Nursing Baccalaureate Degree

ACEN and NYS Education Department logos
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing

All of Daemen's nursing programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), formerly the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc., 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326, Phone: 404.975.5000, Fax: 404.975.5020, www.acenursing.org.

New York State Education Department

Registered by the New York State Board of Regents.

This pathway enables RNs who hold baccalaureate degrees in non-nursing fields to attain advanced standing in the nursing undergraduate program. Students entering this pathway must document their achievement of identified baccalaureate nursing competencies through a process of academic transcript and resume review, and a personal interview with the nursing faculty. The competencies were identified by the faculty as foundational for nursing graduate study.

The five baccalaureate competencies are Health Assessment, Community Health/Population-Focused Health, Leadership/Management/Professional Development, Research, and Professional Commitment and Engagement.

Applicants to the RN to MS accelerated pathway should submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities where they completed coursework as well as a resume which fully describes their past work experience. Copies of evidence of completion of continuing education credits, in-service education programs, and attendance at meetings, conferences, and workshops should also be included along with course descriptions if available. The nursing faculty will review all documentation to assess achievement of the competencies. After the faculty review, the applicant will meet with the faculty to discuss the materials, identify competencies not met, and develop a plan to meet the competencies identified as unmet.

Please note that the accelerated pathway culminates in a MS degree. No baccalaureate degree will be conferred to students in the RN to MS accelerated pathway.


Nursing/Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, B.S./M.S. (R.N. to M.S. AGPCNP Program)

The accelerated RN to MS program is designed for associate degree and diploma prepared nurses who want to pursue the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner MS degree. Students may enter the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Master's Program through this accelerated track option. Criteria for admission to the accelerated program are as follows:

  • GPA of 3.25 or better upon admission to Daemen College. Students must meet all of the other admission criteria for the graduate program (except for the possession of a baccalaureate degree).
  • Acceptance into the accelerated track is contingent on space availability in the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner graduate program. Students in the accelerated RN-MS/ANP track may take NUR 509 in lieu of BIO 407 and NUR 516 in lieu of an undergraduate elective.​
nursing student
Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society

The mission of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International is to support the learning, knowledge, and professional development of nurses committed to making a difference in health worldwide. READ MORE

For more information, or if you would like to visit the Nursing Department to talk with faculty, please call 716-839-8387.