Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing
Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing
Earn a master's degree and prepare for the NCLEX exam to become a registered nurse
Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing
GW's Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) is a four-semester-long program for anyone with a non-nursing bachelor's degree who is ready to make a meaningful career change and become both a nurse and a leader in healthcare. Rooted in GW Nursing's mission to improve the health of all people, the program combines rigorous academic preparation with immersive clinical and simulation-based learning to prepare graduates for the complexities of modern healthcare.
Overview:
4 Semesters
Online
Full-Time
Master of Science in Nursing
Next Start: Spring 2027
63 credits
900 hours of hands-on learning experiences
Tuition & Aid
Estimated Cost: $1500 / credit hour
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Application
Spring 2027
Application Open: 05/01/26
Priority: 09/01/26
Final: 11/15/26
Awards and Rankings
96.05%
NCLEX First-Time Pass Rate
#22
Best BSN Program in the Nation
4%
of all 681 Ranked BSN Programs
15
Months to Your BSN
Explore the Program | Attend an Information Session | Apply to GW Nursing |
The academic opportunities at GW Nursing reflect the changing nature of the field of nursing. | We offer virtual and in-person information sessions, campus tours, and phone appointments so you can choose the experience that best fits you. | Applying to GW Nursing is easy—simply create an account through our portal and start your online application. |
Fireside Chat with the Program Director
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This Is Where Policy, Practice, and Compassion Meet.
Why choose GW? Because we educate nurses to be more than clinicians—we prepare them to be advocates and leaders. If you’re already working as a nurse and are interested in advancing your education to provide care for children and adults of all ages, consider GW Nursing's MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner program.
Unmatched Clinical Placements
We secure your clinical placements for you. You’ll gain invaluable hands-on experience at top-tier healthcare facilities across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area, including our partners at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and The George Washington University Hospital.
The SAIL Center
Master your skills in our 20,000 sq. ft. Simulation and Innovation Learning (SAIL) Center. This state-of-the-art facility features high-fidelity patient simulators, a virtual reality (VR) room, a fully-equipped operating room (OR), and multi-bed "wards" for practicing everything from birthing to trauma scenarios.
A Global & Policy Perspective
Through our Center for Global and Community Initiatives, you can join service-learning trips to places like Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Haiti.
From Student to Nurse in Four Semesters
GW Nursing's MSN- Family Nurse Practioner fosters development of student critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, starting with taking core courses and learn the basics of skills for advanced practice. Preceptors partner with students to move registered nurse into advanced practice, guiding them to demonstrate independent thinking and skills to create a reasonable management plan
The MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner program consists of 48 credit hours and 600 clinical hours. Questions about program requirements should be directed to the program director, Carol Braungart.
- Overview
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- Semester 1 & 2
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- Semester 3
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- Semester 4
Clinical Placement
You must record a minimum of 600 hours of clinical experience with an approved preceptor. You are encouraged to find your own preceptor, but we can provide information on local clinical sites if needed.
The following clinical courses are required:
NURS 6230: FNP I – 120 clinical hours
NURS 6231: FNP II – 240 clinical hours
NURS 6232: FNP III – 240 clinical hours
Questions about clinical placement requirements should be directed to sonclinical
gwu [dot] edu.Outcomes
At the conclusion of this MSN program, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate leadership based upon advanced knowledge.
- Promote and improve quality in the workplace through quality improvement practices.
- Synthesize knowledge of nursing practice, theory and research as a foundation for advanced nursing practice.
- Demonstrate continued professional development through ongoing education.
- Build an interdisciplinary professional network that includes collaboration and teamwork.
- Promote positive changes in health care delivery and nursing practice.
- Engage in caring and collaborative relationships with patients/clients for shared decision-making.
View the Program of Study (Fall entry, full-time) View the Program of Study (Fall entry, part-time) View the Program of Study (Spring entry, full-time)
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Your Accelerated Path to a Career That Matters
A family nurse practitioner, depending on their state, licensure and scope of practice, is able to diagnose, treat patients of with chronic diseases with acute diseases in the outpatient setting. A family nurse practitioner is different than an acute care nurse practitioner or an adult general nurse practitioner, because they're able to care for patients from the day they're born and throughout the course of their lives.
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The Pulse: Featured Courses / Content / News
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When Jamie Chinnick graduated from the GW Nursing’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program, she had a vision for healthcare grounded in compassion, and equity.
