You sense within you a deep call for compassion and care. It’s a call to comfort, a call to serve, a call to lead. It’s a call that expands the whole of the human experience — from birth to death and everywhere in between. The call of a nurse is sacred.

Our program offers a fully online, asynchronous program with an optional synchronous online class. You will also have an option to take one in-person class per semester at our Liberty Station Campus in San Diego.  The program is designed to prepare graduates as competent advanced practice nurses in leadership roles as a Clinical Nurse specialist (CNS), Nurse Educator, Nurse Manager, or Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).  

A Faithful Balance

The program focuses on the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of nursing, providing a balanced approach to learning that integrates education, service, and faith.

Close-Knit Collaboration

Move through the program together with a close-knit diverse cohort of peers for continued encouragement and supportive friendships. Smaller classes allow for in-depth discussion and quality interactions with professors.

A Healthy Future

The hands-on, evidence-based instruction, mentoring and networking opportunities through an extensive alumni group, and PLNU’s strong nursing reputation in San Diego set the stage for your continued career success after graduation.

Students have the ability to have hands-on experience in multicultural settings. Through core courses and nursing clinical specialty, students gain a solid foundation in advanced practice nursing. PLNU students benefit from the broad range of clinical preceptors and clinical agencies that are available.

ADN to MSN Program

If you’re an ADN or diploma-prepared Registered Nurse, you can complete 11 units of transition courses prior to starting the MSN cohort in the fall. You'll then continue in the MSN course progression for the rest of your program. The program can be completed in two-and-a-half years. Please note that a BSN degree is not granted, and you must have at least six months to one year of full-time employment as a Registered Nurse in a United States healthcare facility to apply.

BSN to MSN Program

If you're a BSN-prepared Registered Nurse, you can earn your MSN in two years by starting in the fall MSN cohort. If you prefer to take the program at a slower pace, you may start in spring or summer and spread out your classes. You must have at least six months to one year of full-time employment experience as a Registered Nurse in a United States healthcare facility to apply.

MSN Specialty Tracks

Four MSN specialty tracks are available:

• MSN with Adult-Gerontology CNS
• MSN with Adult-Gerontology CNS with Women's Health Specialty
• MSN with Pediatric CNS
• MSN with Family Nurse Practitioner

*Note: "The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) made the commitment to move all entry-level NP education to the DNP degree by 2025.

Students in all tracks will complete four to five practicum courses with 500-750 direct patient care clinical hours, which are aligned to theory content within the concurrent semester, whenever possible.

Program Start Date(s):

• Summer 2025 — May 12, 2025
• Fall 2025 — September 2, 2025
• Spring 2026 — January 12, 2026

Application Deadline(s):

• Summer 2025 — April 25, 2025
• Fall 2025 Priority Deadline — March 1st, 2025
• Fall 2025 — August 15, 2025
• Spring 2026 — December 12, 2025
• Fall 2027 Priority Deadline for FNP applications — January 15th, 2026

All applications submitted after this date will be reviewed based on availability of space.

Start Application

The Selection Process

The educational context at PLNU will challenge you to live a full life that integrates the pursuit of knowledge with beliefs, values, and actions. While acknowledging diverse perspectives and beliefs, Christian values and principles are woven into the educational experience. We understand your application is not only a reflection of you as a student; it’s a reflection of you as a person.

At PLNU, we holistically evaluate your academic history, work and life experience, background, and circumstances to determine admission into a graduate program. If you do not meet all of the above criteria, PLNU offers an exceptions policy. Speak with your admissions counselor for more information. 

Application Checklist

Note: The application is completed entirely online with the exception of transcripts, which can be submitted electronically or directly to PLNU.

1. Documentation of current RN license

2. Online application for admissions (includes $50 non-refundable application fee). Fee waived if applicant is one of the following: PLNU alum, current or former military and their dependents, PLNU employee.

3. Official transcripts showing completion of an associate degree, diploma, or bachelor's degree in nursing, and if applicable, a higher-level degree from a regionally accredited college or university*. If you have not completed a degree, please request official transcripts from each school you have attended. (If you are a PLNU alumnus, please notify your counselor to have your transcripts retrieved. You do not need to request transcripts from the PLNU Office of Records.)
   
   Official transcripts must be sent to:
   Point Loma Nazarene University
   Office of Graduate Admissions
   3900 Lomaland Dr.
   San Diego, CA 92106
   
   Official electronic transcripts must be emailed to:
   gradprocessing@pointloma.edu
   
   *Please note, official transcripts must be sent directly from the regionally accredited institution.

4. Curriculum Vitae or resume.

5. Minimum grade point average of 3.2

6. In 250 words, discuss your professional career goals and how you believe obtaining a master's degree with the selected track will assist you in achieving those goals.
7. Once you have submitted your admissions application, your two selected professional recommenders will automatically be sent the auto-generated document to complete on your behalf. If you'd like to include a written letter in addition to this required document, you may do so, but it's unnecessary.
8. Work Experience:

   • All tracks require 12 months/1 year of full-time nursing employment

9. After all application materials are submitted, an interview with the School of Nursing is scheduled.

Start Application

*Exceptions Policy: If you have below a 3.2 GPA in your baccalaureate degree you will need to speak with your enrollment counselor for more information on the exceptions materials needed for your particular program.

Special Instructions

Health Status

Prior to starting clinical hours, all graduate nursing students must provide evidence that they are physically and emotionally able to perform the duties required. A physical examination by a healthcare provider with information completed on a form provided by the SON is necessary. Students must also provide evidence of current immunizations and tests as required by the SON.

California RN License and CPR Certification

Prior to starting clinical hours, all graduate nursing students must provide evidence of both a California Registered Nurse License issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and a current American Heart Association (AHA) BLS certification. No other CPR certifications or RN licenses are allowable to meet these requirements.

Background Check and Urine Drug Screen

Per agreement with the San Diego Nursing Service Education Consortium and affiliated hospitals, a background check and drug screening will be required prior to your first clinical experience, and within one year of your clinical rotation at Rady’s Children’s Hospital. If a flag occurs from either your background check or drug screening, this may result in immediate dismissal from the Point Loma Nazarene University Master of Science in Nursing clinical courses. 

Dilute urine means there is too much water in the urine causing the test to be inconclusive. If you drink too much water before going for your drug screening, the result may be a dilute reading. If you receive a dilute, it will flag your American Data Bank Drug Screen Report.

We recommend no liquids after midnight until you have submitted your a.m. urine specimen. If you are concerned that your urine may be diluted flush that specimen and reschedule your drug screen appointment. (Note that urine is normally yellow in color. If the color is not obviously yellow it may be diluted.)

State Authorization

State authorization is a formal determination by a state that Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is approved to conduct activities regulated by that state. In certain states outside California, PLNU is not authorized to enroll students in online (distance education) courses and/or offer internships within that state. Student location is based on where a student is physically located while taking courses. Students taking face-to-face courses are located in California, regardless of their home state at the time of application.

If a student moves to another state after admission to a program and/or enrollment in an online course, continuation within the program and/or course will depend on whether PLNU is authorized to offer distance education courses in that state. If a student wishes to conduct an internship outside California, they must select a state where it is permitted. It is the student's responsibility to notify PLNU of any change in their physical location, other than incidental travel. Refer to the State Authorization map to view which states allow online (distance education) and/or internships outside California.

Professional Licensure or Certification

This program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing and meets the requirements for licensure or certification in the state of California, where Point Loma Nazarene University is physically located. For information about PLNU programs and out-of-state educational requirements for professional licensure or certification, please refer to our disclosures page. Information about out-of-state requirements in Nursing are available on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Point Loma Nazarene University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

You will be eligible to take the FNP certification exam offered by either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) upon completion of the FNP program.

You will be eligible to take the CNS certification examination by either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) upon completion of the CNS population-foci specialty program.

You will be eligible to take the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) national certification exam upon the Nursing Education program.

You will be eligible to take the national certification exams, such as Nurse Manager and Leader Certification, Executive Nursing Practice Certification, or Nurse Executive Advanced Certification upon completion of the Healthcare Leadership program.

The versatile set of skills you’ll develop by pursuing a degree in nursing from PLNU prepares you for nursing in a variety of settings. PLNU nursing alumni have held various positions in healthcare facilities, educational institutions, community clinics, medical missions, and public health agencies. PLNU cultivates passion, professionalism, and a values-driven approach to work in a context that intersects your intellect and faith and equips you to become a purposeful and trustworthy leader in your workplace.

A master's degree in nursing can lead to a career in the following:

• Nursing Education

• Case Manager 

• Clinical Nurse Specialist

• Clinical Educator

• Healthcare Leadership

• Family Nurse Practitioner

• Entrepreneurship

• Missions

For information about the courses required for the Nursing, M.S. program, view the PLNU Catalog. 

Course Information