Interested in becoming a Nurse?
Click each box to learn more about what Nurses do and what it will take to become one.
Responsibilities and Nursing Types
Responsibilities: Nurses promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness. They have a unique scope of practice and can practice independently, although they also collaborate with all members of the health care team to provide the individualized care needed by each patient. Nurses advocate for their patients and patients’ families. They develop and manage nursing care plans and instruct patients and their families in proper care. Nurses are an essential member of the healthcare team who spend the most time with patients. The contributions made by the practice and science of nursing are significant and help to improve the overall quality and safety of America’s healthcare system (NursingCAS website).
Nurse’s specific duties depend on the setting in which they work, their level of degree and experience, their specialty, and state laws.
Salary: This may vary based on level of Nursing Degree or Licensure within the options listed below.
Education/Licensure Levels: While these options may vary, our office most often assist with BSN and higher.
Associate of Science in Nursing
- Registered Nurse Licensure
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Registered Nurse Licensure
- Traditional (2-year programs)
- Accelerated (1 year program)
- Require a Bachelor’s degree
- Registered Nurse Licensure
- Accelerated (1 year program)
- Require Bachelor’s degree
- Accelerated (1 year program)
- Nurse Practitioner
PhD or Doctor for Nurse Practitioner
Preparation and Application for Nursing School
2+2 vs. Degree-Seeking:
2+2 Pathway: This route prepares students to just obtain their pre-requisites here at MSU. Once the pre-requisites are completed and students meet other merit-based requirements, they can apply to a Traditional BSN program, or some occasionally apply to ASN programs. Students on this path will major in Biological Sciences – Pre-Nursing as that is where all 2+2 students are housed. The courses taken within the first two years will be determined by the student’s schools of interest. Once the student transfers to their Nursing program, they are no longer a student at MSU.
Degree-Seeking Pathway: This route is for students who intend to complete a degree prior to applying for Nursing school. After the completion of their degree and other merit-based requirements, students can apply to Traditional (4+2) and Accelerated (4+1) BSN Programs or in some cases MSN (4+1) Programs. Most of these students will major in Biological Sciences, Kinesiology, Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion, or Interdisciplinary Studies with the same emphasis areas mentioned above. However, they can major in ANYTHING. They will complete pre-requisites alongside their degree, and in most cases, there is overlap between the two.
GPA:
Each school will vary on their minimum GPA requirements, but a 3.0+ is considered competitive. Some may vary in whether or not they look at your overall GPA or just pre-requisite GPA.
Pre-requisites: Required classes for each Nursing school will vary by program and can change at any time, so it is wise to periodically check your selected programs’ websites, attend information sessions, and stay in contact with their admissions team. While not limited to or exclusive of, the courses below are examples of commonly required pre-requisites for Nursing Programs:
English
- English Comp 1 | EN 1103
- English Comp 2 | EN 1113
Biology 1
- Biology 1 with Lab | BIO 1134
General Chemistry 1, and in some cases General Chemistry 2
- Chemistry 1 with Lab | CH 1213 and 1211
- Chemistry 2 with Lab | CH 1223 and CH 1221
Behavioral Sciences
- General Psychology | PSY 1013
- Intro to Sociology | SO 1003
- Human Growth & Development or Developmental Psychology | EPY 2513 or PSY 3803
- Double check your target school’s requirements for this and compare to course syllabi as well as your degree requirements before registering.
- Individual and Family Nutrition | FNH 2293
Mathematics
- College Algebra (or a Higher Math – Trig/Cal) | MA 1313
- Intro to Statistics | ST 2113
- Some programs may require a specific type of statistics course like Inferential Statistics, or they may not accept other types of statistics courses like Behavioral, Psych, or Business Statistics.
Anatomy and Physiology
- Human Anatomy with Lab | BIO 3004
- Human Physiology with Lab | BIO 3014
- If taking combined A&P course at other institutions, those cannot be combined with MSU’s Anatomy or Physiology courses to fulfill this requirement. Both need to be taken at other institutions or both at MSU.
- Courses from other professional programs or disciplines (nursing, military medical training, comparative, and non-human focused A&P) will likely not satisfy this requirement.
- BIO 1004 Anatomy and Physiology WILL NOT satisfy any portion of this requirement. It is an introductory course for non-science majors.
Microbiology
- Microbiology with Lab | BIO 3304
Humanities
The number of humanities and what kind they require may vary my Nursing programs.
Humanities typically include the following:
- History
- Literature
- Fine Arts
- Foreign Language
- Philosophy
Testing Requirements: Some schools may require testing as a part of their admissions process. It will vary by program and program type. The most common testing requirements you may see for Nursing Programs will be the ACT, TEAS, or HESI. Some schools may have preferences on online versus in-person proctored exams, or they may require it be taken on their campus.
For the ACT a 21 or higher is often required. For the TEAS and HESI, required/recommended scores may vary by program.
Observations/Shadowing: While this is not always required for Nursing Schools, it is always encouraged. It can be a good way to ensure you are truly interested in pursuing nursing. Additionally, it can give you specific experiences to talk about in applications or interviews. Any experience that you can showcase can help you stand out!
Involvement/Extracurriculars: Admissions committees can derive a skillset from anything that you do. For students who are working while in their undergrad, they may not be involved in as many clubs, teams, and organizations. And that is okay in the holistic review process! Our goal is to be a well-rounded pre-professional student and that will look different for each individual.
Example: Pre-Nursing Club
Service: At MSU, we pride ourselves on going wherever we are called to serve and volunteering our time to those in need. Volunteering for your local, campus, and/or abroad communities is not only rewarding, but it can also allow you to grow in ways that nothing else can teach you. Empathy and compassion are admirable qualities of a healthcare provider, and volunteering is a fantastic way to learn and showcase those qualities about yourself. Remember, we don't just say we are these things, we do the things to prove it.
Letters of Recommendation: Nursing Schools will vary in this requirement. Some will ask for specific people as recommenders, while others may only request an amount without specifying who they should be. Many programs require at least one letter coming from Strong recommenders might be your supervisors, professors, advisors, or anyone that can attest to your abilities, ethics, and character. To be professional, always ask someone before you list them as a recommender.
Mississippi State University - Nursing Partnerships
MSU-Meridian Master of Science in Nursing Program
The MSU-Meridian Accelerated Master of Science in Nursing program offers a pathway into practice as a Registered Nurse for those with a previous degree in a non-nursing field. We leverage the skills, knowledge, and life experiences that each student brings as a scaffold for nursing practice. We strive to create a community where every student belongs, questions are welcome, and learning is active. Students complete 58-semester credit hours of coursework over 12-months. Upon program completion, graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-RN examination and licensure as a Registered Nurse.
Freshman Early Entry (FEE) Program with University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing
This Freshman Early-Entry program is an opportunity to gain entry into UMMC’s BSN program as a college freshman, rather than as a junior. FEE students avoid the competitive selection process for admission into the Traditional BSN program following the completion of the pre-nursing courses as long as the student maintains a minimum of a 3.0 college GPA and no less than a “C” in all pre-requisite courses. Click the link below to see the details regarding admissions criteria.
For assistance in planning a Pre-Nursing path at MSU, contact Taylor Allen