Student Resources

Download the 2022-23 student handbook (PDF): Graduate Nursing Student Handbook

Graduating from one of CSB’s three graduate nursing programs ensures that you will meet the criteria for leadership, education and advanced clinical nursing positions.

Consider this:

High demand career.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners to grow by 45% from 2019 to 2029—a growth rate approximately 10 times faster than the average for all occupations.

Born to lead.

With a higher level of education, MSN graduates often perform managerial duties, whereas RNs and BSN graduates may complete more practical, experiential work.

Flexible working hours and conditions.

Earning an MSN may allow a nurse to work in a different capacity for fewer hours at a rate of similar or increased pay.

Better Compensation.

On average, primary care nursing practitioner make over $90,000 annually and have increased earning potential.

100% Clinical Placement.

Our partnerships with preceptors in a range of family practice and specialty areas offer experiences that will advance your nursing career.

Flexible, hybrid program.

Learn at a pace that allows you to balance your education with your family and career obligations.

The program is created for a full-time option; however, there may be part-time options available for the DNP Leadership tracks. The full-time option for the FNP track would take 3 years to complete (including summers).

The first year of the program will be designed as a hybrid format that should be able to be completed while working. The FNP clinical rotations will start the summer after year 2 and will consist of 1-3 days a week of onsite clinical hours with a preceptor.

The programs are designed to be hybrid, meaning there will be some online components (synchronous and asynchronous) as well as in-person classes. You will be required to be on campus with your cohort 1-3 times per semester and you will be provided these dates in advance. The clinical skill courses may require additional in person time in the lab.

Several of the faculty who were involved in course development and will be teaching in the program are certified online instructors with previous history teaching in an online environment.

The college will coordinate with area health systems to set up clinical experiences for you. If you desire a clinical rotation with your current employer, the school can work with the facility to try to coordinate a clinical rotation for you.

• Anyone who is committed to providing exceptional high quality nursing care and desires to expand their nursing knowledge, increase their leadership skills, and enter nursing practice with increased competence and confidence. You need not have aspirations to continue beyond the MSN, but many of you may choose a specialty later in your career and further your education. Regardless this degree will open doors for advancement in any practice environment. Here are some highlights of the program.
  • 600 hours of additional clinical experience.
  • Emphasis on Evidenced Based Practice
  • Emphasis on Leadership.
  • Emphasis on Education: Staff and nursing students’ development, and patient education.
  • Networking – see below
  • Earn your first certification! As a certified nursing educator.

Cost savings.

• Graduate courses taken in the senior year are considered part of the full-time undergraduate tuition fees, up to 18 credits. Post-graduation, these courses will cost $830-1200 per credit, depending on the program and location.
• If you continue with your MSN at CSB, you will have saved approximately $9200. If you choose to return to CSB within 5 years to pursue a DNP (FNP, or Leadership), your credits will transfer, pending acceptance in to the program.
• If you decide the MSN at CSB is not right for you and you choose a graduate nursing program at a different location, some courses may transfer. The graduate courses chosen for the senior year are part of the DNP core and may transfer depending on the chosen program, curriculum, and policies for transfer credits.*

*The number and credits of graduate course transfers varies, but is usually limited.

• The addition of a graduate level QI course and Clinical Practicum, in the Fall senior year, will provide you the opportunity to network with leaders in nursing around the state of Minnesota who are pursuing their leadership and FNP doctorates at CSB. You will be in the same courses as these exceptional leaders. The Practicum course will provide an additional 120 clinical practice hours for you to expand your nursing knowledge and leadership skills as a designer of care at the bedside. You will graduate with increased confidence as you assume your first BSN position.
• In the spring, senior year, you will continue to network with the same cohort of outstanding nursing leaders in three courses. Networking may lead to professional opportunities.
• All graduate courses taken in the senior year are hybrid in delivery. There are two synchronous meetings (in person or online) per course, with the majority of the course delivery asynchronous online, with weekly assignments and discussion. Scheduling time for NCLEX review, job searching and interviewing, and preparing and studying for courses is less cumbersome as you do not have to work around 3 traditionally scheduled courses on campus.
• YES! The NRSG 303 team has provided an exciting opportunity for a study abroad in Zambia for Fall 2024. If this is not an option for you, other outstanding local and perhaps state side opportunities will be open to you as well. There will be no difference in the Fall and Spring immersion offerings for NRSG 303, except for locations abroad.