The Massachusetts Association of Colleges of Nursing recognizes that a highly educated nursing workforce is crucial for quality healthcare for Massachusetts residents. MSN programs in the state are geared toward advanced practice nursing, leadership roles, and educator roles.
The Massachusetts Division of Health Professions Licensure reports that only about 13 percent of Massachusetts nurses have an MSN, and according to the Massachusetts Board of Registered Nursing, that percentage has remained essentially the same for several years. But the demand for advanced practice nurses (APNs) has been increasing. Most APNs in the state are NPs, followed by CRNAs, then CNSs, and finally CNMs.
NPs are especially in demand because of the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Plan's mandatory health insurance law. The number of Massachusetts residents in the healthcare system has increased dramatically, and there are not enough primary care physicians to meet the need, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Like the rest of the nation, a nursing faculty shortage exists in the state. Because of state regulations stipulating that nursing faculty hold at least a master's degree, the demand for nurse educators in these programs is on the rise. Check out the Massachusetts Nurses Association, Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, and the Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners.
Programs to consider:
Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA). BC offers flexible routes of entry for the MSN. Among degree offerings are both adult and pediatric NP specialties.
MGH Institute of Health Professions (Boston, MA). MGH Institute of Health Professions was founded by the prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital. Both traditional and direct-entry MSNs are offered.
Below is a list of all the accredited schools with campus locations in Massachusetts that offer MSN programs.
Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Adult Health NP/CNS, Community Health NP/CNS, Family Health NP/CNS, Forensic Nursing CNS, Gerontological NP/CNS, MS/MA in Pastoral Ministry Option, MS/MBA Option, MS/PhD Option, Nurse Anesthesia Specialty, Palliative Care Specialty, Pediatric Health NP/CNS, Psychiatric/Mental Health NP/CNS, Women's Health NP/CNS
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
|
|
Curry College (Milton, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: MS in Nursing (CNL)
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
|
|
Elms College (Chicopee, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Nursing and Health Services Management, Nursing Education
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
|
|
Emmanuel College (Boston, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Master of Science in Nursing - Education Track, Master of Science in Nursing - Management Track
|
|
Endicott College (Beverly, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Master of Science in Nursing
|
|
Fitchburg State College (Fitchburg, MA)
ONLINE MSN PROGRAMS
Matching Program Tracks: Forensic Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing - Forensic Nursing CNS
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
|
|
Framingham State College (Framingham, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
|
|
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (Worcester, MA)
ONLINE MSN PROGRAMS
Matching Program Tracks: Master of Science in Nursing, MSN with Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), MSN with Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
|
|
MGH Institute of Health Professions (Boston, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Acute Care CNS, Acute Care NP, Adult Primary Care CNS, Adult Primary Care NP, Adult-Gerontology NP, Adult-Women’s Health NP, Family CNS, Family NP, Gerontology CNS, Pediatrics CNS, Pediatrics NP, Psychiatric/Mental Health CNS, Psychiatric/Mental Health NP, Women’s Health CNS, Women’s Health NP
Accreditation: CCNE accredited, NLNAC accredited
|
|
Regis College (Weston, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Acute/Critical Care Clinical Specialist, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Leadership/Business Management, Nursing Leadership/Health Product Regulation, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
|
|
Salem State College (Salem, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Advanced Practice I Rehabilitation Nursing (CNS), Direct Entry-MSN, MSN/MBA, Nursing Administration, Nursing Education
Accreditation: CCNE accredited, NLNAC accredited
|
|
Simmons College (Boston, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Adult Primary Care (NP), Family Primary Health Care (NP), MS in Nursing / MS in Environmental Health, MS in Nursing / MS in Maternal and Child Health, Parent Child Primary Health Care (NP or School NP)
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
|
|
University of Massachusetts-Amherst (Amherst, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
|
|
University of Massachusetts-Boston (Boston, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Master's Program in Nursing - Acute and Critical Care CNS
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
|
|
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth (North Dartmouth, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP), Advanced Practitioner (Adult Health), Community Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing - Adult Health, Community Health CNS
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
|
|
University of Massachusetts-Lowell (Lowell, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, Family Health Nursing, Gerontological Nursing
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
|
|
University of Massachusetts-Medical School (Worcester, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Adult Acute/Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner with Adult/Acute Critical Care or Adult Primary Care, Nurse Educator
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
|
|
Worcester State College (Worcester, MA)
Matching Program Tracks: Community Health Nursing (CNS)
Accreditation: CCNE accredited, NLNAC accredited
|
|
