Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
Vanderbilt University | Vanderbilt University Medical Center  
Pre-specialty Entry Program
307 Godchaux Hall
461 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37240
Office: 615.343.3279

Admissions
Godchaux Hall 207
461 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37240
615.322.3800
Toll Free 1.888.333.9192
 

Pre-specialty Entry

Students without Nursing Backgrounds

Program Length (part-time study)

6 semesters pre-specialty + 6 semesters specialty courses

(Some specialties and dual-focus areas require additional semesters. Visit Advanced Practice Specialties for sample curriculum plans in specialty year.)

The first year of the part-time class schedule focuses on didactic course content. The courses you will be taking are offered on Mondays from 8 am - 4 pm and on Tuesdays from 8 am – 12 noon.

The second year focuses on professional nursing, and you will be in the laboratory setting, community health clinics, psychiatric hospitals and acute care hospital clinical. The course and these experiences are scheduled throughout the week. Hospital clinical may be 8-hour or 12-hour shifts and begins at 6:30 am.

Sample Part-time Curriculum Plan

FALL - SEMESTER I
225 Population-Based Health Care 2
235 Human Experience of Health and Illness Across the Lifespan I 4
255a Basic Pharmacology I 2
8
SPRING - SEMESTER II
236 Human Experience in Health and Illness Across the Lifespan II 5
255b Basic Pharmacology II 2
7
SUMMER - SEMESTER III
227 Health Care Systems 3
237 Human Experience in Health and Illness Across the Lifespan III 4
7
FALL - SEMESTER IV
215 Foundations of Professional Nursing I 2
245 Fundamentals of Clinical Practice 5
7
SPRING - SEMESTER V
217 Foundations of Professional Nursing II - Research 3
246 Integration of Theoretical and Clinical Aspects of Nursing I 4
7
SUMMER - SEMESTER VI
216 Foundations of Professional Nursing III - Transition to Practice 2
247a Integration of Theoretical and Clinical Aspects of Nursing II 2
247b Integration of Theoretical and Clinical Aspects of Nursing III 2
6
  TOTAL HOURS 42
  TOTAL SPECIALTY HOURS 39
  TOTAL HOURS FOR MSN DEGREE 81