Photo: Bryan Goodchild
In an effort to fulfill a great need in the workforce, the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing at UMass Chan Medical School has a launched new program designed for individuals with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than nursing to become master’s-educated registered nurses.
In a 2024 news release, the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association estimated that there were 5,100 registered nurse vacancies at hospitals statewide.
“The shortage of registered nurses and primary care providers continues to strain the system, while the need for nursing faculty grows more urgent each year. The Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing for Non-Nurses degree program is designed to meet these challenges head-on,” said Priscilla Garzarian, PhD, CNS, RN, FAAN, professor of nursing and associate dean for academic affairs for the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing.
“Unlike traditional routes, this program offers direct entry into a master’s degree—giving students a more valuable credential from day one,” Dr. Gazarian said. “Beyond clinical skills, students gain expertise in evidence-based practice, informatics and quality improvement, preparing them to drive change and improve outcomes across the system.”
Graduates of the Direct Entry MS program can become master’s-educated registered nurses in as little as 16 months, with a strong foundation for further specialization as advanced practice nurse practitioners or nurse scientists, should they choose to continue in a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or PhD program. The Direct Entry MS program replaces the Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP) program, which was a pathway for individuals without nursing degrees to earn their RN licensure and then either a DNP or PhD. The final cohort in the GEP program matriculated Aug. 4.
Gazarian said that the Direct Entry MS program is built around the 2021 American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials, which call for a shift in competency-based education.
“It ensures that graduates are not only clinically skilled but also ready to lead in today’s complex health care environments,” Gazarian said. “By offering a master’s degree as the entry point, we’re providing a more meaningful alternative to second bachelor’s programs, one that better reflects the demands and value of the nursing profession.”
Applications open on Aug. 8. There will be a virtual information session on Monday, Aug. 11, at 5:30 p.m. Register for the info session here. Tuition and admissions information can be found on the Direct Entry MS website.
