Infection Preventionist MSN

The Infection Preventionist MSN Program is designed to prepare leaders of infection prevention and control teams in hospitals, clinics or other health-care organizations, who will influence and implement institutional infection prevention and control policies (e.g., risk assessment, transmission precautions, monitor healthcare-associated infections) to ensure optimal patient and community safety in routine care and during outbreaks.

The increasing complexity of nursing care now requires a high level of scientific knowledge and increased nursing expertise to ensure best patient outcomes. There is a particularly high level of unique knowledge needed to implement principles, practices, and operations underpinning the field of infection prevention and control. The program prepares nurses with foundational knowledge and professional competencies required to promote patient safety and reduce healthcare-associated infections across diverse clinical and community settings. Core areas of focus include the responsibilities and scope of infection prevention and control professionals, healthcare epidemiology, antimicrobial stewardship, surveillance methodologies, and strategies for preventing and responding to transmission of infectious diseases. The program also provides critical preparation in addressing high consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs), including planning, response frameworks, and interdisciplinary coordination in outbreak scenarios. Students will build the theoretical grounding and operational skills needed to advance infection prevention and control practices in healthcare organizations.

Admission Requirements

• 2.8 GPA (inclusive of all college transcripts).
• Graduation from an accredited entry-level nursing program.
• Bachelor of Science degree (or other Bachelor degree with additional science coursework).
• Registered Nurse (RN) licensure – any state.
• English-language proficiency (see https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/international/english-proficiency/).

Optional/Preferred Requirements

• Letter(s) of recommendation.
• Healthcare experience. 
• A course in health assessment (within 3 years) or intent to complete Basic Health Assessment Course (see FDU CONAH continuing education course offering).

Curriculum

Admission is on a rolling basis. Students can generally complete the program in 6 semesters.

Foundational Courses (17 credits)

• NURS 6600 Advanced Nursing Theories & Roles (3 credits)
• NURS 7701 Advanced Research and Evidence Based Practice (3 credits)**
• NURS 7008 Information Systems for Healthcare (3 credits)**
• NURS 8010 Healthcare Quality Assessment and Outcomes (3 credits)**
• NURS 8020 Healthcare Delivery Systems and Public Policy (3 credits)**
• COMM 6020 Communication for Health Care Professionals (2 credits)

Concentration Core Courses (8 credits)

• MEDT 7200 Foundational Topics in Infection Prevention (3 credits)
• NURS 8018 Health Promotion & Population Health (3 credits)**
• NURS 7718 Administrative Practicum (2 credits, 120 practice hours)

Interdisciplinary Courses (choose 8 credits from FDU Health)

• MGMT 6400 Organizational Behavior and Leadership (3 credits)
• MGMT 6607 Leading Strategic Change and Sustainability (3 credits)
• MGMT 5400 Business and Society (1 credit)
• DSCI 6400 Data Analytics and Science (3 credits)
• PUBH 6101 Public Health Leadership 101 (3 credits)
• PUBH 6006 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Public Health (3 credits)
• PUBH 7505 Interprofessional Education and Practice (3 credits)
• MEDT 8017 Biostatistics & Epidemiology (3 credits)**
• MEDT 8019 Finance, Economics & Entrepreneurship (3 credits)**
• MEDT 8011 Leadership & Organizational Analysis (3 credits)
• NURS 6500 Current Issues in Mental Health (2 credits)
• MADS 6609 Productivity and Human Performance (3 credits)

**These course credits can be applied for advanced standing in DNP Program. See Transfer Credit policy in CoNAH Student Manual. 

Students who have completed credits toward another master’s degree may be able to waive up to 17 credits for this MSN program after transfer credit evaluation, which occurs after program enrollment. See Transfer Credit policy in CoNAH Student Manual. 

Academic Program Plans (suggested)

Fall Start Cohort

• NURS 6600 Advanced Nursing Theories & Roles (Fall 1)
• COMM 6020 Communication for Health Care Professionals (Fall 1)
• NURS 8020 Healthcare Delivery Systems and Public Policy OR MEDT 8018 Health Promotion & Population Health (Spring 1)
• Interdisciplinary, 2-3 cr (Spring 1)
• NURS 7701 Advanced Research and Evidence Based Practice (Summer 1)
• Interdisciplinary, 2-3 cr (Summer 1)
• MEDT 7200 Foundational Topics in Infection Prevention (Fall 2)
• NURS 7718 Administrative Practicum (Fall 2)
• NURS 8020 Healthcare Delivery Systems and Public Policy OR MEDT 8018 Health Promotion & Population Health (Spring 2)
• Interdisciplinary, 2-3 cr (Spring 2)
• NURS 7008 Information Systems for Healthcare (Summer 2)
• NURS 8010 Healthcare Quality Assessment and Outcomes (Summer 2)

Total credits: 33. Total practice hours: 120.  

Spring Start Cohort

• COMM 6020 Communication for Health Care Professionals (Spring 1)
• NURS 8020 Healthcare Delivery Systems and Public Policy OR MEDT 8018 Health Promotion & Population Health (Spring 1)
• NURS 7008 Information Systems for Healthcare (Summer 1)
• NURS 6600 Advanced Nursing Theories & Roles (Summer 1)
• NURS 7701 Advanced Research and Evidence Based Practice (Fall 1)
• MEDT 7200 Foundational Topics in Infection Prevention (Fall 1)
• NURS 8020 Healthcare Delivery Systems and Public Policy OR MEDT 8018 Health Promotion & Population Health (Spring 2)
• Interdisciplinary, 2-3 cr (Spring 2)
• Interdisciplinary, 2-3 cr (Summer 2)
• NURS 8010 Healthcare Quality Assessment and Outcomes (Summer 2)
• NURS 7718 Administrative Practicum (Fall 2)
• Interdisciplinary, 2-3 cr (Fall 2)

Total credits: 33.  Total practice hours: 120.  

Summer Start Cohort

• NURS 6600 Advanced Nursing Theories & Roles (Summer 1)
• Interdisciplinary, 2-3 cr (Summer 1)
• NURS 7701 Advanced Research and Evidence Based Practice (Fall 1)
• COMM 6020 Communication for Health Care Professionals (Fall 1)
• NURS 8020 Healthcare Delivery Systems and Public Policy OR MEDT 8018 Health Promotion & Population Health (Spring 1)
• Interdisciplinary, 2-3 cr (Spring 1)
• NURS 7008 Information Systems for Healthcare (Summer 2)
• NURS 8010 Healthcare Quality Assessment and Outcomes (Summer 2)
• NURS 7718 Administrative Practicum (Fall 2)
• MEDT 7200 Foundational Topics in Infection Prevention (Fall 2)
• NURS 8020 Healthcare Delivery Systems and Public Policy OR MEDT 8018 Health Promotion & Population Health (Spring 2)
• Interdisciplinary, 2-3 cr (Spring 2)

Total credits: 33.  Total practice hours: 120. 

To apply for this program:

Apply for this graduate program through the FDU Graduate Admissions webpage.  After navigating to this page, look for “Customized Applications” and choose “MSN – Nurse Practitioner or Administration.”  This will bring you to the Nursing CAS application webpage which has instructions for establishing an account and filling out your application. PLEASE choose application option for Healthcare Administration MSN and email NursingCAS@fdu.edu to advise of desire to switch to Infection Preventionist MSN.  Applicants are encouraged to upload unofficial transcripts as we can often facilitate a conditional admission decision using these unofficial transcript copies while we await receipt of official transcripts.