NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Belmont University’s Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing announced on Thursday the launch of its new Master of Science in Nursing– Entry to the Practice of Nursing (MEPN) program.
The university said the program is a new, accelerated path for those who have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and have completed prerequisite coursework in microbiology, anatomy, physiology and human development prior to enrollment
The four-semester program will prepare its students to enter the nursing profession as licensed registered nurses. The university said it will also give graduates the added advantage of advanced generalist training at the master’s level.
“Those entering the nursing profession through a master’s entry path bring a unique blend of academic strength, life experience and purpose,” said Dr. Christina Beall, senior associate dean of nursing. “Our MEPN graduates will emerge with the preparation needed to care for individuals, families and communities while also understanding the broader systems and challenges shaping modern health care.”
Students who enroll in the course will train at the university’s Center for Interprofessional Engagement and Simulation to gain hands-on experience in collaborative simulations and clinical exercises that mirror realistic, team-based care.
Belmont said the program was created in response to the “evolving needs of the health care workforce.”
“The MEPN program opens the door for individuals who feel called to nursing and want a direct, accelerated route into the profession,” said Dr. Julie Honey, dean of nursing. “Belmont has a longstanding reputation for producing practice-ready nurses, and this pathway builds on that tradition by offering students an intensive graduate-level foundation that elevates both their clinical competence and leadership potential.”
Belmont said the MEPN program will begin in the fall of 2026. The university is accepting applications now, with a priority deadline of Feb. 1, 2023, and a rolling application with a final deadline of May 1, 2026, if there is still space in the program.
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