Jacksonville University’s Keigwin School of Nursing and Mayo Clinic in Florida announced Feb. 3 that they will offer a Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing program beginning in fall 2026.
JU said the program is for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and seek to transition into nursing.
Graduates will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination and begin their careers as registered nurses with advanced preparation in leadership, evidence-based practice and clinical decision-making.
“We now offer aspiring nurses multiple entry points into this vital profession for career changers seeking master’s-level preparation. Each pathway reflects our commitment to meeting students where they are while preparing them to deliver outstanding patient care,” Lindsay Wolf, associate dean of nursing and chief academic nursing officer at JU’s Keigwin School of Nursing, said in a news release.
According to Florida Center for Nursing 2023-24 data, 280 Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing students were enrolled in the state, compared with nearly 12,000 traditional bachelor of science in nursing students. JU said that shows the need to expand pathways into nursing.
“This collaboration builds a strong pipeline of future nursing professionals who are prepared to lead and innovate in patient care,” Mayo Clinic in Florida Chief Nursing Officer Tera Gross said in the release.
Unlike traditional clinical rotations that move students between multiple facilities, students will be immersed in a concentrated learning environment at Mayo Clinic, where they will rotate through the same unit and work with designated nurse mentors.
JU said the approach seeks to accelerate professional relationship-building and deepen cultural integration into Mayo Clinic and creates a pipeline between the university and health care system.