All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better by the start of the program. Although it is acceptable to have courses planned or in progress, it is in the student’s best interest to have as many courses completed as possible at the time of application. It is not possible to complete any prerequisites concurrently with the ELMSN program.

Prerequisite Course Articulation Tool

Wondering if you took the right courses as a local CSU, UC, or community college student? Use our Prerequisite Course Articulation Tool to see which courses meet the prerequisite requirements for ABSN, BSN, and ELMSN programs. 

Required Courses, Semester Units (except as otherwise specified)

• English Composition, 3.0
• English Literature/Critical Thinking (courses in philosophy are not acceptable), 3.0
• Communication or Speech Elective (any communication or speech course is acceptable), 3.0
• Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology (biological anthropology is not acceptable), 3.0
• Social Science Elective (anthropology, sociology, psychology, economics, ethnic studies, political science, history, etc.), 3.0 
• Life Span Developmental Psychology (content must cover birth to death), 3.0
• Nutrition, 3.0
• Statistics (research methods courses are not acceptable), 3.0
• Human Anatomy with Lab (a combined course in Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) can be used to meet the requirement only if two combined A&P courses are completed, e.g., A&P I and A&P II), 4.0
• Human Physiology with Lab (a combined course in Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) can be used to meet the requirement only if two combined A&P courses are completed, e.g., A&P I and A&P II), 4.0
• Chemistry with Lab, 4.0 semester or 6.0 quarter units
• Microbiology with Lab, 4.0

Anatomy & Physiology Courses

SMU offers prerequisite coursework in Human Anatomy and Human Physiology. The courses are taught in the fall, spring, and summer terms and are designed for prospective students. More information can be found on the Undergraduate Prerequisite Courses website.

AP and IB Credit

AP exam scores of 3, 4, or 5 and IB exam scores of 5, 6, or 7 may be used to meet prerequisite requirements, but are only acceptable if the exam scores are clearly noted on official university transcript. 

Official Transcripts

Applicants must request that their official transcripts be sent directly to NursingCAS from their college or university registrar’s office. Applicants should follow instructions provided in NursingCAS, and may reference SMU’s Application Process for additional details. 

Interviews

Students are selected for an interview based upon the content of the application they submit to NursingCAS. Not all candidates who meet minimum qualifications will be granted an interview. An in-person or phone interview is required to be selected for admission, depending on the program.

Students who need disability accommodations may request them by emailing Disability Resource Center at drc@samuelmerritt.edu. Please give as much notice as you can to allow time to set them up.

This section has been created to assist applicants who have been invited to interview for the ELMSN program.

Congratulations on your interview for the Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELMSN) program at Samuel Merritt University. The interview is required for both Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Case Management (CM) applicants.

Here are some tips/hints to help you make the most of the interview experience:

One week prior to the scheduled interview:

• Please make sure you have clear information on:

1. Date/time.
2. Link for the interview. The interview links are sent out directly from the School of Nursing; please check your trash/spam if you think you have not received the link. If you cannot find the interview link, please contact the School of Nursing at least 48 hours before your interview date/time. 
3. Have an email contact for an SMU staff member in case you have an emergency on the day of the interview. (Generally this will be an administrative assistant in the School of Nursing.)

Before the interview:

• Review the SMU website for mission/vision/values and reflect on their personal resonance with you.
• Reflect and practice articulating your interest in the advanced practice role of FNP or CM.
• Reflect and practice articulating the difference in professional roles between an RN and an FNP or an RN and a CM.
• Reflect and practice articulating 1-2 examples of what you might hope to contribute to these particular roles.
• Prepare 1-2 questions that you might wish to ask the interviewers.
• Review the Webex instructions in the link below and download the app as needed. Allow sufficient time to familiarize yourself with the meeting buttons and functions before the day of the interview.
  https://help.webex.com/en-us/nrbgeodb/Join-a-Webex-Meeting#id_135069

Day of the interview:

• Plan your time accordingly; be ready to enter the interview room about 5 minutes prior to the interview time.
• Dress professionally.
• Bring a pen.
• Have an email contact for an SMU staff member in case you have an emergency on the day of the interview. (Generally this will be an administrative assistant in the School of Nursing.)
• Bring your confidence and positive thinking!

Case Management interviews:

• 1 on 1 (individual interview with a faculty member).
• Approximately 1-2 hours total time.

Family Nurse Practitioner interviews:

• Small group interview format with approximately 10-12 applicants and 4-5 faculty members.
• Be prepared for small group interaction/work.
• Approximately 1-2 hours total time.

After the interviews:

• Hurray! Well done.
• It is appropriate, if you desire, to send a follow-up email to the lead faculty on the interview, but you will need to ask for their contact information during the interview.
• Generally it will take about a week after the conclusion of all interviews for admission decisions to be ready; all admission decisions are made by email, including accepted, denied, and waitlisted.
• If accepted, students will be asked to make a non-refundable tuition deposit to hold their space in the program.
• If waitlisted, students will be given their specific waitlist number.
• If denied, the faculty do not provide individual feedback on the application, so there is little follow-up information for the admission office to share with you.

Interview information is subject to change
03/05/2024

Official Transcripts for Courses in Progress

All admitted students are required to provide official, sealed transcripts for courses that were still in progress or planned at the time of application and were not updated in the Academic Update Process through the CAS system.

Acceptance is contingent on meeting all course requirements. Official transcripts are needed for all colleges attended. They must be mailed directly to NursingCAS by the issuing institution’s registrar’s office:

NursingCAS
P.O. Box 9201
Watertown, MA 02471

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen

A criminal background check and drug screening are required to participate in clinical rotations. To initiate your background check and drug screening, visit this website and complete the process as required within 30 days. If you have questions about the process, please call CertifiedBackground.com customer service at 888.666.7788.

Health Insurance

All students are required to have medical insurance coverage in effect by their program’s first day of orientation. You can either enroll in one of Samuel Merritt University’s plans or waive SMU insurance if you have a plan of your own. Enroll or register a waiver through the tool provided by the Student Health and Counseling Center. If you have not received a confirmation email within five days of your submission, please contact our insurance consultant, Trish Ivey, at 888.978.8355.

CPR Certification

Certification must be from the American Heart Association and be the Basic Life Support (BLS) module (must include adult, infant, and children). You may go to any provider for these classes, but the University has a partnership with HeartStart CPR including discounted pricing.

Required Health Forms

Every student must complete the Student Health Forms, which list the health requirements for incoming students. Please visit the Student Health Portal to enter your health information and upload all the required supporting documents. In order to avoid a registration hold, please submit all your health requirements as soon as possible after being accepted into the program, but no later than 30 days before your program start date. All health information must be submitted online. Documents submitted by mail, fax, or email will not be accepted and your documents will not be returned.

If you have a disability-related reason that prevents you from fulfilling any of these requirements, please contact the Disability Resource Center at drc@samuelmerritt.edu to schedule a private conversation. 

Photo for ID Badge

Every student must submit a headshot photo for their ID badge. Instructions and specs for this photo will be provided after you receive your admitted student portal checklist/email.

Student Handbook (PDF) and University Catalog

FNP Program Student Handbook

• FNP Student Handbook 2021-2022
• FNP Student Handbook 2022-2023

Licensure Exams, Graduation, and Employment Rates

Please refer to the University’s Student Success Measures webpage for licensure exam pass rates, graduation rates, employment rates, and additional success indicators. 

Underrepresented students (low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented minority students) who are interested in Samuel Merritt University’s BSN, ABSN, and ELMSN programs are encouraged to attend our three-day Nursing Success! Seminar. Students learn about the admissions process; meet current students, faculty, and staff; and tour the Health Sciences Simulation Center (HSSC) during this semi-annual event.

Applications are now open for the Nursing Success! Seminar. This event will be hosted virtually. Visit our Nursing Success! webpage to apply.

Visit our Admission Events page for Nursing Success! FAQs

Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner Program Technical Standards

There are two sets of technical standards for this program: one for the prelicensure year and one for the master’s program.

The mission of Samuel Merritt University is to produce highly skilled and compassionate nursing professionals. Students are expected to develop a robust healthcare knowledge base and requisite clinical skills, with the ability to appropriately apply knowledge and skills, effectively interpret information, and contribute to patient-centered decisions across a broad spectrum of clinical situations in all settings. The following technical standards, in conjunction with the academic standards, are requirements for admission, promotion, and graduation. The term “candidate” refers to candidates for admission to any of the nursing programs as well as current students who are candidates for retention, progression, or graduation.

These requirements may be achieved with or without reasonable accommodations, the cost of which will be borne by the institution. These standards should not serve as a deterrent to any candidate with disabilities who desires to pursue baccalaureate-level education. Candidates with disabilities bring unique perspectives that contribute to the diversity of the student population and will create a diverse healthcare workforce of culturally competent practitioners who can meet the needs of their patients. Candidates with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Disability Resource Center immediately to begin a confidential conversation about possible accommodations necessary to meet these standards. Fulfillment of the technical standards for graduation from any nursing program does not guarantee that a graduate will be able to fulfill the technical requirements of any specific clinical position.

Prelicensure Technical Standards

Observational Skills

A candidate must acquire information as presented through demonstrations and experiences in foundational sciences. In addition, a candidate must be able to evaluate a patient accurately and assess relevant health, behavioral, and medical information. Candidates must be able to obtain and interpret information through comprehensive bio-psycho-social assessment of patients, correctly interpret diagnostic representations of patient data, and accurately evaluate patient conditions and responses in all clinical settings. 

Communication Skills

Candidates must exhibit interpersonal skills to enable effective care and collaboration for patients, including the ability to communicate effectively in English with all members of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, patients, their families, faculty, and staff. Candidates must be able to clearly and accurately communicate verbal and written information and accurately interpret verbal and non-verbal communication in a timely manner.

Patient Care Skills 

Candidates must be able to perform health assessment and physical examination skills. A candidate should be able to perform or direct basic laboratory tests (e.g., urinalysis), diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (e.g., venipuncture, placement of urinary catheters, electrocardiogram), and interpret findings. A candidate must be able to provide or direct general and emergency treatment for patients, and respond to emergency situations in a timely manner (e.g., cardiopulmonary resuscitation, administration of intravenous medications, application of pressure to arrest bleeding). Candidates must meet applicable safety standards for the environment and follow universal precaution procedures.

Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Cognitive Skills

Candidates must be able to learn through a variety of modalities, including but not limited to: lecture; group or team and collaborative activities; simulation; individual study; and use of computer technology.  A candidate must effectively interpret, assimilate, and understand the complex information required to function within the prelicensure program’s curriculum. The candidate must be able to synthesize information both in person and via technology; interpret causal connections and make accurate, fact-based conclusions based on available data and information; formulate a plan of care and investigate the potential answers and outcomes; and reach appropriate and accurate practice decisions. A candidate must be able to find sources of knowledge and possess the ability to be a lifelong learner.

Behavioral Attributes, Social Skills, and Professional Expectations

A candidate must be able to exercise good judgment, promptly complete all responsibilities attendant to the care of patients, and develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, faculty, and fellow students in the learning community. The skills required to do so include the ability to effectively handle and manage heavy workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice and academia. Candidates are expected to exhibit professionalism, personal accountability, compassion, integrity, concern for others, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to accept and apply feedback, respect boundaries, and care for all individuals in a respectful and effective manner regardless of gender identity, age, race, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other protected status. Candidates should understand, and function within, the legal and ethical aspects of the nursing practice, including patient advocacy, and maintain and display ethical and moral behaviors commensurate with the role of a nurse and a Samuel Merritt University student in all interactions with patients, faculty, staff, students, and the public. Interest and motivation throughout the educational process are expected of all candidates.

A candidate must acquire information as presented through demonstrations and experiences in foundational sciences. In addition, a candidate must be able to evaluate a patient accurately and assess relevant health, behavioral, and medical information. Candidates must be able to obtain and interpret information through comprehensive assessment of patients, correctly interpret diagnostic representations of patient physiologic data, and accurately evaluate patient conditions and responses. 

Communication Skills

Candidates must exhibit interpersonal skills to enable effective caregiving of patients, including the ability to communicate effectively with all members of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, patients, and their families in person and in writing. Candidates must be able to clearly and accurately record information in English and accurately interpret verbal and non-verbal communication.

Patient Care Skills

Candidates must perform physical examinations and diagnostic maneuvers. A candidate should be able to perform or direct basic laboratory tests (urinalysis, wet mount, etc.), diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (venipuncture, placement of catheters and tubes, lumbar puncture, suturing, etc.), and interpret electrocardiograms and imaging studies. A candidate must be able to provide or direct general care and emergency treatment for patients, and respond to emergency situations in a timely manner; examples of emergency treatments reasonably required of a family nurse practitioner include, but are not limited to, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, administration of intravenous medications, application of pressure to arrest bleeding, opening obstructed airways, and performance of obstetrical maneuvers. Candidates must meet applicable safety standards for the environment and follow universal precaution procedures.

Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Cognitive Skills

Candidates must be able to learn through a variety of modalities, including but not limited to: classroom instruction; laboratory; small group, team, and collaborative activities; individual study; preparation and presentation of reports; and use of computer technology. A candidate must effectively interpret, assimilate, and understand the complex information required to function within the FNP curriculum, including but not limited to: the ability to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures; effectively participate in individual, small group, and lecture learning modalities in classroom, clinical, and community settings; learn, participate, collaborate, and contribute as a part of a team; synthesize information both in person and via remote technology; interpret causal connections and make accurate, fact-based conclusions based on available data and information; formulate a hypothesis and investigate the potential answers and outcomes; and reach appropriate and accurate conclusions. A candidate must be able to find sources of knowledge and acquire the knowledge through various modalities, and possess the ability to be a lifelong learner. 

Behavioral Attributes, Social Skills, and Professional Expectations

A candidate must be able to exercise good judgment, promptly complete all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. The skills required to do so include the ability to effectively handle and manage heavy workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of patients. Candidates are expected to exhibit professionalism, personal accountability, compassion, integrity, concern for others, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to accept and apply feedback, respect boundaries, and care for all individuals in a respectful and effective manner regardless of gender identity, age, race, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other protected status. Candidates should understand, and function within, the legal and ethical aspects of the practice of medicine, and maintain and display ethical and moral behaviors commensurate with the role of a family nurse practitioner in all interactions with patients, faculty, staff, students, and the public. Interest and motivation throughout the educational processes are expected of all candidates.

Samuel Merritt University has partnered with local Bay Area properties to offer students affordable housing close to the SMU Oakland campus. 

This collaboration provides our students with unique opportunities to enjoy premium accommodations at reduced rates, making their experience in the Bay Area even more rewarding. 

To explore the available options and find your perfect fit, contact property manager Dominick Lundberg dlundberg@twobliving.com. 

Learn More