Designed for the BS-prepared nurse who wishes to pursue a Master of Science (MS) with a Nurse Leader Focus. MS-prepared nurse leaders typically work within a health system in roles both close to the bedside such as Quality Improvement Coordinator, and union leadership roles, or in institutional leadership such as nursing management and administration.
Program Requirements
Common Core
This course prepares learners to understand advanced professional nursing roles. Professional nursing roles will be analyzed focusing on major components including, educator, leader, and researcher. Socialization into the advanced professional role is explored, including an introduction to ethics, legal, professional obligations and integrating DEI and social justice as part of the advanced nursing role.
- Prerequisites:
- none
This course examines and evaluates concepts, theories, and models that inform advanced professional nursing. Selected nursing theories are analyzed and critiqued utilizing theory formation criteria. Learners will discuss application of nursing science and conceptual models to nursing and critically articulate use of theory-based practice in family, person-centered care, and/or advanced nursing roles. Requires entry into program.
- Prerequisites:
- none
This course focuses on the knowledge and skills related to information systems and healthcare technologies. Learners will create and analyze informatics solutions utilizing clinical and operational healthcare data from individual and aggregate sources, to monitor and improve the effectiveness of nursing care. Requires entry into the program.
- Prerequisites:
- none
This course provides advanced knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment. Learners will integrate evidenced-based practice and the science of nursing related to pathophysiologic principles, pharmacologic categories, and health assessment techniques. The learner will synthesize physiology/pathophysiology, health assessment and pharmacologic knowledge in the direct care role and responsibilities across diverse settings. Requires entry into program.
- Prerequisites:
- none
This course examines the organizational and systems structure, navigation, policy, decision-making, evidence-based practice, and leadership roles will be analyzed. The concepts of resilience, service, power and influence, conflict resolution, negotiation, advanced communication, and collaboration strategies will be appraised. Learners are prepared to adapt and implement organizational leadership skills, interprofessional communication and collaboration techniques, social determinants of health, culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies to anticipate and respond to future trends.
- Prerequisites:
- none
Research/Methods Course(s)
This course focuses on advanced evidence-based practice. The learner will examine the role of research and its application, utilization, and integration in advanced professional nursing roles. Learners will analyze research approaches, designs, and methods. Emphasis is placed on the development of analytic skills for reading and appraising research in educational and organizational settings.
- Prerequisites:
- none
Emphasis Common Core
Learners will translate professional nursing standards and values through leadership theories and styles, innovations, and interprofessional collaboration. The advanced professional nurse leader will apply a holistic approach to implement leadership theories and styles, change strategies, and effective interprofessional collaboration within healthcare organizations to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes, focusing on improving healthcare disparities.
- Prerequisites:
- none
Learners will develop leadership skills with a focus on healthcare policy, economic theory, and finance in healthcare systems. Emphasizes strategies for creating and maintaining a culturally sensible environment while measuring outcomes, influencing decision-making, and navigating business realities in organizations. Incorporates financial, legal, and ethical concepts. Requires entry into the program.
- Prerequisites:
- none
Learners will use a systems-based approach in the evaluation of quality and safety data to address health care delivery system needs. Learners will implement strategies which address health care quality and safety issues impacting individual, family, and societal healthcare experiences in an increasingly complex environment. Requires entry into the program.
- Prerequisites:
- none
Capstone Course
The Nursing Leadership Capstone offers the learners a practical opportunity to apply the previous coursework and knowledge obtained during the program and demonstrate their ability to work and think as an advanced professional nurse leader. This course includes experiential learning hours focused on a final project reviewed and approved by the course faculty and organizational mentor(s). The learners will develop a change project proposal utilizing a plan of action with concepts from the program coursework.
- Prerequisites:
- none
Degree
Master of Science
Major Credits
30
Total Credits
30
Locations
Online
Career Cluster
Health Science