The Master of Science in Nursing program prepares you to be an effective leader in the nursing profession and to be an agent of change in the delivery of health care. The transformational changes occurring in healthcare today make advanced nursing practice essential to the provision of safe, patient-centered care. As an advanced practice nurse educator or nurse leader, you can help lead the change to move nursing into the future.
The Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 887-6791.
Note: This Master of Science in Nursing program is currently not open for admission to Tennessee residents or Washington State residents.
This program has specific admission requirements.
Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:
- Apply ethical principles to advanced professional nursing practice.
- Demonstrate leadership skills supportive of safe nursing practices and patient-centered care.
- Advocate for healthcare policies that improve healthcare outcomes across the lifespan.
- Apply theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice to influence the delivery of high quality, safe care to diverse populations in a variety of settings.
- Apply data management principles in the delivery of cost-effective care to improve health outcomes.
- Analyze how healthcare policy and health care economics affect change within the healthcare system.
- Advocate for effective inter-professional communication and collaboration to support safe and efficient coordination of care.
- Reflect on personal commitment to lifelong learning to gain the competencies needed to lead the provision of care in a complex and changing healthcare environment.
Degree at a Glance
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | 15 | |
| Select one of the following concentrations: | 18 | |
| Elective Requirements | 0 | |
| Final Program Requirements | 3 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 36 | |
Degree Program Requirements
Core Requirements (15 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NURS502 | Population-Based Healthcare 1 | 3 |
| NURS500 | Research and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS504 | Informatics and Technology | 3 |
| NURS505 | Healthcare Systems and Health Policy | 3 |
| NURS506 | Leadership for Advanced Practice Roles | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 15 | |
| 1 | Required as the first course in this program. |
Students must choose a concentration for this degree program and may select from the Nurse Educator Track or Nurse Leader Track concentrations.
Concentration in Nurse Educator Track (18 semester hours)
Looks at curriculum, instruction, and assessment in nursing education with a focus on teaching and evaluations for nurse educators.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Apply programmatic objectives to the nurse educator role in clinical or academic settings.
- Create effective educational and curricular materials for a variety of audiences.
- Evaluate effectiveness of teaching strategies and modalities.
Concentration Requirements (18 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NURS601 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| NURS604 | Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology | 3 |
| NURS606 | Nursing Curriculum Development, Assessment and Evaluation | 3 |
| NURS610 | Learner-Centered Teaching Methodologies | 3 |
| NURS620 | Educational Assessment and Evaluation for Nurse Educators | 3 |
| NURS695 | Practicum in Nursing Education | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 18 | |
Concentration in Nurse Leader Track (18 semester hours)
Offers a focus in leadership, human resource management, and operational quality. Healthcare business and finance are also covered.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Apply programmatic objectives to the role of the nurse leader.
- Advocate for business practices that promote healthcare quality and patient safety.
- Synthesize knowledge of key business and human resources practices to effectively lead healthcare teams.
Concentration Requirements (18 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUSN650 | The Business of Healthcare | 3 |
| BUSN651 | Healthcare Finance | 3 |
| BUSN652 | Operational Quality in Healthcare | 3 |
| HRMT605 | Strategic Human Resource Management Practices | 3 |
| NURS653 | Leading Nursing into the Future | 3 |
| NURS696 | Practicum in Nursing Leadership | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 18 | |
Elective Requirements (0 semester hours)
There are no elective requirements for this degree.
Final Program Requirements (3 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NURS699 | Evidence-Based Practice Capstone Project 1 | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 3 | |
| 1 | Taken once all other requirements have been met. |