Master of Science in Nursing
Program Coordinator: Tracy Wright, PhD, RN-BC, CNE
School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership
Lommen Hall, (218) 766-2336
wrighttr@mnstate.edu
The School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership (SNHL) includes Nursing and Health Services Administration programs. The incorporation of the two programs into a single school represents an interdisciplinary approach to the teaching of health fields with the integration of nursing services and management practice at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The SNHL faculty members believe that health is the maximized potential and well-being of individuals, communities, and societies. SNHL’s goal is to prepare students to promote optimal health along the continuum of life, from birth to death. Students seeking a career in the health care and service professions will have access to excellent programs and experienced faculty who prepare students for full professional roles.
The Master of Science with a major in Nursing is designed to prepare registered nurses holding a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing for an advanced nursing role. The degree builds upon the general baccalaureate nursing competencies, is based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Master’s Essentials, and provides curricula necessary to meet the education needs relative to the student’s specific emphasis choice. Graduates will be better able to contribute to the advancement of nursing practice.
The Nursing Administration and Organizational Systems Leadership (NAOSL) emphasis prepares early career and current nurse leaders for graduate level nursing and healthcare leadership. Advanced education in nursing administration and organizational systems leadership addresses the growing need for system-wide leadership within the healthcare industry. The program emphasizes increased depth of understanding of the complex systems and issues involved. Graduate outcomes are based upon the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Master’s Essentials and incorporates the competencies and essentials put forth by theAmerican Organization of Nurse Executives, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and Essentials of Nurse Manager Orientation. The program will contribute significantly to the preparation of the graduate for American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) and/or Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) certification.
The Nurse Educator (NED) emphasis prepares BSN nurses at the Master of Science level in nursing education within the academic and clinical arenas. The emphasis is built upon the art and science of nursing education within the changing contexts of health care, nursing, higher education, and evidence-based practice. Within the broader Graduate Nursing program outcomes, the NED emphasis adapts to provide students with understanding and evidence-based application of the faculty role; teaching-learning processes; curriculum development, management and evaluation; program and student evaluation; and modalities to accomplish education within the various settings. Students receive experiential practica in nursing education at for the practical, associate degree, and/or baccalaureate nursing level(s) in the classroom and clinical settings. Didactic work is delivered in an online format. The curriculum is based upon the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Master’s Essentials and will contribute significantly to preparation for the National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) certification.
ACCREDITATION
The graduate nursing program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Guidelines from national and specialty organizations were used to develop a curriculum that prepares graduates for certification examinations. MSU Moorhead is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of College and Schools at the Master’s degree level.
CURRICULUM COMPONENTS
The curriculum includes graduate nursing core courses, specialty track advanced practice courses, clinical practica, and thesis. The program includes a choice of two specialty emphases:
- Nursing Administration and Organizational System Leadership
- Nurse Educator
Student Learning Outcomes
- Incorporate current and emerging evidence from nursing and related sciences into the delivery of nursing care to continuously improve healthcare outcomes.
- Utilize a systems approach as an organizational leader to effectively plan resource use, guide ethical decision-making, role model critical reasoning, build relationships, promote evidence-based practice to improve systems, and assure safe, high quality nursing care outcomes.
- Apply safety and quality principles, methods, performance measures, and standards to transparently and continually improve health outcomes across the continuum of care.
- Integrate research, evidence, theory, clinical reasoning, and patient values to positively impact patient and population health outcomes.
- Analyze, incorporate, promote, and evaluate current/emerging patient care, informatics, and communication technologies to deliver and enhance healthcare outcomes.
- Evaluate, advocate for and support organizational/governmental policy to improve nursing, healthcare delivery, and population health outcomes.
- Collaborate as leader/member of interprofessional teams to optimize care management and coordination.
- Plan, implement, and evaluate evidence-based clinical prevention, health promotion, and population-based care appropriate for diverse individuals, families, communities, and aggregates.
- Integrate the advanced art and science of nursing in role-specific competencies to influence outcomes at the individual, family, population, and systems levels.
Master of Science in Nursing
Description
The Master of Science with a major in Nursing is designed to prepare registered nurses holding a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing for an advanced nursing role. The degree builds upon the general baccalaureate nursing competencies, is based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Master’s Essentials, and provides curricula necessary to meet the education needs relative to the student’s specific emphasis choice. Graduates will be better able to contribute to the advancement of nursing practice.
Admission Requirements
In order to be admitted to the Graduate Nursing Program, the applicant must meet the following requirements:
Hold a BS or BA in nursing from an ACEN (formerly NLNAC) or CCNE accredited university.
- a. CCNE “Board [has] acted not to accredit international programs housed entirely in foreign countries at this time” (CCNE Achieving Excellence in Accreditation, p. 32, retrieved 2014.06.11 from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne- accreditation/accredited-programs
b. ACEN-International programs accredited by ACEN (formerly NLNAC) include Guam, Puerto Rico, Scotland, and Virgin Islands. (retrieved 2014.04.02 from http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programsearch.htm )
- Document current unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license in the US (does not need to be MN) (Photocopy acceptable).
- Have a total cumulative local GPA (not including transfer credits) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate courses at the last institution where the baccalaureate nursing degree awarded.
Post-Admission Requirements
- Active and unencumbered RN license from a state within the US.
- If clinical practica will occur in a state other than MN or ND, the student must have an unencumbered RN license in the state where practica will be completed.
- Criminal background check on admission (ACI) and annually (MN DHS) each indicating ability to provide direct patient care.
- Evidence of current immunizations and TB testing required. See Handbook section, "Health, Education, and Licensure Records."
- Professional liability insurance. (Some clinical intra-agency contracts require students to have personal professional liability coverage in addition to the liability insurance coverage by the state instituion).
- Current CPR certification (healthcare provider or professional level).
- An inferential statistics course at the undergraduate upper division or graduate level must be taken within three years of the student registering for NURS 603. This is to assure the students recollection of statistics is timely and useful as he/she begins application of the knowledge in studying the research process within his/her own thesis or project work.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to continue and graduate from the program. If the GPA falls below 3.0, the student is placed on probation for the next semester in which courses are taken. If the GPA remains below 3.0 at the end of the next semester, the student is withdrawn from the program. No more than two courses with a grade of C (including C+ and C-) may be applied to the program of study.
Core Requirements
NURS 600 Theoretical Perspectives of the Discipline (3)
NURS 603 Introduction to Research, Data Analysis and Informatics (3)
NURS 604 Advanced Nursing Research and EBP (4)
NURS 606 Healthcare Delivery Systems, Policy Financing and Leadership (3)
NURS 608 Transcultural and Social Perspectives (3)
NURS 610 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (3)
NURS 689 Thesis/Project Seminar 1 (1)
NURS 691 Thesis/Project Seminar 2 (1)
Program Requirements
- All students must complete the program within 7 years.
- Student progress at a part-time rate. Most students are also working in nursing practice; therefore, the program is geared for part-time progression.
- A maximum of 9 graduate semester credits from nursing, all of which must be related to the program, may be transferred from other appropriately accredited colleges or universities with the consent of the Graduate Nursing Program Coordinator. The transfer credits must be no older than seven years by the time of curriculum completion and carry a grade of B or better.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to continue and graduate from the program. If the GPA falls below 3.0, the student is placed on probation for the next semester in which courses are taken. If the GPA remains below 3.0 at the end of the next semester, the student is withdrawn from the program. No more than two courses with a grad of C (including C+ and C-) may be applied to the program of study.
- Successful oral examination of the student by the candidate’s committee based upon and following completion of the thesis/project and the majority of required coursework.
Detailed information on these requirements and department policies and procedures may be obtained from the Nursing Graduate Program Coordinator or from Nursing Program Handbook.
Emphasis in Nurse Educator
Program Requirements
( 25 credits )
Nurse Educator Emphasis (NED) [Core courses (21 credits) plus NED emphasis courses (25 credits)=46 total credits]
NURS 614 Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 1 (4)
NURS 616 Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 2 (3)
NURS 612 Advanced Health/Physical Assessment (3)
NURS 622 Teaching Technology and Information Management (3)
NURS 623 Nurse as Educator (3)
NURS 627 Program/Curriculum Design and Evaluation (3)
NURS 642P Advanced Nurse Educator Practicum I (2)
NURS 643P Advanced Nurse Educator Practicum II (2)
NURS 699 Thesis for Nursing (2)
Emphasis in Nurse Administration and Organizational Systems Leadership (NAOSL)
Program Requirements
Nurse Administration and Organizational Systems Leadership (NAOSL) [Core courses (21 credits) plus NAOSL emphasis courses (25 credits)=46 total credits]
ECON 610 Healthcare Economics (3)
MBA 641 Human Resources Management (3)
MHA 618 Healthcare Law and Ethical Decision Making (3)
MHA 638 Health Information Systems (3)
NURS 605 Healthcare Quality and Safety (3)
NURS 706 Organizational and Systems Leadership (4)
NURS 644P NAOSL Practicum I (2) *100 clinical hours
NURS 645P NAOSL Practicum II (2) *100 clinical hours
NURS 699 Thesis for Nursing (2) or
NURS 696 Project (2)