Nov 27, 2024  
2021-2022 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2021-2022 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED PUBLICATION]

Master of Science in Nursing, Nursing Management and Leadership (MSN)


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Master of Science in Nursing


The College of Nursing and Health Professions at USI strives to ensure our graduate students are successful in their professional, personal, and academic careers. Graduates of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program are able to integrate critical thinking, independent judgment, provide leadership, synthesize knowledge, and promote the essential values of caring in their professional and personal lives.

The graduate nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, Suite 530, Washington D.C. 20036, 202/887-6791.

MSN Curriculum

To achieve the Master of Science in Nursing degree, all students complete nursing core courses and clinical core courses. Students select one of the following specialty areas:

  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP)
  • Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-CNS)
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
  • Nursing Education (NED)
  • Nursing Management and Leadership (NML)
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Graduate nursing clinical practice requirements may be completed in the student’s own geographic area. Each student is responsible for identifying preceptors and clinical sites. Approval of each preceptor and clinical site must be obtained from faculty prior to beginning clinical hours. A written agreement with each agency is required prior to initiating clinical experiences. Students may be required to visit campus in order to demonstrate clinical competency. Faculty also will validate clinical competency through site visits and/or conference calls with preceptors and students.

Program Objectives

The objectives of the Master of Science in Nursing program are to prepare nurses at an advanced practice level who demonstrate professional leadership and foster a research climate in the practice of nursing. The graduate of the master’s degree program is a clinician, administrator, or educator who can:

  1. Synthesize knowledge and concepts from nursing, the sciences, and humanities as a foundation for advanced nursing practice;
  2. Integrate critical thinking and independent judgment to manage and provide advanced nursing practice with diverse populations;
  3. Participate in systematic inquiry and applied research to improve nursing care and enhance nursing as a profession;
  4. Integrate knowledge of the legal, socioeconomic, political, cultural, and ethical forces that affect patient care and the healthcare environment into the role of the advanced practice nurse;
  5. Function as an advocate, leader, and change agent to plan, implement, and evaluate healthcare in collaboration with other healthcare professionals, consumers, and policy makers; and
  6. Provide leadership in maintaining and promoting the professional values of caring, integrity, accountability, competence, collegiality, and lifelong learning.
  7. Integrate data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and use improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems.
  8. Integrate information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making.

Graduate Studies Admission Criteria and Application Process


Refer to the Admission  section of the bulletin for information about Graduate Studies admission criteria and the online application process.

MSN Program Admission Requirements


The MSN program offers admission for fall, spring, or summer. Refer to www.usi.edu/online-learning/online-programs/master-of-science-in-nursing for application deadlines. Applications are not reviewed until all materials have been received. Both full-time and part-time study options are available based upon course availability. MSN-specific admission requirements include:

  • a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited school;
  • minimum baccalaureate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
  • satisfactory completion of a course in undergraduate statistics;
  • unencumbered RN license;
  • One year of full time employment or equivalent as a registered nurse is strongly recommended.

Nursing Management and Leadership (NML) 42 hours


The Nursing Management and Leadership specialty prepares the nurse to assume a nursing management or leadership role in the healthcare environment. Emphasis will be placed on the integration of finance, business management, information management, and marketing resources management evaluation into the nursing management and leadership roles. There are a total of 42 hours in the specialty.

The nursing management and leadership graduate is prepared to

  • integrate critical thinking skills in complex, multi-dimensional nursing management and leadership situations through the use of economic, finance, marketing, and administration theories and principles;
  • analyze the use of management and leadership principles and quality management skills in the healthcare organizations;
  • advance nursing knowledge through research in nursing management, leadership, and healthcare policy;
  • incorporate global influences and the use of information and communication technology into the nursing management and leadership role; and
  • integrate legal and ethical standards, professional values, and lifelong learning into the nursing management and leadership role.

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