Leadership, MSN (Online)
Degree: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Field of Study: Leadership
Program Overview
A Master of Science in Nursing Degree in Leadership is focused in unit level administration and management. Prospective students include both current and aspiring nurse leaders who are leading at or who expect to lead at the unit level (i.e. nurse managers, assistant nurse managers).
Participants will develop the skill set to meet the aims of their healthcare institution, as well as the needs of their patient population, through the application of clinically based leadership, management, and quality assessment/improvement practices.
Path to the MSN
The Master of Science in Nursing program prepares registered nurses for advanced practice either as a nurse practitioner or nurse midwife. Students in the MSN program choose from several different majors, but virtually all students must take at least ten core courses. Students must complete a required number of credit hours as well as clinical hours. Most majors require an average of 40 credit hours, usually completed in three or four semesters (including summer for some majors). MSN majors also require at least 600 or more clinical hours depending on major.
Students can choose either a part-time or full-time program, with full-time consisting of 9 or more credit hours per semester and part-time being anything less. Post-graduate APRN certificates can be provided for most programs and are crafted according to individual needs and background education. Dual degree programs are offered in Bioethics (MSN/MA), Anthropology (MSN/MA), and Public Health (MSN/MPH).
Course Grades
Progression in the MSN program is contingent on a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and passing grades in all courses (A, B, C, P, or S). If the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 during any semester, the student will be placed on academic probation. In addition, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) students in the MSN program must maintain an APRN GPA of 2.5 or higher in all APRN core courses (advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced physical assessment) and APRN clinical courses.
The grade of Incomplete (I) can only be assigned by the discretion of the instructor when: 1) There are extenuating circumstances, explained to the instructor before the assignment of the grade, which clearly justifies an extension of time beyond the requirements established for and met by other students in the class, and 2) The student has been passing the course and only an evaluative component of the course, such as a term paper, final exam, or project remains to be completed. The "Arrangement to Resolve a Grade of Incomplete" form must be completed prior to the end of the semester, or the instructor may assign a grade of U or F. The instructor shall enter a final evaluative grade if and when the completed work has been submitted. A grade of Incomplete must be removed by the 11th week of the semester following the one in which the courses were taken. If the student does not complete the required work by the date established, the Registrar will convert the I to an F when the deadline for completion has passed. Students may not sit in the same course in a later semester to complete the work required for the original course. Please see the School of Graduate Studies Incomplete Policy.
A student who receives a grade of F or U for a required course must register for the course the next semester it is offered to continue in the MSN program. If the grade of U or F is in a course that is not required for the MSN program, the student may register for the same course or a substitute course and achieve a passing grade to continue in the MSN program. MSN students who receive 2 failing grades (F, U, NP) will be separated from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.
Majors and Sample Full-Time Curriculum
Virtually all MSN students must take at least ten core courses in Professional Development, Scientific Inquiry, and Nursing Practice. Although the MSN program itself requires a minimum of 36 credit hours to graduate, most majors require an average of 40 credit hours, usually completed between 18 and 30 months depending on the MSN major. Students are required to complete 600 or more clinical hours depending on MSN major. Post-Graduate Certificates can be provided for most programs and are crafted according to individual needs and background education. Sample full-time curriculum are listed for each major.
Major Requirements
The Leadership track of the Master of Science in Nursing degree requires 31 credit hours of coursework and 300 hours of leadership-focused clinical experience. Students must have at least a year of nursing experience prior to applying to the program. To be awarded an MSN degree, the student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and received satisfactory grades in all nursing courses taken for credit as a MSN student. Degree requirements must be completed within 5 years of initial enrollment.
The coursework can be completed in 18 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time). All classes are conducted remotely in a synchronous format except for one immersion class which will be held in-person at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing in Cleveland, Ohio. Additionally, students take two DNP level leadership courses that will count towards a future DNP degree in executive leadership offered at FPB.
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| NURS 405 | Inquiry I - Theoretical Foundations | 2 |
| NURS 444C | Health Policy Legislation and Legal Issues in Advanced Practice | 1 |
| NURS 451 | Leadership for Quality Healthcare within Organizations and Systems | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| NUND 510 | Application of Health Information Technology and Systems | 1 |
| NURS 433 | Management of Clinical Operations for Nurse Leaders | 3 |
| NURS 434 | Population Health Management Across the Continuum of Care for Nurse Leaders | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 7 | |
| Summer | ||
| NUND 506 | Leadership in Organizations and Systems | 3 |
| NURS 436 | Practicum I for Nurse Leaders | 2 |
| Credit Hours | 5 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS 425 | Inquiry II - Research Process | 3 |
| NURS 432 | Organizations and Systems in the Management of Health and Illness Across the Care Continuum | 3 |
| NURS 437 | Practicum II for Nurse Leaders | 2 |
| Credit Hours | 8 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 435 | Leading Innovation, Change and Intrapreneurship | 1 |
| NURS 438 | Evidence-Based Practice Leadership Practicum | 1 |
| NURS 444A | Ethical Issues in Advanced Nursing Practice | 1 |
| NURS 502 | Inquiry III Evidence-Based Practice | 2 |
| Credit Hours | 5 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 31 | |