RN-to-MSN, Nursing Leadership and Administration
School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Capella University offers RN-to-MSN bridge specializations for licensed registered nurses who have completed 135 quarter credits of undergraduate coursework. Learners in the RN-to-MSN bridge specializations are required to complete NHS5004, NURS5003, NURS5005, and NURS5007 before registering for any other Master of Science in Nursing course. Upon successful completion of the RN-to-MSN bridge courses, learners pursue the program requirements for any Master of Science in Nursing specialization. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree will not be conferred.
The MSN Nursing Leadership and Administration specialization
presents advanced theories, research, and evidence-based best
practices for executive leadership and administration in nursing.
Learners develop the knowledge and skills nurse executives need to
lead health care innovations, respond to health care challenges and
trends, and manage health care quality and safety as well as the
finance and operations of the health care organization. Throughout the
specialization, learners also assess and further strengthen their
characteristics as ethical and culturally aware health care leaders,
visionaries, and risk takers and gain an understanding of how to
effectively communicate with other members of a health care team to
promote strategic thinking, planning, and interprofessional
collaboration in practice. Successful graduates of this specialization
are prepared to pursue roles as nurse executives in a variety of
health care delivery settings.
Practicum Requirement(s):
Minimum of 100 practicum hours. See the Practicum section, below, for more information.
Sixteen Required Courses
At least 66 quarter credits
Bridge courses:
NURS5003 |
Health Assessment and Promotion for Disease Prevention in Population-Focused Health
In this course, learners apply concepts, frameworks, and models used
to foster health promotion and disease prevention, particularly in
diverse and vulnerable populations. Learners evaluate individual and
population wellness from multicultural, ethnic, traditional, and
spiritual perspectives. Learners examine factors that cause
disparities in wellness among people in diverse and vulnerable
populations. By analyzing effective health assessment methods and
communication strategies, learners identify best practices for
developing a population-focused approach to health promotion and
disease prevention.
For MSN learners only.
| 4 quarter credits |
---|---|---|
NURS5005 |
Introduction to Nursing Research, Ethics, and Technology
Learners in this course gain and demonstrate knowledge of nursing
research, ethics, and information technology in health care settings.
Learners apply the basic principles of nursing research and ways that
information systems and patient care technologies contribute to
improving patient outcomes. Learners also evaluate ethics in nursing
research and scholarship and how evidence-based practice relates to
the effective use of information technologies in nursing practice.
For MSN learners only.
| 4 quarter credits |
NURS5007 |
Leadership for Nursing Practice
In this course, learners examine and apply theoretical concepts and
leadership competencies for nursing practice. Learners evaluate
evidence-based best practices and behaviors that support effective
nursing leadership in health care settings, and analyze strategies for
coordination, delegation, and goal setting and performance
improvement. Learners also assess concepts and principles of health
care policy, legal and regulatory issues, and quality control in
health care and the nursing profession.
For MSN learners only.
| 4 quarter credits |
Core courses:
NHS5004 |
Communication, Collaboration, and Case Analysis for Master’s Learners
This course prepares learners for master’s-level course work in the
School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Throughout the course, learners
analyze how the role of the practitioner-scholar guides leadership in
the health care field and determine the ways in which they can
effectively use communication strategies expected of health care
professionals. In particular, learners examine the attributes that
contribute to effective and ethical health care leadership, including
professional collaboration, communication, inclusion, and decision
making.
Must be taken during the learner’s first quarter. Cannot be
fulfilled by transfer.
| 4 quarter credits |
---|---|---|
NHS6004 |
Health Care Law and Policy
In this course, learners examine the political, legal, and regulatory
issues impacting health care organizations and environments. Learners
analyze the effects of health care policy on health care practice and
service delivery, with particular emphasis on the strategies used to
monitor and maintain legal and regulatory compliance. Learners also
identify and apply health care policy and law concepts that promote
organizational improvement. | 4 quarter credits |
NHS6008 |
Economics and Decision Making in Health Care
This course helps learners develop and demonstrate concepts,
principles, issues, and trends in health care economics and the
economic decision-making practices employed in the health care
environment. Learners analyze the political, legal, regulatory,
organizational, demographical, and multicultural implications of
business decisions on health care economics; explore the ways economic
and stakeholder influences affect operational planning and decision
making; and practice applying performance monitoring and process
management measures as part of the decision-making process. Learners
also examine cost-effective problem solving; community- and
population-based orientation; and effective use of health care market
research, analysis, and assessment. | 4 quarter credits |
NURS6011 |
Evidence-Based Practice for Patient-Centered Care and Population Health
Learners in this course acquire an understanding of the nature of
evidence and its relative value and weight in making clinical
decisions that impact patient and population outcomes. In particular,
learners assess appropriate methods and analytic approaches in order
to investigate, evaluate, and synthesize the best available evidence
for potential solutions and innovations.
For BSN and MSN learners only.
| 4 quarter credits |
NURS6016 |
Quality Improvement of Interprofessional Care
In this course, learners develop and demonstrate competence in the
design, implementation, and evaluation of interprofessional quality
improvement initiatives. Learners investigate models for quality
improvement, with an emphasis on outcome identification and
measurement. Learners also examine quality within the context of
patient safety through adverse event and near-miss analyses.
For BSN and MSN learners only.
| 4 quarter credits |
NURS6021 |
Biopsychosocial Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice 1
Learners in this course develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities
needed to integrate select biopsychosocial concepts into professional
processes that promote quality and cost effective patient and systems
outcomes, with particular emphasis on the ways in which these concepts
impact the National Academy of Medicine’s six aims of health care
improvement: Safe, Effective, Patient-centered, Timely, Efficient, and Equitable.
For MSN learners only.
| 4 quarter credits |
NURS6026 |
Biopsychosocial Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice 2
Learners in this course develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities
needed to integrate select biopsychosocial concepts into professional
processes that promote quality and cost effective patient and systems
outcomes, with particular emphasis on the ways in which these concepts
impact population health, as defined by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
For MSN learners only.
| 4 quarter credits |
NURS6030 |
MSN Practicum and Capstone †
Learners in this course develop their critical thinking skills and
gain advanced nursing knowledge in preparation for master’s-level
nursing practice in a designated specialization. Learners create and
implement a personalized practicum experience under the supervision of
a preceptor at a site of their choice and demonstrate synthesis of
professional and academic growth and practice. Throughout the
practicum, learners also develop and maintain an electronic portfolio
that includes coursework products, demonstrations of competency and
outcome achievement, and practice experience documentation (number of
hours, preceptor evaluations, achievement of objectives, and
contributions to the organization).
For MSN learners only. Special permission is required for
registration. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer.
| 6 quarter credits |
Specialization courses:
NURS6210 |
Leadership and Management for Nurse Executives
Learners in this course develop and demonstrate knowledge of
contemporary leadership and management concepts and theories relevant
to a variety of health care delivery settings. Learners analyze the
nurse leader’s role in leading high-performing health care teams and
examine the skills needed to collaborate with, and create buy-in from,
stakeholders, colleagues, constituencies, and interdisciplinary teams.
Learners also examine the impact of cultural, ethical, and regulatory
considerations on decision making and implement a future-looking
strategic vision to ensure sustainable gains in quality and safety.
For MSN learners only.
| 4 quarter credits |
---|---|---|
NURS6212 |
Health Care Quality and Safety Management
Learners in this course examine the nurse leader’s role in helping to
effectively integrate into health care delivery systems the quality
and safety principles that inform evidence-based changes and best
practices. Learners demonstrate an understanding of the ways they can
measure health care quality and safety; monitor and assess patient
safety and outcomes; develop a transparent system for identifying and
resolving medical errors and adverse patient outcomes; use data to
monitor and improve patient care and outcomes; and support a culture
of quality and safety.
For MSN learners only.
| 4 quarter credits |
NURS6214 |
Health Care Informatics and Technology
Learners in this course gain and demonstrate the knowledge and skills
nurse leaders need in order to utilize health information technology
to enhance patient care and outcomes. In particular, learners develop
a strategy for technological integration and examine the ways in which
they can use technology to evaluate patient data to inform patient
diagnoses and outcomes. Learners also assess the effective management
of technological change within the health care environment and examine
issues of consumer access to information and the privacy and
confidentiality of patient information.
For MSN learners only.
| 4 quarter credits |
NURS6216 |
Advanced Finance and Operations Management
Learners in this course examine the nurse leader’s role in
establishing and managing an operations and capital budget. In
particular, learners develop an understanding of how to incorporate
variances or discretionary spending, manage the labor force within
budget parameters, examine the availability and appropriate use of
equipment and supplies, and apply finance principles to a strategic
plan for achieving an organization’s fiscal goals.
For MSN learners only.
| 4 quarter credits |
NURS6218 |
Leading the Future of Health Care
Learners in this course examine the role of the nurse leader in
evaluating and responding to health care opportunities and challenges
in a rapidly changing local and global environment. Learners develop
proactive strategies to drive and lead changes in health care and
integrate evidence-based decision making into the culture of the
health care organization. Learners also develop the critical-thinking
and communication skills needed to positively influence health care
redesign and examine the effects of visionary leadership in the field.
For MSN learners only.
| 4 quarter credits |
Total
At least 66 quarter credits
* Denotes courses that have prerequisite(s). Refer to the descriptions for further details.
Learners who do not complete all program requirements within quarter credit/program point minimums will be required to accrue such additional quarter credits/program points as are associated with any additional or repeat coursework necessary for successful completion of program requirements.
† Learners are responsible for
the cost of their travel, accommodations, food, and other expenses
associated with this course.
Alabama residents are not eligible to enroll in this program.
This specialization does not prepare graduates for licensure as an RN or APRN.
Learners enrolled in the RN-to-MSN Nursing Leadership and Administration specialization are required to maintain a current, unrestricted RN license throughout their program.
GuidedPath courses and FlexPath courses fulfill the program requirements and prerequisites for each delivery model.
Practicum
Learners enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program with a specialization in Care Coordination; RN-to-MSN Care Coordination; Care Coordination, FlexPath option; RN-to-MSN Care Coordination, FlexPath option; Nursing Education; RN-to-MSN Nursing Education; Nursing Education, FlexPath option; RN-to-MSN Nursing Education, FlexPath option; Nursing Leadership and Administration; RN-to-MSN Nursing Leadership and Administration; Nursing Leadership and Administration, FlexPath option; or RN-to-MSN Nursing Leadership and Administration, FlexPath option are required to complete 100 documented hours of hands-on practicum experience. Learners enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program with a specialization in Nursing Informatics; RN-to-MSN Nursing Informatics; Nursing Informatics, FlexPath option; or RN-to-MSN Nursing Informatics, FlexPath option are required to complete 200 documented hours of hands-on practicum experience.
The practicum experience requires learners to synthesize and expand the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program by applying evidence-based methods to practice. Learners are responsible for finding an appropriate preceptor to oversee the practicum experience. With their preceptors, learners engage in in-depth work within a practice environment that reflects course outcomes. The practicum experiences offer learners an environment in which to apply their knowledge and skills. Practicum takes place at a professional site at which learners, with the support of program faculty and their on-site preceptors, participate in advanced practice initiatives. These could include program evaluation, quality improvement, and advanced practice techniques. Learners use the practicum experience to help them achieve the MSN program outcomes and competencies and the learning objectives related to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing.
Additionally, learners are required to document their practice
practicum experience in associated online coursework. The associated
practicum courses provide systematic opportunities for feedback and
reflection. Practicum hours are considered complete once all program
required practicum hours have been successfully achieved. Partial
completion of practicum hours requirements cannot be verified for
licensure or transfer of credits.