Master of Nursing Online Courses
The Online Master of Science in Nursing curriculum at the University of Saint Mary represents the very latest in nursing education online, integrating the Essentials of Master's Education in Nursing from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). This online MSN is structured around these new Essentials. Plus, our program puts you a step ahead should you decide to pursue a doctorate.
Below are the core courses required to earn your MSN and the concentration courses for both the Nurse Educator and Nurse Administrator specializations. The online program consists of 35 credit hours and can be completed in about two years if you adhere to the recommended course schedule. A student may transfer up to 9 graduate credit hours into the MSN program that are substantially equivalent.
Earn your online MSN from the University of Saint Mary and start your journey to a better career right now by calling 877.307.4915 to speak with an Admissions Advisor.
Core Courses (5 courses, 12 credit hours)
NU 611 Informatics in Nursing (2 credits)
Provides an interactive opportunity to examine how nursing informatics is situated within the broader healthcare informatics systems. Emphasis is placed on the tools and concepts used by nurses and nurse leaders who deal with informatics, sharing of information, communication, and decision-making. Knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes needed to navigate the advance practice role of nursing, using evidence from data and tools used to collect, compile, and communicate the implications of the data are explored.
NU 641 Introduction to Statistics (1 credit)
Examines statistical concepts and procedures including statistical approaches to epidemiological data. Explores relationship between statistical methods and research questions. Provides opportunity to work with data and to evaluate results of healthcare related research.
NU 701 Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
Examines nursing as a profession and its role in a complex, dynamic health care environment. Explores advanced nursing practice, theoretical foundations of nursing, current issues of professional nursing, relationships between theory, research, and practice, as well as Nursing's Social Policy Statement: The Essence of the Profession, Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretative Statements, and Nursing: Scope and Standards of Nursing Practice. Introduces Sister Simone Roach's 5 Cs of caring: commitment, conscience, competence, compassion, and confidence. Promotes critical thinking through synthesis of the literature and scholarly writing. This course is to be taken during student's first term.
NU 703 Analysis and Utilization of Research (3 credits)
Focuses on critical analysis of nursing and health care research and their application to nursing practice, education, and/or administration/leadership. Addresses quantitative, qualitative, outcomes, and intervention-based research. Emphasizes research as the foundation for evidence-based practice via strategies to access data, to synthesize data, and to translate research into practice. Examines ethical issues in design, conduct, and utilization of research. Explores relationship between research and nursing care, healthcare policy, quality, safety, and quality improvement. Assesses literature for a select topic.
NU 705 Health Care Policy and Ethics (3 credits)
Provides an overview of the health care system in America. Examines the social, historical, economic, and political influences on American health care policy; impact of policy/regulations on accessibility, accountability, and affordability of health care. Explores health care delivery, financing, legal and quality issues; technologies/social medical; global impact of healthcare policy; ethical principles and vulnerable populations.
Nurse Administrator Courses (8 courses, 23 credit hours)
Choose one course from MGT 701 or MGT 750
HCMGT 721 Leadership and Business Operations in Healthcare (3 credits)
This course introduces the students to the key leadership concepts and theories and their effective use in the oversight of a healthcare organization.
MGT 701 Organizational Management (3 credits)
Role of the manager in organizational settings. In-depth focus and examination of social systems and their influence on the motivation of individuals, the effect on work outcomes, emergent leadership and control of behavior in the workplace. Also explores important concepts that help students understand and respond to the influences and forces affecting the behavior of individuals in the workplace. Among the individual topics examined are (1) motivation, (2) self-concept, (3) interpersonal dynamics, (4) conflict and resolution, (5) group dynamics, (6) leadership, and (7) change, as it arises and affects the behavior of people in the workplace. The course extensively utilizes case studies of people and groups in actual work situations to help students develop diagnostic and effective tools for exercising leadership and management.
MGT 750 Leadership (3 credits)
Focuses on the role of leaders in creating the vision necessary to change firm structures, motivate people, improve performance and position the company for the challenges of the future. The course will engage participants in identifying both good and poor leadership characteristics with an emphasis on cases, examples and relation to the participant's experience. Participants will be challenged to assess themselves as leaders and to identify traits necessary to improve their skills. Leadership will be analyzed and reflected through problems, observation, readings, case analysis and examples from culture.
NU 710 Human Resources and Fiscal Management in Nursing (4 credits)
Examines human resource management, staffing the organization, and employee relations. Integrates human resource management and business principles including finances. Examines labor relations, employment laws, privacy laws, performance appraisal, and disaster preparedness. Topics include but not limited to recruitment, staffing and scheduling, performance appraisal, customer service, productivity, budgets, and quality and safety.
NU 712 Quality and Safety (3 credit hours)
Addresses the challenge of preparing advance practice nurses to continuously improve the quality and safety of the health care systems in which they work and manage. Essential features of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to continually evaluate patient centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence based practice, quality improvement, and informatics are explored.
NU 718 Delivery of Care in the Healthcare Environment (3 credit hours)
Current delivery of care systems are examined and evaluated as to their value in the modern healthcare environment. Levels of function and clinical integration are examined to determine the best models to meet the needs of the organization and society. Public implications of healthcare infrastructure are explored as it pertains to nursing and systems of care.
NU 745 Nursing Practicum I (2 credits)
Implements role components of a nurse manager/administrator or educator in a healthcare organization. Opportunity to apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes of a nurse administrator or educator. Student will have an expert master’s or doctoral prepared preceptor.
NU 747 Nursing Practicum II (2 credits)
Continue to implement role components of a nurse manager/administrator or educator in a healthcare organization. Continued opportunity to apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes of a nurse administrator or educator. Student will have a master’s or doctorate prepared preceptor.
NU 749 Capstone Synthesis (3 credits)
Demonstrates the synthesis of knowledge and skills acquired from core and specialty focus courses in a scholarly project. Recognizing the potential interplay of legal, economic, political, regulatory, and ethical factors, the student will disseminate the previously identified process and outcomes defined in the practicum courses, in a scholarly paper and a peer-reviewed presentation. Student also compiles a portfolio to substantiate achievement of MSN program, practice specialty, and university outcomes. This capstone course is typically taken after all course work is completed.
One credit didactic; two credits (120 hours) practicum.
Nurse Educator Courses (8 courses, 23 credit hours)
NU 607 Advanced Health Assessment and Health Promotion (3 credits)
Builds on previous knowledge and skills in health assessment, therapeutic communication, and patient teaching. Utilizes physiological, psychological, sociocultural, genetic, and developmental assessment skills across the lifespan as well as case studies to enhance learning. Develops a differential diagnosis based on assessment data. Explores patterns of disease or injury using epidemiological data and addresses analysis and documentation of findings via electronic health records (EHR). Utilizes culturally responsive patient teaching to promote health and prevent illness.
3 credit hours of which 0.5 credits (30 hours) are clinical application.
NU 610 Advanced Patho-Pharm for the Nurse Educator (4 credits)
Builds upon previous knowledge of physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. Examines basic principles of select categories of disease states and drugs including cellular responses. Provides opportunities to assess, diagnose, manage, and explore pharmacologic agents for common health problems. Analyzes relationship between pharmacologic agents and physiologic/pathologic responses. Explores issues affecting patients’ willingness to adhere to drug regimens as well as issues related to prescriptive authority for advanced practice nurses.
NU 725 Foundations of Learning and Teaching (3 credits)
Examines pedagogies, adult learning theories, learning styles, learning environments, and evaluation methods in nursing education. Explores the role of the educator and student in creating an active, dynamic learning environment. Differentiates instructional strategies for virtual, face-to-face, clinical, and simulation settings. Explores effects of gender, generation, and culture on learning and teaching. Professional development for the nursing educator is demonstrated.
NU 727 Curriculum Design and Evaluation (3 credits)
Examines curriculum development. Analyzes influence of competencies, accreditation standards, NCLEX-RN test plan, institution and program mission and vision, and learning outcomes on curriculum. Examines strategies to assess learning. Explores legal and ethical issues related to academic performance. Examines The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice and requirements for program accreditation and educator certification.
NU 731 Teaching with Technology (3 credits)
Examines theories, trends, and research pertaining to the use of technology in nursing education. Analyzes use of technology and simulation to enhance learning. Incorporates technology into learning activities.
NU 745 Nursing Practicum I (2 credits)
Implements role components of a nurse manager/administrator or educator in a healthcare organization. Opportunity to apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes of a nurse administrator or educator. Student will have an expert master’s or doctoral prepared preceptor.
NU 747 Nursing Practicum II (2 credits)
Continue to implement role components of a nurse manager/administrator or educator in a healthcare organization. Continued opportunity to apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes of a nurse administrator or educator. Student will have a master’s or doctorate prepared preceptor.
NU 749 Capstone Synthesis (3 credits)
Demonstrates the synthesis of knowledge and skills acquired from core and specialty focus courses in a scholarly project. Recognizing the potential interplay of legal, economic, political, regulatory, and ethical factors, the student will disseminate the previously identified process and outcomes defined in the practicum courses, in a scholarly paper and a peer-reviewed presentation. Student also compiles a portfolio to substantiate achievement of MSN program, practice specialty, and university outcomes. This capstone course is typically taken after all course work is completed.
One credit didactic; two credits (120 hours) practicum.
Elective Courses
NU 750 Capstone Synthesis Cognate (1 credit)
Affords student the opportunity to register for one credit to complete program requirements specified in NU 749 Capstone Synthesis. Note: Student may enroll in NU 750 a maximum of twice.
NU 751 Practicum Cognate (1 credit)
Affords student the opportunity to register to complete required and/or additional requirements or practicum hours to meet program outcomes.