The online MSN Nurse Educator and MSN Health Systems Leadership specializations each require 30 credits of undergraduate coursework to "bridge" you to the MSN-level courses and 36 credit hours of graduate coursework. With this accelerated program, you will earn your master's degree much faster than you would if you were to earn your bachelor's and master's degrees separately.

Course Descriptions for the RN to MSN Bridge

NURS 312 Professional Concepts in Nursing (3 credits)
This course introduces the RN student to the framework of the Department of Nursing curriculum with emphasis on complexity science, complex adaptive systems (CAS), Ignatian values, and servant leadership. Nursing's scope of practice and the ANA social policy and code of ethics that influence professional nursing will be examined, along with advanced practice nursing roles, professional nursing organizations, and contemporary nursing knowledge.

NURS 320 Statistics (3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics. It includes the statistical procedures used most frequently to analyze quantitative data for health science and nursing research. Emphasis is placed on the conceptual understanding and correct application of statistical tests, as well as the correct interpretation of statistical results. Some mathematical calculation will be necessary. The ultimate goal will be for the learner to understand statistical reasoning and become familiar with the correct use and interpretation of statistics.

NURS 354 Creating Healthy Working Environments (3 credits)
This course focuses on developing workplace environments that encourage a positive and effective workforce. Concepts regarding teamwork, group dynamics, conflict management, leadership skills and strategies for negotiation, collaboration, and delegation in Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS), along with concepts of reflective practice will be emphasized. Legal issues, JCAHO standards, and information technology will be examined, as well as their ramifications for privacy and confidentiality issues, patient safety, and quality nursing care.

NURS 355 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology (3 credits)
This course provides an in-depth analysis of pathophysiological, psychobiological, and pharmacologic concepts at the cellular level that underlie selected disease states and health deviations to provide a foundation for nursing practice.

NURS 360 Holistic Health Assessment & Promotion (3 credits)
Emphasizing nursing's role in health promotion, this course provides an integrated approach using Gordon's Functional Framework in assessment of the health status of individuals and families taking into consideration determinants of health, genetics, lifespan similarities and differences, and cultural, social, environmental and economic factors that influence health status and health seeking behaviors. Health belief and health promotion models will also be explored.

NURS 406 Nursing Research (3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to quantitative and qualitative research principles and methodologies, including evaluation of research studies and application to practice. Critical analysis of nursing and health care research is emphasized. The course stresses research design, sampling, data collection strategies, and ethical considerations in research.

NURS 463 Community Health (3 credits)
Designed for the licensed registered nurse, this course introduces the community-as-partner model as a guide for providing cost-effective, accessible care for families, groups, and populations. Emphasis will be placed on cultural competence, the use of complex adaptive systems theory to understand the interaction among and between systems within community health practice, epidemiological concepts in the development of effective health policy/programs, and the ethical dilemmas inherent in the community-as-partner model of practice.

NURS 464 Community Health Practicum (3 credits)
This practicum emphasizes use of the community-as-partner model as a guide for community health practice. Students will explore the various dimensions of a healthy community as they actively participate in community health practice that emphasizes assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating cost-effective, accessible care for families, groups, and populations within CAS. Students will expand their cultural competence, apply epidemiological concepts in the development of effective health policy/programs, and gain an appreciation of the ethical dilemmas inherent in the community-as-partner model of practice.

• Health Systems Leadership course descriptions
• Nurse Educator course descriptions

If you want to advance your nursing career, request more information or call us today at (866) 295-3105 to learn more about our RN to MS in Nursing online program.