Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin. ​

Program Description

This online graduate degree in nursing will provide students with the academic knowledge, skills, and expertise to become nurse leaders in diverse healthcare and academic environments. Graduates will be eligible to apply for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Nurse Executive Certification Examination. Courses consist of Master of Science in Nursing core courses, specialty concentration courses, and direct care clinical and leadership courses. This program is for licensed registered nurses (current, unrestricted license) who have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree interested in advancing their careers and pursuing healthcare leadership and administrative positions.

Prior to enrollment, individuals considering a Master of Science in Nursing program should check with their applicable state board of nursing before enrolling in any graduate nursing program for any specific state requirements.

Core MSN Program Outcomes 

Upon completion of the program the student should be able to:

1. Integrate scientific evidence from nursing and biopsychosocial disciplines, genetics, public health, quality improvement, and organizational sciences when designing and implementing outcome measures in diverse settings and through the lifespan.
2. Demonstrate leadership skills that emphasize ethical and critical decision-making, fiscal responsibility, inter-professional relationships that promote safe, quality care within a systems framework.
3. Apply methods, tools, performance measures, and evidence-based standards when evaluating quality indicators within an organizational system.
4. Synthesize theories, models and research findings inherent to nursing practice, education and management to guide an organization or healthcare system towards achieving successful outcomes.
5. Apply client/patient care technologies and informatics to coordinate and ensure safe quality care and promote effective communication among members of the interprofessional healthcare team.
6. Analyze ethical, legal and sociocultural factors to influence policy development and healthcare delivery systems that promote the health of individuals and populations.
7. Articulate a leadership role within interprofessional teams through effective communication, collaboration and consultation with other professionals to manage, coordinate care and provide safe, quality family-centered and population-based care.
8. Incorporate organizational and culturally sensitive client and population centered concepts in the planning, delivery, management and evaluation of direct and indirect evidence-based health promotion care and services to specified individuals, families and populations.
9. Implement scholarly activities in selected individuals, populations, and systems.

Nursing Leadership and Administration Program Outcomes

Students are expected to meet all the objectives of the MSN core courses. In addition, students are expected to meet the following Nursing Leadership and Administration concentration objectives. Upon completion of their program, the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate critical thinking and decision making when planning, implementing, and evaluating strategies to guide an organization or healthcare system toward successful outcomes.
2. Analyze the impact regulatory agencies exert on fiscal stability, human resources, total quality improvement, and attainment of positive outcomes within a selected healthcare system.
3. Apply ethical and legal principles when making decisions regarding healthcare delivery to diverse populations.
4. Create a plan for evaluating the ability of an organization to adapt to the changing healthcare landscape.
5. Implement the role of the nurse leader or nurse administrator in a selected healthcare setting.

Conditional Enrollment for MSN

A student who has earned a BSN degree but has not received licensure results may be conditionally admitted to the MSN program. A student who is admitted conditionally must sign an acknowledgement that they must provide evidence of a current, active, and unrestricted license as a registered nurse in the state in which they live by the end of the first 8-week session. Failure to provide evidence by the last day of the session will result in the student being unregistered from the MSN program. All grades will be expunged, and federal funds will be returned. A student who subsequently completes the licensure requirement may re-apply for admission; however, may be required to repeat the previously attempted coursework.

Potential Occupational Titles

Potential occupational titles for this program include, but are not limited to Nurse Leader, Nurse Executive, Nurse Administrator, Chief Nursing Officer, and Chief Nurse Executive.

Program Content

A minimum of 36.00 semester credit hours is required for graduation.