Master of Science: Nursing Administration

Curriculum

Core

NURS 501:  Quantitative Methods and Statistics (3 credits)

This course explores core and advanced concepts of quantitative research and biostatistics and their application in conducting investigations of phenomenon in nursing research. Building upon basic knowledge of statistical concepts, the content includes quantitative research methodologies and statistical techniques to enable addressing actual healthcare problems. The learner will appropriately select and perform statistical techniques to examine research questions, and critically appraise various aspects of published quantitative research from nursing and healthcare literature, with an emphasis on the biostatistics and research design employed. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) will be used for statistical analysis throughout the course.

NURS 502: Advanced Nursing Research  (3 credits)

This course builds upon Quantitative Methods and Statistics, and provides the foundation for the use of evidence-based practice in nursing practice, including historical development, clinical practice guidelines, barriers, and ethical considerations in research. Qualitative methods and designs are explored and applied.  A scholarly research proposal is designed and presented, including the topic, research question, literature review, theoretical framework, sample, research design, methods, analysis of data, limitations, and discussion. 

ALHT 500: Health Policy and Technology in Healthcare (3 credits)

This course combines key concepts of healthcare policy and technology used in healthcare systems. Learners will examine the following: the impact of policy on healthcare structure and delivery, vulnerable populations, disparities in healthcare, and how health policy reform influences patient outcomes. Technology in healthcare systems will be explored for its impact upon healthcare delivery and organizational outcomes.

ALHT 501: Leadership and Quality Improvement in Healthcare Systems  (3 credits)

This course provides a foundation of leadership, organizational change, and quality improvement principles in healthcare organizations.  Content focuses on applying principles of leadership that drive the processes of change, quality improvement, and innovation in healthcare organizations. Strategies for creating a culture of quality and safety are applied to project management, interdisciplinary communication, and conflict management. Learners will examine concepts for defining, measuring, and evaluating outcomes within organizations and systems relating to quality improvement.

Nursing Administration

NURS 606: Role of the Nurse Administrator  (3 credits)

This course sets the foundational stage for the Nurse Administrator specialty track. Students focus on theoretical and practical aspects of leadership and management functions in healthcare administration, and they discuss standards of practice for nursing administration. They explore a range of topics, including roles and responsibilities, quality improvements, strategic planning and management, regulations, accreditation, and information systems. Through this course, students learn the goals of the nurse leader, including ways to facilitate efficient, quality healthcare delivery to achieve excellence in patient care and services.

NURS 607: Finance and Economics in Healthcare (3 credits)

Students in this course learn about the fundamentals of finance and budgeting in healthcare delivery. They apply financial principles, such as budgeting processes used in multiple healthcare settings and the nurse administrator’s responsibilities within the context of leading and managing resources. Through these applications, students explore budget development and management of operational and capital resources. They examine the influence of private and public policies and budgeting models that effect quality outcomes within the aspect of financial planning using information systems. Students also explore budget and resource decisions contributing to the achievement of organizational outcomes within the context of providing efficient and cost-effective quality care.

NURS 608: Managing Human Resources (3 credits) 

In this course, students address the nurse administrator's role and responsibilities in human resource management. Students explore current legal, ethical, professional, and practice policies and standards, and they learn how to apply technology to human resource functions. Additionally, students learn strategies to support positive organizational and nursing service goals. They also have the opportunity to gain an understanding of the importance of staff satisfaction, diversity of the workforce, and creating collaborative and supportive partnerships within organizations.

NURS 609: Strategic Planning in Healthcare Organizations (3 credits) 

Nurse administrators in healthcare organizations must be aware of and integrate strategic organizational goals. Students in this course will examine nursing administrative practice issues as they relate to the strategic planning process. Students apply leadership and management principles, concepts, and theory to strategic issues within the case study format. Through these applications, students learn to use a variety of administrative strategies within the context of supportive and collaborative interdisciplinary relationships to achieve positive patient care delivery outcomes that effect positive change in patient communities.

NURS 610: Practicum I (4 credits)

This first course of a two-part capstone series focuses on development of the advanced practice nurse in clinical or administrative settings. During a precepted practicum, learners will focus on an identified area of advanced nursing practice and the associated roles. Content includes current standards of practice, evidence-based interventions, interprofessional collaboration, issues in the practice setting, and an introduction to scholarship and dissemination. Practicum Hours: 84

NURS 611: Practicum II (4 credits)

This second course of a two-part capstone series provides the opportunity for learners to enact components of academic or administrative advanced practice roles. This course synthesizes cumulative program content, evidence, standards of practice and professional expectations for nurse educators or administrators in a comprehensive, precepted practicum experience. Practicum Hours: 84