Nursing and Healthcare Leadership (MSN)

Program Description

The McAuley School of Nursing (MSON) offers the post-baccalaureate entry to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (post-BSN to DNP) with a master’s exit. This pathway provides all post-baccalaureate nursing students the opportunity to enter graduate school and have a direct pathway that allows them to exit at the master’s level or matriculate directly to the doctoral degree.

The Nursing and Healthcare Leadership (NHL) major prepares nurses for leadership positions across the complex and dynamic health care continuum. The program emphasizes content from all nurse executive competency domains (AONL, 2015) including communication and relationship building, knowledge of the health care environment, leadership skills, professionalism, and business skills. Students build a systems-thinking approach to patient care, starting with clinical microsystems as a building block. The use of evidence to shape decisions is emphasized through coursework in nursing informatics, decision support, business planning, and outcomes and care transitions management. Graduates of the NHL major are prepared for a variety of nursing leadership roles including nurse manager, unit manager, clinical microsystem leader, program manager, quality improvement specialist, case manager and project manager. Coupled with appropriate experience, graduates may be prepared for advanced nursing leadership roles including nursing director, nurse executive or nursing informatics officer. Graduates of the program with the requisite experience are eligible to sit for certification as a Certified Nurse Manager & Leader (CNML) or Certified Nurse Executive through the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL) or a Certified Nurse Executive or Certified Nurse Executive – Advanced through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

The post-BSN to DNP with Master's exit major in Nursing and Healthcare Leadership requires a total of 63 credits. A total of 39 credit hours and 268 internship and clinical hours are required for the MSN exit where the Master of Science in Nursing is conferred. An additional 24 credits and additional clinical hours are required for the completion of the DNP. The program is taught in an engaging online format that is flexible and student-centered. Students need not be a resident of Michigan to enroll in the program. Clinical sites and qualified preceptors are identified near the student’s home to complete the required internship/clinical hours.

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    Program Outcomes

    The following program outcomes will be achieved at completion of the post-BSN to DNP with master’s exit:

    MSN Program Outcomes

    1. Demonstrate professional role practice consistent with the competencies of the unique specialty at the master’s level.
    2. Translate theoretical and conceptual knowledge into advanced nursing practice actions that promote optimal health care quality and patient safety outcomes.
    3. Integrate informatics, health care technology, and interpersonal collaboration in the delivery of person-centered nursing practice for individuals and populations.
    4. Engage in systems leadership with a focus on preventive care, policy development, and patient advocacy.
    5. Integrate the Jesuit and Mercy traditions in providing culturally competent, compassionate, holistic, and person-centered care with a commitment to human dignity in the contemporary world.

    DNP Program Outcomes

    1. Demonstrate professional role practice consistent with the competencies of the Doctor of Nursing Practice.
    2. Formulate innovative theoretical and conceptual frameworks that ensure optimal health care quality and patient safety outcomes.
    3. Translate evidence to produce innovative models of care that integrate informatics, health care technology, and interpersonal collaboration to affect population health, outcomes, and support health care policy initiatives.
    4. Lead health care systems and policy innovation with a focus on preventative care, quality improvement and patient advocacy.
    5. Integrate the Mercy and Jesuit traditions in providing culturally competent, compassionate, holistic and person-centered care with a commitment to human dignity in the contemporary world.
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    Admission Criteria for the post-BSN to DNP with Master's Exit Program

    1. A baccalaureate degree from a nationally-accredited program.
      • RNs with a baccalaureate degree in another field could qualify for the MSN bridge program.  The baccalaureate degree must be from an accredited program.  Each application will be individually assessed to determine courses needed to bridge into the MSN program.  This gap analysis will determine what additional courses will be required at the baccalaureate level to ensure they have met the prerequisites necessary for graduate education in nursing.
    2. A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
    3. The NHL program does not have a minimum practice requirement for admission. 
    4. An unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Michigan or in the state of home residence.
    5. Official transcripts from each institution of higher education attended.
    6. Three letters of professional recommendation with at least one from someone in a supervisory capacity.
    7. An autobiographical statement of personal goals and objectives.
    8. Current resume or professional CV.
    9. An interview with graduate faculty.

    Note: A GRE may be required for any student petitioning for admission to the program with a cumulative GPA less than 3.0.

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    Degree Requirements for the Master of Science in Nursing with major in Nursing and Healthcare Leadership (39 credits)

    MSN Integrated Core

    • NUR 5030 Analytic Methods for Clinical Practice (3 credits)
    • HLH 7100 Health Care Policy, Economics and the Law in Clinical Practice (3 credits)
    • NUR 7000 Advanced Theory and Knowledge Development for Clinical Practice (3 credits)
    • NUR 7300 Transformational Leadership and Innovation in Advanced Practice (3 credits)
    • NUR 7400 Information Management and Decision Support (3 credits)
    • NUR 7500 Evidence-Based Nursing Practice: Theory, Design & Methods (3 credits)

    Advanced Practice Core

    • NUR 5170 Management & Leadership in Nursing (2 credits)
    • HLH 5040 Accounting & Financial Management for Nursing Leadership (4 credits)
    • NUR 5910 Nursing & Healthcare Leadership Internship (3 credits)

    NHL Major Courses

    • NUR 5350 Outcomes Management & Decision Support in Nursing (3 credits)
    • NUR 5420 Management of the Health Care Environment (2 credits)
    • NUR 5450 Business Planning for Nurse Leaders (2 credits)
    • NUR 5650 Population Health & Care Transitions Management (2 credits)
    • NUR 5830 Leadership & Quality Improvement in Clinical Microsystems (3 credits)

    Total Credits: 39 credits 

    Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Requirements (24 credit hours with Detroit Mercy MSN)

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    Accreditation

    The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, Master of Science in Nursing degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and post-graduate APRN at the University of Detroit Mercy McAuley School of Nursing are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street Suite 750, Washington, DC  20001. Telephone: 202-887-6791.

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    Program Contact Information

    Julia Stocker-Schneider,  PhD, RN, CNL
    College of Health Professions, 225
    McNichols Campus
    Telephone: 313-993-1790
    Fax: 313-993-1271

    Julie Bazydlo, Graduate Recruiter
    College of Health Professions, 121
    McNichols Campus
    Telephone:  313-993-1828

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2022-2023