Master of Science in Nursing, Nursing Administration Track – Online
Improve the delivery of care and create positive outcomes with an online MSN NA.
Get ready to make a positive impact on the delivery of care well beyond the bedside with Marian University’s Master of Science in Nursing, Nursing Administration Track. Our nursing and healthcare management courses will prepare you to improve patient outcomes by developing the skills you need to lead healthcare organizations.
Marian’s 35-credit MSN Nursing Administration is designed for both registered nurses with a BSN, or those enrolled in the RN to MSN program, who are ready to expand their knowledge, take on management positions, and increase their earning potential.
The 100% online courses are a unique blend of traditional graduate and competency-based coursework. Courses are taken from both the Nursing and Health Care Administration schools. As we structured this program for busy professionals, there is flexibility as to the number of courses students can take at a time. A 225-hour practicum course lets students work, close to their homes, directly with nurse leaders to integrate didactic learning.
No on-campus time is required to earn our MSN NA, which aligns with the American Organization for Nursing Leadership nurse manager and nurse executive competencies. Completion is possible in as few as eight semesters with all didactic courses offered 100% online and the clinical offered close to home. Apply throughout the year with new cohorts starting each fall and spring.
Learn to lead nursing teams and departments. Earn your MSN in Nursing Administration.
What can I do with an MSN in Nursing Administration?
Our MSN Nursing Administration track teaches the business, communication, and management skills needed to lead nursing teams, hospital departments, and healthcare organizations in roles such as:
- Chief Nursing Officer / CNO
- Chief Nursing Executive
- Vice President of Nursing
- Nurse Administrator
- Director of Nursing
- Nurse Manager
- Clinic Manager
- Unit Manager
- Director of Quality Improvement
- Clinical Quality Manager
How do I become a nurse administrator?
What are some benefits of earning a master’s in nursing administration?
The MPath program structure is designed for working RNs with varying schedules, like you. All courses are 100% online plus a Nursing Administration Practicum that can be completed close to home. You will start by taking 19 credits of graduate nursing classes which are offered in a 15-week semester for fall and spring and a 7-week accelerated course length during the summer.
Progress through the program with 16 leadership and management courses. Each is 4 weeks in length and worth one credit. There is flexibility as to how many courses you can take each 4-week session. Learn alongside master’s in healthcare administration students as you develop knowledge and skills in:
- Emotional Intelligence for Leadership
- Managerial Accounting and Control
- Business Analytics
- Project Management
- Strategic Health Care Management
- Health Care Policy
- Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration
Thank you for considering Marian University for your graduate degree. We do not charge an application fee if you apply online. Applications to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program are open and reviewed on a rolling basis for both fall and spring semester cohorts. Deadlines for applicant submission is July 15 for fall semester start and December 15 for spring semester start.
If you have taken graduate-level courses within the last seven (7) years, you can request transfer of up to 9 credits into the nursing administration program. Please request to transfer credits during the application process.
- Earned Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited program
- Official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended
- Unencumbered Wisconsin Registered Nurse (RN) license
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for your BSN degree
- Successful completion of an undergraduate course in statistics within the last five (5) years. Statistics course must include content on descriptive and inferential statistics.
- Two (2) professional references
- Resume/curriculum vitae
- Professional goal statement
Professional Goal Statement
All applicants will submit a 4 page, double-spaced maximum length goal statement that addresses the following (please use these as headings):
- Reasons for choosing Marian University
- Reasons for choosing the nursing administration track
- Personal and professional attributes that will contribute to your success in graduate school
- Preparations for the rigors of graduate education
- Short and long-term professional goals
Complete your 225-hour practicum experience alongside a seasoned nursing administrator of your choosing and gain real-world experience. You’ll have the flexibility to fulfill the requirements anywhere in your community where there are nursing administrators including healthcare organizations and long-term care facilities. Demonstrate the skills you have learned during your coursework in areas such as:
- Staffing and labor laws
- Budgeting and healthcare reimbursement
- Performance improvement and patient safety
- Project management and disaster planning
Online MSN Curriculum
The Marian University MSN, Nursing Administration track prepares students for nursing leadership positions in healthcare systems, from unit level to system-wide leadership roles. To accomplish this, students progress through 19 credits of core MSN courses and once completed, enter leadership and management courses that are offered as 16 one-credit courses via a flex-program where students have the option of selecting their courses and number of courses from the options provided in the program. Total program credits is 35. Courses are a unique blend of traditional graduate nursing coursework and competency-based graduate management and healthcare administration coursework. Students have the opportunity for interprofessional collaboration with both graduate nursing students and graduate business and health care administration students. The program culminates with a 225-hour practicum course where students work directly with nurse leaders to integrate didactic learning.
The Marian University MSN, Nursing Administration Track uses the following professional standards and guidelines in the development, delivery, and assessment of the program:
- Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs [Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 2018]
- The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing [American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), 2011]
- The American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) nurse manager and nurse executive competencies
Learning Outcomes
Master of Science in Nursing Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the Marian University Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, graduates will demonstrate the processes of acquiring/generating knowledge, critical thinking, valuing, decision-making, and communicating to:
- Integrate advanced theoretical and scientific knowledge to guide advanced nursing leadership in diverse practice settings.
- Integrate outcome data, evidence-based practice recommendations and professional standards of care to improve population health outcomes.
- Apply leadership and inter-professional skills in healthcare delivery systems to ensure safe and quality care.
- Apply principles of information systems and population health to deliver evidence-based, culturally relevant strategies for individuals, families, and aggregate populations.
- Employ collaborative strategies to advance the profession of nursing through the integration of theory, research, policy, and practice excellence.
- Advocate for social justice and healthcare policy that promotes safe, cost-effective, and equitable outcomes.
- Demonstrate critical and self-reflective thinking that promotes advanced role competency and professional accountability.
Mission
Nursing department mission statement
The Nursing Department is an integral, dynamic, and innovative entity committed to the education and preparation of diverse health care professionals in a faith-based academic institution while improving the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities through the application of evidence-based practice in a global environment.
Nursing department program philosophy
Provide state of the art undergraduate and graduate nursing education that endows nursing graduates with the knowledge, values, and skills to work within collaborative interdisciplinary teams to provide safe patient-centered care in any setting. Through the use of research evidence, health informatics, and knowledge of quality improvement, graduates will have the skill set to lead change in individual patient care settings, the community, and the nursing profession.
The undergraduate and graduate programs will provide a curriculum which fosters personal growth, professional development, and a commitment of service to the profession, lifelong learning, a community of respect, a commitment to social justice, and the freedom to explore spiritual traditions.
Master of Science in Nursing Program Goals
The mission and philosophy of the Nursing Department serve as a foundation for the development of graduate program goals. The nursing graduate program goals are to:
• Provide nursing programs grounded in Judeo-Christian tradition.
• Prepare learners for life-long learning in formal and informal settings.
• Provide nursing education that prepares students to practice nursing in various settings with diverse populations.
Admission Requirements
Applications to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program are open and reviewed on a rolling basis for both fall and spring semester cohorts. Deadlines for applicant submission is July 15 for fall semester start and December 15 for spring semester start.
Admission to the graduate program is competitive with selection of students based on academic acumen, congruent professional goals with program track, work experience (if applicable), and professional references.
Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program are required to submit a complete admission packet to the Office of Admission by the deadline specific to the starting term.
Application Requirements
Earned Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from a NLNAC or CCNE accredited program.
Official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended.
Unencumbered Wisconsin Registered Nurse (RN) license.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for the BSN degree.
Successful completion of an undergraduate course in statistics within the last five (5) years. Statistics course must include content on descriptive and inferential statistics.
Resume/curriculum vitae.
Professional goal statement.
Professional Goal Statement
All applicants will submit a 4-page, double-spaced maximum length goal statement that addresses the following (please use as headings):
- Reasons for choosing Marian University
- Reasons for choosing the Nursing Administration program
- Personal and professional attributes that will contribute to your success in graduate school
- Preparations for the rigors of graduate education
- Short and long-term professional goals
