Professional Standards

The Marian University RN to MSN program 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 Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice [American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), 2011]

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.

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.