Nursing Leadership
Executive, Educator, or Legal Nurse Consultant

Master of Science in Nursing

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About This Program

Program Purpose

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is designed to prepare professional nurses for roles in advanced practice. The curriculum emphasizes the relationships among advanced nursing practice, theory, and scholarly inquiry. Nurses educated at the graduate level demonstrate competency in the roles of advanced caregiver, leader, teacher, and participant in and/or conductor of research. Nurses prepared at the graduate level also have the opportunity to influence health policy and to practice with a high level of autonomy in a variety of settings.

Accreditation

The BSN and MSN programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The BSN program first earned accreditation in 1988. The MSN program earned initial accreditation in 1996. Both programs conducted site visits in 2001 and earned accreditation for eight years from the NLNAC.

NLNAC
61 Broadway - 33rd Floor
New York City, NY 10006
Phone: 212-363-5555

The BSN and MSN programs also hold accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Both programs conducted site visits in 2001 and earned accreditation for ten years from the CCNE.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
One DuPont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
202-887-8476

Goals

The goals of the Master of Science in Nursing program are to prepare graduates:

1. to function effectively in advanced nursing practice,
2. to pursue a course of lifelong learning, and
3. to consider doctoral studies.

Program Competencies

Through completion of the Master of Science in Nursing program, graduates will:

1. Promote the art of nursing by valuing the unique relationships among people, which create meaning and preserve human dignity;
2. Synthesize theoretical, experiential, and research knowledge as the scientific basis for advanced nursing practice;
3. Use the ethical and legal standards recognized by the nursing profession to guide advanced nursing practice;
4. Implement knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research to improve nursing practice by evaluating published research, applying findings to practice, and participating in research activities;
5. Incorporate findings from teaching/learning theories and research to educate individuals and groups;
6. Implement knowledge of health policy, financial aspects of health care, and the organization of health delivery systems to influence continuous improvement in health care;
7. Fulfill a leadership role in advanced nursing practice through effective collaboration, client and peer advocacy, sensitivity to diversity, and ongoing participation in professional organizations;
8. Negotiate an appropriate role for advanced nursing practice in the context of a dynamic health care system;
9. Demonstrate advanced oral and written communication abilities;
10. Demonstrate the ability to access, use, and evaluate information and information technologies.

Program Design

Today's health care environment requires competent, innovative leaders. Nurse leaders are needed for managed care initiatives, roles in nursing education, entrepreneurial pursuits, consultation and interdisciplinary coordination of health care, and clinical research projects. The purpose of the Nursing Leadership concentration is to provide the opportunity for nurses to acquire and refine the skills needed for leadership roles in nursing.

To fulfill the requirements of the MSN Leadership program, students must complete all courses, consisting of 36 credit hours, while maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Students complete course work with an emphasis in executive practice, the educator role, or the legal nurse consultant role. The program is interdisciplinary, with course work through the Divisions of Education and Business in addition to the Division of Nursing and Allied Health. An individualized course of study may be designed to meet career goals. Technology is integrated into the program, and selected nursing courses may be offered in a distance-learning format. Students in all concentrations can spend time in the final capstone courses in a variety of ways, ie. field practice time, small project or research development.

All concentrations are designed to develop the students' knowledge of research to improve the practice of nursing and strengthen the awareness of contemporary influences on health care needs of individuals, families, and communities. Philosophy of nursing leadership and health care provides a foundation for ethical decision making as students develop skill in working within the context of prevailing systems of care. The program is usually completed within a two- to three-year time frame, however it must be completed within five years.

Executive

Knowledge of local, national, and global health care policies will enable the professional nurse to work with other professionals in establishing priorities. Beyond this foundational knowledge, the nurse leader needs to refine skills relevant to individual career goals. Selected course work may emphasize entrepreneurial, policy, or management roles of the nurse leader.

Educator

Skilled educators are needed to teach students, clients, and staff. Depending on the student's particular interest, course work will provide the opportunity for increased knowledge and skills for the current or future educator.

Legal Nurse Consultant

The Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC) role is a functional specialty practice of nursing. Legal nurse consultants use critical thinking and expert knowledge of health care systems and professions to assess health care practice standards applicable to nursing. Courses at Wilmington University prepare students to meet the standards of LNC practice. For LNC students, the capstone experience is a required six-credit field practicum.