Program Description
Bryan College of Health Sciences offers a 36-credit Master of Science for registered nurses. Two tracks are offered: Nursing Education and Nursing Leadership. The Nurse Educator track prepares graduates for teaching positions in academia, staff development, patient education, and continuing education. The Nursing Leadership track prepares graduates for multiple roles in management, administration, and leadership. The program is offered in distance format which combines synchronous video class sessions with online and independent learning. The program can be completed in 6 or 7 semesters including summers. Students may apply and enter the program in spring and fall semesters as program capacity allows.
Two entry options are offered: one for RNs holding a bachelors in nursing and one for practicing RNs who hold a non- nursing bachelor’s degree.
RN-MSN: Applicants applying via the RN-MSN option select a specialty track at the time of application. Students must complete the RN-MSN bridge courses and a minimum of one year of RN practice prior to beginning MSN coursework. A BSN is not awarded.
MSN bridge courses:
- NURS480 RN-MSN Transition 3 credit hours
- NURS360A Community Health Nursing 4 credit hours
MSN Program Philosophy
Nursing consists of a unique and integrated body of knowledge that requires multiple ways of reasoning which address complex human responses that promote optimal health. The graduate nursing program recognizes that learning is a lifelong endeavor that results in perpetual evolution of thinking, insight, attitude, and behavior. Inquiry is a constant which is integral to the advancement of nursing practice. As an advanced practice nurse, the promotion of interprofessional collaboration is essential to ensure safe, equitable, and quality patient-centered care to diverse populations, which includes addressing social determinants of health.
The graduate nursing program promotes engagement in systematic inquiry using traditional research methods, available evidence, contemporary technology, and information systems which are essential components of nursing education, scholarship, and leadership. Knowledge, skills, and behaviors achieved through graduate nursing education provide the foundation to assume a variety of specialized roles in teaching and leadership in nursing. Through the graduate nursing program, one's professional identity is defined through the development of values, norms, and characteristics essential to practice in an advanced practice role.
Graduate nursing education is a shared venture between students and faculty in which both embrace learning as change. Students are responsible to uphold the highest level of integrity and practice standards and demonstrate commitment to self- direction, independence of thought, and creativity. Faculty craft an intellectually challenging environment in which they facilitate learning, support student learning goals, and role model excellence in education and nursing practice.
Nursing education is a specialty area of nursing practice that requires a unique blend of clinical and educational excellence through curriculum development, assessment and evaluation. Nurse educators use their expertise to facilitate learning in inclusive classroom environments and practice settings. Nurse educators assist students to correlate theoretical concepts to real time events to solve issues from an equity perspective.
Nursing leadership is a specialty area of nursing practice requiring a unique blend of professional expertise in nursing and the business of healthcare. As members of interprofessional teams, nurse leaders facilitate innovative solutions in the provision of care within healthcare systems. Nursing leaders shape safe, healthy, and fiscally sound systems through creative application of theoretical principles and available evidence.
MSN Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master of Science in Nursing program, graduates will be able to:
- Initiate evidence based solutions focused on addressing needs in professional practice.
- Engage interprofessional teams to promote innovative solutions within healthcare.
- Model principles of equity and inclusion into professional nursing practice.
- Employ change theory in planning, implementing, evaluating, and revising systems that meet contemporary and emerging needs.
- Integrate legal and ethical considerations into advanced practice nursing.
- Demonstrate information literacy when analyzing and using evidence in nursing practice.
- Execute professional role competencies within the context of the practice setting.