Master's Program - Nursing and Health Care Administrator
The program of study for the Nursing and Health Care Administrator role provides a comprehensive study of concepts, theory and research for effective coordination and management of healthcare services across multiple settings and at all levels of the organization.
Students immerse themselves in courses that provide experiential learning in finance, management, organization administration, policy, and quality improvement.
The program culminates in a full-time equivalent residency during which students integrate practice, theory and research with a senior executive in healthcare.
| Curriculum |
* Indicates on-line or web enhanced.
| Fall 1 Semester |
Semester Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| *N604 | Computer Applications & Data Base Management (optional course) |
1 |
| *N642 | Organizational Management |
3 |
| * N608 | Healthcare Economics |
2 |
| *N632 | Discipline of Nursing | 3 |
Total |
9 |
|
| Spring 1 Semester | Semester Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| *N607 | Health Policy, Ethics and Legal Issues |
2 |
| *N644 | Human Resources Management |
2 |
| *N648 | Managerial Accounting |
3 |
*N633 |
Research Design and Methods for Advanced Nursing Practice |
3 |
Total |
10 |
|
| Summer 1 Semester | Semester Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| *N646 | Organizational Leadership and Communication (May mini-term) |
2 |
| *ID630 | Healthcare Quality Improvement | 3 |
Total |
5 |
|
| Fall 2 Semester | Semester Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| *N652 | Financial Management |
3 |
| *N658 | Strategic Management |
4 |
Total |
7 |
|
| Spring 2 Semester | Semester Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| N659 | Residency in Nursing and Healthcare Administrator Role |
7 |
| N696 | Directed Study in Management Research |
3 |
| TOTAL |
10 | |
| TOTAL HOURS: |
41 | |
| Frequently Asked Questions |
Q. What will I be prepared to do when I finish the program?
A. The program is designed to prepare nurses for roles as administrators and senior managers in the health care industry. These roles may include positions as Nurse Manager, Unit or Department Director, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Nursing Officer or Vice President for Nursing in integrated delivery systems, Compliance Officer, Assistant Vice President for Patient Services in managed care organizations as well as numerous other administrator positions at various levels within an organization.
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Q. Is it realistic to maintain my job and still be a full-time or part-time student in the program?
A. Yes. The masters program was designed for nurses who are employed. Classes that meet in person take place every other weekend, on a Friday or Saturday. However most courses utilize web-enhanced or online education and meet in person up to 3-4 times a semester. Some courses meet once in person, followed by online and web-enhanced meetings. The program culminates with a full-time equivalent residency (See question below).
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Q. Is the program flexible in terms of maintaining a work schedule?
A. In addition to class meetings as described above, the last course requires a full-time equivalent commitment for a residency. It is suggested that students work with their employers before entering the Nursing and Health Care Administrator Program to plan work schedules around school requirements. Some students prefer to complete the residency in a different role at their current place of employment; others prefer to complete a residency completely outside of employment. We will work with you to obtain a residency and a preceptor that will provide the best experience to meet your individual learning objectives and career goals. If you choose, you may spread the residency over two semesters, thus allowing you to log fewer hours each semester.
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Q. What is the advantage of taking the Nursing and Health Care Administrator program rather than an MBA program?
A. This program is designed to prepare nurses with expertise in clinical practice to apply business and management skills in health care administration. Unlike MBA programs, students in the Nursing and Health Care Administrator track participate with students from all tracks within the graduate nursing program in a core curriculum related to research and the discipline of nursing.
In addition, students in the Nursing and Health Care Administrator Track are grounded in courses in finance, organizational management, human resources, database management, leadership and communication, legal and ethical issues, strategic management and health policy. These courses provide the opportunity to integrate the discipline of nursing with business administration and health systems management. The residency experience provides a unique opportunity to apply theoretical concepts under the preceptorship of an expert in health care administration.
Also, with a Masters degree in Nursing (M.S.N.), you have the educational qualifications to teach in a school of nursing if you choose to pursue that role later in your career.
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Q. May I tailor my learning experiences around my area of interest?
A. Absolutely! Course projects and the residency are designed to support individual interests and needs and can focus on qualitative or quantitative issues. Projects within each course allow the student to tackle real-life issues that have been identified by the student and faculty, with a focus on outcomes that will improve processes. This allows you and your employer to see the applicability of what you're learning as quickly as possible. The residency provides a strong match between student needs and the specific opportunities offered by the institutions and organizations and the administrators who serve as preceptors.
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Q. Do I have to take the courses in the order they're listed on the Plan of Study?
A. No. The Residency and Directed Study courses must be the last courses you take. Other than that, the only course that has a pre-requisite is the Financial Management course. You must take Managerial Accounting before you take Financial Management. Other courses may be taken in whatever order and in whatever combination you'd like.
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Q. What if I want to take my first course in the summer or fall semesters?
A. No problem. We will work with you regarding the best entry point for you. We understand that the timing of your life and work do not always correspond with a Fall semester start date.
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Q. Is this program appropriate for nurses who wish to work in rural areas or small institutions or agencies?
A. Yes, the program prepares nurse administrators for any setting and any geographical area.
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Q. Do I need to write a thesis?
A.No. This is not a research degree. Students will participate in a directed study project as part of the residency experience.
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Q. Will I be eligible to sit for the Nursing Administration certification exam and be nationally certified when I complete this program of study?
A. Graduates of the Nursing and Health Care Administrator track of the graduate program meet the educational requirements to apply for Nursing Executive and the Nurse Executive, Advanced examination offered through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The applicant for ANCC certification must also have held an administrative position as either a Nurse Manager or a Nurse Executive for at least the equivalent of 24 months of full-time practice within the last 5 years.
Graduates also meet the educational requirements to apply for the CENP (Certified Executive Nursing Practice) and CNML (Certified Nurse Manager and Leader) examinations offered through the American Organizataion of Nurse Executives (AONE). The applicant for AONE certification must also have 2 years experience in a nurse executive or a nurse manager role, respectively.
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Q. What kind of experience or skills must I have before entering the program?
A.There are currently no requirements for clinical experience prior to admission to the MSN program. However, it would be helpful to have at least one year's experience as a professional nurse prior to entering the Nursing and Health Care Administrator track. It is also helpful to have some basic computer applications skills such as Excel, word processing, and PowerPoint.
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Q. I do not have a Bachelors Degree in Nursing. How can I pursue this graduate degree in Nursing and Healthcare Administration?
A. The School of Nursing has a RN to BSN to MSN program.
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Q. What if I already have a Masters in Nursing or a Masters in a non-nursing major?
A. Contact us. If you already have a Masters in Nursing, we will work with you on the requirements for the post-masters program. If your Masters is in a non-nursing major, we will review your transcripts and will transfer all applicable courses, up to half of the required plan of study.
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Q. I might want to teach in a nursing program later in my career. Will this degree qualify me to do that?
A. Yes, the degree that will be awarded is the Master of Science in Nursing. This is the same degree granted to students who are in the other graduate masters level tracks in the School of Nursing.
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Q. Who teaches in this program?
A. Faculty members in this program have extensive service experience in administrative roles. Current faculty have held (or currently hold) positions such as Executive Director of a hospice organization, Chief Medical Officer, Executive Director of the Board of Nursing, Chief Nurse Executive of an academic health system, Associate Vice Chancellor for Nursing, Legal Consultant, Director of Nursing, President/CEO of a Health, Research and Education Foundation, Director of Research in the Office of Nursing Workforce Director of Research, Deputy State Health Officer, Director of Quality and Clinical Systems Improvement, and others. They bring real-world experience and expertise to the topics they teach.
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Q. What if I have other questions?
A. Just email or call. The phone number is 1-866-842-7575 and the email address is nsrecruiter@son.umsmed.edu .