Build a competitive edge and leadership experience with an online master's in nursing
My experience in the MSN program has been amazing.It has opened my eyes to a whole new level of nursing and nursing leadership. With my daughter being born the first night of the semester, online learning was definitely the right choice for me with the self-paced program allowing for work-life, family-life, school-life balance. The faculty are responsive to student needs and the support resources are exceptional.”
Manager Infection Prevention & Control Mercy Health St. Rita’s
The MSN nursing program, with a focus in nursing leadership or a focus in nursing education, is a 36-credit hour program of study that aligns with The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2021). Courses are offered in an online format designed for maximum flexibility for working nurses. The required practicum experiences can be completed at a location of the student's choice, based on their needs and course objectives.
This program can be completed in six semesters by enrolling in six credit hours per semester. The semesters are divided into 7-week sessions; this design allows students to take one course at a time, with the exception of courses taken in the final semester which include the Leadership or Education Practicum and Leadership or Education Capstone II courses which are offered over 10 weeks. The program of study must be completed within five years as measured by the first semester of enrollment through degree completion.
The Master of Science in Nursing Program at Mercy College of Ohio is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
655 K Street NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 887-6791
Fax: (202) 887-8476
www.ccneaccreditation.org
Program At A Glance
Two tracks
leadership or education
Accredited
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Stay where you are
practicum experiences completed in the student’s geographic location
Online coursework
study whenever, wherever — even while you work full time
Six Semesters
focus on one, 3-credit hour course at a time
Limited requirements
no GRE or on-campus residency required
Sample program of study:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 510 | Theoretical Foundations for Professional Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NUR 515 | Research and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 520 | Healthcare Policy in the Global Community | 3 |
| NUR 525 | Population-Based Healthcare | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 530 | Informatics and Healthcare Technologies | 3 |
| NUR 536 | Teaching and Learning Strategies in Nursing Education | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 541 | Advanced Nursing Curriculum Design | 3 |
| NUR 546 | Evaluation Methods in Nursing Education | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 551 | Integrated Advanced Pathophysiology, Physical Assessment, and Pharmacology | 3 |
| NUR 556 | Education Capstone I | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 561 | Education Practicum | 3 |
| NUR 566 | Education Capstone II | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Sample program of study:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 510 | Theoretical Foundations for Professional Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NUR 515 | Research and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 520 | Healthcare Policy in the Global Community | 3 |
| NUR 525 | Population-Based Healthcare | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 530 | Informatics and Healthcare Technologies | 3 |
| NUR 535 | Leadership and Strategic Management for Advanced Nursing Roles | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 540 | Healthcare Systems and Organization for Nurse Leaders | 3 |
| NUR 545 | Strategic Management of Human Resources | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 555 | Financial Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| NUR 550 | Leadership Capstone I | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 560 | Leadership Practicum | 3 |
| NUR 565 | Leadership Capstone II | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Attend an MSN Program Online Information Session
part of Healthcare Worker Wednesday at Mercy College
Career Outlook
Employment Growth - Nursing Education Track
“Given the growing shortage of nurse faculty, the job outlook for those seeking careers in nursing education is bright with a growing demand for individuals needed to teach in schools of nursing, hospitals, public health agencies, and other settings” (https://www.aacnnursing.org/Nursing-Education-Programs/Masters-Education).
Source: The American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Employment Growth - Nursing Leadership Track
“The national movement toward healthcare reform is ushering in new models of care delivery that will place nurses in the driver’s seat. As leaders of health/medical homes, nurse-managed health clinics, community health centers, and other settings, nurses are moving to become full partners in driving change in the healthcare arena. As more patients enter the system and an aging population creates the demand for transformation in health care, many more nurses will be needed to serve in primary care and specialty roles, as well as to lead independent practices”
Fast Track
An undergraduate student who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at the College may be granted permission to take one or more (maximum of six credit-hours) 500 level graduate courses if the student meets all the following conditions:
- The student must have senior status at the time they take graduate coursework.
- The student must have a College GPA of 3.5 or higher at the time of request.
- The student must complete the Graduate Course Request form and obtain permission from their academic advisor, undergraduate program director, and the graduate coordinator or director of the course requested.
- Only the following courses will be considered: NUR 510, NUR 520, and NUR 530.
- Graduate coursework can only substitute for upper level BSN elective coursework in table below.
- All other course pre-requisites and conditions apply.
The student may apply up to six credit-hours of graduate-level credit to satisfy the requirements for both degrees only when the grade received is a B or better. Graduate coursework earning a C can only be applied toward bachelor’s degree requirements. Graduate coursework at a C or lower will need to be repeated and a B or better must be earned for graduate program credit to be awarded. Completion of graduate coursework does not imply acceptance into a graduate program, all other program admission requirements apply. Graduate coursework taken by undergraduate students must be utilized to meet program specific requirements for the undergraduate degrees associated with BSN degree.
Undergraduate students taking graduate courses will be charged the undergraduate tuition rate.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the MSN nursing program must meet the following criteria:
- Submit a completed graduate program application with required documents.
- Possess a degree in nursing at the bachelor’s level or higher from a regionally accredited institution and a professionally accredited (ACEN or CCNE) program.
- Submit official transcripts from higher education institution(s) where the original nursing degree was earned (Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Science, and/or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree), and any subsequent coursework thereafter.
- Possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 scale on undergraduate and graduate coursework.
- Proof of an active unencumbered RN license.
- Submit a current professional resume or CV.
- Once accepted into the program, complete a criminal background check and drug screen.
The program aims to:
- Promote excellence in the education of nurses for the advanced role as leaders and educators in healthcare.
- Cultivate Christian values of compassion, excellence, human dignity, justice, sacredness of life and service in the profession of the nurse leader and nurse educator.
- Prepare graduates for the advanced role in nursing leadership and/or nursing education through the application of nursing theory and evidence-based practice.
- Foster self-direction in pursuit of lifelong learning and personal and professional development.
- Prepares graduates to address top priorities in global health based on needs and emerging health issues.
Upon completion of the MSN nursing program at Mercy College of Ohio, the graduate will:
- Demonstrate the values of compassion, excellence, human dignity, justice, sacredness of life, and service within the advanced nursing practice role.
- Employ holistic critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide nursing actions in advanced nursing practice situations.
- Develop articulate communication skills for use in client care, teambuilding, advanced practice, education, research, and leadership.
- Function as a leader in advanced nursing practice.
- Integrate scholarship into advanced professional practice through intellectual inquiry, generating scholarly activities, and unique nursing knowledge through research, and applying new knowledge to advanced nursing practice.
- Demonstrate professional expertise in knowledge development, clinical practice, research, systems leadership, and communication technologies.
- Synthesize and integrate knowledge from nursing and relevant sciences to influence quality care in advanced nursing practice that affects healthcare outcomes across varied populations.
Program Outcomes
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Document .pdfMaster of Science in Nursing (MSN) Outcomes Data
Program Outcomes data for Master of Science in Nursing
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