Academic Catalog - 2023-2024

College of Health and Human Services

Nursing

Nursing, Master of Science


Academic Information

Available Emphasis Areas:

The Leadership, Quality, Patient Safety Emphasis will be offered by NAU online and Personalized Learning. 

The Strategic Systems Leadership Emphasis will be offered in partnership with OpusVi.

Our graduate program prepares nurses to work at advanced levels of practice in rural areas and health environments. We offer an MS in Nursing in two emphases: the Leadership, Quality, and Patient Safety, and the Strategic Systems Leadership.

The Strategic Systems Leadership Emphasis is offered in partnership with OpusVi, the leading healthcare workforce development company. Students can benefit from OpusVi’s expertise in instructional design in the form of highly applicable, engaging learning experiences and NAU’s expertise in advanced nursing education that focus on the student and encourage knowledge retention.

The Leadership, Quality, and Patient Safety Emphasis was designed for the registered nurse (RN) who desires to build a professional foundation of practice to advance his or her career goals. This emphasis allows the RN with a prior baccalaureate degree to continue to develop expertise linking leadership, quality, and patient safety together to promote improved patient and quality outcomes.

The Strategic Systems Leadership Emphasis prepares nurses to become managers, supervisors, and administrators with the skills required to effectively lead specialty units, departments, and organizations in the healthcare industry. Our healthcare industry partners have emphasized academic education in fiscal, economic, ethical decision-making, and population-centered point-of-care coordination as areas of need.

This program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

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Academic Catalog - 2023-2024

College of Health and Human Services

Nursing

Nursing, Master of Science


Careers

What Can I Do with a Master of Science in Nursing?

If you want to build a professional foundation of practice exploring a selected emphasis relevant to your career advancement goals, our MS in Nursing can help. This plan allows you, an RN with a bachelor's degree, to continue developing expertise at advanced levels of practice in rural areas, hospitals, academia, outpatient settings, and other healthcare environments. We offer an MS in Nursing in two emphases: the Leadership, Quality, and Patient Safety; and the Strategic Systems Leadership.

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Academic Catalog - 2023-2024

College of Health and Human Services

Nursing

Nursing, Master of Science


University Requirements

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Academic Catalog - 2023-2024

College of Health and Human Services

Nursing

Nursing, Master of Science


Overview

In addition to University Requirements:

Minimum Units for Completion 30
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

Emphasis Required

An emphasis is required for this degree.

Fieldwork Experience/Internship Required
Some online/blended coursework Required
Progression Plan Link View Program of Study

Purpose Statement

The philosophy of the School of Nursing at Northern Arizona University is based on an ethic of caring that embraces students, faculty and staff, the university community, and the global community within which we live and work. We also believe that caring is a conscious intentional discipline that is part of nursing´s unique body of knowledge and is practiced in interdisciplinary contexts. Caring includes the creation and nurturing of an environment that recognizes that students, staff, and faculty have unique ways of viewing the world. This philosophy promotes excellence for nursing education and practice in an environment of constant change and emerging healthcare trends.

The faculty believes the transition to the role of competent professional nurse is a major developmental achievement. We believe that nursing is an art and science that is an integral component of healthcare. Applying the discipline of nursing to practice depends on a foundation of natural and human sciences, humanities and arts, the application of research, and the diverse backgrounds of learners. Societal influences in the evolving healthcare system challenge all involved in nursing education.

Education is a dynamic, lifelong collaborative process by which an individual pursues life goals, broadens human potential, develops thinking, and clarifies values. The faculty believes that learning is the intentional acquisition, application, and integration of knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Learning is shaped by the environment and developmental level of the learner and is ultimately the responsibility of the learner. Faculty plan, guide, and facilitate learning while supporting the learning needs of a diverse community of students. We believe that learning-centered experiences with rigorous expectations and actively engaged students result in higher-level thinkers and graduates prepared for real world practice. We value incorporating rural and global healthcare into a variety of educational experiences. Thus, education not only expands the thinking of the learner, but increases opportunities for application.

The faculty has developed a philosophy that values diverse persons, environment, health, nursing, and their interrelatedness. The following metaparadigm concepts guide the implementation of the organizing framework for the curriculum.

Our graduate programs prepare nurses to work at advanced levels of practice in rural areas. We offer an MS in Nursing in two emphases

  1. Leadership, Quality, and Patient Safety
  2. Strategic Systems Leadership
Leadership, Quality, and Patient Safety Emphasis
This emphasis was designed for the RN who desires to build a professional clinical foundation of practice to advance his or her career goals. This emphasis allows the RN with a prior baccalaureate degree to continue to develop expertise linking leadership, quality, and patient safety together to promote improved patient and quality outcomes.

Strategic Systems Leadership Emphasis
This emphasis prepares nurses to become managers, supervisors, and administrators with the skills required to effectively lead specialty units, departments, and organizations in the healthcare industry. Our healthcare industry partners have emphasized academic education in fiscal, economic, ethical decision-making, and population-centered point-of-care coordination as areas of need.
 

Student Learning Outcomes
Outcomes align with Standards from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and competencies from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL).

Overall Nursing Outcomes

Leadership, Quality, and Patient Safety Emphasis
Clinical Practice and Prevention:
Communication:
Critical Reasoning:
Leadership:
Global and Population Health:
Strategic Systems Leadership Emphasis
Clinical Practice and Prevention
Communication:
Critical Reasoning:
Leadership and Professionalism:
Global and Population Health:

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Academic Catalog - 2023-2024

College of Health and Human Services

Nursing

Nursing, Master of Science


Details

Graduate Admission Information
Additional Admission Requirements
Master's Requirements
Additional Information
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Academic Catalog - 2023-2024

College of Health and Human Services

Nursing

Nursing, Master of Science


Campus Availability

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