Purpose

The Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Healthcare Administration combined program is founded on a Christian worldview and is designed to prepare competent individuals to function in professional roles in nursing practice, education, and scholarship on any chosen special trajectory. Graduates are equipped with the critical thinking skills, leadership, and knowledge needed to be change agents and promote the profession of nursing through practice, research, scholarship, and policy.

Program Specific Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) / Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MS) program is a competitive process.

Admission standards for MSN/MS include:

1. An earned baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (e.g., SACSCOC, TRACS, ABHE, etc.);
2. Introductory statistics course (math preferred) and an undergraduate course in health assessment are required. For those who did not complete these courses in their undergraduate programs, they may fulfill these requirements during the first two semesters of the M.S.N. program and must complete a undergraduate statistics course and an undergraduate nursing research course prior enrollment in NURS 500 Research (3 c.h.); the undergraduate course for health assessment must be fulfilled prior to enrollment in NURS 505 Advanced Health / Physical Assessment (3 c.h.).
3. Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00 on a scale of 4.00.
4. Current registered nurse license in good standing without any sanctions or restrictions, actual or pending issued in one of the fifty United States.
5. Must have one year of nursing practice as a registered nurse.
6. Students with RN license and bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than Nursing must take NURS 225 Pre-licensure Research in Nursing (3 c.h.), NURS 440 Post-licensure Strategies for Community Health Care (4-5 c.h.), NURS 445 Population Health (3 c.h.), NURS 489 Leadership in Nursing (3 c.h.), and NURS 491 Nursing Management (3 c.h.) within the first year of the program.
7. One Recommendation from a Nurse Manager.

Program Learning Outcomes

Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)

The student will be able to:

• Integrate research and scholarship into advanced nursing practice (AACN/CCNE I, IV, NLN 7, ANAAdmin. 10, 13, 15).
• Influence nursing practice by integrating policy criteria and advocacy skills (AACN/CCNE VI, NLN 8, ANA-Admin. 16).
• Employ quality improvement, safety standards, and outcomes management to support best practices in nursing. (AACN/CCNE Ill, IX, NLN 6, ANA-Admin 7).
• Collaborate with members of Inter-professional teams to promote culturally competent population health care and clinical prevention in a variety of settings. (AACN/CCNE VII, VIII, ANAAdmin Sb, 10, 11).
• Utilize innovative health care technologies in a variety of practice settings. (AACN/CCNE V, NLN 1, ANA-Admin. 14).
• Apply Christian Worldview and ethical decision making to Advanced Nursing Practice (LU mission, AACN/CCNE IX, NLN 6, ANA-Admin 12).
• Demonstrate leadership in a variety of professional practice and educational settings. (AACN/CCNE II, IX, NLN 5, 8, ANA-Admin. 3, 15).

Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (M.S.)

The student will be able to:

• Provide solutions that align with a biblical worldview to problems associated with cost, access, and quality of care.
• Evaluate environmental factors impacting the management of healthcare organizations.
• Design strategic planning initiatives that incorporate financial analysis, human capital management, operational improvement, marketing, and legal/regulatory compliance based upon knowledge of current literature and industry best practices.

Program Dismissal

Automatic dismissal without the options for extensions, to repeat courses, or to reapply to the MSN – MS program occurs when students:

• Earn more than three graduate NURS grades of C plus or lower (>3 C’s, or >2 C’s and 1 D, F or FN)
• Earn more than one graduate NURS grade of D plus, D, D minus, F, or FN
• Earn a GPA lower than 3.0 for two consecutive semesters.
• Fail to report any changes, sanctions, or other updates to their RN license to the MSN program Chair.
• Are in violation of the Liberty University Online Honor Code.

Delivery Format: Online Only

• Clinical Manager
• Health Information Manager
• Nurse Administrator
• Assistant Administrator
• Nurse Leader