If you aspire to demonstrate nurse leadership skills in your own career, consider the following nursing leadership opportunities.
Lead in Healthcare Systems
Today’s healthcare delivery systems are rapidly changing. Therefore, leaders are needed to manage people and resources to achieve organizational goals. Earning an MSN with an Emphasis in Leadership in Healthcare Systems provides opportunities to gain an in-depth understanding of the healthcare environment.
You’ll be able to practice the communication and interpersonal skills needed to meet ethical and professional standards. Graduates of this program will be taught to understand leadership and how organizations function.
Some leadership positions within healthcare systems include:
- Charge nurse
- Director of nursing
- Chief nursing office
- Vice president of nursing services
Become an Expert in Healthcare Informatics
For individuals who want to lead in nursing by applying data to decision-making in the field, earning an MSN with an Emphasis in Healthcare Informatics may be a great option. This degree program is intended to prepare you to address issues in professional practice and to propose and implement solutions that are backed by research.
In addition, you are taught to evaluate the outcomes of these solutions. As a nurse who specializes in informatics, you can work in many different settings and may take on the role of automating clinical care, building new operational data systems or training workers to use new technology.
Become a Nurse Educator
As the field of nursing continues to grow, leaders are needed to educate the nurses of tomorrow. An MSN with an Emphasis in Nursing Education may prepare you to educate the next generation of nurses.
This program walks you through relevant topics such as ethics, policy and finance in healthcare, pathophysiology, advanced health assessment and curriculum development. Completing this program may empower you to pursue a position in nursing education. You can work in a variety of different settings as a patient educator, or you may take on the role of an educator in clinical and academic settings.2
Drive Change in Public Health
GCU’s MSN with an Emphasis in Public Health Nursing is designed to prepare you to develop, plan, implement and evaluate health programs and services. By analyzing modern healthcare issues of today, you can work to reduce disease and illness through research, education and other solutions.
Graduates of this program may pursue a wide range of professional opportunities in public health and nursing. Work to effect change on a community-wide level as you advocate for the well-being of people in your area.
Provide Care for Older Adults
If you are interested in being a leader in direct patient care, still working in patient care, etc., consider GCU’s MSN with an Emphasis in Adult-Gerontology. This program’s goal is to prepare you to work with the growing adult and elderly population by providing them with quality care. You will have the opportunity to examine theories and practices related to all areas of direct acute care of gerontology patients in order to make a difference in the lives of the elderly.
As a nurse leader who specializes in working with the adult and elderly population, you may be equipped to assess physical, psychosocial, spiritual, risk and functional aspects in acute and chronically ill adults and seniors. Inspire your fellow nurses in these settings to embrace a compassionate approach blended with evidence-based practices.
Become a Family Nurse Practitioner
The MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner program at GCU is intended to prepare you to become a primary care provider for individuals, families, communities and populations. By exploring different levels of preventative care, including health promotion, illness prevention and diagnosis and management, you may be prepared to meet the needs of a wide variety of patients.
Graduates of this program can pursue board certification to become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), who perform comprehensive health assessments, diagnose illnesses and prescribe treatments to manage health problems.3 These APRNs can apply their knowledge in a variety of practice settings, and they can provide healthcare for patients across the human lifespan.
Enjoy the Convenience of an Online Program
Many graduate degrees in nursing are available in an online format, offering greater convenience and flexibility to nurse leaders who wish to further their education while continuing to work. This format can enable you to explore issues in-depth and practice what you’ve been taught in the field via field practicum hours.5
Grand Canyon University’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions can prepare you to provide quality care to meet the unique needs of the populations you serve. Apply today for enrollment in the Master of Business Administration & Master of Science in Nursing: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems degree program. To learn more about nursing degree programs available at GCU, fill out the form on this page.
