MSN Bridge Pathway With a Health Care Quality and Patient Safety Emphasis

Q: What is an MSN bridge pathway with a health care quality and patient safety emphasis?

This pathway provides the opportunity for registered nurses with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to fill in knowledge gaps by completing prerequisite courses that can prepare them for admission into an MSN with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety program.

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Degree Level

Bridge

Class Setting

Online

Area of Study

Healthcare

Program

Bridge - MSN: Health Care Quality and Patient Safety

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U.S. Citizen

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Country

United States

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Overview

Advance Your Nursing Career With GCU's MSN Bridge Pathway

Grand Canyon University’s MSN bridge pathway with a health care quality and patient safety emphasis was created by the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions to support registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than nursing. Students who complete this bridge pathway are eligible to enroll in GCU’s MSN with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety program to complete your degree and further advance your studies.

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10% Off Undergraduate Nursing Program Tuition

You may receive a 10% off tuition scholarship if you enroll in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a Bridge to Master of Science in Nursing pathway in March 2026. See if you qualify.^{(See disclaimer ¤)}

Enroll By March 31

Bridge (Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety)

Offered By

College of Nursing and Health Care Professions

Class Settings

Online

Tuition Rate

Online: $340 per credit [More Info]

Cost of Attendance

Course Information

Credits: 24

Online: 5 weeks

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Transfer Credits

Up to 90 credits, only 84 can be lower division

Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission.

Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.

Why GCU

Make an Impact Through Improved Healthcare Quality and Safety

Enrolling in GCU’s MSN bridge pathway with a health care quality and patient safety emphasis teaches registered nurses how to improve the quality and safety of nursing. In this pathway, you will examine ways to improve patient outcomes and healthcare quality from all aspects. You will explore the quality improvement process, examine models used to improve health care quality and be taught about change management.

Prepare for Your Master’s Degree in Nursing Through an Online Bridge Pathway^{(See disclaimer 1)}

GCU’s Master of Science in Nursing with a health care quality and patient safety emphasis is offered in an online format. Taking courses online can provide you with the same instruction, resources and support you can expect from GCU. Complete your healthcare quality and safety bridge pathway online while taking advantage of the flexibility and convenience that this modality offers.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Online Learning

Coursework

Explore Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety Course Topics

In GCU’s master’s in nursing with healthcare quality and patient safety emphasis bridge pathway, you will complete seven courses. You will focus on differentiated nursing practice competencies, methods of health history taking, physical examination skills, nursing conceptual models, professional accountability, integrating spirituality into practice, group dynamics, critical thinking and more.

To complete this bridge pathway, you must pass courses surrounding the following topics:

Dynamics of nursing practice

Health assessment

Applied statistics

Nursing research

Pathophysiology

Concepts in community of public health

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re a current nurse who is looking to get into healthcare quality and patient safety, this bridge pathway can be your next step. Read through our frequently asked questions to learn more about pursuing a career in this field.

What is an MSN bridge pathway with a health care quality and patient safety emphasis?

Is an MSN bridge pathway worth it?

If you’re a nursing without a BSN and are looking for a way to advance your nursing education in the health care quality and patient safety sector, a bridge pathway could benefit you. This pathway is structured to prepare you for a successful transition and entry into the MSN program. Additionally, healthcare careers are on the rise. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, two million new jobs are estimated to open for healthcare occupations from 2021 to 2031.^{(See disclaimer 2)}

All Bridge MSN Pathways

Discover additional emphasis options that can help you find the right path for your academic and career aspirations.

Health Informatics

Nursing Leadership

Nursing Education

Public Health Nursing

Acute Care NP

Family Nurse Practitioner

Courses

Program Curriculum

Credit Summary

Major24 credits

Degree Requirements24 credits

Core Courses

NRS-415

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, the role of the professional nurse, and the importance of effective nursing leadership. Standards of practice, differentiated nursing practice, professional accountability, interprofessional collaboration, and quality improvement are emphasized with importance placed on the application of leadership styles and management skills.

NRS-420

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course focuses on methods of health history taking, physical examination skills, and documentation. Learners integrate assessment skills and clinical judgment/reasoning in identifying actual or potential health problems and needs across the life span. Health promotion strategies are incorporated to provide for the unique needs of the individual, ensuring person-centered care. Learners design plans of care based on evidence-based research and practice.

NRS-425

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course focuses on the community as the patient taking into account varying cultures, spiritual values, geographic norms, and economic conditions. The course examines social determinants of health, including social, legal, and political variables impacting individual, community, and population health across the life span. Students use epidemiological data, functional health pattern assessments, and nursing theories to plan and intervene in areas of health promotion and disease prevention across the life span.

NRS-455

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course is designed to build upon existing knowledge of the pathophysiological processes of disease as they affect patients across the life span, recognizing the nurse's multidimensional role in health promotion and disease management and prevention, which include biological, environmental, social, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. Integration of nutritional and pharmacological concepts encourages critical thinking and application of nursing interventions. Prerequisite: NRS-420.

HLT-362V

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This is an introductory course on concepts of statistics, emphasizing applications to health care professions. The course is designed to prepare learners to understand concepts of statistics and the appropriateness of statistical methods used in published research papers and a variety of settings. Areas of emphasis include an introduction to the statistical analysis concepts of variable/reliability factors; P values; experimental design; descriptive statistics, including mean, median, and mode; sampling methods; and power analysis.

NRS-445

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This writing-intensive course promotes the use of research findings as a basis for improving clinical practice. Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies are analyzed with an emphasis on the critical review of research studies and their application to clinical practice. Students develop evidence-based practice recommendations from the critical analysis of available literature guided by a PICOT question. Prerequisite: HLT-362V.

NRS-465

6 Total Credits

Course Description

The final course in the program is writing-intensive. It will integrate the academic and practical knowledge learners have acquired throughout the program’s curriculum. Learners participate in planned clinical experiences that refine professional competencies at the baccalaureate level and enable them to integrate new knowledge and enhanced skills to advance nursing practice. Clinical practice hours are dedicated to learning objectives in leadership and community health. The evidence-based project provides learners an opportunity to identify a clinical nursing practice issue and propose a possible solution. Learners, under the guidance of faculty and approved preceptors, identify and analyze a nurse practice issue, develop a change project, and propose an evidence-based solution that reflects synthesis and integration of course content and professional practice. The evidence-based project development is guided by the baccalaureate program learning outcomes. Clinical hours: 40. Prerequisite: NRS-415, NRS-420, NRS-425, HLT-362V, NRS-445, PHI-413V, NRS-450, NRS-455, NRS-460.

GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change

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Admission

Start Your Journey Today

If you are ready to get started in the healthcare quality and patient safety field, apply for enrollment at GCU.

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^{(See disclaimer ¤)} MOU 10390: The New Undergraduate Nursing Student Spring Scholarship is only valid for those applicants who submit a complete application, meet all requirements for acceptance and start their undergraduate nursing program in March 2026. If you enroll in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a Bridge to Master of Science in Nursing pathway through our online offerings (excluding the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions' accelerated BSN program), we will award you 10% off the tuition per course for your program. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarship/awards. This scholarship will be applied toward your tuition only, and you will not receive funds in excess of your charges.

Excludes programs with residencies and practicums.
COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2022, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Healthcare Occupations, retrieved on April 28, 2023.