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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.
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 Pathway1
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.1
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
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.
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.
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 2031.2
Discover additional emphasis options that can help you find the right path for your academic and career aspirations.
If you are ready to get started in the healthcare quality and patient safety field, apply for enrollment at GCU.
1 Excludes programs with residencies and practicums.
2 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.
Online: $340 per credit [More Info]
Up to 90 credits, only 84 can be lower division
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Bachelor's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
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.
*Math and reading only on a 1600 point scale (test date after 3/1/2016). SAT score of 1380 required for 2400 point scale (test date before 3/1/2016).
