Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Bridge Pathway With a Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems Emphasis

Bridge (Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems)

Offered By: College of Nursing and Health Care Professions

Study Leadership in Healthcare With the RN to MSN Bridge Pathway

The Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems Bridge pathway, offered by the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, helps registered nurses (RNs) with a bachelor’s degree outside of nursing make the transition to master’s degree studies. Join leaders and change-makers on the forefront of nursing advancement by completing your bridge pathway and advancing to graduate-level nursing studies.

In this RN to MSN bridge pathway online,1 you can work to develop your skills in critical thinking, effective communication, leadership and administration of resources in preparation for a potential management role in today’s complex healthcare environments. Upon completing the courses in the nursing bridge pathway, you may be prepared for entry into the MSN in leadership program.

Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems Course Topics

Through the MSN in nursing leadership in healthcare systems bridge pathway, you can build on your nursing foundation by completing coursework from the BSN curriculum, including:

  • Dynamics of nursing practice
  • Health assessment
  • Applied statistics
  • Nursing research
  • Concepts in community of public health
  • Pathophysiology

You will also be required to complete a practicum course. Practicum experiences enable you to work with a preceptor who will support your education and guide your connection of theory and practice, allowing you to demonstrate your knowledge of patient care organizational leadership.

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MSN Bridge Pathway: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems FAQs

If you’re a current nurse looking to further your studies and work to prepare yourself to pursue leadership in nursing positions, the nursing leadership MSN bridge pathway may be the right fit for you. Read through our frequently asked questions to learn more about this bridge pathway.

This RN to MSN with nursing leadership in health care systems emphasis bridge pathway is set up for non-BSN educated nurses who desire to advance to an MSN program. You will be taught BSN-related coursework that can help qualify you to apply for entry into MSN-level studies. While you will not technically be completing your BSN, you will be taught foundational BSN materials as well as material related to nursing leadership in healthcare systems.

To be eligible for the nursing leadership in health care systems emphasis MSN bridge pathway, you must be a current RN with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. You must also meet all other graduate admissions requirements. Review our graduate admissions requirements page and fill out the form on this page to get in contact with a university counselor to help determine your eligibility.

This MSN with emphasis in nursing leadership in health care systems bridge pathway is designed to teach you skills and knowledge that can help you prepare you for an MSN program. Some of the skills you will be taught include:

  • Dynamics of nursing practice
  • Health assessment
  • Applied statistics
  • Nursing research
  • Concepts in community of public health
  • Pathophysiology

 

If bettering the world around you through improving healthcare systems and developing other leaders is your calling, fill out the form on this page to learn more about completing the nursing leadership in health care systems bridge pathway at GCU.

 

1 Excludes programs with residencies and practicums.

TOTAL CREDITS & COURSE LENGTH:
Total Credits: 24
Online: 5 weeks
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TRANSFER CREDITS:
Up to 90 credits, only 84 can be lower division
TUITION RATE:
Online: $340 per credit [More Info]

Course List

Major:
24 credits
Degree Requirements:
24 credits

Core Courses

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.

Course Description

This course focuses on methods of health history taking, physical examination skills, and documentation. Students 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. The course emphasizes the importance of providing compassionate care dealing with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students design plans of care based on evidence-based research and practice.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Course Description

The final course in the program is writing-intensive. It will integrate the academic and practical knowledge students have acquired throughout the program’s curriculum. Students 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 students an opportunity to identify a clinical nursing practice issue and propose a possible solution. Students, 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: 100. 50 hours in leadership and 50 hours in community health. Prerequisite: NRS-415, NRS-420, NRS-425, HLT-362V, NRS-445, PHI-413V, NRS-450, NRS-455, NRS-460.

Locations

GCU Online Student


Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.

* 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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