Currently, the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offers three graduate tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner (42 credit hours), Nursing Education (36 credit hours), and Nursing Administration (36 credit hours).

Purpose:

The faculty of Indiana University Northwest's Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, understand the need for and the value of a culturally diverse workforce. Our faculty are committed to preparing advanced specialists who model excellence in nursing and use creativity to support the commitment, responsibility, and accountability for the advancement of human health.

Family Nurse Practitioner Track Purpose Statement

The family nurse practitioner (FNP) track is dedicated to advancement of evidence-based clinical practice within diverse healthcare settings. Graduates are prepared to expand their knowledge of health promotion, disease prevention, and health education with a focus on improving regional health care delivery and overall health of the people and communities of Northwest Indiana, one of the most diverse areas of the state. Graduates are eligible for national certification as family nurse practitioners.

Nurse Educator Track Purpose Statement

This track is dedicated to the development of professionals in the advanced specialty role of the nurse educator. Graduates are prepared to facilitate learning, learner development and socialization, use assessment and evaluation strategies, participate in curriculum design and evaluation of program outcomes, function as a change agent and leader, pursue continuous quality improvement in the nurse educator role, engage in scholarship, and function within the educational environment (NLN, 2012). Graduates are eligible for national certification as nurse educators through the National League for Nursing.

Nursing Administration Track Purpose Statement

This track prepares professionals for mid-level and senior nursing leadership positions in various healthcare-related settings. Graduates will explore leadership and decision-making processes including financial stewardship, analysis of research and health policy, and strategic planning. Graduates will support improvements in healthcare delivery through enhanced leadership roles, effective process improvement, and driving change in a variety of health settings. Graduates are eligible for national certification through certifying organizations.

IU Northwest Master’s Degree in Nursing Program Outcomes

Graduates of the IU Northwest School of Nursing MSN program will:

1. Model excellence in nursing leadership to improve nursing practice within a complex healthcare system.
2. Perform advanced nursing practice within ethical/legal guidelines, professional policies and regulations, and standards of practice associated with a specialty area of practice.
3. Synthesize knowledge from nursing as well as biological, behavioral, social, administrative, educational, and communication sciences for application to a chosen domain of advanced practice nursing.
4. Demonstrate scholarly inquiry and reflection that exemplifies critical, creative, and systems thinking to advance the practice of nursing.
5. Frame problems, design interventions, specify outcomes and measure outcome achievement while balancing human, fiscal, and material resources to achieve quality health outcomes.
6. Use information technology and knowledge based resources to manage and transform data that informs clinical practice.
7. Systemically apply knowledge from research findings and best evidence to answer clinical questions, solve clinical problems and develop innovative nursing interventions and health policies for selected patient populations.
8. Demonstrate collaborative practice and interpret nursing science within an interdisciplinary context.
9. Articulate the effects of culture, diversity, values, and globalization in the design, delivery, and evaluation of health services.
10. Engage in life-long learning activities that contribute to professional development as well as the advancement of nursing.