Master of Science in Nursing
PhilosophyNursing is a scientifically and theoretically based service profession. By embracing the contextual nature of practice through integration of multiple ways of knowing including critical thinking, research, reflection, and intuition, MSN graduates become expert nurses who provide holistic, ethical, evidence-based care within an interdisciplinary environment. Through the educational process, students become visionary leaders who advance the profession of nursing and influence the future of healthcare.
PurposeThe IUSON MSN program educates nurses to become leaders within dynamic healthcare environments. As nurse leaders they are prepared to provide and improve care to patients, families, and/or communities and to lead educational and complex healthcare systems.
Program OutcomesThe goal of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is to prepare graduates for leadership roles in advanced nursing practice, those of clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, nurse educator, and nurse leader. Students select one of 9 track areas of study when they apply for admission. In addition, graduate certificates are offered in nursing informatics and teaching in nursing. Post-master’s study options are available in all tracks. All degree requirements must be met within six years of initial enrollment. The pattern and duration of a program of study for individual students is determined in consultation with their MSN Track Coordinator. Degree requirements can be met through a combination of distance-accessible, online, and on-campus learning opportunities.
All graduates of the master’s degree program are expected to achieve the following outcomes:
- Model excellence in nursing leadership to improve nursing practice within a complex health care system.
- Conduct advanced nursing practice within ethical–legal guidelines, professional policies and regulations, and standards of practice associated with a specialty area of practice.
- 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.
- Demonstrate scholarly inquiry and reflection that exemplifies critical, creative, and systems thinking to advance the practice of nursing.
- Frame problems, design interventions, specify outcomes, and measure achievement of outcomes while balancing human, fiscal, and material resources to achieve quality health outcomes.
- Use information technology and knowledge-based resources to manage and transform data that inform clinical practice.
- Systematically apply evidence from research findings to answer clinical questions, solve clinical problems, and develop innovative nursing interventions and health policies for selected patient populations.
- Demonstrate collaborative practice and interpret nursing science within an interdisciplinary context.
- Articulate the effects of culture, diversity, values, and globalization in the design, delivery, and evaluation of health services.
- Engage in life-long learning activities that contribute to professional development as well as to the advancement of nursing.
The goal of the MSN program is to prepare its graduates for leadership roles in advanced nursing practice. Post-master’s options are also available in all the tracks. Students select a track area of study when they apply for admission.
Students may elect to follow a full-time or part-time course of study. Minimum time for completion of degree requirements is three semesters. All degree requirements must be met within six years of initial enrollment. The pattern and duration for the individual student is determined in consultation with their MSN Track Coordinator.
Selected master’s courses are distance accessible using a variety of technologies.
