MSN in Nursing Administration

Leading a team of nurses and healthcare staff with the goal of providing better care to patients and improving the work environment is a job that takes organization and leadership. Colorado Technical University’s Master of Science in Nursing with a Nursing Administration concentration is designed to help students prepare for possible nursing leadership and management positions. By learning how to communicate effectively, understand relationship-building strategies to drive positive change and through demonstrating ethical personal, professional and fiscal accountability, graduates of the MSN-NA program at CTU could be positioned to pursue leadership or managing teams of nursing staff.

Highlights of CTU's Nursing Administration Program:

Can be completed in as little as 18 months
Offered 100% online excluding practicum
Potential to complete your practicum hours at employment site
Aligned to nursing industry standards and competencies
Tuition cost of $17,760

MSN program goals:

Employ leadership skills to improve the quality of care in a variety of healthcare settings
Integrate advanced nursing and science knowledge into practice

Ranked Among the Best Online Nursing Programs

CTU’s online Master of Science in Nursing degree programs are ranked among the Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs by U.S. News & World Report for the fifth consecutive year.*

* CTU programs are ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Online Programs.

CTU is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission www.hlcommission.org
The Master of Science in Nursing degree program at Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org)

Program FAQs

What can I expect as a nursing student?

Licensed practicing nurses return to school with different knowledge and experience levels due to variations in accumulated nursing experience. At CTU, our nursing students:

Use CTU’s intellipath^® adaptive learning technology to focus on new knowledge development while bypassing content they know. Intellipath^® is like the computerized adaptive testing nurses use to enter the profession.
Experience faculty-led nursing courses infused with intellipath^® assignments, writing assignments, discussion boards, virtual simulations, clinical experiences and journaling, among others.
Bypass group project assignments due to interdisciplinary collaboration in clinical courses.
Complete clinical experiences and a mix of traditional assignments.

Can I complete my clinical/practicum hours at work?

Students must disclose if they are requesting to do their practicum with their employer.

Students may not complete practicum hours in their current department or with in-line supervisors.

Are campus visits required?

For the MSN Nursing Administration and Nursing Education programs, campus visits are not required.

Can I work full-time and go to school?

The structure of the MSN-Nursing Education and MSN-Nursing Administration concentrations are designed to allow the working nurse to advance in his/her MSN degree while continuing to work within the community. With an asynchronous (any time of day) classroom format, this allows students to formulate a study schedule that can be incorporated into their professional life. Instructors also provide synchronous chats to support varied adult learning needs.

Where can I find information about the practicum requirements?

Information about the practicum requirements can be found in the Nursing Learning Center where the Master of Science in Nursing Practicum Guide is located. The Clinical Coordinator also partners with students to assist with practicum related questions.

What are my responsibilities in preparing for practicum?

Students work with the Clinical Coordinator to prepare for practicum courses. Students receive emails with instructions about practicum preparation starting in the first session with CTU.

How many practicum hours do I need to complete for the MSN-Nursing Administration or MSN-Nursing Education concentrations?

Each concentration has two practicum courses built into the degree plan. Practicum courses are 5 weeks in duration and require 60 clinical hours each for a total of 120 hours. Students receive individual support from the Clinical Coordinator to help them prepare for the practicum experiences.

How do I go about securing a preceptor and practicum site for my practicum courses?

Students receive communication each session with instructions about how to prepare for practicum. The Clinical Coordinator also provides individual guidance. Student engagement in the placement process is important as it promotes a positive, educational experience for adult learners.

Does my MSN Capstone course require clinical/practicum hours and a project?

The MSN Capstone course does not require clinical hours. There are a variety of weekly deliverables that measure a student’s progress toward meeting programmatic outcomes. The MSN Capstone does not require the student to conduct research.

CLASSES START

October 03, 2023
November 14, 2023
January 02, 2024

TOTAL CREDITS

PROGRAM AVAILABILITY

Online

Program Details

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Total tuition for this degree program will vary depending on your educational needs, existing experience, and other factors.
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Program Overview
Building Your Nursing Knowledge

An active unencumbered U.S. RN license, a bachelor's degree in nursing and a 3.0 GPA is required for acceptance into CTU's MSN program. If you do not have a BSN, CTU also offers an RN-BSN so you can pursue your academic goals in one easy to follow path. Students start the MSN-NA program with courses in the core area of nursing and then build upon that knowledge with coursework specific to the field of nursing administration. The program is 48 quarter credits for their program in all, credits that are divided between both core nursing education and the area of concentration.

Core nursing education. The MSN at CTU teaches leadership skills to students regardless of the specialization chosen. Students complete 24 quarter credits in overall core courses, allowing them to gain more insight into management theory and application, and evidence-based practices. Some of the courses at the core nursing level include:
- Healthcare Informatics and Technologies
- Advanced Nursing Practice
- Policy and Politics in Nursing and Healthcare
- Promoting and Preserving Health in a Diverse Society
- MSN Capstone
Concentration. After completing their core nursing courses, students can finish their degree by taking six (6) more courses, or 24 quarter credits. These courses are designed to help students learn about the specialty of nursing administration and to apply their newly learned nursing administration theory into clinical practice. Some of these courses include:
- Healthcare Finance
- Innovation for Quality Care
- Strategic Planning
- Systems in Healthcare
The two practicum courses included as part of the concentration require 60 hours each, for 120 hours total. In some cases, these practicum hours can be completed onsite at your place of current employment.

College of Nursing Mission Statement

Through an innovative curriculum and student-centered teaching, the nursing faculty teaches, supports, and inspires students to become competent, caring, and accountable professionals who serve a diverse client population within a dynamic health care environment.

Degree Requirements

Courses - Core

Credits

Course Title	Course Description	Credit Hours
NRSG610 This course provides an overview of the skills needed for the nurse to achieve competency in advanced nursing practice. Advancements in science with organizational science will be examined for the contribution towards the transformation of nursing practice. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Advanced Nursing Practice	4
NRSG612 This course provides an overview of the development and relationship of nursing theory, research, and practice. Students will explore the process by which theory and research is critically appraised and translated into evidence-based practice in the development of clinical outcomes. An appreciation for diverse research methods and research appraisal is integrated into the course. Course assignments focus on evidence-based practice applications. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Integrating Theory and Research for Evidence-Based Practice	4
NRSG615 This course is designed to establish the foundational knowledge for understanding and practicing nursing informatics in healthcare settings. This course will also examine other technologies to deliver and enhance care. Consideration is given to the use of information technology to support decisions that promote safety and quality in patient-centered care, and concerns about protecting information and system integrity are addressed. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Healthcare Informatics and Technologies	4
NRSG617 This course provides a critical analysis of socioeconomic, political, legal, ethical, and global factors that affect nursing and healthcare delivery. Issues of cost, quality, and access are considered with emphasis on healthcare reform, including financing and payment systems, delivery models, health information management, and the integration of healthcare services to affect safety and quality. The means of influencing policy making will be discussed. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Policy and Politics in Nursing and Healthcare	4
NRSG625 This course is based on a multifaceted definition of community. The promotion of healthy societies worldwide, through health improvement and disease management/prevention activities, is explored through an interprofessional approach. Additionally, the impact of genomics and genetics relative to health promotion/disease mitigation is studied. The effects of social, political, and environmental conditions are examined in relation to healthcare access, quality of care, patient values and preferences, and cultural relevance. The contributions of advanced nursing providers to improving patient and population health outcomes are analyzed. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Promoting and Preserving Health in a Diverse Society	4
NRSG640 This course is the culmination of the concepts developed in the MSN program. Students complete individual assignments that encompass program competencies and reflect a synthesis and application of prior coursework. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	MSN Capstone	4
	Total Credit Hours:	24

Courses - Concentration

Credits

Course Title	Course Description	Credit Hours
HCM632 This course studies healthcare systems and the delivery of healthcare. In addition, factors such as access, population health and health policies will be examined to assess their influence on healthcare systems.	Systems in Healthcare	4
HCM670 This course is designed to provide an overview of human resource management in healthcare. This course will introduce principles, concepts, functions and applications of human resource management. Topics include: healthcare professions, workforce planning, performance evaluation, compensation and benefits, job analysis and design and labor relations. While most of this course focuses on human resources in the healthcare setting, implications of human resources in other important industries and settings may be discussed.	Management of Human Resources in Healthcare	4
HCM676 This course concentrates on the financial operations of a healthcare organization including the development of capital budgets, operating budgets and cash flow budgets. Financial statements will be analyzed for variances. Students will be required to apply concepts such as time value of money, risk and return, investment decision analysis and lease valuation assisting in the understanding of financial operations of a healthcare organization.	Healthcare Finance	4
NRSG620 Students utilize experiential learning in the nursing practice setting to examine the factors that influence the change and planning processes for the delivery of quality healthcare. Barriers that may affect strategic planning will be identified. Following an analysis of those factors, innovation through the development of a strategic plan will be demonstrated. Sixty hours of experiential learning in the nursing practice setting is required for this course. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Strategic Planning	4
NRSG622 This course examines leadership skills necessary for the implementation of safety and quality improvement processes. Students will analyze factors affecting the delivery of safe patient care and optimum patient outcomes. Knowledge from emerging sciences and evidence–based practices will be incorporated into innovation for quality care. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Innovation for Quality Care	4
NRSG630 This course uses experiential learning to examine current nursing administrative practice issues. Based on newly learned nursing leadership theories, students apply domains of nursing leadership/administrative knowledge to the nursing practice setting. The objective is to use a variety of leadership strategies to achieve positive patient care delivery outcomes. Sixty hours of experiential learning in the nursing practice setting is required for this course. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	New Knowledge and Innovations in Nursing Leadership	4
	Total Credit Hours:	24

Total Credit Hours: 48

Compare Related Areas of Study
- MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner
- MSN in Nursing Education
Compare up to three additional degrees
Ways to Save
Ways to Save

Cost of this degree may be reduced based on one or more of the following:
- Active duty military status (see the tuition tab for details)
- Number of credits transferred and accepted from other institutions
- Eligibility for a Corporate Alliances Grant (check with your CTU Admissions Advisor)
- Tuition Reimbursement (talk to your HR Manager)
- Grants or scholarships at CTU
Outcomes
MSN Program Learning Outcomes:
1. Synthesize knowledge from nursing and a variety of sciences in diverse settings for the purpose of improving nursing care
2. Apply organizational and systems leadership concepts to promote quality patient care
3. Evaluate performance improvement processes designed for the purpose of providing quality patient care
4. Apply research outcomes and evidence-based practice to recommendations for improved patient care
5. Synthesize health policy processes established for the advocacy of quality healthcare
6. Integrate interprofessional collaboration to the management of patient and population health outcomes
7. Apply organizational, client-centered, and culturally appropriate concepts to clinical prevention and population care to identified populations
MSN - Nursing Administration Concentration Learning Outcomes:
1. Integrate effective communication and relationship-building strategies in diverse communities of interest that drive change towards quality organizational outcomes
2. Apply leadership principles and systems thinking that positively influence human resources in the healthcare environment
3. Demonstrate ethical personal, professional and fiscal accountability in the advocacy for clinical enterprise and nursing practice
Admission Requirements

Admissions Requirements

Admission to this program requires an unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the United States. All students must maintain this licensure throughout the program of study.

Students must have graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an institutionally accredited institution. A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 for the last 90 quarter (60 semester) hours of study undertaken for full acceptance into the program.

Prior to starting the nursing program all applicants must submit an unofficial or official copy of college transcript from their BSN degree for review. Applicants to the Master of Science in Nursing degree program who meet all general admission requirements, but who have a CGPA for the BSN degree between 2.75 to 2.99 for the last 90 quarter (60 semester) hours of study, may be granted provisional admission. Students must successfully complete their first two MSN courses with a minimum of 3.0 GPA to be granted full admission to the nursing program or be administratively withdrawn.

Students must successfully complete NRSG610 first before advancing to other courses in the MSN program. No other program courses may be taken prior to NRSG610.
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MSN in Nursing Administration

Program FAQs

CLASSES START

TOTAL CREDITS

PROGRAM AVAILABILITY

Program Details

Estimate Tuition and Grad Date

Program Overview

Degree Requirements

Courses - Core

Courses - Concentration

Compare Related Areas of Study

Ways to Save

Ways to Save

Outcomes

MSN Program Learning Outcomes:

MSN - Nursing Administration Concentration Learning Outcomes:

Admission Requirements

Next Steps

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Classes start October 3, 2023 *

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