Admission
Please refer to “The Graduate Admissions Process” section for general graduate admission information. For consideration and admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program, all applicants must satisfactorily submit or complete the following:
- A completed Wilmington University graduate application form and the non-refundable application fee before registering for your first graduate course.
- Proof of current unencumbered RN license, (copy of computer verification acceptable).
- Register for MSN 6500 as your first course.
- Prior to completing your first course:
- Submit official transcripts reflecting the following:
Graduation from a nationally accredited baccalaureate program in nursing.
Completion of an undergraduate statistics course, with a grade of “C” or higher.
- You will receive an email from the graduate program regarding orientation and program planning.
All of the documents indicated above should be sent directly to:
Wilmington University
Office of Graduate Admissions
31 Reads Way
New Castle, DE 19720
Program Purpose
The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program is designed to prepare professional nurses for roles in advanced practice. The curriculum emphasizes the relationships among advanced nursing practice, theory, and scholarly inquiry. Nurses educated at the graduate level demonstrate competency in the roles of advanced caregiver, leader, teacher, and participant in and/or conductor of research. Nurses prepared at the graduate level also have the opportunity to influence health policy and to practice with a high level of autonomy in a variety of settings.
Goals
The goals of the Master of Science of Nursing program are to prepare graduates to:
- Function effectively in advanced nursing practice roles in a variety of settings.
- Engage in personal and professional development through life-long learning.
- Broaden career mobility and opportunities in nursing.
Program Competencies
Through completion of the Master of Science in Nursing program, graduates will:
- Promote the art of nursing by valuing the unique relationships among people, which create meaning and preserve human dignity;
- Synthesize theoretical, experiential, and research knowledge as the scientific basis for advanced nursing practice;
- Use the ethical and legal standards recognized by the nursing profession to guide advanced nursing practice;
- Implement knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research to improve nursing practice by evaluating published research, applying findings to practice, and participating in research activities;
- Incorporate findings from teaching/learning theories and research to educate individuals and groups;
- Implement knowledge of health policy, financial aspects of health care, and the organization of health delivery systems to influence continuous improvement in health care;
- Fulfill a leadership role in advanced nursing practice through effective collaboration, client and peer advocacy, sensitivity to diversity, and ongoing participation in professional organizations;
- Negotiate an appropriate role for advanced nursing practice in the context of a dynamic health care system;
- Demonstrate advanced oral and written communication abilities;
- Demonstrate the ability to access, use, and evaluate information and information technologies.
Prerequisite Course Requirements
All students are required to have prerequisite knowledge of statistics. If the student has not completed an undergraduate course in statistics with a grade of “C” or better, he or she will be required to complete statistics prior to consideration for degree candidacy (completion of 12 credits). If an undergraduate course in statistics has not been successfully completed, the following course is appropriate:
Course
Core Requirements
All M.S.N. degree students are required to take the following courses:
| MSN 6502 | Contemporary Concepts in Advanced Practice Roles | 3 |
| 6608 | Evidence Based Practice in the Health Professions | 3 |
| MSN 7741 | Politics and Policy in the Healthcare System | 3 |
| MSN 7750 | Teaching and Learning in Nursing | 3 |
Program Design
Today’s health care environment requires competent, innovative leaders. Nurse leaders are needed for managed care initiatives, roles in nursing education, entrepreneurial pursuits, consultation and interdisciplinary coordination of healthcare, and clinical research projects. The purpose of the Nursing Leadership concentration is to provide the opportunity for nurses to acquire and refine the skills needed for leadership roles in nursing.
To fulfill the requirements of the M.S.N. Leadership program, students must complete all courses, consisting of 36 credit hours, while maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Students complete course work with an emphasis in executive practice, the educator role, or the legal nurse consultant role. The program is interdisciplinary, with course work through the College of Business and the College of Health Professions for dual degree executive options. Technology is integrated into the program, and nursing courses may be offered in a distance learning format. Students in all concentrations will complete a final culminating project for their capstone experience.
All concentrations are designed to advance the students’ knowledge of research to improve the practice of nursing and strengthen the awareness of contemporary influences on health care needs of individuals, families, and communities. Philosophy of nursing leadership and health care expands the foundation for ethical decision making as students develop skill in working within the context of prevailing systems of care. The program is usually completed within a two to three year time-frame; however, it must be completed within five years.
Executive
Knowledge of local, national, and global health care policies will enable the professional nurse to work with other professionals in establishing priorities. Beyond this foundational knowledge, the nurse leader needs to refine skills relevant to individual career goals. Selected course work may emphasize entrepreneurial, policy, or management roles of the nurse leader.
Educator
Skilled educators are needed to teach students, clients, and staff. Course work will provide the opportunity for increased knowledge and skills for the current or future educator.
Legal Nurse Consultant
The Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC) role is a functional specialty practice of nursing. Legal nurse consultants use critical thinking and expert knowledge of health care systems and professions to assess health care practice standards applicable to nursing. Courses at Wilmington University prepare students to meet the standards of LNC practice. The LNC courses are available as online courses only. Students should be comfortable with the Online Learning format and are required to take the DIS 095 pre-requisite.
Program Requirements
Register for MSN 6500 as your first course. Statistics is the prerequisite for MSN 6608. MSN 8900 Nurse Leadership Portfolio is the final course in the program.
Core MSN Courses (12 credits)
| MSN 6502 | Contemporary Concepts in Advanced Practice Roles | 3 |
| 6608 | Evidence Based Practice in the Health Professions | 3 |
| MSN 7741 | Politics and Policy in the Healthcare System | 3 |
| MSN 7750 | Teaching and Learning in Nursing | 3 |
Core for MSN Leadership (12 Credits)
| MSN 6500 | Leadership Roles in Advanced Nursing Practice (First course) | 3 |
| 6609 | Advanced Concepts in Pathophysiology and Pharmacology | 3 |
| 6610 | Advanced Physical Assessment for Nurse Leaders | 3 |
| 6646 | Philosophy and Ethics in Advanced Nursing Roles | 3 |
Executive Concentration Requirements (12 credits)
| 6612 | Nurse Executive Seminar I (Must be taken before II) | 3 |
| 6613 | Nurse Executive Seminar II | 3 |
| MGT 6501 | Organization Theory and Design | 3 |
| 8900 | Nurse Leadership Portfolio | 3 |
Portfolio is taken after all coursework is complete.
Educator Concentration Requirements (12 credits)
| MSN 7752 | Clinical Teaching and Evaluation | 3 |
| MSN 7753 | Curriculum Development | 3 |
| 6611 | Instructional Technology for Nurse Educators | 3 |
| 8900 | Nurse Leadership Portfolio | 3 |
Portfolio is taken after all coursework is complete.
Dual degree MSN with MSM/HCA or MSN with MBA/HCA
Students choosing the executive concentration may wish to earn a dual degree. There are two options; a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) and a Master of Science in Management (M.S.M.) with the Health Care Administration (H.C.A.) focus; or a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) and the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) with the Health Care Administration (H.C.A. focus)
Admission, progression, and graduation requirements are a coordinated effort between the Colleges of Health Professions and the College of Business. The dual degree program is 51 credits; however, the MSN/MBA program has specific prerequisite requirements. Students should initially contact the MSN Leadership program chair for entry into these options. Students remain under the College of Health Professions' graduate program chair for advisement. A course sequence guide is available from the MSN Nursing Leadership Program administrative assistant.
Legal Nurse Consultant Concentration (12 credits)
| MSN 7310 | Legal Issues in Nursing Practice (Fall I only) | 3 |
| MSN 7320 | Practices in the Realm of Nursing and the Law (Fall I Only) | 3 |
| MSN 7350 | Forensic Nursing: Clinical and Legal Implications (Summer I only) | 3 |
| 8900 | Nurse Leadership Portfolio | 3 |
Portfolio is taken after all coursework is complete.
Students may wish to earn both a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) and a Master of Science in Management (M.S.M.) with the Health Care Administration (H.C.A.) focus; or the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) with the Health Care Administration (H.C.A.) focus.
Admission, progression, and graduation requirements are a coordinated effort between the Colleges of Health Professions and Business. The dual degree program is 51 credits; however, the MSN/MBA program has specific pre-requisite requirements. Students remain under the College of Health Professions’ graduate program chair for advisement and the Capstone process. A course selection guide is available from the MSN Nursing Leadership Program Chair.