Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

A flexible MSN program for health care professionals

Take the next step in your career and earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in as little as 18 months by doing one course every eight weeks, 100% online. Our online MSN program allows you to pursue your education without sacrificing your personal and professional commitments.

In this program, you’ll learn from experienced nurse educators who are experts in their field. Choose from two concentrations:

• Nurse Leadership in Health Systems
• Nursing Education

Concentration Areas

Nurse Leadership in Health Systems

The online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in Nurse Leadership in Health Systems prepares you for leadership roles across a variety of healthcare settings. Coursework will prepare you with advanced knowledge related to leadership, communication, health care systems, and finances. You will learn how to lead the next generation of nurses, influence the quality of patient care, innovate healthcare practices, and advance your career. You will apply this knowledge and hone skills during several different clinical practice experiences. Graduates of Bushnell University’s online MSN will be well positioned for many nurse leadership roles such as:

• Director of Nursing
• Department Director or Manager
• Nursing Supervisor
• Nurse or Health Care Administrator

Nursing Education

The online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in Nursing Education prepares you to teach in academic, healthcare organizations, and other clinical settings. Coursework focuses on current trends, philosophical foundations and theoretical perspectives of education, methods for assessing learning outcomes, managing the learning environment, and curriculum development.

The Nursing Education concentration includes a supervised teaching practicum in a nursing online or face-to-face classroom, simulation, staff development, or clinical setting. In this course students design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive, evidence-based teaching and learning project.

Note: In order to teach in Oregon, registered nurses will need to have completed a minimum of two years of clinical experience.

Program Format

This program can be completed entirely online allowing busy professionals to keep a healthy work, life, and school balance. This program is designed to allow you to study anytime from anywhere, providing you the flexibility to arrange your studies around your own schedule.

Nurse Leadership in Health Systems

Credit Hours – 30 Credits

Program Length – 18 Months

Delivery Method – Online

Nursing Education

Credit Hours – 36 Credits

Program Length – 24 Months

Delivery Method – Online

The Bushnell University Difference

• 30+ years’ experience educating working adults
• Flexible, 100% online accredited program
• A supportive academic environment that puts students first
• Program prepares students for graduate education
• Project-based practice experiences completed in your local community

Financial Aid Information

At Bushnell University, we know financial aid inside and out and can help you apply for and receive the best financial aid package available.

Find more information regarding financial aid.

Veteran Benefit Information

Bushnell University is approved by the Oregon Department of Education and the Department of Veteran Affairs for educating students who are eligible for VA educational benefits. You can begin receiving your educational benefits in just a few simple steps!

Find more information regarding veteran benefits.

Accreditation

Bushnell University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at Bushnell University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Mission & Purpose of the Program

Mission of the MSN Program

The mission of the nursing program, as an integral part of Bushnell University, is to respond to the higher educational and healthcare needs of our culturally diverse communities. We prepare ethical nurse leaders to lead the way toward continuous improvement in evidence-based healthcare within their complex workplace as well as local and global communities. We embrace Bushnell University’s mission to foster wisdom, faith, and service through excellent academic programs grounded in the arts and sciences that demonstrate compassion and respect toward all people served.

Purpose of the MSN Program

The purpose of the online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is to prepare baccalaureate nurses to:

• Assume a nurse leadership or educator role within a variety of healthcare systems and educational settings.
• Influence delivery of high-quality, evidence-based collaborative healthcare and nursing education.
• Use ethical discernment, systems thinking, and critical thinking to improve delivery of healthcare and nursing educational programs as well as improve nursing knowledge, care, and practice.
• Pursue certification as a nurse leader or nurse educator.
• Continue study at the doctorate level.

Program Objectives

Nurse Leadership in Health Systems Concentration Objectives:

1. Integrate knowledge and theories of leadership, nursing, and other related sciences and the humanities into leadership practice.
2. Incorporate concepts of organizational and systems leadership in the provision of cost effective and safe, quality care for patients, families, groups, and communities within various health systems.
3. Demonstrate ethical leadership for improving quality and safety across the care continuum in health systems.
4. Use research outcomes from nursing and other disciplines to guide nursing judgment, effect change, formulate and influence health policy, and disseminate findings in order to advance clinical practice.
5. Demonstrate a spirit of inquiry by raising questions, challenging traditional and existing practices, and seek creative, evidence-based solutions to nursing and clinical problems.
6. Use knowledge of health care technologies to deliver and coordinate care, communicate with individuals and groups, inform decision-making, and improve care outcomes.
7. Effectively communicate and collaborate as a member and leader of inter-professional teams to coordinate care and optimize health care delivery.
8. Function as a leader and change agent to promote human flourishing within the larger family, community, and population.
9. Implement master’s level nursing practice in ways that foster best practices, demonstrate leadership, promote the personal and professional growth of oneself and others as well as change in people, systems, and advance the nursing profession.

Nurse Education Concentration Objectives*:

1. Integrate theoretical perspectives, instructional technologies, nursing and related sciences, and the humanities into practice as a nurse educator.
2. Demonstrate ethical and critical decision-making skills that result in provision of cost effective, quality care nursing education for patients, health care professionals, or nursing students across various educational settings.
3. Engage in continuous quality improvement across a variety of educational settings.
4. Use research outcomes from nursing and other disciplines to inform teaching practice and disseminate findings in order to advance nursing education.
5. Demonstrate a spirit of inquiry by raising questions, challenging traditional and existing educational practices, and seeking creative, evidence-based solutions to problems related to nursing education.
6. Use knowledge of instructional and other technologies in the delivery of education to patients, health care providers, and nursing students across diverse educational settings.
7. Effectively communicate and collaborate in the design, implementation, and evaluation of nursing education across various educational settings.
8. Integrate advance knowledge to influence content, design, and delivery of education to patients, health care providers, and nursing students across a variety of educational settings.
9. Implement master’s level nursing practice in ways that foster evidence-based educational practices, promotes the personal and professional growth of oneself and others, and advances the nursing profession.

*Master of Science in Nursing program objectives are based on outcomes/competencies expected of graduates from a master’s nursing program as established by the National League of Nursing (NLN, 2010) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2011) Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing.

Core Courses

NURS 510 Population Health

This course focuses on clinical prevention and health activities aimed at improving the health status of diverse populations. Students will explore the role of nursing leadership within health systems to design and deliver population and evidence-based care and services that promote health, reduces risk of chronic illness, and prevents disease. Issues of equitability, cultural and ethnic identity, socio-economic, emotional and spiritual needs, and values of patients and the population will be examined.

NURS 510C Population Health Clinical

This supervised, 45-clock-hour clinical experience provides students opportunity to integrate clinical prevention and population health concepts into creation, implementation, or evaluation of a health education or promotion, reduction of chronic illness risk,  or disease prevention project within the context of a health system, community organization, or clinical setting.

NURS 520 Health Care Policy

This course focuses on development of knowledge and skills needed to promote health, improve health outcomes of populations, shape and improve the quality of the healthcare delivery system and advance social justice in light of access to care and health outcomes.  Students will explore policy processes, policy making, and political activism; ethical and value-based frameworks: advocacy; the structure of health care delivery systems, and; ways to effect system change and participate in development and implementation of policy.

NURS 540 Communication in Nursing

This course focuses on deeper development of interpersonal, interprofessional, and organizational communication skills necessary to promote effective working relationships as well as provide coordinated quality care within health care systems and across varied settings. Concepts of effective communication, organizational process which enhance communication, power structures and group dynamics, conflict and conflict resolution, teams, teamwork and team leadership will be examined.

NURS 550 Statistics for Nursing

This course assists nurse leaders to understand and apply fundamental concepts of statistical reasoning to evidence-based practice in order to improve health care practice and patient outcomes. Students will examine basic statistical concepts needed to judge the quality of research evidence used in practice and gain proficiency in the use statistical software packages.

NURS 560 Quality Improvement and Safety

This course focuses on developing advanced understanding and knowledge of continuous quality improvement and thus safety within health care organizations. Students will examine various quality improvement principles, methods, tools, and performance measures effective nurse leaders employ to create cultures of safety and lead the way for quality improvement.

NURS 570 Translating Scholarship into Practice

This course builds upon prior knowledge of statistics and evidence-based practice to develop skills of analyzing, interpreting, and translating research findings into practice. Students will explore how to: apply research outcomes within various practice settings to resolve practice issues; lead the health care team to implement evidence-based practice; use translational research skills to lead continuous improvement processes; and be a role model for lifelong learning.

Nurse Leadership Concentration Courses

NURS 631 Organizational and System Leadership

This course focuses on understanding how health care delivery systems are organized and development of leadership skills needed to provide high quality, safe patient care. Students will examine ethical and critical decision making; leadership, systems, and complexity theory; operations research; interprofessional collaboration, and legal factors influencing health care.

NURS 641 Information and Data Management

This course focuses on developing deeper knowledge and skill in the use of information and health care technologies critical to delivery of quality patient care in a variety of settings. Students will examine ways nurse leaders use information technology systems to communicate, gather evidence, deliver and coordinate care across multiple settings, analyze point of care outcomes, and educate self and others.  Ethical and legal issues related to use of information technology will be explored.

NURS 641C Information and Data Management Clinical

This supervised, 45-clock-hour clinical experience provides students opportunity to apply theoretical understanding of information and health care technologies to develop a health education program or evidence-based policy;  implement point of care practices or; evaluate and apply relevant data to improve patient care, reduce, risks, or improve health outcomes.

NURS 651 Health Care Finances

This course focuses on understanding of basic business principles and how finance works in the business of health care. Students will examine ways to provide quality cost-effective care, develop a budget, and how to assume a leadership role in the management of fiscal resources.

NURS 651C Health Care Finances Clinical

This supervised, 45-clock-hour clinical experience provides students’ opportunity to apply understanding of business principles learned to analyze how a budget impacts delivery of quality cost-effective care within the context of a health system, community organization, or clinical setting.

NURS 690 Leadership Project and Practicum

This supervised, 135-clock-hour clinical immersion experience provides students opportunity to apply concepts learned in prior master’s courses to influence delivery of ethical, safe, quality care to diverse populations in a variety of health care settings. Following conduction of a comprehensive and systematic assessment, students will design, implement, and evaluate nursing interventions aimed at influencing health care outcomes for individual, populations, or systems.

Nursing Education Concentration Courses

NURS 610 Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Nurse Educators

This course builds upon prior knowledge of human pathophysiology and pharmacology. Students will develop an in-depth understanding of pathophysiology from a molecular to a system’s perspective. Select pharmacological concepts are explored in-depth and in relation to pathophysiology and related disease states. Students apply principles learned to real-world practice situations.

NURS 620 Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Educators

This course builds upon prior knowledge of health assessment and provides students with advanced knowledge and skills needed to conduct a comprehensive and holistic health assessment of individuals across the lifespan. Emphasis is on collection, interpretation, and synthesis of relevant historical, genetic, biological, cultural, psychosocial, and physical data as well as evidence-based practice concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention.

NURS 620C Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Educators Clinical

This supervised, 45-clock-hour clinical experience provides students’ opportunity to develop and hone advanced health assessment skills. Students demonstrate ability to conduct a comprehensive and holistic advance health assessment of select individuals across the lifespan as well as provide evidence-based teaching related to health promotion and disease prevention.

NURS 630 Found. of Nursing Education I: Roles, Trends & Theories

In this course students examine the role, expectations, and professional aspects associated with the responsibilities of the nurse educator in the academic and professional development setting(s).   Career development issues, evidence-based education, leadership, and decision-making in ethical and legal issues related to nursing education are explored. Students examine current trends, philosophical foundations, and theoretical perspectives of education and develop a personal philosophy of teaching.

NURS 640 Found. of Nursing Education II: Methods, Management, & Assessment

This course explores teaching, assessment, and management methods that can be used in a variety of educational settings. Students become knowledgeable about various teaching and learning strategies, and instructional technologies, develop competency related to writing program, course, and learning outcomes, selecting and developing appropriate nursing related content, and learn to adapt to a variety of learning styles. Various methods for assessing learning outcomes and effective ways to manage the learning environment are explored.

NURS 640C Found of Nursing Educ II: Methods, Management, & Assessment Clinical

This supervised, 45-clock-hour clinical experience provides students’ opportunity to apply knowledge of teaching, assessment, and management methods and instructional technology to a structured simulation, clinical skills laboratory, or staff development educational experience in a way that connects didactic course and program outcomes to the psychomotor domain of student learning.

NURS 650 Curriculum by Design

In this course students examine principles of curriculum development, redesign, and evaluation. Students use this knowledge along with understanding of current internal and external factors to the nursing profession which influence curriculum to develop, redesign, and evaluate the curriculum of a baccalaureate nursing program.

NURS 695 Teaching Practicum

This supervised, 135-clock-hour clinical immersion experience provides students opportunity to apply concepts learned in prior master’s courses in a nursing online or face-to-face classroom, simulation, staff development, or clinical teaching experience. Students will design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive, evidence-based teaching and learning project for patients and families, student nurses, staff nurses, or other direct-care providers.

Enrollment Process

1. Apply for free. Our application is non-binding, meaning you are not obligated to attend Bushnell University if you are admitted to the program.
2. Request your official transcripts of all college-level coursework, showing completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
3. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have it sent to Bushnell University (003208), if using financial aid.

Start the FAFSA

1. Once we have your application, official transcripts, and proof of your RN license, your application materials will be given to the admissions committee for consideration.
2. After being admitted to the program, you can enroll with the next start date, or you can delay for any reason. Your application is valid for one year.

GPA Requirements

Bushnell University recommends a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 for admission into the MSN program.

What if I do not meet the Admission Requirements?

Applicants who do not meet these academic standards may be considered by the Admissions Committee for conditional admission on a case-by-case basis. Additional documentation may be required. Please speak with your enrollment advisor for more details.

Sigma Pi Delta, Nursing Honor Society

(Alpha Alpha Tau Chapter)

These three Greek words forming the name of the society characterize the University’s mission of Wisdom (Sigma), Faith (Pi), and Service (Delta). There are three ways Bushnell University nursing students and nurse leaders in our community may become a Sigma Pi Delta member:

• Undergraduate nursing students who achieve academic excellence in their nursing courses and rank in the top 35% of their graduating class are granted membership in Sigma Pi Delta.
• Master’s students who have completed at least 1/4 of the nursing curriculum and achieve academic excellence (GPA of 3.5 or above) are granted membership in Sigma Pi Delta.
• Nurse Leaders who are legally recognized to practice in their countries, have at least a baccalaureate degree in nursing or other field and demonstrate achievement in nursing in Scholarship or Leadership or Service or Practice may apply to become a member of Sigma Pi Delta.

Sigma Pi Delta members are inducted in December and May during the Blessing of the Hands Ceremony.

Nurse Leader Application Form

State Authorization

Bushnell University, like other institutions of higher education, must obtain authorization from individual states and territories to enroll students residing outside of Oregon into the MSN program. Most states are authorized or exempt from authorization because the MSN program is 100% online. At this time, only students from authorized states can be enrolled into the MSN program. If you reside outside the state of Oregon, please refer to the State Authorization Map below:

If you have any questions or live in a state that is not currently authorized, please contact the Office of Admissions at 541-684-7343 or gradadmissions@bushnell.edu.