Masters in Nursing – Leadership in Health Care Systems

Earn Your Masters in Nursing – Leadership in Health Care Systems

Grand Canyon University’s Master of Science in Nursing degree program prepares nurses for leadership roles in today’s rapidly changing healthcare delivery systems. This program is an ideal avenue for current nurses who want to advance their career toward leadership and make a greater impact on the field at the management level. To meet expectations at this advanced level, nursing students will learn to synthesize elements of caring into the nurse-patient relationship—based on advocacy, as well as ethical, social, legal, political and historical perspectives. This program further addresses the importance of client empowerment with unconditional regard for all.

The Leadership in Health Care Systems emphasis portion of this program focuses on:

• Analyzing organizational behavior among individuals, teams and departments
• Developing strategies for implementing changes, leading diverse teams and fostering collaboration
• Applying financial management principles
• Generating data-driven, cost-effective solutions
• Leading in the improvement of care processes, outcomes and the patient experience
• Modeling leadership behaviors that motivate and inspire others

GCU’s MSN in Nursing with an Emphasis in Leadership in Health Care Systems meets standards set by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN): The leadership standards for this program will align with American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE).

The masters in nursing leadership in health care systems emphasis at GCU is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Select states may have additional requirements to meet their standards; reference your enrollment agreement or contact GCU for more information.

Advance Your Skills as a Nurse Leader with a Leadership in Healthcare Systems MSN Degree

This masters in nursing leadership is designed to incorporate the advanced roles of a clinician, researcher, learner, educator, coach, leader, community advocate, manager of systems, collaborator and consultant. Thus, students will possess a wide range of skills and expansive knowledge that prepares them to improve healthcare and patient outcomes from all aspects. Among the skill sets to adopt, clinical and organizational decision-making skills are required for a graduate-level nurse. These skills are developed through critical thinking, evidence-based research and diagnostic reasoning.

The MSN program’s curriculum consists of graduate nursing core and leadership courses, including leadership courses taken with Master of Science in Leadership (MSL) students. In the graduate nursing core courses, students gain the knowledge, values and skills necessary for advanced generalist nursing practice in an evolving healthcare system. The leadership coursework provides insight into how organizations function with a focus on financial and human resource management within healthcare. Leadership courses prepare master’s nursing students to meet the requirements of leaders in contemporary healthcare, which include skills in quality and performance improvement, effective communication and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Courses include an Evidence-Based Practice Project in which students address a problem in their area of professional practice, propose a solution and design an evaluation. The Leadership in Health Care Systems Practicum also provides students with the opportunity to apply what they learned to a contemporary, nursing leadership-related practicum experience. This practicum encourages the application of deep nursing knowledge, along with advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Topics can range from quality/performance improvement or mentorship/coaching to interdisciplinary relationships or staff development.

What can you do with an MSN Leadership degree?

Master’s-prepared nurses may pursue the next step in their career as an advanced registered nurse, charge nurse, director of nursing or staff nurse. Graduates may also choose to move right into the DNP program to elevate their career and nursing expertise to the highest degree.

Program Domains