Sacred Heart University – Online MSN Programs

The College of Nursing at Sacred Heart University (SHU) offers an online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with three specializations: Clinical Nurse Leader, Nursing Education, and Nursing Management and Executive Leadership. Current RNs with a BSN or non-nursing bachelor’s are eligible to apply. For each specialization, there is an accelerated RN-BSN-MSN pathway available which allows students to accelerate their learning by taking some graduate level courses at undergraduate tuition rates and taking fewer courses overall. Students have until halfway through the RN-BSN-MSN program to declare their specialization.

Clinical Nurse Leader students take an integrative approach to improving patient quality of care through collaboration with the patient and all members of the care team. Topics covered include patient risk assessment, interprofessional communication and collaboration, patient evaluation, disease management, pharmacology, and family and community care. Graduates are qualified to take the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) exam.

Nurse Educator students learn to create lesson plans, assess learning outcomes, lecture students and speak at conferences, conduct peer reviews for journals, and conduct research. Nurse Educators may fulfill roles at colleges and universities, online nursing programs, continuing education programs, public health organizations, long-term care facilities, and home care organizations. Topics covered may include quality and safety improvement, informatics, health policy and advocacy, effective communication and collaboration, ethics, and healthcare prevention programs. Graduates are qualified to sit for the Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE) exam.

Nursing Management and Executive Leadership students may serve in high-level administrative roles that combine leadership and business principles to effectively manage healthcare organizations. Topics covered include human resource management, patient quality of care improvement, patient safety, financial management, program evaluation, and healthcare information systems.

The online MSN consists of 39 credits for the Clinical Nurse Leader and Nursing Education specializations, and 36 credits for the Nursing Management and Executive Leadership specialization. The RN to BSN to MSN pathways consist of 84 to 87 credits depending on the specialization chosen. The programs begin six times per year in January, March, April, June, August, and October. The MSN degree paths can be completed in two years on a part-time basis taking one course every 8 weeks. The RN-BSN-MSN pathways take about 3 years part-time. Coursework for both sets of degree pathways is 100% online with a required number of clinical hours for each program respectively.

SHU delivers courses asynchronously through the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) with a variety of applications and tools for collaboration and interaction. The Clinical Nurse Leader MSN requires 348 hours of clinical practicum, Nursing Education requires 180 hours, and Nursing Management and Executive Leadership requires 120 hours. Those taking the RN to BSN to MSN pathways will have different numbers of clinical hour requirements.

Courses for the online MSN for all tracks include Healthcare Policy & Ethics for Contemporary Nursing Practice; Theory & Professional Roles for Contemporary Nursing Practice; Principles of Healthcare Research for Contemporary Nursing Practice; Evidence-Based Practice for Quality Care; and Principles of Healthcare Research for Evidence-Based Nursing Practice. Students also complete a practicum and capstone course for each track.

Courses for the Clinical Nurse Leader specialization may include Family and Community Context for Health Care; Application of Comprehensive Health Assessment Methods; Pharmacology for the Nurse Leader; Disease Management and Outcomes Assessment; and Care Management and Resources Across the Continuum.

Courses for the Nursing Educator specialization may include Theoretical Basis of Teaching and Learning in Nursing Education; Principles of Patient and Staff Education; Curriculum Development and Evaluation in Nursing Education; Health Care Information Systems; and Application of Comprehensive Health Assessment Methods.

Courses for the Nursing Management and Executive Leadership specialization may include Creating a Professional Work Environment; Quality and Safety in Practice; Role Development for Nursing Management and Executive Leadership (NMEL); Health Care Delivery Systems; and Management of Financial Resources.

Courses for the RN to BSN to MSN degree may include courses such as The Human Journey of Nursing; Health Assessment for RNs; Populations & Global Health Nursing; Principles of Healthcare Research for Contemporary Nursing Practice; Care Management: Individuals & Families; Evidence-Based Practice for Quality Care; and Healthcare Policy & Ethics for Contemporary Nursing Practice.

Sacred Heart University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The online MSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).