Two new graduate-level degrees will prepare nurses for leadership roles in the field
Northcentral University (NCU) has today announced the launch of two new graduate programs focused on the field of nursing. Available starting today and on a weekly rolling basis to registered nurses, the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership (DNP) will prepare degree candidates to become leaders in the high-demand field.
“In the dynamic and complex healthcare industry, nursing remains critical to providing quality care, improving patient outcomes and leading positive organizational efforts,” states Laurie Shanderson, PHD, MPA, and NCU’s Founding Dean of the School of Health Sciences. “The healthcare field is growing rapidly, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 31 percent increase in employment by 2026. NCU is looking forward to welcoming new students who will take the skills they learn in our programs and apply them in their future roles and communities.”
A part of NCU’s School of Health Sciences, the MSN and DNP programs are built on a curriculum that reflects the MSN Essentials of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. These criteria include skill sets like organizational and systems leadership, health policy and advocacy, and healthcare technologies, among others. Program offerings will include:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – This 36-credit program is divided into eleven 8-week courses and one 12-week Capstone Experience course. Students will learn principles of health care administration, resource and financial management, health care law and policy, medical personnel management, and managed care operations. Graduates will be prepared to assume specialized and leadership roles within healthcare organizations.
- Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership (DNP) – The DNP program’s curriculum will utilize both the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials and the competencies from the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) to provide a thorough grounding in advanced subjects like complex evidence-based nursing practice and applying research in decision-making. It will also include instruction in healthcare delivery systems, health economics and finance, health policy, research methods, translating evidence into practice, concepts in population health, and nursing leadership. The 46-credit program will conclude with a final project in a practice setting.
The program is based upon the AACN’s Essentials, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation process will be initiated as soon as CCNE rules allow (one year after program is in operation).
The School of Health Sciences integrates Interprofessional Education (IPE) and collaborative practice in each academic program. As the complexity of issues impacting patients’ health increases, the School is dedicated to preparing students who are highly competent and skilled at collaborating with others in the field to address patient and industry needs.
For more information about the School of Health Sciences and any of NCU’s current degree programs, please visit ncu.edu/programs-degrees.
About Northcentral University
Founded in 1996, Northcentral University is a regionally accredited, private, online and graduate-focused university serving professionals globally. With no physical residency requirements, courses are taught one-to-one by an NCU professor with a doctoral degree. NCU offers doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in business, education, and psychology, as well as doctoral and master’s degrees in marriage and family therapy, technology and health sciences. Northcentral University is regionally accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510.748.9001, wscuc.org. For more information, visit http://www.ncu.edu or call 866.776.0331.