Nursing Leadership in Health Systems

Learn nursing leadership in health systems in our top-ranked program

Our Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nursing Leadership in Health Systems track covers a wide range of administrative knowledge, from leadership and decision-making to economics and organizational theory. Ranked #11 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Online Master's in Nursing Leadership, our courses are taught by faculty with years of experience in a variety of leadership roles across the state of Indiana.

You are encouraged to tailor your elective courses to meet your specific career goals and emerging employment opportunities. You will also participate in an administrative practicum and research experience that allows you to develop real-world practical leadership skills.

This program prepares you for mid-level and senior nursing leadership in a variety of settings and roles, including:

Hospitals
Academic settings
Community health agencies
Government/public policy organizations
Corporate industry
Private consultation
Entrepreneurial pursuits

Part-time and full-time plans of study are available.

Clinical/practicum experiences can be completed in your home community within Indiana and are arranged cooperatively by students and faculty.

Certification

When you graduate, you will be eligible for certification as a Nurse Executive through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), or Executive Nursing Practice certification from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL). These certifications require two years of work experience in nursing leadership roles in addition to the MSN degree.

MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Part Time

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Part Time - Fall
Fall
Description	Course	Credits
Leadership for Advanced Nursing Practice	NURS-N504	3
This course addresses organizational and leadership knowledge and skills required to advance health outcomes and influence policy. Key leadership issues and challenges affecting advanced practice nurses will be examined and effective leadership and advocacy skills will be applied.
Measurement and Data Analysis	NURS-R505	3
Principles and applications of scientific measurement, data summarization, inferential statistics, and practical derivations of the general linear model. Considers the research purpose and the phenomenon under study as determinants of measurement techniques and data analysis.
Total		6

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Part Time - Spring
Spring
Description	Course	Credits
Nursing Theory I	NURS-N502	3
This course focuses on analyzing the relationships between theory and research for effective translation to practice. Emphasis is placed on selection and evaluation of theories, interprofessional perspectives, and using theory to guide practice and research.
Nursing Research Methods I	NURS-R500	3
This course emphasizes using research findings as a basis for clinical and organization decision-making in the delivery of high quality evidence-based health care. Emphasis is placed on identifying clinical problems and searching, appraising, and synthesizing research evidence for application or, in the absence of evidence, generating new knowledge using research methods. Strategies for disseminating findings across inter-professional contexts and monitoring continuous quality improvement are examined.
Total		6

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Part Time - Summer I and II
Summer I and II
Description	Course	Credits
Informatics in Nursing Leadership Practice	NURS-I640	3
This course will examine the nurse leader’s role across the continuum of care in the selection, implementation, and integration of healthcare technologies and information systems to enhance health outcomes. This course will examine theories and research related to healthcare technology and information systems. A focus on emerging technologies for clinical practice and healthcare leadership will be emphasized.
Economic Analysis of Nursing and Health Systems	NURS-L581	3
This course provides the economic context for leadership in nursing systems and a forum for students to analyze concepts of cost and cost effectiveness, reimbursement, health equity, and value to the community they serve. Examination of health expenditures, alternative care delivery systems and business strategies that influence health outcomes will be emphasized.
Total		6

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Part Time - Fall
Fall
Description	Course	Credits
Clinical Hours		150
Nursing Leadership and Organizational Behavior in Complex Health Systems	NURS-L577	3
This course provides an overview of leadership and organizational concepts, theories, and research relevant to nursing leadership and patient care delivery systems across the continuum of care. Emphasis is placed on effective leadership principles and organizational processes applicable to safe and quality health care systems, such as systems thinking, organizational culture, interprofessional communication, resource utilization, ethics, and change models.
Nursing Leadership Practicum I	NURS-L582	3
This course focuses on developing the leadership role at the microsystem level with aggregate populations in complex and dynamic work environments. Students will assess the application of leadership theories, evidence-based leadership practices, and organizational dynamics as they apply to the nurse leader role. 150 clinical hours.
Total		6

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Part Time - Spring
Spring
Description	Course	Credits
Clinical Hours		150
Financial, Legal, and Ethical leadership in Health Systems	NURS-L578	3
This course provides the economic context for leadership in nursing systems and a forum for students to analyze concepts of cost and cost effectiveness, reimbursement, health equity, and value to the community they serve. Examination of health expenditures, alternative care delivery systems and business strategies that influence health outcomes will be emphasized.
Nursing Leadership Practicum II	NURS-L592	3
This course focuses on developing the nurse leader role at the mesosystem (multidepartmental) level by expanding the focus on strategic and daily operations of multiple nursing and health services departments. Students will examine decision-making, teamwork, conflict resolution, problem-solving, coaching, and work engagement experiences with individuals and teams in health systems. 150 clinical hours.
Total		6

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Part Time - Summer I and II
Summer I and II
Description	Course	Credits
Clinical Hours		225
Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Practicum III	NURS-L580	3
This final practicum course focuses on synthesis of the nurse leader role, including accountabilities for safe and effective care delivery. Emphasis is placed on extended responsibilities of nurse leaders, such as partnerships, service-based approaches, continuum-defined health care systems, self-managed teams, health innovations, and values-based care. Through a guided learning opportunity, students will participate in and assess complex structures and processes designed to create value in health systems. 225 clinical hours.
Health Systems Leadership Seminar	NURS-L596	3
This seminar course provides students with opportunities to explore the impact of contemporary topics confronting current and future health systems leaders. Emphasis is placed on the interaction of theory and research on leadership practice.
Total		6

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Part Time - Fall
Fall
Description	Course	Credits
Elective		3
Elective		3
Total		6

MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Full Time

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Full Time - Fall
Fall
Description	Course	Credits
Nursing Theory I	NURS-N502	3
This course focuses on analyzing the relationships between theory and research for effective translation to practice. Emphasis is placed on selection and evaluation of theories, interprofessional perspectives, and using theory to guide practice and research.
Leadership for Advanced Nursing Practice	NURS-N504	3
This course addresses organizational and leadership knowledge and skills required to advance health outcomes and influence policy. Key leadership issues and challenges affecting advanced practice nurses will be examined and effective leadership and advocacy skills will be applied.
Elective		3
Total		9

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Full Time - Spring
Spring
Description	Course	Credits
Nursing Research Methods I	NURS-R500	3
This course emphasizes using research findings as a basis for clinical and organization decision-making in the delivery of high quality evidence-based health care. Emphasis is placed on identifying clinical problems and searching, appraising, and synthesizing research evidence for application or, in the absence of evidence, generating new knowledge using research methods. Strategies for disseminating findings across inter-professional contexts and monitoring continuous quality improvement are examined.
Measurement and Data Analysis	NURS-R505	3
Principles and applications of scientific measurement, data summarization, inferential statistics, and practical derivations of the general linear model. Considers the research purpose and the phenomenon under study as determinants of measurement techniques and data analysis.
Elective		3
Total		9

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Full Time - Summer I and II
Summer I and II
Description	Course	Credits
Informatics in Nursing Leadership Practice	NURS-I640	3
This course will examine the nurse leader’s role across the continuum of care in the selection, implementation, and integration of healthcare technologies and information systems to enhance health outcomes. This course will examine theories and research related to healthcare technology and information systems. A focus on emerging technologies for clinical practice and healthcare leadership will be emphasized.
Economic Analysis of Nursing and Health Systems	NURS-L581	3
This course provides the economic context for leadership in nursing systems and a forum for students to analyze concepts of cost and cost effectiveness, reimbursement, health equity, and value to the community they serve. Examination of health expenditures, alternative care delivery systems and business strategies that influence health outcomes will be emphasized.
Total		6

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Full Time - Fall
Fall
Description	Course	Credits
Clinical Hours		150
Nursing Leadership and Organizational Behavior in Complex Health Systems	NURS-L577	3
This course provides an overview of leadership and organizational concepts, theories, and research relevant to nursing leadership and patient care delivery systems across the continuum of care. Emphasis is placed on effective leadership principles and organizational processes applicable to safe and quality health care systems, such as systems thinking, organizational culture, interprofessional communication, resource utilization, ethics, and change models.
Nursing Leadership Practicum I	NURS-L582	3
This course focuses on developing the leadership role at the microsystem level with aggregate populations in complex and dynamic work environments. Students will assess the application of leadership theories, evidence-based leadership practices, and organizational dynamics as they apply to the nurse leader role. 150 clinical hours.
Total		6

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Full Time - Spring
Spring
Description	Course	Credits
Clinical Hours		150
Financial, Legal, and Ethical leadership in Health Systems	NURS-L578	3
This course provides the economic context for leadership in nursing systems and a forum for students to analyze concepts of cost and cost effectiveness, reimbursement, health equity, and value to the community they serve. Examination of health expenditures, alternative care delivery systems and business strategies that influence health outcomes will be emphasized.
Nursing Leadership Practicum II	NURS-L592	3
This course focuses on developing the nurse leader role at the mesosystem (multidepartmental) level by expanding the focus on strategic and daily operations of multiple nursing and health services departments. Students will examine decision-making, teamwork, conflict resolution, problem-solving, coaching, and work engagement experiences with individuals and teams in health systems. 150 clinical hours.
Total		6

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Full Time - Summer I and II
Summer I and II
Description	Course	Credits
Clinical Hours		225
Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Practicum III	NURS-L580	3
This final practicum course focuses on synthesis of the nurse leader role, including accountabilities for safe and effective care delivery. Emphasis is placed on extended responsibilities of nurse leaders, such as partnerships, service-based approaches, continuum-defined health care systems, self-managed teams, health innovations, and values-based care. Through a guided learning opportunity, students will participate in and assess complex structures and processes designed to create value in health systems. 225 clinical hours.
Health Systems Leadership Seminar	NURS-L596	3
This seminar course provides students with opportunities to explore the impact of contemporary topics confronting current and future health systems leaders. Emphasis is placed on the interaction of theory and research on leadership practice.
Total		6

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Nursing Leadership in Health Systems

Learn nursing leadership in health systems in our top-ranked program

Certification

MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Part Time

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MSN Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Track - Full Time

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