MSN - Health Systems Leadership

The Master of Science in Nursing - Health Systems Leadership major provides an academic experience that prepares students to be transformative nurse leaders and world-changers. This major is designed to develop healthcare system leaders who are ethical, effective, efficient, and innovative to meet the needs of the future of healthcare. These goals are accomplished by developing nurse scholars through an integrated experience of advanced intellectual challenge, collaboration, evidence-based professional growth, and hands-on, real-world experience. Graduates complete 520 practicum hours and are prepared to assume leadership roles within a variety of healthcare settings, nationally and globally.

Upon completion of the program, the graduate should be able to:

Integrate knowledge of the art and science of leadership and nursing into the role of a nursing leader.
Create an environment that fosters a person-centered approach to nursing leadership that values the well-being of one’s self, staff, patients, families, and communities and establishes communication skills to enhance interprofessional relationships.
Lead systems to enhance population health.
Utilize scholarship and evidence to guide quality improvement principles in the leadership of nursing practice.
Apply systems and complexity principles to lead nursing practice through the use of information and communication technology.

Admission Requirements

Admission to all Masters Nursing majors begins with submission of required application forms, letters of recommendation, and official transcripts of previous college and university studies. Acceptance into any Masters Nursing program will remain valid for a period of 18 months.

Proof that all nursing licenses – whether current or inactive – are unencumbered. Potential students with encumbered nursing licenses will not be considered eligible for enrollment at Indiana Wesleyan University.
All applicants must provide three letters of professional reference. References should be from faculty members, professional colleagues, work supervisors or a pastor who can evaluate the applicant’s potential for success in a graduate program. Recommendations from family members are NOT appropriate. These letters should be solicited from professionals who can address the applicant’s qualifications for the MSN or doctoral programs.
Original transcript from the undergraduate degree granting institution and institution where graduate courses have been taken.
A criminal history background check (at the student's expense) must be completed upon admission to any track of the Masters Nursing program. A criminal background check must be completed within six weeks following the start of the program. Upon request, documentation of background checks, required health information, immunization information, drug screening results, and other required information may be provided to healthcare facilities where the student will be completing clinical/practicum requirements as part of their required course of study. Progression in the program is dependent on the results of the reports

To assist in the decision-making process, the Division of Masters Nursing reserves the right to require the applicant to:

Interview

Criteria for regular admission are:

B.S.N. or B.S. degree with a major in nursing from a college or university accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Registered nurse applicants who have a non-nursing bachelor's degree and a minimum of ten years of recent experience in nursing practice may also be considered for admission by Portfolio. These candidates may submit a Portfolio which includes a current CV/resume, including evidence of accomplishments in nursing based on The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice.
Undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from the baccalaureate degree granting institution at which at least a minimum of 30 hours was completed.

Gradate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from a college or university accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) where at least 9 credit were completed.

Criteria for conditional admission are:

Applicants who do not meet the GPA listed in the criteria for regular admission and have at least a 2.75 undergraduate GPA may be conditionally admitted and allowed to take 9- credit hours of masters nursing courses to establish a graduate GPA.

Students who have earned a 3.0 GPA by the completion of 9-credit hours in master nursing courses, will meet the criteria for regular admission.
An unsatisfactory grade (C- or lower in any GNUR course) while conditionally admitted will result in administrative withdrawal from the program and denial of regular admission.
Students who do not earn a 3.0 GPA by the completion of 9-credit hours in master nursing courses will be denied regular admission.

Program Requirements

All courses must be successfully completed in the sequence prescribed by the program's requirements. Failure to successfully complete a course will result in an administrative withdrawal from the program.
Any student found to have falsified clinical/practicum hours will be immediately dismissed and not allowed to re-enter any Masters Nursing program at IWU.
Students must meet all practicum agency requirements.
MSN students may be required to provide health clearance and proof of immunization.
Students who maintain continuous enrollment, who make normal progress toward a degree, and who earn their degree within the major program's maximum time from the date of enrollment may meet the graduation requirements as stated in the catalog under which they enrolled.
Students must maintain an RN license that is active and unencumbered at all times during enrollment in the program. Students must have a valid unencumbered RN license in the state(s) of the practicum sites. If students have multiple state licenses, all must be unencumbered. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the School of Integrated Health if the status of their RN license changes. Students will be administratively withdrawn from the program at any point if this status is not maintained
Students must meet all practicum agency requirements.

Clinical Compliance Documentation:

Before beginning any clinical or practicum experiences, students must meet all practicum agency requirements (at the student's expense). All Advanced Practice Registered Nursing students, and as required other students, must complete a second criminal background check and a drug screen, and submit documentation of health clearance, immunizations, and meet any other requirements of the practicum site before any client contact. In addition, random drug testing (ex. annually) or drug testing based on reasonable suspicion can be implemented at any time and without prior notice. Students who do not comply will be dismissed from the program. Progression in the program is dependent on the results of the reports.
Upon request, documentation of required health information, background check reports, drug screening results, and other required information may be provided to healthcare facilities where the student will be completing clinical/practicum requirements as part of their required course of study.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must meet the following requirements:

Satisfactory completion of all core, major, and clinical requirements for the specific program.
Minimum grade of "C" in each core (GNUR prefix) course and "B" in each major (HSL prefix) course.
Cumulative GPA of 3.00.
The MSN degree programs must be completed within a maximum of four years from the date of enrollment.
Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.

Health System Leadership - Program of Study

All courses must be completed with a satisfactory grade in order to continue in the program.

Core Courses

All undergraduate courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher.

GNUR-501	Evidence Based Communication	3
GNUR-529	Epidemiology & Care of Populations	3
GNUR-529P	Epidemiology & Care of Populations Practicum	1
GNUR-532	Synthesis of Advanced Pharmacology, Physical Assessment, and Pathophysiology	4
GNUR-532P	Synthesis of Advanced Pharmacology, Physical Assessment, and Pathophysiology Practicum	1

Major Courses

All major courses must be completed with a grade of "B" or higher.

HSL-680	Transformative Leadership	4
HSL-680P	Transformative Leadership Practicum	1
HSL-682	Practice Leadership	4
HSL-682P	Practice Leadership Practicum	1
HSL-684	Collaborative Leadership	4
HSL-684P	Collaborative Leadership Practicum	1
HSL-686	Systems Leadership	4
HSL-686P	Systems Leadership Practicum	1
HSL-688P	Nursing Leadership Capstone Practicum	2
Total Credit Hours:		34