The Chatham University Nursing Program offers a 33 credit Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN). The program prepares students to become world ready nurse leaders, informatics specialists, or educators. The Chatham University MSN program requires 18 credits of MSN Core courses and 15 credits in the Educator, Leadership, or Informatics tracks.

The MSN program at Chatham University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, (202) 463-6930.

Program Structure:
The Chatham University MSN program is delivered as an online program. The program builds on the Bachelor of Science in Nursing foundation by preparing nurses to advance their practice as nurse educators, leaders, or informatics specialist in a variety of settings. Practical experiences are completed at approved practice experience sites with the guidance of an approved preceptor. Full-time and part-time cohorts for each track are admitted each Fall and Spring. An International MSN track is delivered in an on ground format consisting of the 18 core credits and 15 specialty track credits for full-time fall cohorts.

As of 10.1.22, the MSN Nursing Informatics track is no longer accepting applications. All currently enrolled students will progress through the program to completion.

Admission Requirements

• Complete free online application
• 3.0 undergraduate grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale
• Official academic transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended verifying completion of BSN degree
• Copy of your current résumé or vitae
• Copy of current valid RN license
• Admissions Essay: Describe the evolving role of the MSN prepared nurse in the practice setting.

State Restrictions for Online Learning

State Restrictions for Online Learning Chatham University requires state authorization to provide distance education in states other than their own. Please follow the link below to see if Chatham is authorized to deliver instruction in your state. Also, this program has a required practice experience component. Please check the information in the Practice Experience and Special requirements column to see if the state you plan on completing your practice experience hours is approved or has special restrictions.

State Authorization for Distance Education and Practical Experiences

Admissions Materials may be submitted to:
Chatham University
Office of Graduate Admission - Berry Hall
Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
graduate@chatham.edu

International Applicants

International Applicants must submit additional documentation to the Office of Admissions. A list of these documents can be found on the International Admission web page.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program the student will:

• Integrate scientific findings from nursing and other fields for continual improvement of nursing care.
• Synthesize organizational and systems leadership principles to promote high quality and safe patient care.
• Implement quality improvement principles to promote high quality and safe patient care.
• Critique evidence with an understanding of quantitative and qualitative research to guide decision-making.
• Analyze current and emerging trends & technologies to support quality health care.
• Construct effective communication strategies for working effectively in teams and collaboratively with other health care providers.
• Analyze and synthesize innovative approaches to complex issues in health care delivery at the local, state and national level based on understanding of health policy and principles of advocacy.
• Design evidence-based and culturally relevant clinical prevention interventions.
• Conduct a comprehensive and systematic physical assessment as a basis for decision-making.
• Advance nursing practice through education, informatics, or leadership utilizing didactic and experiential learning.

Curriculum

+Core Courses

18 credits

NUR501	Scientific Underpinnings for Practice This course examines principles and processes of evidence based practice as a strategy to guide clinical decision making, initiate practice change and improve nursing practice, including translating, evaluating and disseminating the evidence. Course elements include gaining knowledge of research design, statistical concepts and search strategies.	3
NUR503	Informatics Foundation and Health Care Technology This course focuses on technology and informatics in healthcare delivery. Students will evaluate current and emerging technologies used for data driven decision-making to support quality healthcare outcomes. Key to this foundational knowledge will be skills developed to effectively communicate, coordinate, and analyze change resulting from the utilization of technology.	3
NUR504	Introduction to Organizational Leadership in Nursing Emphasizing leadership decision making, this course includes an overview of theories, research, and applications that focus on managing organizational behavior, quality improvement, and systems leadership across health care delivery systems. Students will learn how patient care systems are structured, processes developed, and outcomes affected by actions of leaders and employees.	3
NUR505	Health Assessment and Promotion Across the Lifespan This course provides an exploration of key concepts in pathophysiology, physical assessment, and pharmacotherapy across the lifespan for the masters prepared nurse. Cultural and genetic influences of health will be analyzed and applied for health promotion, person-centered care, and population health.	3
NUR506	Professional Role: Communication & Collaboration for Improving Pt. Outcome This course will assist nurses to develop, analyze and apply skills in collaboration and communication, including the Interprofessional Education Collaborative's core competencies, effective communication strategies based on complexity and transformational leadership theory, skills of presentation and publication to improve patient care and advance nursing practice.	3
NUR507	Health Policy & Advocacy In this course students analyze and synthesize innovative approaches to complex issues in health care delivery at the local, state, and federal levels. Concepts such as politics, policy, market forces, and advocacy are used to assess how system approaches can affect health care delivery.	3

+Nursing LeadershipTrack

15 credits

NUR630	Health Care Economics and Financial Management The Health Care Economics and Financial Management course focuses on examination and understanding of health care financing and reimbursement concepts preparing a world ready nurse leader to function in a variety of health care delivery settings. Content focuses on concepts of budget and leadership management, influencing policy makers, and linking patient care outcomes to resource management.	3
NUR640	Leadership for Change This course focuses on the needs of health care leaders to take health care delivery into the future through creative, innovative design initiatives focusing on a consumer driven health care delivery system. Content includes: variables impacting health care delivery systems, reimbursement and funding for design change, managing competition, and managing human and financial resources.	3
NUR650	Leadership and Health Care Operations This course provides an overview of three distinct and necessary areas of leadership knowledge with an emphasis on managerial decision-making including legal aspects of health care, human resource management, and health policy. Students will work through specific scenarios in each of these areas to identify legal, ethical, and political issues.	3
NUR660 - Health Care Leadership Practicum (3)
NUR670 - Healthcare Leadership Capstone (3)

+Nursing Informatics Track

15 credits

NUR631	Integrating Technology into a Health Care Environment This course will assist healthcare professionals within a graduate program to develop a strong foundation of knowledge in understanding the impact technology and informatics has in the delivery of care across various health settings. Students will be introduced to current and emerging technologies while exploring the impact on patient outcomes and staff satisfaction. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: NUR503 Informatics Foundation and Health Care Technology	3
NUR651	Database Management for Evidence-based Decision making This course is designed to assist the student in understanding the various database systems used within a healthcare setting. Key to this course is understanding how healthcare professionals can collect and extract data from database systems to assess the organizations performance and impact on patient outcomes.	3
NUR661	Health Care Informatics Practicum During this practicum course, students integrate program content and create a practice change project by working with professionals directly involved in improving patient care through quality, organizational processes, or safety. Course includes 60 practice experience hours that incorporate direct patient care for the advanced practice nursing role.	3
NUR671	Healthcare Informatics Capstone During this capstone course, students transition to the advanced practice nursing role while implementing their practice change project. Course includes 60 practice experience hours completed in collaboration with their preceptor and other identified healthcare professionals involved with direct patient care.	3
HCI583	Virtual Engagement to Improve Health This course introduces students to a virtual world where technology is driving change, impacting the way healthcare is delivered and managed through the use of the Internet, social media and mobile technologies. Students will engage in virtual activities that transform the traditional roles of interprofessional healthcare providers.	3

+Nursing Education Track

15 credits

NUR632	Curriculum Design and Evaluation in Nursing Education This course focuses on the processes of curriculum development and evaluation that are critical responsibilities of nurse educators in schools of nursing, patient education programs, or staff development. Course goals include how the curriculum provides guidelines for program delivery and methods for evaluating program effectiveness.	3
NUR642	Professional Role and Responsibility of the Nurse Educator The professional role and responsibility of the nurse educator course focuses on diverse roles and practice environments experienced by nurse educators. The course will provide novice and experienced nurse educators with guidelines for practice in classroom, clinical, staff development, and various educational settings. Academic and institutional policies, protocols and legal aspects will be explored.	3
NUR652	Teaching Strategies and Information Technology for the Nurse Educator This course will focus on strategies to develop knowledge and skill sets in pedagogy, teaching-learning theories, testing and measurement, and various educational technologies. An in-depth introduction to information technology that supports practice and improves patient care and outcomes will be explored.	3
NUR662	Healthcare Education Practicum During this practicum course, students integrate program content and create a practice change project by working with professionals directly involved in improving patient care through quality, organizational processes, or safety. Course includes 60 practice experience hours that incorporate direct patient care for the advanced practice nursing role.	3
NUR672	Healthcare Education Capstone During this capstone course, students transition to the advanced practice nursing role while implementing their practice change project. Course includes 60 practice experience hours completed in collaboration with their preceptor and other identified healthcare professionals involved with direct patient care.	3

+Practice Experience Requirements

The culminating learning experience of the MSN program includes a practicum course (3 credits, including a minimum of 60 required practice experience hours) and capstone course (3 credits, including a minimum of 60 required practice experience hours). The student will complete a project at the identified agency that is related to the enrolled specialty track. A signed affiliation agreement with the agency and an approved preceptor must be in place prior to engaging in practice experiences. It is the responsibility of the student to comply with agency requirements.

For those MSN students wanting to pursue a DNP degree from Chatham University, they may choose to take NUR 697. This course is designed for those planning admission to Chatham University’s DNP program and lack the total required practice experience hours. There is a 1, 2, and 3 credit version of this course is available.

+Transfer Credits

Transfer Credits: Students may transfer up to 6 credit hours of graduate level nursing courses into the program. All requests for transfer credits must be made in writing prior to enrollment. The nursing program’s Admissions and Progression Committee will review and determine if courses taken through another higher education institution can fulfill the requirements of any courses required for the MSN program. If transfer courses are accepted, a revised schedule planner will be developed and sent to the student outlining the courses still necessary to complete at Chatham University for degree completion.

+RN-to-MSN Educator Track

RN-to-MSN Educator Track