Admission Requirements

1. Completed free online application
2. Copy of official transcripts of all completed college level coursework from all schools attended with proof of completion of an RN degree (associate or diploma) with a minimum 3.0 GPA
3. Proof of active, unencumbered RN license in your state
4. Current résumé/curriculum vitae
5. Admissions essay (to be mailed or e-mailed as a Word document to GradAdmission@chatham.edu):
   • Describe the evolving role of the MSN prepared nurse in the practice setting.

Admissions Materials may be submitted to:
Chatham University
Berry Hall/SCPS Admission
Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Fax: (412) 365-1609
Email:GradAdmission@chatham.edu

Learning Outcomes

BSN Program Outcomes

1. Synthesize knowledge from nursing and other related disciplines in acquisition and application of nursing knowledge, competencies, and values for professional practice.
2. Demonstrate knowledge for nursing leadership, quality improvement, and patient safety in order to provide high quality care.
3. Integrate evidence-based findings into professional nursing practice.
4. Apply skills related to information management and patient care technology in order to deliver quality patient care.
5. Comprehend the influence of healthcare policies and finance on healthcare system operations.
6. Utilize interprofessional collaboration and communication with other health team members in planning, coordinating, providing, and evaluating care.
7. Apply concepts of clinical prevention and health promotion to individuals, families, and communities in a global society.
8. Provide professional, culturally competent, and ethically congruent care that reflects dignity and uniqueness of individuals and groups in diverse global populations.
9. Utilize the nursing process and health care resources in the protection, promotion, and optimization of health in care of individuals, families, and communities across the lifespan.

MSN Program Outcomes

1. Integrate scientific findings from nursing and other fields for continual improvement of nursing care.
2. Synthesize organizational and systems leadership principles to promote high quality and safe patient care.
3. Implement methods and tools of QI principles to promote high quality and safe patient care.
4. Critique EB literature with a basic understanding of quantitative and qualitative research to guide decision-making.
5. Analyze current and emerging trends and technologies to support quality health care.
6. 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.
7. Construct effective communication strategies for working effectively in teams and collaboratively with other health care providers.
8. Design evidence-based and culturally relevant clinical prevention interventions.
9. Conduct a comprehensive and systematic assessment as a basis for decision-making.
10. Obtain expertise in the role of educator, informatics and leadership.

Curriculum

+Major Requirements

47 credits including

RN-BSN Program (each course = 3 credits unless indicated)
IND175	Academic Resources and Strategies for Nurses This course will explore skills and knowledge that promote academic success for the professional nurse. Topics include retrieving, critiquing, and applying resources, scholarly writing development, academic integrity, time management, and self-care.	2
NUR415
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NUR402	Health Policy and Finance for Nurses This course will explore foundations of policy, finance, legislation, and regulation in complex systems of healthcare. Policy related to health equity, health disparity, and social justice will also be analyzed. Students will strengthen nurse advocacy skills and understanding of the Registered Nurse Scope and Standards of Practice.	3
Substitute:
NUR507	Health Policy and Advocacy for Quality Care In this course, students analyze and create innovative approaches to complex issues in health care. Concepts of policy and advocacy are integrated to address social justice, and diversity, equity, and inclusion as applied to the delivery of quality care. Nursing leader influence on fostering healthy work environments will be explored.	3
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NUR414
Substitute:
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
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NUR407	Scholarship Foundations in Nursing This course will explore scholarly practice in nursing, including research and evidence-based practice. Conducted literature searches will discover support for a student-identified contemporary nursing issue. Ethical principles of nursing research, particularly protection of human subjects and other ethical accountabilities focusing on research utilization and evidence- based practice, will be examined.	3
Substitute:
NUR501	Scientific Underpinnings: Practice and Scholarship This course examines disciplinary knowledge and scholarship for innovation in practice, guidance with clinical judgement, and transformation of healthcare. Principles of research, evidence-based practice, and theory will be incorporated to assist with generation, translation, application and integration of scholarship into nursing practice.	3
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NUR409	Clinical Prevention, Population and Environmental Health This course provides a framework for the development of nursing interventions promoting population and environmental health for individuals and communities. Health promotion will be a significant focus of this course.	3
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NUR412	Organizational Quality Improvement and Safety This course will explore the nurse’s foundational role in leading a person-centered healthcare environment through quality improvement and safety measures in collaboration with the interprofessional team. Ethical and cultural considerations related to quality improvement will be analyzed.	3
Substitute:
NUR506	Communication and Collaboration for Leadership This course will focus on student development, analysis and application of skills to support communication and interprofessional collaborative partnerships. Theories are incorporated to enhance health care outcomes within diverse populations. Foundational values for nursing will underpin support for quality and safety of care, self-care initiatives and sustainment of professional growth.	3
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NUR410	Global, Cultural, and Diverse Populations This course will explore the student’s understanding and role as a nurse leader in a global society while reflecting on personal and professional values and implicit biases. Ethical, equitable, person- centered, compassionate, and empathetic care opportunities will be examined.	3
NUR411	Geriatric Nursing Multiple aspects of geriatric health and the aging population will be explored. Specific nursing interventions to promote older adult health will be covered including pharmacological considerations, nutrition, elder abuse, sexuality, coping with loss and grief, health and wellness promotion and the continuum of care.	3
NUR499W	Leadership and Professional Identity Development This course, which fulfills Chatham’s internship requirement, will explore aspects of leadership, professionalism, and professional identity for nurses. The course synthesizes the knowledge and competencies acquired throughout the program to enable the nurse to implement leadership in the practice setting.	3
Subtotal BSN course credits: 14 credits
Note: If a student has not completed a total of 120 college-level credit hours after completing these core courses they will need to complete additional courses. Contact your academic advisor for further information or questions.
MSN Program (each course 3 credits)
NUR501	Scientific Underpinnings: Practice and Scholarship This course examines disciplinary knowledge and scholarship for innovation in practice, guidance with clinical judgement, and transformation of healthcare. Principles of research, evidence-based practice, and theory will be incorporated to assist with generation, translation, application and integration of scholarship into nursing practice.	3
(count for both BSN and MSN)
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
(count for both BSN and MSN)
NUR506	Communication and Collaboration for Leadership This course will focus on student development, analysis and application of skills to support communication and interprofessional collaborative partnerships. Theories are incorporated to enhance health care outcomes within diverse populations. Foundational values for nursing will underpin support for quality and safety of care, self-care initiatives and sustainment of professional growth.	3
(count for both BSN and MSN)
NUR507	Health Policy and Advocacy for Quality Care In this course, students analyze and create innovative approaches to complex issues in health care. Concepts of policy and advocacy are integrated to address social justice, and diversity, equity, and inclusion as applied to the delivery of quality care. Nursing leader influence on fostering healthy work environments will be explored.	3
(count for both BSN and MSN)
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	Nurse Educator Role Development This course focuses on diverse roles of nurse educators in various practice and educational environments. The course will provide novice and experienced nurse educators knowledge on developing an effective learning environment for a diverse student population. Educator responsibilities outside of the classroom will also be explored.	3
NUR652	Teaching Strategies and Technology for the Nurse Educator This course focuses on strategies to develop knowledge and skill sets in pedagogy, teaching-learning theories, and technologies that can be utilized in various educational settings. Students will collate resources into a toolbox of teaching strategies to put into use as an educator.	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
Subtotal MSN additional courses to complete MSN degree: 33 credits
Total RN-BSN to MSN Dual Degree Program credits: 47 credits
Note: RN-BSN Program = 26 credits and MSN Nurse Educator Program = 33 credits Taken separately = 59 credits