Master’s In Nursing: Nursing Management & Executive Leadership

This course introduces the student to contemporary theories of leadership, change, complexity science and organizational structure and design. The underlying framework of the course is transformational leadership and complexity science. Concepts such the clinical microsystems, nursing care innovations, strategic planning, and change, are covered. Students will be introduced to the concept of evidence based management and encourage to support their ideas with evidence. Students will complete an assessment of their leadership strengths and weaknesses and develop a professional leadership plan which will guide their progress throughout the rest of the program.

In this course the student will appreciate the rationale for and strategies for creating a positive work environment for nursing and the interprofessional team. Topics will include organizational culture, structural empowerment, shared governance, and the adoption of Magnet Hospital tenets (no matter the setting) among others. Human resource management principle such as selection, development, performant appraisal and nurse satisfaction will be considered within the framework of creating an environment of professional practice. Further how a positive work environment supports quality and safety will be discussed based on evidence. Fostering high performance from individuals and well as the team will be stressed.

This course provides an overview to the process of budgeting in the Health Care setting. This course will explore the building blocks that are utilized to secure sound budget projections. This course will also review and explore the Health Care System and the multiple payers and their impact on the ability to utilize information systems in the development and ongoing analysis of financial data.

This course focuses on the current health care delivery system and the impact on patient care. An evaluation of the health care delivery system will incorporate the impact of social issues, economics, politics, culture, education and technology on the health care system. Past, future and contemporary trends in health care delivery will be incorporated into the analysis of organizational Micro and Macro systems.

During this course the students will proceed in a step by step progression through the continuous quality improvement (CQI) process. This approach prepares the student with the necessary skills to complete a CQI capstone project in the practicum courses. The student will review the historical background and theory of quality improvement and apply it to the current health care environment. After a review of the national and regulatory issues of patient safety, the student will identify one issue to use in the course to apply CQI methods.

This is the next to the last course in the nursing sequence for the Nursing Management and Executive Leadership track. Nursing 672 will focus at the larger organization’s macro-system level. Students will apply and analyze the theories, competencies and concepts of previous courses in a designated role practicum experience using a preceptor. Further, students will examine the application of theories / evidence from scholarly readings and their application to practice through a (private) weekly journal entry to the professor that will be appropriately referenced. They will also share their reflections with other course participants through a weekly discussion using appreciative inquiry to describe a significant learning on the strengths of their clinical site focused on the course objectives. The core role competencies for the nurse manager and executive leader frame the course activities including managing client needs and expectations, marketing, managing financial resources, assessing quality and safety, visioning and strategic planning, designing care management systems, and developing operational plans for accountability and ethical practice. Leadership strategies for accomplishing this work are explored. Current issues and trends in health care, nursing management and executive leadership are covered in course readings and integrated into the course assessments/project. In this course, the student will perform an organizational assessment and evaluation (macro-system level) in two parts and complete Part I of the capstone project.

This is the last course in the nursing sequence for the Nursing Management and Executive Leadership track. Nursing 673 will focus on the larger organization’s macro-system level. Students will apply and analyze the theories, competencies and concepts of previous courses in a designated role practicum experience using a preceptor. Further, students will examine the application of theories/evidence from scholarly readings and their application to practice through a (private) weekly journal entry to the professor that will be appropriately referenced. Students will also be sharing their reflections with other course participants through a weekly discussion using appreciative inquiry to describe a significant learning on the strengths of their clinical site focused on the course objectives. The core role competencies for the nurse manager and executive leader frame the course activities and include assessing the following areas: human resource management, workforce development, succession planning, culture of safety, The Joint Commission (TJC) national patient safety goals, public reporting and accountability, automation in healthcare and redesign of workflow, meaningful use, accountability care organizations, healthcare reform, care across the continuum, and raising the bar – learning from excellence. Current issues and trends in health care, nursing management and executive leadership and are covered in course readings and integrated into the course assessments/project. In this course, students will complete their capstone project and the organizational assessment and evaluation (macro-system level).