Admission
Please refer to "The Graduate Admissions Process" section for general graduate admission information. For consideration and admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program, all applicants must satisfactorily submit or complete the following:
1. Wilmington University graduate application.
2. Current unencumbered RN licensure (electronic verification acceptable).
3. Official transcripts reflecting the following:
- Graduation from a nationally accredited baccalaureate program in nursing;
- Completion of an undergraduate statistics course, with a grade of "C" or higher
Once the application process is complete, students will receive an email from the graduate program regarding orientation and program planning. To schedule a program planning conference, please email dorothy.j.burritt@wilmu.edu.
All admissions documents should be sent directly to Wilmington University, Office of Graduate Admissions.
Program Purpose
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Leadership program is designed to prepare professional nurses for advanced nursing practice roles. The curriculum emphasizes relationships among advanced nursing practice, theory, and scholarly inquiry. Nurses educated at the masters level demonstrate competency as leaders, teachers, and researchers while influencing health policy.
Program Competencies
In addition to the University’s graduate graduation competencies, students will be able to:
1. Examine evidence-based practice and clinical judgment to improve quality, safety, and clinical outcomes for professional nursing practice;
2. Evaluate social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and ethical principles for professional nursing practice;
3. Analyze health policy, fiscal, and information technology implications for professional nursing practice;
4. Assess the impact of social determinants of health for professional nursing practice;
5. Design effective leadership strategies with interprofessional teams to enhance systems-based professional nursing practice;
6. Demonstrate effective communication, compassionate care, personal health, and professional maturity.
Pre-Requisite Course Requirements
Applicants who have not completed an undergraduate course in statistics with a grade of "C" or better will be required to take a statistics coursebefore registering for GRN 8102 and/or before consideration for degree candidacy (completion of 12 credits). If an undergraduate statistics course has not been completed, the following Wilmington University course may be taken:
MAT 308 - Inferential Statistics
Program Design
Today’s healthcare environment requires competent, innovative leaders. Nurse leaders are needed for nursing education, entrepreneurial pursuits, interdisciplinary care coordination, and evidence-based practice initiatives. The program provides the opportunity for nurses to acquire and refine the skills needed for leadership roles in nursing.
To fulfill the requirements of the M.S.N. Leadership program, students must complete all courses, consisting of 36 credit hours, while maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students complete coursework with an emphasis in one of four concentrations: executive leadership, nursing education, legal nurse consultant, or public health. All concentrations are designed to advance the student’s knowledge of research to improve the practice of nursing and strengthen the awareness of contemporary influences on the healthcare needs of individuals, families, and communities. Philosophy of nursing leadership and health care expands the foundation for ethical decision-making as students develop skills in working within the context of prevailing systems of care.
Students in all concentrations will complete a final Capstone Project courses: MSN 8705 Nurse Leadership Capstone I and MSN 8706 Nurse Leadership Capstone II. The program must be completed within five (5) years.
Program Requirements
Students should contact the MSN Leadership Program Chair for program planning and course sequencing. Register for MSN 6500 as your first course. An undergraduate statistics course is a pre-requisite for MSN 6608.
MSN Leadership Core Courses ( 21 Credits)
| MSN 6500 | Leadership Roles in Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| MSN 6502 | Contemporary Concepts in Advanced Practice Roles | 3 |
| MSN 6608 | Evidence Based Practice in the Health Professions | 3 |
| MSN 6646 | Philosophy and Ethics in Advanced Nursing Roles | 3 |
| MSN 7710 | Integrative Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Physical Assessment (for Nurse Leaders) | 3 |
| MSN 7741 | Politics and Policy in the Healthcare System | 3 |
| MSN 7750 | Enhancing Health Equity: Teaching, Technology and Social Determinants | 3 |
Executive Leadership Concentration Requirements (9 Credits)
Final Capstone Courses (6 Credits)
All MSN core courses need to be completed prior to registering for the capstone courses.
Nursing Education Concentration Requirements (9 Credits)
| MSN 6611 | Instructional Technology for Nurse Educators | 3 |
| MSN 7752 | Clinical Teaching and Evaluation | 3 |
| MSN 7753 | Curriculum Development | 3 |
Final Capstone Courses (6 Credits)
All MSN core courses need to be completed prior to registering for the capstone courses.
Legal Nurse Consultant Concentration Requirements (9 Credits)
| MSN 7310 | Legal Issues in Nursing Practice | 3 |
| MSN 7320 | Practices in the Realm of Nursing and the Law | 3 |
| MSN 7350 | Forensic Nursing: Clinical and Legal Implications | 3 |
Final Capstone Courses
All MSN core courses need to be completed prior to registering for the capstone courses.
Public Health Concentration Requirements (9 Credits)
| MSN 6615 | Public Health Essentials | 3 |
| MSN 6616 | Epidemiology Health Professions | 3 |
| MSN 6617 | Population Health for Health Professionals | 3 |
Final Capstone Courses (6 Credits)
All MSN core courses need to be completed prior to registering for the capstone courses.