Nurse Specialty Role

Nursing Administration

The Nursing Administration/Leadership area of concentration prepares nurses for leadership and management roles at the department or director level. The curriculum includes courses designed to provide knowledge base needed to develop the conceptual, interpersonal, and technical skills required to lead the clinical discipline of nursing as it faces the numerous changes on the horizon for health care. The faculty have had extensive experience in leading health care organizations, and use that expertise to help students understand the practical application of theoretical knowledge. In addition, students will have the opportunity for a personally designed clinical residency in one of the highest rated health care organizations in the country.

Clinical Nurse Leader

The primary goal of the CNL area of concentration is to prepare graduates to oversee the care coordination of a distinct group of patients and actively provide patient care in complex situations. The CNL puts evidence-based practice into action to ensure that patients benefit from the latest innovations in care delivery. The CNL evaluates patients outcomes, assesses cohort risk, and has the decision-making authority to change care plans when necessary. The CNL is a leader and lateral integrator of care in the healthcare delivery system. The CNL functions as an active member of the interprofessional healthcare team and is educated as an advanced generalist in all healthcare delivery settings.

Nursing Education

The Nursing Education area of concentration prepares nurses to teach in schools of nursing, hospitals and health agency staff development and continuing education programs, and patient education initiatives. The curriculum also prepares graduates to assume training and development roles in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

This concentration was developed in response to interest from nurses who want to make a positive contribution to patient outcomes and service delivery other than through direct patient care. The curriculum emphasizes the development of expertise in teaching clinical nursing, didactic instruction, online courses, and evidence-based teaching. Through a variety of experiences in the classroom and in practice, students have an opportunity to apply theories of instruction and to teach content to nursing students, to practicing nurses and to patients. This concentration also stresses the development of leadership in nursing. Faculty expertise and research include patient education, curriculum, management and evaluation of nursing education programs, psychometrics, and educational research.

The School of Nursing is not currently accepting applications for the MSN in this area of concentration. The minor in Nursing Education is available and details can be accessed at Nursing Education Minor.

Nursing Informatics

The nursing informatics area of concentration prepares nurses to focus on the structure and process of nursing information as it supports the practice of nursing. Nursing informatics is a combination of cognitive science, computer science, information science, and nursing science. It includes the development, analysis, and evaluation of systems, augmented by technology that support, enhance, and manage patient care.

Nursing Research

The Nursing Research area of concentration prepares nurses to conduct and coordinate clinical research. This concentration  was developed in response to interest from nurses who want to make a positive contribution to patient outcomes and service delivery, in ways other than through direct patient care. The curriculum emphasizes the development of nurses' expertise in clinical research. Through a variety of experiences in the classroom and in practice, students have an opportunity to apply principles to the management of clinical research studies. The curriculum also emphasizes the development of leadership in nursing. As graduates of this concentration, nurses in clinical research are involved in many phases of the research process, including project management, consultation, and coordination of adverse events.

The School of Nursing is not currently accepting applications for the MSN in this area of concentration. The minor in Nursing Research is availabe and details can be accesses at Nursing Research Minor.