Online MSN Programs

Master of Science in Nursing

The online Master of Science in Nursing program at Colorado Technical University is your opportunity to pursue a graduate-level nursing degree.

This nursing degree program offers a general track or concentrations in Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Administration or Nursing Education.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that from 2022 through 2032, employment in nursing is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations¹. These opportunities are expected to be seen in a variety of settings, including long-term and residential care facilities, outpatient care centers, and physician’s offices.².

For the eighth consecutive year, CTU’s online Master of Science in Nursing degree programs are ranked among the Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs by U.S. News and World Report.*

* CTU programs are ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Online Programs.

Program Credits

5 Weeks

Course Length

Online

Location

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Program Overview

The Master of Science in Nursing program is designed to expand the knowledge of the registered nurse for leadership in the profession. The focus on change, innovation, quality outcomes, care across the healthcare system, and advancement of the individual nurse and profession will prepare the registered nurse for an advanced level of practice. Students complete 120 hours in two nursing administration practicums with a nurse administrator in their community.

This program does not lead to additional licensure or certification. As such, CTU has made no determination regarding prerequisites for licensure or certification in any state or jurisdiction.

College of Nursing Mission Statement

Through an innovative curriculum and student-centered teaching, the nursing faculty teaches, supports, and inspires students to become competent, caring, and accountable professionals who serve a diverse client population within a dynamic health care environment.

MSN Program Goals

Employ leadership skills to improve the quality of care in a variety of healthcare settings
Integrate advanced nursing and science knowledge into practice

The Master of Science in Nursing degree program at Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org)

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Courses

Courses - Core		Credits
NRSG610 This course provides an overview of the skills needed for the nurse to achieve competency in advanced nursing practice. Advancements in science with organizational science will be examined for the contribution towards the transformation of nursing practice. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Advanced Nursing Practice	4
NRSG612 This course provides an overview of the development and relationship of nursing theory, research, and practice. Students will explore the process by which theory and research is critically appraised and translated into evidence-based practice in the development of clinical outcomes. An appreciation for diverse research methods and research appraisal is integrated into the course. Course assignments focus on evidence-based practice applications. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Integrating Theory and Research for Evidence-Based Practice	4
NRSG615 This course is designed to establish the foundational knowledge for understanding and practicing nursing informatics in healthcare settings. This course will also examine other technologies to deliver and enhance care. Consideration is given to the use of information technology to support decisions that promote safety and quality in patient-centered care, and concerns about protecting information and system integrity are addressed. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Healthcare Informatics and Technologies	4
NRSG617 This course provides a critical analysis of socioeconomic, political, legal, ethical, and global factors that affect nursing and healthcare delivery. Issues of cost, quality, and access are considered with emphasis on healthcare reform, including financing and payment systems, delivery models, health information management, and the integration of healthcare services to affect safety and quality. The means of influencing policy making will be discussed. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Policy and Politics in Nursing and Healthcare	4
NRSG625 This course is based on a multifaceted definition of community. The promotion of healthy societies worldwide, through health improvement and disease management/prevention activities, is explored through an interprofessional approach. Additionally, the impact of genomics and genetics relative to health promotion/disease mitigation is studied. The effects of social, political, and environmental conditions are examined in relation to healthcare access, quality of care, patient values and preferences, and cultural relevance. The contributions of advanced nursing providers to improving patient and population health outcomes are analyzed. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Promoting and Preserving Health in a Diverse Society	4
NRSG640 This course is the culmination of the concepts developed in the MSN program. Students complete individual assignments that encompass program competencies and reflect a synthesis and application of prior coursework. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	MSN Capstone	4
	Total Credit Hours:	24

Courses - Concentration		Credits
HCM632 This course studies healthcare systems and the delivery of healthcare. In addition, factors such as access, population health and health policies will be examined to assess their influence on healthcare systems.	Systems in Healthcare	4
HCM670 This course is designed to provide an overview of human resource management in healthcare. This course will introduce principles, concepts, functions and applications of human resource management. Topics include: healthcare professions, workforce planning, performance evaluation, compensation and benefits, job analysis and design and labor relations. While most of this course focuses on human resources in the healthcare setting, implications of human resources in other important industries and settings may be discussed.	Management of Human Resources in Healthcare	4
HCM676 This course concentrates on the financial operations of a healthcare organization including the development of capital budgets, operating budgets and cash flow budgets. Financial statements will be analyzed for variances. Students will be required to apply concepts such as time value of money, risk and return, investment decision analysis and lease valuation assisting in the understanding of financial operations of a healthcare organization.	Healthcare Finance	4
NRSG620 Students utilize experiential learning in the nursing practice setting to examine the factors that influence the change and planning processes for the delivery of quality healthcare. Barriers that may affect strategic planning will be identified. Following an analysis of those factors, innovation through the development of a strategic plan will be demonstrated. Sixty hours of experiential learning in the nursing practice setting is required for this course. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Strategic Planning	4
NRSG622 This course examines leadership skills necessary for the implementation of safety and quality improvement processes. Students will analyze factors affecting the delivery of safe patient care and optimum patient outcomes. Knowledge from emerging sciences and evidence–based practices will be incorporated into innovation for quality care. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Innovation for Quality Care	4
NRSG630 This course uses experiential learning to examine current nursing administrative practice issues. Based on newly learned nursing leadership theories, students apply domains of nursing leadership/administrative knowledge to the nursing practice setting. The objective is to use a variety of leadership strategies to achieve positive patient care delivery outcomes. Sixty hours of experiential learning in the nursing practice setting is required for this course. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	New Knowledge and Innovations in Nursing Leadership	4
	Total Credit Hours:	24

Total Credit Hours: 48

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Learning Outcomes

MSN Program Learning Outcomes:

Synthesize knowledge from nursing and a variety of sciences in diverse settings for the purpose of improving nursing care
Apply organizational and systems leadership concepts to promote quality patient care
Evaluate performance improvement processes designed for the purpose of providing quality patient care
Apply research outcomes and evidence-based practice to recommendations for improved patient care
Synthesize health policy processes established for the advocacy of quality healthcare
Integrate interprofessional collaboration to the management of patient and population health outcomes
Apply organizational, client-centered, and culturally appropriate concepts to clinical prevention and population care to identified populations

MSN - Nursing Administration Concentration Learning Outcomes:

Integrate effective communication and relationship-building strategies in diverse communities of interest that drive change towards quality organizational outcomes
Apply leadership principles and systems thinking that positively influence human resources in the healthcare environment
Demonstrate ethical personal, professional and fiscal accountability in the advocacy for clinical enterprise and nursing practice

Faculty

Dr. Rose Nieves

University Dean

Dr. Rose Nieves is the Dean of the College of Nursing for Colorado Technical University. In this role, she leverages her vast experience as a nursing leader, educator and healthcare provider to help assess, mold, develop and direct the College of Nursing.

Dr. Laura Sliwinski, Ph.D.

Executive Program Director

Dr. Laura Sliwinski joined CTU in 2020 as the Executive Program Director for Health Studies in the College of Nursing and Health Studies. Dr. Sliwinski has over twenty years combined experience in healthcare and higher education administration.

For more faculty profiles please visit our Leadership and Faculty page.
For more information visit the College of Nursing.

Admission Requirements

Admissions Requirements

Admission to this program requires an unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the United States. All students must maintain this licensure throughout the program of study.

Students must have graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an institutionally accredited institution. A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 for the last 90 quarter (60 semester) hours of study undertaken for full acceptance into the program.

Prior to starting the nursing program all applicants must submit an unofficial or official copy of college transcript from their BSN degree for review. Applicants to the Master of Science in Nursing degree program who meet all general admission requirements, but who have a CGPA for the BSN degree between 2.75 to 2.99 for the last 90 quarter (60 semester) hours of study, may be granted provisional admission. Students must successfully complete their first two MSN courses with a minimum of 3.0 GPA to be granted full admission to the nursing program or be administratively withdrawn.

Students must successfully complete NRSG610 first before advancing to other courses in the MSN program. No other program courses may be taken prior to NRSG610.

At this time, Colorado Technical University cannot accept inquiries for the MSN-NA program from residents of the states of Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Tennessee, Washington, and West Virginia.

Related Degrees

MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner

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MSN in Nursing Administration

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MSN in Nursing Education

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FAQs

What is a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)?

CTU’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program is designed to help candidates utilize leadership skills to improve the quality of care in various healthcare settings and integrate advanced nursing and science knowledge into practice. Our graduate nursing programs are based on real-world nursing practices and focus on evidence-based nursing, informatics, policy-making, health promotion, and more.

We offer candidates three concentrations—Nursing Administration, Nursing Education, and Family Nurse Practitioner.

What will I study in this MSN degree program?

In this Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program, candidates study program core and nursing concentration courses, including but not limited to, Healthcare Informatics and Technologies, Policy and Politics in Nursing and Healthcare, Promoting and Preserving Health in a Diverse Society, and Integrating Theory and Research for Evidence-Based Practice.

In the Nursing Administration (MSN-NA) program, candidates are taught to apply new systems of thinking to effect positive change and to lead with a strong sense of personal, professional, fiscal, and ethical accountability.

In the Nursing Education (MSN-NE) program, candidates will explore nursing education principles such as the use of innovative teaching strategies, curriculum design and development, assessment and evaluation, and the application of these concepts in nursing practice and virtual environments.

In the Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) program, candidates will study patients across the lifespan. Classes focus on evidence-based practice, population health, health policy, informatics, and family practice—theory and skills needed for advanced practice nursing.

Candidates will participate in a practicum (an immersion experience) under the direct supervision of a preceptor. Students in the MSN-NA and MSN-NE are required to participate in two practicum courses, 60 hours each, for 120 hours total. Students in the MSN-FNP are required to participate in three practicum courses for a total of 630 hours. For the MSN-NA and MSN-NE, candidates may be able to complete their practicum with their place of employment (if appropriate).

What are the MSN Program Goals?

CTU’s MSN program is designed to help students prepare to:

Employ leadership skills to improve the quality of care in a variety of healthcare settings
Integrate advanced nursing and science knowledge into practice

What Should I Expect as a Nursing Student?

CTU understands licensed practicing nurses return to school with varying degrees of knowledge and experience. So, we design our curriculum for our nursing students accordingly. At CTU, our nursing students:

Utilize intellipath^®, which is comparable to the computerized adaptive testing nurses use to enter the nursing profession
Experience faculty-led nursing courses infused with intellipath^® assignments, writing assignments, discussion boards, virtual simulations, clinical experiences, and journaling, among others.
Bypass group project assignments due to interdisciplinary collaboration in clinical courses.
Complete clinical experiences and a mix of traditional assignments.

Can Military Nurses Apply?

Military nurses with their BSN are welcome to apply to our online Master of Science in Nursing programs. As a military-centric university, CTU wants to help you pursue your personal and professional goals for your nursing career while you serve your country or transition to civilian life.

Why is intuitive online learning better at Colorado Technical University?

Our online Master of Science in Nursing degree is unique in being driven by intuitive technology called intellipath^®. Our proprietary intellipath^® learning system is designed to let nurses quickly move over what they already know so that they don’t have to wade through information they’ve already learned.

Best of all, the MSN degree is mobile-friendly. You can work on your phone. On your laptop. Wherever you go, and no matter how busy you are, we’re there for you with opportunities to continue your course progress and work towards your degree on your own timetable.

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Program Disclosure Information for the Master of Science in Nursing

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Employment and Completion Rates

Employment Rate: 83.33%*

Reporting Period: 1/1/2020 through 12/31/2020 program graduates
Date Submitted: 02/2022

Completion Rate: 76%

Reporting Period: 1/1/2018 through 12/31/2018 program entrants
Date Submitted: 02/2022

* Nursing Employment Rate Calculation:

Number of employed graduates/completers, divided by the number of eligible graduates/completers.

This Employment Rate is calculated separately for each program; e.g. baccalaureate and master’s. In calculating this Employment Rate, CTU counts graduates/completers as “Employed” if they report employment at any job within 12 months of program completion.
This rate excludes graduates who have elected not to be employed.

Nurse Practitioners Certification Exam Pass Rate

As reported by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANP) and American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

MSN-FNP* Graduate Exam Pass Rate: 90%

*There were no PGC-FNP exam pass rate information completers available for the period of 1/1/2022 to 12/31/2022.

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (visited April 29, 2024). This data represents national figures and is not based on school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.
² Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (visited April 29, 2024). This data represents national figures and is not based on school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.