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M.S. in Nursing Leadership (Online)
Drive Exceptional Care and Manage the Business of Health Care
With Utica University’s online Master of Science in Nursing Leadership program, you’ll develop the skills to manage budgets, train and coordinate caregivers, and ultimately drive safe, high-quality, and effective nursing to those in need.
Organizations everywhere, from hospitals to assisted living facilities and specialty clinics, are looking for leaders to manage the day-to-day demands health care teams face in providing top-notch care.
View / Download Graduate Nursing Program Handbook
Nursing Leadership M.S. Program Benefits
- Lead safe, effective nursing care
- Learn from experienced, accessible faculty
6
Semesters
$850
Cost per Credit
35
Credit Hours
100%
Online Delivery
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Career Outlook: Lead the Way to Better Health Outcomes
Open your career to a diverse set of new opportunities with demonstrated skills in team management, service coordination, and leadership.
You’ll graduate from the online Master of Science in Nursing Leadership program ready to fill a large and growing demand in the health care industry, as open medical and health service manager positions are expected to expand by 32% through 20291 with 57% of nurse leaders earning between $90,000 and $169,999.2
Take on a leadership role to improve health outcomes
Organizations everywhere are looking for nursing professionals with the skills to lead teams, make complex decisions, and handle the day-to-day management of health care delivery while maintaining the highest standards for quality care.
Whether you want to pursue top roles in a hospital, a residential care facility, a nursing home, or another clinical setting, Utica University’s online Master of Science in Nursing Leadership program equips you to provide top-quality care and leadership.
► $205,000
Top 10% of medical and health services managers earn more than $205,000 annually on average3
► 32% Job Growth
through 2030 — Almost 3X the national average — for medical and health services managers3
► In Demand in All Sectors
Nursing leaders in demand in all sectors, including government, private health care, hospitals, and nursing facilities, among others4
Examples of Career Opportunities with a Nursing Leadership M.S.
Senior Nurse Manager
$84,854/year
As a senior nurse manager5, you would lead a nursing team in a clinic, nursing home, hospital, or other health care setting and drive positive experiences and health outcomes for your patients. Manage team members, provide evaluations and feedback, coordinate care-delivery systems, and make high-level decisions to ensure quality care.
Chief Nursing Officer
$134,902/year
Chief Nursing Officers6 are the highest authority in nursing at a hospital or other large-scale health care organization. In this role, you’d represent nursing on the executive level, developing initiatives with other departmental leads while you maintain budgets, team dynamics, operational policies, and high-quality nursing.
Additional M.S. in Nursing Leadership careers include:
- Nurse Director
- Medical Health and Service Manager
- Director of Clinical Operations
- Clinic Manager
- Nurse Administrator
- Charge Nurse
Sources:
1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2020, September 1). Job Outlook: Medical and Health Services Managers. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved October 8, 2020, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-6
2. American Organization for Nurse Leadership (2019 June). Salary and Compensation Study for Nurse Leaders: Executive Summary. Retrieved October 8, 2020, from https://www.aonl.org/resources/salary-study
3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022 April 18). Medical and Health Service Managers. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved August 25, 2022 from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-1
4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022 April 18). Medical and Health Service Managers: Pay. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-5
5. Glassdoor (2022 August). Senior Nurse Manager Salaries. Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/senior-nurse-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,20.htm
6. Payscale (n.d.). Average Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Salary. Retrieved August 26, 2022, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Chief_Nursing_Officer_(CNO)/Salary
Faculty Spotlights
Our faculty has years of combined experience not only in health care but also in nursing education. They’re passionate about sharing their real-world experiences with you so you’re well prepared for expanded nursing roles.
Graduate nursing faculty are led by program chair Doreen Rogers, D.N.S., RN and program director Janice Ceccucci, DNP, FNP-BC, who both carry decades of experience in nursing education, research, and practice.
Associate Professor of Nursing
Dr. Cynthia Love-Williams is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Utica University. She has worked in nursing education since 1996 in both associate and baccalaureate programs. Dr. Love-Williams’ educational background includes a baccalaureate degree from Mississippi University for Women, a master’s degree from Wright State University, and a doctoral degree from Russell Sage Graduate Schools.
Dr. Love-Williams is the current Director of the Graduate Nursing Program at Utica University and her areas of expertise are in critical care, medical-surgical nursing, and inter-professional education. To stay connected to the health care field and be able to apply real-world experiences to the learning environment, Dr. Love-Williams practices per diem at a local health care facility as the Hospital Supervisor. Her areas of research include inter-professional education, simulation, test taking, and student success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Advancing your life and career with an online degree comes with lots of questions, and we want to ensure your search for answers is effortless. If you have a question we haven’t covered, call (315) 792-3333 to speak with an enrollment counselor.
Learn more about our state authorizations.
The master’s degree program in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Utica University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Utica University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
You will need a 3.0 GPA for acceptance to the online Nursing Leadership program. That said, applicants with a GPA below the minimum may be admitted at the department’s discretion. In this case, a GPA letter will be required.
Complete the online Nursing Leadership program to prepare for leadership roles that give you more responsibility and improve your salary potential. Career opportunities include these positions:
- Clinical nurse manager, which had a median annual salary of $104,280 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Nursing manager, which has an average annual salary of $87,372 according to Payscale
You can take as long as 36 months to complete our online Nursing Leadership program. As you complete the online coursework, you can study part time while working full time. To see the curriculum, view our courses page.
Yes, you can complete the online Nursing Leadership program on a part-time schedule. As a result, it’s easier to meet your work and family commitments while completing courses online. To see the curriculum, view our courses page.
Nursing Leadersip M.S. Curriculum: Step Up With New Skills
35 TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED
The online Master of Science in Nursing Leadership program is thoughtfully designed to give you everything you need to lead teams and administer health care delivery systems at the highest level.
Explore ethical leadership principles, technology integration, governance structures, and policy implications in delivering health care. You’ll graduate with the knowledge to evaluate and improve nursing care, collaborate across organizations, and promote health on a high level as a nurse leader.
Click here for a sample plan of study for this program. Please check with your Success Coach for your individualized plan of study.
Expand Your Opportunities through a Post-Master’s Certificate
Utica University offers Certificate of Advanced Studies in Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education, and Nursing Leadership programs.
Online Nursing Leadership M.S. Admission Requirements
To apply for our M.S. in Nursing Leadership program, you’ll need the following:
- Completed application
- 3.0 GPA
Applicants with a GPA below the minimum may be admitted at the department’s discretion. A GPA letter will be required. - Official Transcripts:All students seeking enrollment must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program.
- Two letters of recommendation from a current nursing colleague or professional licensed as an RN, physician, or nurse practitioner
- 2,000 hours of work experience as a registered nurse in the United States, verified by an HR department
- Personal Statement:
Detail your personal and professional goals and explain how this program will help you bring them to life. The statement of interest must include well-constructed responses to the following:
1. Describe how your professional experiences have prepared you for future education in the role which is the focus of your desired track.
2. Describe your plans to alter your work, professional and /or personal obligations in order to have time needed to successfully complete graduate course and clinical work.
3. Identify one significant contemporary issue/problem in the current US health care system and discuss how members of the nursing discipline can help address/solve the issue/problem.
- Prerequisite Coursework:
3-credit statistics course (grade of B or higher*)
*Students with a B- or lower grade in statistics will be provided the option of completing a self-study module and accompanying exam.
3-credit baccalaureate-level health assessment course*
*Students with a B- or lower grade in Health Assessment will be required to successfully complete a 3 credit hour course prior to starting the program.
- Successful Background Check: Not Required for Admission. Approved background check and fingerprints required at the time of clinical courses. Students shall be drug-screened through arrangements made by the school and the screening agency. Students are responsible for the cost of all screenings. You may be denied participation and placement at a clinical agency based on the background or drug screening findings and the clinical agency’s pre-employment screening policy.
Withdrawal from the program will be necessary if you cannot be placed in a clinical agency to meet program practicum requirements. - Résumé: A detailed work history that highlights any experience that may be relevant to this program.
- RN License: Unencumbered RN license in the state of NY.
Tuition and Financial Aid
This 35-credit Nursing Leadership M.S. program costs $850 per credit hour. Utica University is dedicated to making an advanced education accessible and affordable. Learn more about tuition and financial aid for online programs.
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