Master of Science in Nursing

This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 Catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.norwich.edu/.

Program Director: Paulette Thabault
Program Coordinator: Janice Hansen

Norwich University offers the Master of Science in Nursing with concentrations in Healthcare Systems Leadership, Nursing Informatics, and Nursing Education. The program is fully approved by the Vermont State Nursing Board and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Beginning in the December 2020 term, Norwich University will revising its existing curriculum. The new curriculum will require students to l take two, three-credit seminars each term or, for those enrolled in a specialty Nurse Practitioner track, two, two-credit seminars or clinicals. The revised program will offer concentrations in Healthcare Systems Leadership, Nursing Informatics, Nursing Education as well as Nurse Practitioner tracks in: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Adult Gerontology (ACNP-AG), and Psychiatric and Mental Health. Each Nurse Practitioner track is a 45 credit-hour program of study. 

The Norwich University Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Healthcare Systems Leadership is a 36 credit program that provides graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed as nurse leaders in a variety of health care settings.

The Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Informatics is 36 credit program that prepares the graduate to function in a variety of information systems leadership roles and to sit for the national certification examination.

The Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Education is a 40 credit program that prepares the graduate to assume roles in formal academic settings or in staff development positions. 

Mission

The Master of Science in Nursing program prepares visionary nurse leaders who demonstrate advanced critical thinking, communication, and decision making skills to ensure quality outcomes within the complex systems of the health care continuum. Graduates initiate and effectively utilize research findings to improve outcomes, as well as utilize knowledge of health promotion, health care policy and systems, change and finance to effectively manage available resources in the changing health care environment. Masters prepared nurses utilize this knowledge base integrated with theories from nursing and related disciplines to create and implement ethical practices and policies to improve the environment in which health care is delivered.

The Masters prepared nurse engages in an expanded scope of practice that is characterized by critical analysis of problems and creative problem solving, and application of theories in the decision making process. The graduate manages change effectively and utilizes effective communication skills and technologies to create collaborative partnerships within nursing and across health care disciplines. Graduate education prepares the nurse to identify and evaluate personal and organization values and to implement ethical decisions and strategies to improve outcomes.

Program Outcomes

  • Initiate and effectively utilize research findings to improve outcomes across the spectrum of nursing environments.
  • Integrate knowledge of health promotion, health care policy and systems, change and finance to effectively manage available resources in the nursing environment.
  • Integrate theories from nursing and related disciplines to create and implement ethical practices and policies to improve nursing practice.
  • Critically analyze problems and demonstrate theory based problem solving in making decisions across a variety of nursing settings.
  • Plan and manage change effectively.
  • Incorporate the knowledge and skills related to informatics and technology to effectively improve nursing practice.
  • Implement effective communication skills to create collaborative partnerships within nursing and across health care disciplines.  
  • Apply the principles of translational science and implementation/improvement science, advocacy and appreciative inquiry in the context of the advanced nursing role.