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Director: Sharon Thompson, Ph.D., RN, MPH
Phone: (814) 871-5345
Email: thompson001@gannon.edu

Overview

Specialization in nursing administration focuses on the role the nurse executive will assume to administer resources for the provision of nursing care delivery. Through advanced study of nursing in a specialized role, emphasis is placed on the analysis and synthesis of subject matter from both nursing and administration, combined with systematic investigation of the concepts underlying nursing and leadership roles in changing environments and complex health care systems.

The increasing complexity in health care organizations, with decline of the single institution organization and growth of the multi-institutional corporation or consortium, demands a new kind of nurse executive. They must function in a more sophisticated manner than was required in the past. The curriculum for the nurse executive of tomorrow must provide up to date orientation of today's health care environment. The curriculum must explore the implications of that environment for both health care organizations and for their nursing departments. Preparing nurse executives to work with their non-nurse peer managers, the curriculum must prepare them in their own discipline of nursing. Here they will need to know and understand the paradigms and practices of nursing. They must, for example, know how rehabilitation nurse specialists conceptualize their work. The same is true for each specialty that they may, in some executive position, manage during their career.

Outcomes

At the conclusion of the program leading to the degree of Master of Science in Nursing, the student:

1. Synthesizes theory and research from nursing, the biopsychosocial sciences, and humanities to provide advanced nursing care to clients of diverse cultures;
2. Is proficient in the utilization of research findings and provides clinical expertise for conducting research, including collaborating in nursing research projects;
3. Implements the advanced practice roles of teacher, researcher, advocate, clinician, consultant, collaborator, and manager of systems;
4. Provides leadership to influence change in health care practice at local, regional, and/or national levels;
5. Articulates and differentiates the discipline of nursing from other professions within the health care system;
6. Has developed and will maintain a program for continued professional growth;
7. Actively engages in collaborative relationships with other health care professionals, providers, and consumers to help improve health care; and
8. Has acquired a foundation for doctoral study.

Admission Requirements

Professional nurses who have a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing are eligible to apply for admission to graduate study. Applicants must:

• Submit an application for admission
• Provide official transcripts of all academic work
• Complete an introductory statistics course and research course with a grade of at least a B in both courses
• Submit competitive scores from the Graduate Record Examination
• Provide three letters of recommendation
• Give evidence of the fulfillment of legal requirements for the practice of nursing in the United States