Queens University of Charlotte – Online MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

The Presbyterian School of Nursing at Queens University of Charlotte offers an online Master of Science in Nursing with four degree paths: Clinical Nurse Leader, Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, and Nursing Informatics. In addition, each degree path has an online post-master’s certificate available, as well as an RN to MSN pathway for nurses who have earned an associate’s degree in nursing. Each of the MSN pathways seek to improve patient quality of care through various roles.

Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs) work to improve patient care outcomes, patient safety, and the quality of care patients receive through an integrative approach. CNLs work with doctors, nurses, other medical team members, and patients to achieve this task. Clinical Nurse Leaders learn to create and evaluate patient care plans, analyze evidence-based research data and apply it to their patients, and use technology to improve the patient experience. Graduates are qualified to sit for the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) certification exam.

Nurse Administrators fill a management role that balances healthcare costs, quality, and access, in order to improve patient quality of care in their organization and community. Students learn to effectively lead through understanding ethics and legal issues in healthcare, communicate with teams, and implement strategies to meet regulatory standards. Graduates are qualified to sit for the Nurse Executive-Board Certified (NE-BC) credential exam.

Nurse educators are qualified to teach in both clinical and academic settings and improve the quality of patient care through education. Students learn to create curriculum that teaches nursing theory, medical research, and advanced nursing skills, inspire others to a desire for life-long learning, and use a variety of teaching methods to reach all types of students. Graduates are qualified to sit for the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam.

Those who study Nursing Informatics focus on using information systems and data analysis to improve patient care and effective decision-making. Concepts covered include leadership principles, financial management, data collection and analysis, use of technology, information systems, decision support systems, data warehousing, and the integration of information systems. Nurses in this track complete a 225-hour nursing informatics residency and an informatics capstone course.

The online MSN degree comprises 37 credits and begins in the fall, spring, and summer. It can be completed in two years by taking two courses per term. The MSN and Post-Master’s Certificates are 100% online with no campus visits required, however, students are required to complete clinical experience hours. Clinical Nurse Leaders complete 400 practicum hours while Nursing Informatics, Nurse Administrators and Nurse Educators complete 225 hours. The RN to MSN pathway adds six credits to the degree making the total 43 credits while the practicum hours stay the same.

The Clinical Nurse Leader Post-Master’s Certificate comprises 17 credits with 400 practicum hours. The Nurse Administrator and Nurse Educator Post-Master’s Certificates comprise 11 credits and include 225 practicum hours. The Nursing Informatics Certificate comprises 17 credits with 225 practicum hours. The certificates can be completed in nine to twelve months. If students complete the Nurse Administrator or Nurse Educator certificate tracks, they can earn the Post-Master’s Certificate in the alternate track by taking only the additional corresponding residency course.

Queens University utilizes the MyCourses Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver MSN courses asynchronously, allowing for collaboration through online community tools, Skype, shared blogging, and Instant Messaging (IM). Students also have access to a virtual course wall which allows them to view individual and group assignments, readings, syllabi, and to interact with professors and fellow students through discussion groups.

All specialty tracks for the online MSN include core courses such as Theoretical Foundations; Health Policy; Research Methods; Informatics in Health Care; and Data Interpretations. Students also complete an Integrative Clinical Concepts and Practicum course. The RN to MSN pathway requires the completion of two additional courses: Nursing: A Practice Discipline and Population Health Nursing.

Clinical Nurse Leader specialty courses include Leadership Principles and Practices; Management of Clinical Outcomes; Management of the Care Environment; and Clinical Nurse Leader Residency.

Nurse Administrator and Nurse Educator specialty courses run on a parallel program and include Leadership Principles and Practices; Financial Management for Nurse Leaders; Principles of Curriculum and Evaluation; Educational Principles and Practices; and Graduate Nursing Capstone. Finally, students complete the Nurse Administrator Residency or the Nurse Educator Residency based on their specialty track.

The Nursing Informatics specialty courses include Leadership Principles and Practices; Financial Management for Nurse Leaders; Clinical Information Systems; Healthcare Data Implementation, Management, and Evaluation; and two Nursing Informatics Residency courses.

The Clinical Nurse Leader Post-Master’s Certificate includes the courses Leadership Principles and Practices; Management of Clinical Outcomes; Management of the Care Environment; and Clinical Nurse Leader Residency.

The Nurse Administrator Post-Master’s Certificate includes Leadership Principles and Practices; Financial Management for Nurse Leaders; and the Nurse Administrator Residency.

The Nurse Educator Post-Master’s Certificate includes Principles of Curriculum and Evaluation; Educational Principles and Practices; and the Nurse Educator Residency.

The Nursing Informatics Post-Master’s Certificate includes Leadership Principles and Practices; Financial Management for Nurse Leaders; Clinical Information Systems; Healthcare Data Implementation, Management, and Evaluation; and Nursing Informatics Residency.

Queens University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The MSN program and certificates are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).