Degree Overview
Master of Science Nursing Leadership and Management (RN to MSN Option)
Our online RN to MSN graduate degree in nursing management will enhance your personal status and prepare you to make a tremendous contribution to the successful operation of healthcare facilities. You’ll complete bachelor’s degree coursework and earn your master’s degree. Competencies for this specialty are consistent with the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) standards for nurse administrators. You will become a valuable leader and manager in a variety of nursing settings.
Note: This program consists of an undergraduate and a graduate portion. When you complete the RN-to-BSN portion, you will seamlessly transition into the BSN-to-MSN portion. Tuition and fees differ between these two programs. For details, visit the Tuition and Fees page.
Who the Program is For:
- Registered nurses (RNs) who possess an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing, have a current unencumbered RN license, and wish to earn a master’s degree to move into nursing administration.
- Individuals who can typically spend 15 or more hours per week on their studies.
This program will be flexible and adaptable to your schedule. Click here to learn how this program works.
What You'll Learn
Essential Knowledge and Skills
You’ll become an expert in all areas of study for this specialty, consistent with the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) standards for nurse administrators. You will become an effective leader and manager for a variety of nursing settings and healthcare facilities.
The program requires a total of 150 competency units (CUs), our equivalent to the traditional credit hour. Almost every student who begins their program as an already licensed RN can receive 50 to 90 CUs in transfer credit, significantly shortening the time to graduation.
The WGU RN to MSN program is grounded in real research on effective instruction, and adheres to national standards. It provides the knowledge and skills that enable graduates to design, implement, and administer nursing programs in a healthcare facility.
Key Subject Areas
These Courses Add to Your Credentials
Care of the Older Adult
Health Assessment
Community Health and Population-Focused Nursing
Health and Wellness Through Nutritional Science
Community Health and Population-Focused Nursing Field Experience
Advanced Professional Roles and Values
Organizational Systems and Quality Leadership
Advanced Information Management and the Application of Technology
Professional Presence and Influence
Translational Research for Practice and Populations
Organizational Leadership and Interprofessional Team Development
Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice
Contemporary Pharmacotherapeutics
Comprehensive Health Assessment for Patients and Populations
Essentials of Advanced Nursing Practice Field Experience
Policy, Politics, and Global Health Trends
Core Subject Areas
Some of These General Education Assessments May Be Cleared through Transfer Credit
Applied Healthcare Statistics
English Composition I
Survey of United States Constitution and Government
Introduction to Communication
Introduction to Humanities
Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Biochemistry
Anatomy and Physiology
Clinical Microbiology
Inter-Professional Leadership & Communication in Healthcaree
The first course you take in this program will be unlike any other you complete at WGU. Inter-Professional Leadership & Communication in Healthcare requires participation in online group meetings with faculty and fellow students. Multiple group options are available, so you will work with your enrollment counselor or mentor to determine the group whose schedule works best for you. Learn more about this unique course and how to prepare for it >>
Capstone Project
The Master of Science degree program in Nursing Leadership and Management (RN to MSN) also requires the successful completion of a capstone project. Your capstone project is something to be proud of – it's the culmination of all your hard work. The capstone project provides you the opportunity to demonstrate your competency and commitment to ultimately improving administrative outcomes in a healthcare facility. You will also complete a 40-hour practicum requirement in nursing management. Go ahead, show everyone what you can do.