RN to MSN

Program Description

The RN to MSN program offers a seamless learning experience for those seeking advanced nursing knowledge and expanded professional skills appropriate for a global and increasingly complex healthcare system. Designed to expand competencies in practice, evidence-based decision making, informatics and technological communication skills, and innovative thinking, the degree promotes professional expertise in patient-centered care among diverse and vulnerable populations. The dynamic connection between research, theory and practice prepares students to engage in problem-solving in micro and macro systems and to ensure quality care and patient safety. As leaders, graduates are expected to become change agents to improve people’s health.

Department of Nursing Mission, Vision, Core Values  

BSN Program Outcomes

1. Provide individualized, comprehensive, culturally competent care based on theories and principles of nursing, bio-psychosocial, and organizational sciences to individuals, families, and communities across systems of care. 
2. Demonstrate leadership and inter-professional collaboration with members of the health care team and consumers when providing care for health promotion, illness prevention, health restoration, health maintenance, and rehabilitative activities across systems of care. 
3. Communicate effectively with health care providers and patient populations in managing the healthcare of individuals, families, and communities. 
4. Utilize clinical judgment in professional decision making and implementation of the nursing process. 
5. Demonstrate the spirit of inquiry and evidence of lifelong learning by taking responsibility for continued personal and professional development through enrollment in graduate education, continuing education programs, and participation in professional organizations and community service. 
6. Implement professional nursing standards by practicing within the legal definitions of nursing practice and acts in accordance with the nursing code of ethics and American Nurses Association (ANA) standards of practice.
7. Practice in established professional roles consistent with entry-level BSN graduates to provide evidence-based, cost-effective, culturally competent quality care to health consumers across all health care environments. 
8. Incorporate basic knowledge of healthcare policy and evidence-based practice in the provision of professional nursing care to individuals, families, aggregates, and communities to promote health outcomes. 
9. Integrate informatics and health care technologies to deliver care, enhance inter-professional communication and promote safety. 
10. Apply leadership and quality improvement concepts in the provision of high quality nursing care and to quality improvement initiatives across care settings. 

MSN Program Outcomes

1. Adapt and expand lifelong learning skills into broad areas of practice expertise across interdisciplinary healthcare settings, organizational systems, policy, and advocacy. 
2. Lead evidence-based practice initiatives to promote quality, safety, and improve health outcomes across diverse populations and systems. 
3. Utilize theories, models, and guidelines to evaluate existing processes and to design innovative and effective practices in nursing and healthcare delivery. 
4. Engage in imaginative, holistic, transformational thinking designed to support innovative research and practice in nursing. 
5. Apply ethical decision making and principles of social justice to guide nursing care delivery and organizational leadership. 
6. Demonstrate therapeutic and effective communication, including the use of technology, to facilitate patient engagement, enhance patient knowledge of health and wellness, and promote satisfaction. 
7. Engage with collaborative, inter-professional healthcare teams to provide quality care across settings. 
8. Utilize political competence and attributes of advocacy to improve health outcomes across diverse populations and improve quality of healthcare delivery systems. 
9. Integrate patient-centered and culturally responsive concepts into the design and delivery of evidence-based clinical prevention and population care in healthcare services regionally, nationally, and globally. 
10. Promote a culture of quality, safety, and health literacy through competency in health information technology, clinical judgement, and creative thinking. 
11. Exhibit organizational and systems leadership skills to integrate care across complex and global healthcare systems. 
12. Demonstrate competencies in leadership and health information technology to transform evidence into quality practice. 
13. Analyze contributing financial and human resources related to the development, delivery, reimbursement, and evaluation of patient-centered care including professional development, understanding of systems thinking, and continuous improvement. 

Mission Statement

The mission of the ACE Department of Nursing is to educate and inspire nursing students to become exceptional health care providers, educators, and leaders who use forward thinking, evidence-based innovation, and collaboration to transform health outcomes, organizations, and systems within a global society.