Preparing Nurses for Inspiring Lives as Nurse Leaders

Gonzaga University’s online Master of Science in Nursing (Online MSN Degree) was created to meet the needs of working registered nurses who wish to assume an advanced role within the nursing profession.

Our innovative master's in Nursing program is evidence-based and practice-oriented to prepare you for possible advancement as a Nurse Educator, Health Care Administrator, or Nurse Practitioner in as little as two years of study.  Through our ground-breaking application of complex adaptive systems theory to the field of nursing, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed for an advanced nursing role as a nurse educator, nurse practitioner, or nurse leader/administrator.  Our online Master of Science in Nursing is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).  All of the MSN online courses are taught by highly committed nursing faculty who actively engage you in course content and challenge your thinking in online discussions.  Through comprehensive nursing coursework, designed to accommodate your busy schedule, you will be able to earn your master's degree in Nursing and advance in your current nursing career or pursue new possibilities.

Tailor Your MSN Degree to Your Nursing Career Goals

Our online Master of Science in Nursing offers four specializations - Family Nurse Practitioner, Family Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, Health Systems Leader/administrator.

Nurse Educator: Nurse Educators can work both in the university setting and the practice setting to prepare the current and future generations of nurses. A study of nursing schools conducted by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in Fall 2010 showed that 880 faculty vacancies were identified in a survey of 556 nursing schools with baccalaureate and/or graduate programs (vacancy rate of 6.9%), and the shortage will only increase as more faculty retire over the next decade. A lack of Nurse Educators is often cited as a contributing factor to the nursing shortage faced by most states.

Nurse Educators combine clinical expertise with a passion for teaching into rewarding careers. By becoming a Nurse Educator, you will experience the excitement of teaching and learning with students and have a direct impact on the lives of others.

Health Systems Leadership: In today’s health care environment, strong nursing leadership is essential for quality patient care. Health Care Administrators must be prepared to deal with the changing of health care delivery systems, technological innovations, an increasingly complex regulatory environment, restructuring of work, and a greater focus on preventive care.

Health Systems Leadership professionals can work as specialists in charge of a specific clinical department, or as generalists who manage an entire facility (such as a hospital) or work as an executive in a health care system (such as an HMO). As a leader in the health care system, you will have the opportunity to broaden your scope beyond of nursing into other vital areas of patient care.

Learn more about the courses in our online nursing master’s degree.

A Top-Tier Education

Gonzaga University has been ranked one of the top universities in the West for 16 years by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, The Princeton Review and Forbes Magazine have separately ranked us one of the nation's best universities.

Kiplingers Personal Finance has named Gonzaga University one of the best values among private universities nationwide.

Gonzaga is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and is a member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

Professional Outcomes of the Master of Science in Nursing Program

Graduates will be able to:

• Use best evidence as a basis for decision-making in a defined area of advanced nursing practice.
• Demonstrate a commitment to ethical principles in decision-making and practice.
• Demonstrate leadership and advocacy in defined areas of advanced nursing practice.
• Demonstrate or promote safe and effective practice in a defined advanced nursing role.
• Facilitate effective communication and interprofessional collaboration.

Distinctive Features of Our Online Nursing Master’s

• Flexible scheduling: Individualized progression plans
• Tailored learning: Practicum experiences customized to individual learning goals
• Small class sizes: Small groups help facilitate learning and discussion
• Exceptional teachers: Faculty members act as caring mentors
• Expert instruction: Courses developed in partnership with industry experts and professional instructional designers
• Affordable: We offer competitive tuition and generous financial aid programs
• Accredited: Gonzaga is regionally accredited and the MSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

To learn more about the opportunities available to you as a registered nurse and our online Master's of Science in Nursing, request more information or call u today at (966) 295-3105.