COURSE CURRICULUM

The Entry Level Master’s in Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leader (ELM-CNL) program is designed to prepare highly skilled, compassionate nurse leaders who can positively influence the nursing profession, improve healthcare systems, and serve diverse communities locally and globally. It is intended for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and provides a structured pathway into professional nursing practice through a Master of Science in Nursing degree. The curriculum begins with prerequisite and foundational coursework that builds essential skills in critical thinking, communication, and scientific understanding, preparing students for advanced nursing education. The program is organized around the nursing process and focuses on developing the knowledge, skills, and competencies required for safe, ethical, and effective practice within the registered nurse scope of practice. Students are trained to meet professional competency standards while delivering evidence-based, patient-centered care across the lifespan and in a variety of healthcare settings serving diverse populations.A major component of the program includes extensive foundation nursing coursework that combines both theory and clinical practice. Didactic courses cover key areas such as health assessment, fundamentals of nursing, community and population health, pathopharmacology, adult health, gerontological nursing, mental health nursing, maternal and pediatric care, health promotion, healthcare ethics, informatics, transitional care, and evidence-based practice. These courses are paired with clinical practicums that provide hands-on experience in corresponding healthcare environments, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world patient care situations. Students also complete advanced coursework focused on leadership, health systems management, policy, epidemiology, and advanced clinical sciences such as pathophysiology and pharmacology at the graduate level. The program culminates in leadership-focused practicums and a capstone experience that integrates learning across clinical, academic, and systems-based domains. Grounded in the university’s Christian mission, the curriculum emphasizes compassionate care, ethical practice, and holistic nursing across the lifespan. Overall, the ELM-CNL program prepares graduates to become advanced entry-level nurses and future healthcare leaders capable of improving patient outcomes and advancing healthcare quality and equity.