COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nurse Executive with Healthcare Leadership at Wichita State University is a 37-credit-hour graduate program designed to prepare experienced nurses for advanced leadership, administrative, and systems-level roles in healthcare organizations by combining advanced nursing theory, evidence-based practice, healthcare policy, informatics, and organizational management into a structured curriculum. All students are required to complete core coursework that includes NURS 703 Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice, NURS 806 Evidence-Based Nursing Practice and Outcomes of Care, NURS 801 Health Policy, PHS 807 Healthcare Informatics, and one graduate-level statistics course, providing a strong foundation in research, data analysis, policy, and technology in healthcare decision-making. The Nurse Executive concentration includes specialized leadership-focused courses such as NURS 871 Leadership and Emerging Issues in Nursing, NURS 901 Organizational Systems and Leadership, PHS 815 Healthcare Leadership and Operations Management, PHS 622 Human Resource Management in Healthcare, and PHS 848 Concepts of Quality in Healthcare, along with PHS 803 Healthcare Finance, all of which develop competencies in strategic management, financial planning, quality improvement, and workforce leadership within healthcare systems. A key component of the program is the required capstone experience completed in the final two semesters through NURS 812 Nursing and Health Care Systems Administration Practicum, which provides applied leadership experience in real healthcare settings and integrates classroom learning with professional practice. The program is structured to ensure that graduates develop the skills needed to manage healthcare teams, improve organizational performance, implement evidence-based policies, and contribute to system-wide improvements in patient care. Overall, the MSN in Nurse Executive with Healthcare Leadership prepares nurses for senior administrative and executive positions in hospitals, healthcare systems, and public health organizations by combining advanced clinical knowledge with strong leadership, financial, and operational expertise.