Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Administration and Leadership Online
Equip yourself with the executive and clinical experience you need to advance as a leader in health care.
Home » Degrees » Health Care » RN to MSN » Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Administration and Leadership
Program Overview
Learn About Our Online RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Administration and Leadership
The Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Administration and Leadership online program at University of Southern Maine (USM) gives you advanced skills in both nursing practice and business management. You will focus on information technology and quality improvement, nursing theory and leadership, organizational behavior, evidence-based practice, and financial management to gain advanced skills in nursing practice, leadership, and business management.
Apply your knowledge beyond the classroom through 220 hours of practicum experience under the supervision of a preceptor in a practice setting of your choosing. Through experiential learning opportunities, your leadership skills and confidence will evolve as you evaluate organizational issues and put solutions into practice. As a graduate, you will have an important impact in the health care field and join the next generation of health care leaders.
The baccalaureate courses in this program emphasize the clinical reasoning that drives a culture of safety while developing your ability to use evidence-based practice to make decisions for quality outcomes. This portion of the program prepares you for graduate-level work, which teaches you to:
- Demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of nursing, other sciences, humanities, and theory, and integrate this knowledge to manage and improve nursing care across diverse settings
- Communicate effectively and use leadership skills to foster professional relationships that shape and implement system change while also promoting teamwork, a positive work environment, and delivery of high-quality, safe, and cost-effective care
- Translate research into practice through critical appraisal of existing evidence to address challenges, improve practice, and disseminate results
- Utilize technology and information systems to enhance communication, decision-making, and the integration, improvement, and coordination of care
- Use advocacy strategies through the policy process to influence health, health care, and outcomes
- Synthesize broad organizational, financial, economic, client-centered, culturally appropriate concepts to address prevention and population health
- Demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of nursing, other sciences, humanities, and theory, and integrate this knowledge to manage and improve nursing care across diverse settings
- Communicate effectively and use leadership skills to foster professional relationships that shape and implement system change while also promoting teamwork, a positive work environment, and delivery of high-quality, safe, and cost-effective care
- Translate research into practice through critical appraisal of existing evidence to address challenges, improve practice, and disseminate results
- Utilize technology and information systems to enhance communication, decision-making, and the integration, improvement, and coordination of care
- Use advocacy strategies through the policy process to influence health, health care, and outcomes
- Synthesize broad organizational, financial, economic, client-centered, culturally appropriate concepts to address prevention and population health
As a graduate of this RN to MS in Nursing online program, you will be prepared to make an impact in leadership roles and organizational settings such as:
- Nurse Manager
- Director of Nursing
- Clinical Manager
- Chief Nursing Officer
- Clinical Nurse Manager
- Nurse Supervisor
- Nurse Manager
- Director of Nursing
- Clinical Manager
- Chief Nursing Officer
- Clinical Nurse Manager
- Nurse Supervisor
Accreditation
The nursing programs at the University of Southern Maine are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 665 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington DC, 20001, 202-887-6791.
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Tuition
Earn a Respected Degree Affordably
Our goal is for you to earn a high-quality degree that will help improve your career and income without taking on considerable financial debt.
Tuition breakdown:
Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Program |
---|---|---|
RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Administration and Leadership | $300 | $22,680 |
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
USM Online Dates and Deadlines
The RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Administration and Leadership online program offers convenient multiple start dates each year to accommodate your professional and personal schedules.
Now enrolling:
Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline* | Last Class Day |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summer 1 | 5/15/23 | 4/26/23 | 4/26/23 | 5/15/23 | 5/15/23 | 6/30/23 |
Summer 2 | 7/3/23 | 6/14/23 | 6/14/23 | 7/3/23 | 5/15/23 | 8/18/23 |
Fall 1 | 8/28/23 | 8/9/23 | 8/9/23 | 8/28/23 | 8/15/23 | 10/13/23 |
Fall 2 | 10/23/23 | 10/4/23 | 10/4/23 | 10/23/23 | 8/15/23 | 12/15/23 |
Spring 1 | 1/16/24 | 12/27/23 | 12/27/23 | 1/16/24 | 1/15/24 | 3/1/24 |
Spring 2 | 3/18/24 | 2/28/24 | 2/28/24 | 3/18/24 | 1/15/24 | 5/3/24 |
Summer 1 | 5/13/24 | 4/24/24 | 4/24/24 | 5/13/24 | 5/15/24 | 6/28/24 |
Summer 2 | 7/1/24 | 6/12/24 | 6/12/24 | 7/1/24 | 5/15/24 | 8/16/24 |
* The payment deadline for the second session of each term is the same as the first session deadline or ten days from the date of registration.
Now enrolling:
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Admissions
Review the Admission Steps for the RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Administration and Leadership
The RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Administration and Leadership online program has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.
Admission Requirements:
- 3.0 Minimum GPA
- Statement of Purpose
- Online Application
- Unencumbered Nursing License
- Online application
- ADN/ASN from an accredited university, with a minimum 3.0 GPA OR diploma in nursing
- Current, unencumbered nursing license
- One statement of purpose/essay (in the online application)
- An undergraduate course in introductory statistics that includes descriptive and inferential statistics completed with a grade of C or higher
- Official transcripts (submitted directly from the granting institution) from all colleges/universities attended
- Students with a minimum undergraduate or diploma cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above may be directly admitted to the RN to MS in Nursing program if all admission criteria is met. Progression to the Master's program requires that the student maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or a B average, for all undergraduate courses taken at the 300/400 level.
- Students interested in the MS in Nursing programs with an undergraduate or diploma GPA of 2.5-2.99 should apply directly to UMFK RN to BSN program. Conditional admission to MS in Nursing program may be granted upon successful completion of 12 credits of 300/400 level courses with a grade of B or better. Progression to the Master's program requires that the student maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or a B average, for all undergraduate courses taken at the 300/400 level.
- Upload your essay in PDF format in the online application or email your essay to [email protected]
- Demonstrate your understanding of the nurse administrator/educator role and reasons for becoming a nurse leader
- Explain your professional goals that will be supported by the Master of Science degree
- Outline the experiences, capacity, and abilities brought to a master's program
- Document your reasons for choosing USM for this program
Official transcripts (submitted directly from the granting institution) and other supporting documents may be mailed or emailed.
Mailing Address:Application Processing Center
University of Maine System
P.O. Box 412
Bangor, ME 04402-0412
Email Address:
[email protected]
This online program is currently offered to students located in the following states: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and South Dakota.
Courses
Preview the Courses in the RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Administration and Leadership
For the RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Administration and Leadership online program, you will complete 24 hours of undergraduate credits and up to 21 hours of General Education credits through the University of Maine at Fort Kent and 36 hours of graduate credits (MSN core and Nursing Administration and Leadership courses) through the University of Southern Maine School of Nursing.
Students may need up to 21 additional General Education credits, to be determined upon transcript review. A block transfer of 69 credits for General Education courses will be awarded with proof of an active RN license.
General Education Requirements (21 hours)
In accordance with UMFK policy, all baccalaureate candidates must complete the following General Education requirements. Transcript analysis will be conducted to determine if courses taken prior to admission to UMFK are congruent with the courses of the General Education program.
General Education Credit |
Credit Hours |
General Education Area |
---|---|---|
English Composition II |
3 credits |
Communication |
Statistics (if not previously completed) |
3 credits |
Quantitative Reasoning |
Literature |
3 credits |
Literature |
History |
3 credits |
History |
Language |
3 credits |
Foreign Language |
Art/Music |
3 credits |
Visual and Performing Arts or Philosophy |
Computer Science |
3 credits |
Information Fluency |

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