Graduate Nursing Programs Academic Policies Handbook 2025-2026 Jean School of Nursing and Health Sciences Mission and Vision Mission Statement Rooted in our Catholic, Benedictine traditions and commitment to social justice, we are driven to serve. We develop compassionate health professionals and leaders dedicated to preserving human dignity and positively impacting the world. We achieve this through a distinctive liberal arts education, collaborative research, and meaningful engagement with local, national, and global communities. Vision Statement Together we strive to improve the health and wellness of all individuals and communities whom we serve. Graduate Nursing Programs Overview The MSN in Nursing Leadership and Innovation Program is offered as a part-time, online degree program. The School also offers a Post-master’s Certificate (PMC) in Leadership and Innovation Program. These programs provide nurses with contemporary leadership skills and knowledge and skills in innovation to succeed in and transform the everchanging healthcare landscape. The programs also empower nurses with the knowledge to lead effectively and embrace improvements to transform care delivery systems and improve patient outcomes. MSN in Nursing Leadership and Innovation Program Philosophy At Saint Anselm College we believe nursing is both an art and a science. We incorporate the Benedictine values of stewardship, humility, and hospitality to promote the health and wellbeing of individuals and society. We seek to provide compassionate, safe, and equitable care based on the highest standards of nursing practice and scientific evidence. Community of Interest The Community of Interest exists to ensure that the program remains relevant, responsive, and aligned with the needs of its stakeholders and the broader healthcare environment. The Community of Interest includes The Dean of the Jean School of Nursing and Health Sciences, the Director, Graduate Nursing Programs, the Director, Undergraduate Nursing Program, faculty members teaching in the graduate nursing programs, staff involved in the graduate nursing programs, students within the program, alumni of Saint Anselm College who were nursing majors, the Jean School of Nursing and Health Sciences Alumni Council, Chief Nursing Officers of local partnering healthcare systems, and community partner agencies. Approval, Accreditation, and Memberships The MSN in Nursing Leadership and Innovation Program is currently undergoing the accreditation process by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). The Jean School of Nursing is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the National League for Nursing. MSN in Nursing Leadership and Innovation Program Concepts and Definitions Clinical Judgment
Directly related to care outcomes, this is a decision-making process based on nursing knowledge (evidence, theories, ways/patterns of knowing), other disciplinary knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical reasoning. Communication A core component of team-based, interprofessional care. Communication is an exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings through a variety of mechanisms. Encompasses the various ways people interact, including verbal, written, behavioral, body language, touch, and emotion. Includes intentionality, mutuality, partnerships, trust and presence. Compassionate Care An essential principle of person-centered care. Refers to the way nurses relate to others and is interrelated with other concepts such as caring, empathy and respect. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Diversity references a broad range of individual, population, and social characteristics. Inclusion represents environmental and organizational cultures in which individuals with diverse characteristics thrive. Inclusive environments require intentionality and embracing differences to ensure the perspectives and experiences of others are invited, welcomed, acknowledged and respected. Equity is the ability to recognize the differences in the resources or knowledge needed to allow individuals to fully participate in society with the goal of overcoming obstacles to ensure fairness. Ethics Core to professional nursing practice, refers to the principles that guide a person’s behavior. Commonly accepted principles in bioethics include autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Evidence-Based Practice A problem-solving approach to the delivery of health care that integrates best evidence from studies and patient care data with clinician expertise and patient preferences and values. Health Policy Goal-directed decision-making about health that is the result of an authorized public decision-making process. Nurses play critical roles in advocating for policy that impacts patients, and the profession, especially on issues that affect nursing practice and health outcomes. Social Determinants of Health The conditions in the environment where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality of life outcomes and risks. Program Outcomes MSN in Leadership and Innovation Program Outcomes Program graduates will be prepared to assume various leadership roles across diverse settings. The program provides graduates with a total of 300 of the required 1000 clinical hours which may be accepted when needed to complete a doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) program in an AACN-accredited school. Each of these program learning outcomes are mapped to the AACN Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education Essentials 10 Domains. Upon program completion, the MSN in Nursing Leadership and Innovation graduate will be able to:
1. Critically reflect upon the rich history of nursing and apply foundational concepts of Nursology and knowledge from other disciplines to address challenges and promote innovation in current healthcare systems. 2. Design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based, person-centered systems of care delivery in multiple contexts, with an emphasis on ethics, diversity, equity and inclusion. 3. Prioritize population health and well-being within the increasingly dynamic and complex healthcare system, and collaborate with partners to improve equitable population health outcomes. 4. Synthesize, translate, and apply nursing knowledge, while embracing and leveraging innovation to improve health, influence policy, and transform care delivery. 5. Employ principles of innovation, safety, and improvement science to minimize risk of harm, enhance individual performance, and improve system effectiveness. 6. Utilize interprofessional collaboration to build strong relationships with patients, families, healthcare teams, and stakeholders, leveraging shared expertise to overcome challenges, improve care, and enhance health outcomes and experiences. 7. Demonstrate leadership as an effective voice for professional nursing practice by representing the discipline in organizational, economic, regulatory, and policy discussions, and by coordinating resources to ensure the provision of safe, high-quality, and equitable care for diverse populations. 8. Utilize data, informatics and technology to advance the knowledge of the discipline, facilitate data-driven decisions, and improve healthcare safety, outcomes and experiences in accordance with best practices and professional and regulatory standards. 9. Cultivate professionalism through the demonstration of ethical leadership, collaboration, cultural humility, accountability, compassion, and service.
10. Foster personal growth, resilience and well-being by applying fundamental principles of contemporary leadership to fulfill performance of strategic metrics for personal and organizational success. Post-Masters Certificate Program Outcomes Upon completing the Post-master’s Certificate in Nursing Leadership and Innovation, graduates will be prepared to assume various leadership roles across diverse settings. The program also provides graduates with a total of 200 of the required 1000 clinical hours needed to complete a DNP Program in an AACN-accredited school. Graduates may also choose to seek to become an AONL Certified Nurse Manager and Leader® (CNML). Each of these program learning outcomes are mapped to the AACN Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education Essentials 10 domains. Upon completing the certificate program, graduates will be able to: 1. Apply an understanding of evidence-based leadership and innovation theories and principles to lead and evaluate change initiatives in a variety of complex healthcare environments. 2. Lead interprofessional teams in a variety of settings to develop and implement solutions to address complex healthcare system problems, and improve quality outcomes.
3. Utilize data, informatics and technology to advance the knowledge of the discipline, facilitate data driven decisions and improve safety, outcomes and experiences. 4. Fulfill leadership goals, performance and strategic metrics for personal and organizational success. 5. Enter a leadership position with confidence and self-assurance. MSN in Nursing Leadership and Innovation Program Requirements The program must be completed within a maximum of six years from when the first course is completed. Students must achieve the following requirements to progress in the program: ● Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 to remain in the program, and ● Earn a “B-” or above in each course. Program Admission The application deadlines for the MSN in Nursing Leadership and Innovation and Certificate Programs are August 1st and January 9th. To be considered for admission to the MSN in Leadership and Innovation Program the following is required: ● Current Registered Nurse license (any US state) ● Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, or bachelor’s degree in a related field, or Master’s entry nursing program (MEPN) degree ● Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher ● Demonstration of meeting AACN Essentials Level 1 Competencies To be considered for admission to the Post Master’s Certificate Program the following is required: ● Current Registered Nurse license (any US state) ● Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, or bachelor’s degree in a related field ● Master of Science in Nursing degree ● Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (exceptions may be made to this requirement at the discretion of the MSN Admissions Committee) ● Demonstration of meeting AACN Essentials Level 1 and Level 2 competencies The following documentation is required in the admission review process for both the MSN in Nursing Leadership and Innovation Program and the Post Master’s Certificate in Nursing Leadership and Innovation Program: ● Application ● Official College Transcript(s) ● Two recommendation letters ● Copy of Current Nursing License(s) ● $65 Application Fee A non-matriculated option is also available. For those who are interested in taking a course as a non-matriculated student, please complete this form: https://admission.anselm.edu/register/graduate-non-degree Application and Review Process ● Go to https://admission.anselm.edu/apply/ and follow the instructions to create an account. Select Graduate as the application type. ● Complete all the questions and submit required documents for the chosen pathway. ● After submission, check the Graduate Applicant Status Portal to confirm received materials and admission status. Decisions will be sent via email. ● If you have questions about the application or review process, please contact the Director, Graduate Nursing Programs, Dr. Courtney Coffey at ccoffey@anselm.edu.
More detailed information regarding these documents can be found on our Saint Anselm College Department of Admissions website. Student Expenses and Program Costs Students expenses for the MSN in Nursing Leadership and Innovation Program include required textbooks and course-related purchases. Travel to Saint Anselm College one time during the final semester for an on-campus intensive is required. Information regarding tuition is available on our MSN in Nursing Leadership and Innovation website. Clinical Practice Hours The MSN in Nursing Leadership and Innovation Program provides 300 practice hours, and the Post-Masters Certificate Program provides 200 clinical practice hours. These may be used toward the completion of a doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) program accredited by the CCNE. The CCNE defines clinical practice experiences as planned learning activities that allow students to understand, perform, and refine professional skills at the appropriate program level. These hours will be accrued through assignments as learning activities that allow for experiential learning. Experiences are not limited to clinical patient care settings.
Course Descriptions NU501 - Nursology and the Knowledge of the Discipline (3 Credits) An examination of the extant knowledge of Nursing through a review of the grand theories, middle range theories, and situation specific theories of nursing practice is the primary focus for this course. The rich history of Nursing, the interconnectedness of being an art and a science, and Nursing’s progression through time serves as the foundation on which to build the desired future. When combined with Benedictine traditions this knowledge will facilitate the nurse’s ability to be a voice for nurses and Nursing, effectively participate in interprofessional teams, and lead systems thinking for quality outcomes of care. NU502 - HealthCare Industry and 5Ps: Providers, Populations Served, Places of Delivery, Policy and Payment Mechanisms (3 Credits) An examination of the healthcare industry including delivery systems, providers, places of care provision, policies that guide care delivery, populations served, and the payment mechanisms for fiscal solvency. The contemporary health care industry is complex and a challenge to navigate, even for those within the industry. Constructs of communication, caring, ethics, social determinants of health, health equity and diversity will be woven throughout all course components. NU503 - Evidence Based Practice for the Scholarship of the Discipline (3 Credits) An examination of knowledge/evidence for the improvement of the health and well-being of consumers, systems of care delivery, and the industry at large. Emphasis is on the levels of evidence, analyzing the evidence and translating the evidence into practice. Evidence-based practice is the foundation of care, and this course aims for evidence-based practice to be the starting point for all decisions made within the industry. Intensive experience with literature searches, analyzing and weighing the evidence, and deciding what is feasible and realistic are components of evidence-based practice. The evidence must be balanced by a spirit of innovation and clinical judgment. NU504 - Innovation: A 21st Century Skill (3 Credits) This course examines the use of innovation and professional influence to lead change and address complex challenges in health and healthcare. Core theories and foundational principles of innovation, idea cultivation, solution implementation, and interprofessional healthcare teams are emphasized to empower nurses as disruptors and agents of change. Approximately forty practice hours are required for satisfactory course completion. NU505 - Effective Leadership for Contemporary Nursing (3 Credits)
Examination of the principles and constructs of effective leadership. Contemporary leadership has moved away from the notion of autocracy to one of high participation. The roles of the leader and the follower are essential knowledge for the contemporary leader. Emphasis is placed on self-assessment, communication, problem solving, leading change for improved practice, and creating flourishing workplaces. Mastering competencies of effective leadership will enable graduates to address systems of care regardless of setting while meeting the challenges of diverse populations requiring care, providers from multiple generations with varying licenses and skill sets, and payment systems grounded in formulaic algorithms. Truth and social justice are integrated throughout. Approximately forty practice hours required. NU506 - Quality Improvement Models and Processes (3 Credits) An exploration of quality improvement models and processes with an emphasis on analysis of practice performance, efforts to improve performance and measurement of outcomes. Quality is defined as more than value divided by cost and is assessed in a variety of ways; all will be explored within this course. Outcomes of care across components of the healthcare industry in the United States are less than desired. Knowing how to define, measure, and achieve quality are essential skills for contemporary nursing leaders. Approximately forty practice hours are required for satisfactory course completion. NU507 - Financial Management for Nurse Leaders (3 Credits) This course is designed to provide nurses with a basic exploration of financial processes; health care economics; financial management and analysis skills; and metrics that describe the financial health of health care delivery’s macro-meso- and micro- systems. Successful completion of the course enables the nurse leader to express the activity of their clinical business unit in quantitative terms; to appreciate the fiscal impact of all decisions; and to understand the role of effective and efficient care delivery in creating a solvent organizational entity. Approximately forty practice hours are required for satisfactory course completion. NU508 - Healthcare Operations of Organizations (3 Credits) An exploration of the interprofessional and team based activities essential to effective operational management of a healthcare organization. Emphasis is on HR, compliance, security and supply management. The leader’s ability to work with the varied operations will facilitate the fulfillment of quality outcomes for all populations served. Integrated throughout this course on operations is the voice of nursing and nurses within the industry. Approximately forty practice hours are required for satisfactory course completion. NU509 - Informatics and Technology (3 Credits) An exploration of the processing of data for secure storage, retrieval, and utilization. Emphasis is on the requisite security, computer systems/science, information systems/science, AI, design thinking, and the interconnectedness between them, and nursing science for improved healthcare consumer outcomes, including population health. Informatics and data management embrace a systems thinking perspective which is required to meet the data needs of the contemporary healthcare industry. Approximately forty practice hours are required for satisfactory course completion. NU510 - Nursing Leadership and Innovation: Synthesis and Intensive (4 Credits) This culminating course provides students with the opportunity to synthesize prior learning in areas including leadership, quality improvement, change management, budget and finance, innovation, and healthcare operations. In addition to coursework, students will participate in experiential learning in the industry throughout the semester, under the guidance of and in collaboration with an experienced healthcare/nursing leader. A written and orally presented capstone project will demonstrate the student’s cumulative knowledge. A one-time on-campus intensive experience at Saint Anselm College is a course requirement. Approximately sixty practice hours are required for satisfactory course completion.
Sample Matriculation Plan Year 1
Semester 1 Credits NU501 3 Nursology and the Knowledge of the Discipline
Semester 2 Credits NU503 3 Evidence Based Practice for the Scholarship of the Discipline
Semester 3 NU502 The Healthcare Industry and 5Ps: Providers, Populations Served, Places of Delivery, Policy and Payment Mechanisms
Credits 3
NU505 3 Effective Leadership for Contemporary Nursing*
NU506 Quality Improvement Models and Processes*
NU504 Innovation: A 21st Century Skill
3
Total Credits Year 2
Total Credits
6
Semester 4 NU509 Informatics and Technology*
Credits 3
NU508 Healthcare Operations of Organizations
3
6
3
6
Semester 5 NU507 Financial Management for Nurse Leaders* NU510 Nursing Leadership and Innovation: Synthesis and Intensive
6
Credits 3
4
7
*Required courses for the Post Master’s Certificate in Leadership and Innovation Note: Course sequence will vary according to entry point and the individual student’s progression path