Health Care Systems

Today’s health care system requires new skills of nursing leaders, clinicians, and educators to transform the delivery of nursing and health care. The advanced courses of study in Health Care Systems (HCS) are designed for nurses who have earned a Master’s degree in Nursing (MSN), and facilitate their development of the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in four key areas:

• Administration
• Clinical Nurse Leader & CNL/Educator
• Education
• Informatics

Students in each area take courses to strengthen their selected focus area and support their personal career goals, as described below.

Administration

The 18-credit hour Post-Master’s Certificate in the Health Care Systems-Administration sequence includes content in nursing management and leadership, informatics, finance, human resource management, and outcomes and quality management. This content is aimed at preparing nurses to develop, implement, and measure the impact of innovations in care delivery at all levels within health care organizations.

This part-time course of study can be completed in 4 academic semesters (generally 2 years). Successful completion of the Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Care Systems-Administration provides the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a variety of leadership positions in evolving health care organizations. In addition, with the requisite management/administrative experience, students will be eligible to sit for the certification examination of the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Nursing Administration.

Course requirements for the Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Care Systems-Administration include the following:

NURS870 Health Care Informatics (3 credits)
NURS871 Leadership in Advanced Practice Roles in Health Care Organizations (3 credits)
NURS872 Human Resources Management (3 credits)
NURS873 Financial Management (3 credits)
NURS874 Outcomes Management (3 credits)
NURS878 Health Care Residency and Integrative Seminar (3 credits; converting to 4 credits in 2014)

Clinical Nurse Leader & CNL/Educator

An innovative CNL program option prepares nurses to be clinical leaders in complex health care systems by combining knowledge and skills from both clinical and heath care systems practice. The CNL is prepared to provide and manage care for individuals and groups of patients, with emphasis on understanding patients’ clinical progression, care transitions and processes, evidence-based practice, quality improvement and patient safety. Graduates will be eligible to sit for national certification as a CNL. The program of study for the CNL certificate program is individualized for those students who already have a graduate degree in advanced nursing, based upon their prior education and clinical experiences. Students who desire an educator focus may take 2 additional courses (6 credits) -NURS876 and NURS882 – in their program of study. Graduates of the CNL/NE option will be eligible to sit for the CNL certification examination upon graduation and the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) examination after completion of two years or more of full-time employment in the academic faculty role.

Nursing Education

The 16-credit hour Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Care Systems-Nursing Education course sequence is designed to prepare nurses for roles in patient education, staff development or academic settings. Nurse Educators have advanced understanding of the theoretical foundations and issues related to education of various patient populations, and adult nurse learners. They utilize comprehensive knowledge of learning theories, styles, and assessment methods in planning educational strategies based on the intended levels of learning. Nurse Educators design and implement effective evaluation methods in all health care arenas. Their educational practice will be research based and reflective of best practices.

This course of study can be completed in two full-time semesters (generally 1 year) or three or more part-time semesters. Successful completion of the Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Care Systems-Nursing Education provides advanced preparation for the Nurse Educator role in patient education, staff development, and academic education. Because of the growing shortage of qualified Nurse Educators, many schools of nursing are actively searching for new faculty. The preparation provided through the Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Care Systems-Nursing Education will serve to increase career opportunities and to enhance current teaching skills.

Course requirements for the Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Care Systems-Nursing Education include the following:

NURS870: Health Care Informatics (3 credits)
or NURS871: Leadership in Advanced Practice Roles in Health Care Organizations (3 credits)
NURS875: Principles of Teaching Applied to Nursing (3 credits)
NURS876: Innovations in Nursing and Health Care Educational Curricula (3 credits)
NURS878: Health Care Systems Residency and Integrative Seminar (4 credits)
NURS882: Clinical Teaching in Nursing (3 credits)

Informatics

The Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Care System-Informatics is designed for nurses who have earned an advanced graduate degree in nursing. The purpose of this program is to prepare nurses for clinical leadership roles in the design, selection, implementation and utilization of information technology (IT) systems in support of improved quality, safety and outcomes of care. Students will also apply knowledge in real-world situations during a practicum (residency) in a clinical informatics setting.

The program is 15-18 credits in length and can be completed in 2-4 academic semesters (1-2 years). The curriculum combines content in health care informatics, systems analysis, database management and outcomes. Students take courses from the School of Nursing and the School of Information and Library Science. The plan of study for the Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Care Systems-Informatics is individualized, based upon a student’s prior education and work experiences.

Courses for the Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Care Systems–Informatics include the following:

Core Courses (total of 13-16 credits)

NURS870: Health Care Informatics (3 credits) Fall
INLS523: Database Concepts and Applications (3 credits) Fall or Spring
INLS582: Systems Analysis (3 credits) Fall or Spring
NURS874: Outcomes Management/Quality/Patient Safety (3 cr.) Fall, odd years
NURS878: Residency (3 credits; converting to 4 credits in Spring 2014) Spring

Elective Courses (select 3-6 credits)

INLS461:* Information Tools (3 credits) Fall or Spring
NURS871: Leadership in Organizations (3 credits) Spring
INLS718: User Interface Design (3 credits) Spring
INLS890: Electronic Health Records (3 credits) Spring and Summer

*INLS461 may be required as a prerequisite for INLS523 and INLS582, depending on students’ prior academic coursework and professional experiences

An individualized program of study will be designed, based on an applicant’s prior academic coursework, and professional experiences. The Health Care Systems advanced practice coordinator or designated faculty advisor will review submitted materials to determine an applicant’s specific plan of study.

Limited scholarship support is available.

Who May Apply?

Individuals who have earned a master’s degree in nursing from accredited programs, are currently licensed as RNs, and have at least one year’s clinical experience are eligible to apply.

Application Materials

You will be asked to submit the following documents with your application:

• One employee letter of recommendation from a current, immediate supervisor
• Curriculum vita or resume, detailing experience since completion of entry nursing degree
• Cogently written professional statement (3-5 pages) addressing all elements requested as detailed in Application Instruction
• Current unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the state in which the student will do clinical course work. Note: an “unencumbered license” means neither the license, the licensee’s practice, nor the licensee is associated with any type of restriction, encumbrance, or probationary limitations imposed by the applicable Board of Nursing or any judicial entity.

Applicants must complete a Health Assessment course, approved by the School of Nursing, within two years prior to enrollment in the clinical courses (unless the applicant is currently practicing as a nurse practitioner). Please refer to the Post-Master’s application instructions (Health Assessment Skills Evaluation Form) for detailed information on this requirement.

How Does the Program Work?

Students in both of these post-master’s program areas take courses with Health Care Systems graduate students in the Master of Science in Nursing program. Transcripts of post-master’s candidates are reviewed by the Advanced Practice Coordinator in the selected area of study. Additional or alternative coursework may be recommended based on this evaluation.

Students are expected to complete the program as planned. Students who drop out are generally not eligible to return in the following year and must reapply. (You can see how it is on the other areas if needed.

Health Care Systems faculty members are sensitive to students’ learning needs by employing a variety of instructional modalities including seminar or classroom settings, on-line and/or Web-enhanced instruction. As a result, the courses may be offered in traditional classroom settings and/or via distance technologies.

The final residency course (NURS878) has a preceptored practicum requirement. There are many excellent clinical sites and residency preceptors in the Triangle area including hospital, home health, long-term care and ambulatory care settings. Learners may also suggest sites and preceptors in their local area, which will be evaluated by the faculty to assure that course objectives can be met. The classes you will attend are courses offered in the Health Care Systems Advanced Practice Area of our Master’s program.

How Long Does it Take to Complete the Program?

For students who begin during the Fall semester, the HCS certificate options take up to 2 academic years to complete.

How Much Does the Program Cost?

Under revision. Please check back soon for updates.

When Should I Apply?

Admission to the Post-Master’s Program is offered only once per year (Fall). The deadline for applying for spring admission is October 9th, 2012 and for fall admission is January 8th, 2013.

What Will I Gain From Completing the Program?

 

Upon satisfactory completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for national certification in their area of specialization.

Additional Information

• Faculty Directory
• MSN Course List

Update June 2012