Official Pathway Name:

Bridge Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety

School Offering Pathway:

Grand Canyon University

Degree Level:

Post-Bachelor's

Prerequisites:

In addition to holding a bachelor's degree in any subject area except nursing, prospective students might be working in the health care field and be familiar with some nursing concepts. Possessing strong analytical and assessment skills is important, as courses in this curriculum will address health evaluations, health pattern analysis, and clinical research study review. Applicants to Grand Canyon University should have a high school diploma or equivalent; some programs may have additional requirements.

Pathway Description:

Students with no academic background in nursing or health care have the opportunity to take courses addressing disease processes, health promotion and disease prevention strategies, health documentation, and nursing management concepts when they enroll in the Bridge Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety pathway at Grand Canyon University. Other topics likely to be addressed in the curriculum include methods for taking patient health histories; community health resources; health pattern assessments; factors impacting the understanding of clinical symptoms and development of treatment protocols; and nursing research methodologies. The pathway culminates in an intensive writing capstone course and clinical experiences that allow students to integrate what they have learned with hands-on practice. The 100 required clinical hours are split between leadership and community health.

Learning Format:

Online

Pathway Length:

24 credits.

Financial Aid Available:

Eligible students could be able to receive financial aid in the forms of grants, loans, and scholarships. Contact Grand Canyon University's financial aid office for more information.

Required Courses for a Bridge Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety:

To successfully complete this pathway, students must earn 18 credits in 6 courses and 6 credits in a capstone/practicum. Degree and course requirements are subject to change. Contact Grand Canyon University to confirm the most accurate information before enrolling.

Degree Requirements (24 credits)

• Professional Dynamics
• Health Assessment
• Concepts in Community and Public Health
• Pathophysiology and Nursing Management of Clients' Health
• Applied Statistics for Health Care Professionals
• Introduction to Nursing Research
• Professional Capstone and Practicum

Post-Graduation Opportunities

Furthering Your Education:

Upon completion of this bridge pathway, many students typically continue their studies to earn the Master of Science in Nursing in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety. A master's degree could be a requirement for those seeking advanced positions in health care systems improvement or patient safety in hospitals, clinics, and other health care settings. A master's degree would also typically be needed for those intending to earn a doctorate and pursue careers in academics or research.

In addition to the MSN degree - Health Care Quality and Patient Safety, other master's degrees that students could consider include:

• Master of Science in Healthcare Quality and Safety
• Master of Science in Patient Safety Leadership
• Master of Science in Quality, Safety, and Risk Management

Career Paths:

The Bridge MSN in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety pathway does not generally prepare students for career advancement or placement but instead prepares them for studies at the master's degree level. However, once a master's degree has been earned, graduates can then explore directorial or senior management positions in such areas as health care policy evaluation, systems analysis, patient surveys, and health care improvement planning for hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, or home nursing companies.

A few job titles that would likely be appropriate for those holding a relevant master's degree include:

• Director of nursing
• Patient safety officer
• Director of risk and health care quality
• Quality and patient safety coordinator
• Regional director of health care quality management