Saint Joseph’s College’s MSN curriculum includes core courses in nursing informatics, organizational and systems leadership, policy, quality, and safety, and interprofessional collaboration which support the specialty tracks, where you will acquire in-depth knowledge and advanced skills. 

Mastery of critical thinking skills will prepare you for leadership roles within a patient-centered health care delivery setting or educational setting.  Upon completing this online graduate nursing program, you will have the knowledge and skills in leadership and management to influence nursing practice and health care policy.

The Master of Science in Nursing program prepares graduates in advanced practice, education and leadership roles who demonstrate the following outcomes:

• Integrate nursing science with knowledge from ethics, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sciences into clinical reasoning and decision making. (MSN Essential I, V)
• Uses advanced communication skills and leadership in quality, ethical, and safety healthcare initiatives that incorporate interprofessional collaboration for current and future needs of patient populations. (MSN Essential II, III)
• Uses information systems and technology to evaluate patient care and outcomes. (MSN Essential V)
• Uses communication and leadership skills as a member of the interprofessional team to manage and coordinate patient care to achieve outcomes. (MSN Essential VII)
• Analyze biostatistical and environmental data in the development, implementation and evaluation of culturally humble care directed toward health promotion and disease prevention in individuals and communities. (MSN Essential VIII)
• Demonstrate advanced levels of critical reasoning and decision making in designing, implementing, and evaluating evidence based care to improve patient outcomes in primary care environments. (MSN Essential IV)
• Analyze health care policy for application in regards to access, safety, quality, and efficacy in advanced level nursing practice. (MSN Essential VI)
• Analyze methods for critical appraisal of evidence and application of evidence in advanced level nursing practice. (MSN Essential IV,IX)

Incomplete Grades:

Incomplete grades are given only in cases of illness or emergency.  It is the responsibility of the student to request an incomplete course grade from the faculty member teaching the course.  Forms may be obtained from the Office of Academic Affairs or the student’s advisor. A request for an incomplete grade form signed by the faculty member, student, and the Chair of the Nursing Department must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar in order for an “I” (incomplete) grade to be assigned.  A grade of Incomplete reflects an agreed upon course of action between a faculty member and a student to complete the course within the designated time frame.  Course work must be completed four weeks from the last day of class.  If course work is not completed within this time, a grade of “F” will automatically be assigned.  Under special circumstances, students may petition the Chair of the Nursing Department to extend the time limit in which course work may be completed. 

Academic Requirements:

A passing grade of 83 (B) is required for successful completion of all graduate level nursing courses. 

According to the Department of Nursing policy, students who fail to successfully complete a nursing course on the second attempt at any institution or fail a second nursing course are dismissed from the nursing major. 

Matriculated students will have a maximum five (5) years to complete the program.