2019-2020 Graduate Catalog Academic Catalog

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This is an archived copy of the 2019-2020 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.uwgb.edu.

Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Management

http://www.uwgb.edu/nursing/msn/

The MSN Leadership and Management is intended for RNs holding a bachelor’s degree in nursing. This master’s degree provides advanced coursework in leadership and management to improve care at multiple levels across the continuum of health care settings. The curriculum will provide students with knowledge and skills to improve outcomes in areas of quality processes, cost savings, and patient satisfaction. Core content within the curriculum includes leadership, fiscal management, evaluative methods, information systems, health care policy, communication, and organizational behavior. Didactic and practicum courses will comprise the curriculum. Practicum experiences will be arranged with health care facilities in students’ geographic areas. More information, admission requirements, required application materials and applications can be can be found on the UW-Green Bay Graduate Studies website.

The curriculum consists of 13 graduate-level courses delivered via a part-time model. Students can complete the program in 6 terms over two years taking two courses each term. Alternatively, they can progress taking one or two classes per term and complete the program over three or four years. (Consult with a Nursing Adviser.) Degree completion requirements include 34 credits of coursework including 9 credits of practicum/project (378 hours). Practicum experiences will be arranged with health care facilities close to students’ homes or work sites. The final practicum includes a master’s leadership project identified in collaboration with a health care setting. Master’s projects will be presented in a format suitable for public dissemination (e.g., manuscript for publication). A thesis option is not planned.

The MSN Leadership and Management program prepares the graduates to:

  1. Integrate knowledge of sciences and humanities as a basis for leadership and nursing practice.
  2. Apply concepts of organizational and systems leadership indecision making in the health care environment.
  3. Enact a nurse leader role in safety and quality improvement in the health care environment.
  4. Apply research evidence in nursing leadership and practice to enhance care and improve outcomes of nursing.
  5. Utilize informatics and health care technologies to enhance care and outcomes of nursing.
  6. Intervene at the systems level through policy, fiscal management, and advocacy to influence the health care environment.
  7. Communicate and collaborate as a member and leader of inter professional teams to optimize health care delivery.
  8. Analyze the role of nurse leader to reduce health disparities and promote population health.
  9. Evaluate personal growth as a professional nurse leader.
  10. Influence health care outcomes through master's level nursing practice, cognizant of environmental sustainability.

The MSN Leadership and Management Program Outcomes and curriculum are aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Masters Education (2011); American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) Competencies (2015); Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Quadruple Aim; Quality and Safety Standards in Nursing Education (QSEN); Quantum Leadership Principles; and the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Institutional Learning Outcomes. 

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the MSN Leadership and Management program closely follow the University-wide policy for admission to graduate programs. The requirements include:

  • A 3.0 grade point average (measured on a 4.0 scale) or higher on a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree transcript from a program accredited by a professional nursing organization (e.g., National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission [NLNAC] or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education [CCNE]).

  • Evidence of receiving a grade of “C” or better in a college-level inferential statistics course within the past 5 years. An inferential statistics course is available online from UW-Green Bay for potential applicants.
  • No entrance exams required (e.g., GRE, MAT).


Required application materials for the MSN Leadership and Management program. Submit the following to the UW-Green Bay Graduate Office:

  • A completed application form and the application fee.
  • A 200-300 written statement describing academic interest in leadership and management, nursing strengths and capabilities, knowledge of online technology (computer use, online coursework, etc.), reasons for pursuing a MSN degree, and description of where you see yourself in 5 years.
  • Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from each previous college or university attended, sent directly to UW-Green Bay from these institutions.
  • Three letters of recommendation from persons who can assess your academic potential.
  • Curriculum vitae or resume.
  • Copy of current, unencumbered U.S. RN license.


Upon admission to the program, you will need to provide the following to the coordinator of the MSN Leadership and Management:

  • Professional photo of yourself or one of you at your job (headshot) will be required upon admission to the MSN program. UWGB will use the photo for education and marketing purposes.

  • Background check by UWGB vendor.

  • Basic Healthcare Provider CPR certification.

International Students

International students should visit, http://www.uwgb.edu/graduate/international/, for additional information on the following requirements.

  • Evidence of English Proficiency (such as a TOEFL score).
  • Evaluation of Foreign Educational Credentials from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or a similar evaluation service.
  • Evidence of financial resources.
  • Financial Support Statement.

Special Students

Persons holding a bachelor’s or higher-level degree who wish to enroll in courses but do not want to pursue a MSN in Leadership and Management degree may enroll as special students. Graduate credit will be awarded provided that the student registers in graduate-level courses as a graduate special student and pays appropriate fees.

Degree Requirements

The 34-credit curriculum consists of 13 graduate courses. Students in the program are required to earn a grade of “B” or better in all required courses. The program is delivered via a part-time model. Students can complete the program in 6 semesters (fall I, spring I, summer I, fall II, spring II, summer II) with two courses offered each semester. A master’s professional project is the capstone of the program’s academic experience. The master’s leadership project is in lieu of a thesis.

Three practicum/project courses (9 credits) are required and in total amount to 378 practicum hours.

NURSING 734Evaluation and Evidence-Based Practice3
NURSING 737Leadership in Complex Systems3
NURSING 741Theories of Organizational Behavior and Nursing Leadership3
NURSING 745Health Economics and Policy3
NURSING 750Human Resource Management3
NURSING 755Program Planning for Population Health2
NURSING 760Informatics for Nursing Leaders3
NURSING 770Practicum I: Leadership and Management Practices - Quality and Safety2
NURSING 772Practicum II: Leadership and Management Practices - Change, Culture and Communication2
NURSING 774Practicum III: Transition to Leadership and Management Roles2
NURSING 780Financial Management for Nurses3
NURSING 785Environmental Sustainability for Nurse Leaders2
Complete 3 credits of NURSING 7903
NURSING 790
MSN Leadership Project
Total Credits34
 
 

Steps Toward the Degree

  1. Applicant is admitted to a graduate program.
  2. Students in the MSN Leadership and Management program DO NOT NEED TO submit an Official Declaration of Master’s Degree (Form GR-1) to the Office of Graduate Studies.
  3. Students in the MSN Leadership and Management develop a project proposal. MSN students develop and complete a master’s professional project identified in collaboration with a health care setting, mentor, project Committee, and Committee Chair (an MSN faculty member). The proposal is reviewed and approved by the thesis/project committee. Once approved, a Thesis/Project Proposal Form GR-2 is submitted to the Graduate Studies office.
  4. Students in the MSN Leadership and Management schedule a professional project presentation via submission of the Request for Thesis Defense/Project Presentation Form GR-3 to the Graduate Studies office. MSN students’ project presentation will disseminate information from the master’s professional project in a suitable format (e.g., manuscript for publication, presentation).
  5. The scheduled thesis defense meeting or professional project presentation takes place. Formal approval of the defense is documented on the Approval of Thesis Defense or Project Presentation Form GR-4 and is kept with the academic record.
  6. If the thesis or professional project is successfully completed and approved, the student applies for conferral of the degree to the Registrar’s Office through the Student Information System (SIS).
  7. Degree is awarded and graduate receives diploma. Graduating MSN students (in a cohort model) are encouraged to participate in the May graduation ceremonies, usually completing the final practicum and courses in the following summer semester, with actual diplomas received upon completion of these courses in August.

Faculty/Advisers

Gajeski, Sharon, Senior Nursing Adviser, B.S.N., University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; M.S.N., University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Hale, Marguerite (Margie), Associate Lecturer, Nursing. B.S.N., University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; M.S.N./M.B.A., Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ.

Fields of Interest: enhancing students' understanding and application of business principles in nursing practice, based on her current role as a hospital Chief Nursing Officer.

Hovarter, Rebecca, Senior Lecturer (with faculty status), Nursing. B.S.N., University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; M.S.N. and DNP, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, MN.

Fields of interest: public health, health equity, social determinants of health

Reilly, Janet, Associate Professor, Nursing. B.S.N., Alverno College, Milwaukee, WI; M.S.N., Concordia University, Milwaukee, WI; D.N.P., Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.

Fields of interest: emotional intelligence/leadership styles, community/public health, technology/online teaching/learning, nurse practitioner practice.

Tyczkowski, Brenda, Associate Professor, Nursing. B.S.N., University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; M.S.N., University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; D.N.P., Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.

Fields of interest: patient advocacy, organizational change, emotional intelligence/leadership styles, quality of care issues in nursing homes.

Vandenhouten, Christine, Associate Professor, Nursing. B.S.N., Marian College, Fond du Lac, WI; M.S.N., University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; Ph.D., Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI.

Fields of interest: assessment and evaluation methods, emotional intelligence/leadership styles, community/public health, global health.

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