Drexel University’s accredited MSN online undeclared program option is designed to prepare nurses for leadership nursing positions in the rapidly growing and evolving healthcare landscape. With so many options available today, we understand selecting the right MSN concentration may be challenging. That is why we have designed a flexible online MSN option that allows you to take the five core MSN courses before selecting your concentration. This gives you the opportunity to explore your interests and ultimate career goals, while still progressing toward your MSN degree. Upon completion of the five core MSN courses, you will be able to seamlessly continue your MSN journey in one of our four concentrations: Clinical Nurse Leader, Leadership in Health Systems Management, Nursing Education, or Quality, Safety, and Risk Management in Healthcare.

What is an MSN Program?

A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is an advanced-level degree that prepares registered nurses to enter positions in management, administration, and education. The degree may focus on one or more advanced nursing specialties such as nursing education, nursing leadership, clinical nurse leader, acute care, or primary care.

Online Master’s in Nursing (MSN) Program Features

• The master's degree in nursing at Drexel University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Consistently ranked among the best online Master's in Nursing Programs by U.S. News & World Report
• Experienced and board certified faculty from Drexel's acclaimed College of Nursing and Health Professions
• A highly-interactive learning method that challenges and engages while remaining convenient for working nurses
• Flexible scheduling of clinical practicum in a variety of settings
• Three-year tuition lock for those who complete the program within three years

Concentrations for the Online MSN Program

• Leadership in Health Systems Management
• Nursing Education
• Public Health Nursing
• Quality, Safety, and Risk Management in Healthcare

Drexel’s nurse practitioner programs are not available to undeclared MSN students. However, upon completion of an MSN advanced role program, you will have the option to apply for a post-master’s certificate in one of the nurse practitioner tracks.

Curriculum

This program is organized into four 10-week quarters per year (as opposed to the traditional two-semester system) which means you can take more courses in a shorter time period. One semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits.

Graduate students who utilize student loans (FAFSA) must maintain a minimum enrollment of 4.5 credits per term.

For Full List of courses, please visit Drexel Online.

Program Outcomes

• Practices within a legal and ethical framework of health care delivery.
• Advances the role of advanced nursing practice in the health care system through scholarship, clinical experience and political involvement.
• Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision-making.
• Integrates multiple technologies and relevant theories into the organization and synthesis of health data required to develop plans of care for patients, families and communities.
• Integrates culturally sensitive health promotion activities that contribute to the health and wellness of the community into clinical practice.
• Demonstrates leadership in nursing and health care through involvement in the development of outcome-based standards of care and practice-based health policy issues.
• Evaluates and modify the quality and effectiveness of clinical practice based on current research findings, standards of care and patient outcomes.
• Contributes to the advancement of nursing, health care and humanity through communication, collaboration and education.

What kinds of jobs can you get with an online MSN degree?

• Unit Manager
• Nurse Administrator
• Director of Nursing
• Nurse Educator
• Clinical Nurse Leader
• Clinical Trials Manager

How much does a nurse with a MSN make per year?

Currently, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not provide salary statistics for all MSN categories. Most MSN specialties are contained within the registered nurse category. The median annual wage for registered nurses was $70,000 in May 2017.

Upon review of popular salary sites, such as Payscale.com, we can estimate the median nursing salaries for the MSN categories listed below. Please note that salaries vary by geographic region.

Nursing Program Mission and Values

The Nursing program faculty and staff are committed to educating nurses to embrace both the art and science of nursing, to integrate caring into practice, to think critically and practice competently, compassionately and safely in complex rapidly changing practice environments. The Nursing program supports administrators, faculty, staff and students in developing holistic evidence-based programs, which create healing and caring environments at all levels that reflect innovative education, interdisciplinary practice and research.

The highest goals of the program include demonstrating efficacy, quality and cost-effectiveness of evidence-based nursing interventions in promoting health, preventing disease, preserving human dignity, reducing health disparities and caring for the sick and injured.

All efforts in the Nursing program are designed to build nursing knowledge, enhance nursing practice, foster professional integrity, promote innovation, engage in interdisciplinary collaboration and ultimately improve the health outcomes of patients and families from diverse communities across the continuum of care.

The Nursing program is committed to excellence in nursing education through educational programs that are:

• Authentic: We value a deep connection to others, appreciation of diverse opinions and respect for the other’s frame of reference. We value going beyond objective assessment to understand the context of the other, creative use of self and engagement in the artistry of the caring-healing process—the essence of Nursing.
• Complex: We value complexity science by recognizing that our Nursing program is a complex, dynamic, unpredictable, emerging, self-organizing and adaptive system that cannot be reduced to the sum of its members. As such, we seek that administrators, faculty, staff and students develop skills to improvise, build on the innovations of others, develop positive interpersonal interactions, appreciate the reciprocity that our actions have on the larger system and ourselves and embrace surprise as an opportunity to learn, make sense of our dynamic reality and make a positive impact on the health of our clients.
• Rigorous: We continuously review and redesign programs, courses, technology-infused learning systems and educational products for depth and quality with the learner's experience and background in mind.
• Relevant: We continuously examine changing market forces, the progression of nursing knowledge and the best practices in health care and education to redesign educational programs. There is a strong commitment to population-focused care practice in diverse communities; therefore, we strive to ensure clinically relevant education and simulation experiences. Our faculty serves as excellent role models for developing clinicians.
• State of the Art: We value the use of technological innovation and patient simulation scenarios which foster advanced and evidence-based interdisciplinary communication and teamwork, multiple patient management and crisis resource management skills, provision of culturally relevant care, decreased prevalence of errors and adverse events and a higher intellectual standard in both undergraduate and graduate nursing education.
• Learner-Friendly: In consideration of the demanding, fast-paced lives of our students and nurse consumers, we offer high-quality educational programs in convenient and contemporary formats, including access to academic online courses with attention to user-friendly interfaces as well as resources to enhance academic success. In addition, the College of Nursing and Health Professions is committed to being a challenging and rewarding work environment for faculty, staff and administrators. Information and data on all aspects of the college’s operations are widely shared with faculty, staff and students and all are encouraged to participate in its decisions and activities.