Become an advocate for change and develop skills to implement a culture of safety with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Healthcare Quality and Safety online program track from Southern New Hampshire University. The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted that, in high-income countries, 1 in 10 patients is harmed while receiving hospital care. This harm is reportedly caused by a range of adverse events, and nearly 50% of these cases are considered preventable. With the healthcare quality and safety track, you can develop the skills you need to change those numbers. You'll design, implement and evaluate healthcare quality improvement initiatives guided by critical thinking, data-driven decision making, and evidence-based practices.

This MSN track can help you become a leader in healthcare quality and safety, capable of advocating for policy change to improve healthcare outcomes and promote a continual state of readiness. You'll also gain practical, hands-on experience as you go. In addition to the online coursework on the healthcare quality and safety track, you'll complete 135 clinical practicum hours under the guidance of a preceptor, providing an opportunity to apply theory to practice. You'll master critical skills such as healthcare quality improvement, risk assessment, communication, legal issues, and strategies that contribute to building a culture of safety and assuring accountability and reliability in care processes, among others.

Our MSN in Healthcare Quality and Safety track is CCNE accredited and based on professional nursing standards and guidelines. The curriculum promotes advanced nursing knowledge across the four spheres of care and is grounded in evidence-based practice, interprofessional leadership, and global health awareness. As a graduate of the healthcare quality and safety track, you'll be able to evaluate system efficiencies, promote a culture of safety and determine the necessary resources for healthcare quality improvements.

Learn how to:

- Apply evidence-based practice, informatics, and healthcare technologies to support continuous quality improvement in complex health systems

- Lead and collaborate within interprofessional teams and organizational structures to manage change, improve nursing practice, and coordinate care across populations

- Develop advanced communication and advocacy strategies to improve health outcomes across the four spheres of care

- Advance equitable health policies and regulations that reduce health risk and promote financial stewardship, in alignment with ethical and legal standards

- Integrate systems-based quality improvements across various healthcare settings

- Analyze integrated healthcare systems and processes to mitigate risks and advocate for a culture of safety

In addition to the online coursework on the healthcare quality and safety track, you'll complete 135 clinical practicum hours under the guidance of a preceptor, providing an opportunity to apply theory to practice. Interested in exploring some other online masters in nursing track options? We offer an online family nurse practitioner program track, as well as tracks in nurse executive leadership and population healthcare. We also offer a master's in nursing education. The Online MSN in Healthcare Safety and Quality is designed to help you build the skills you need to advocate for a culture of safety.

Like all MSN tracks at SNHU, this program track requires the following 5 core courses:

- Role Development and the Transformation of the MSN Nurse

- Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare

- Epidemiological and Biostatistical Applications in Healthcare

- Global Health & Diversity

- Evidence-Based Practice & Scholarly Inquiry

Upon completing your core, you'll take the following Healthcare Quality and Safety-specific courses:

- Healthcare Quality & Improvement. This interprofessional course will take you through the process of healthcare delivery from a quality and safety lens. You'll gain a deeper understanding of how quality is measured, tracked, and improved in healthcare. You'll focus on organizational assessments, commonly used tools, and the application of analytical frameworks to identify the root cause of an event. You'll then gain knowledge of healthcare data relevance, use of change management principles and tools, and evaluation methods.

- Health Policy and Law. Examine the ways that stakeholders and interest groups can influence health law and policies. You'll explore ways to articulate the needs of individuals, communities, and vulnerable populations based on cultural, socioeconomic, and political factors to key decision-makers. You'll then explore concepts and principles of public health, health law, health policy, finance, and risk management in healthcare, and gain knowledge regarding health law and policy to inform decision-making.

- Healthcare Finance and Reimbursement. Explore healthcare reimbursement systems and financial principles relevant to strategic planning for healthcare organizations. Topics explored include revenue cycle management, governmental and non-governmental payment methodologies, and financial accounting principles. You'll gain knowledge of reimbursement methods and models, regulatory compliance requirements, and collaborative teamwork principles related to revenue cycle management.

- Program Design, Planning, and Evaluation. Investigate program planning, design, and evaluation. Topics include needs assessment, cultural competency, ethics, and data analytics. You'll use project, financial, and resource management skills to achieve the outcomes of the proposed program. You'll gain an understanding of how community needs assessments and resource allocation are used in program proposals. You'll also apply leadership skills that facilitate the program planning process.

- Healthcare Safety, Just Culture, and Regulation. Explore the impact of regulatory and accreditation standards on organizational compliance and liability. Topics include accreditation and regulatory standards, compliance, and advocating for a culture of safety. You'll discover how to lead change by developing person-centered solutions that mitigate risks and promote quality and safety. The MSN in Healthcare Safety and Quality track integrates hands-on learning throughout.

"You'll participate in simulated and clinical experiences as you complete course work," said Debra Sowell, clinical faculty member of graduate nursing programs at SNHU. In addition, you'll get "supervised, clinical practicum hours in a healthcare setting that focuses on safety and quality," she said.

Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 5 graduate terms. You can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials.

MSN Admission Requirements:

- Must maintain an active unencumbered registered nurse license. The licensure exam must be equivalent to the NCLEX-RN examination. (If a student holds active licenses in more than one state/jurisdiction all licenses must be unencumbered.)

- Must have an earned bachelor's degree from an accredited nursing program (ACEN, CCNE, and CNEA) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

- Completion of the MSN acknowledgment form.

- Provisional acceptance may be extended to applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.67 and 2.99. SNHU nursing programs are not authorized in the state of Washington or U.S. territories, and we are not accepting students residing in Washington state or U.S. territories into nursing programs at this time.

Currently, enrolled students who move into the state of Washington or a U.S. territory will not be able to continue in nursing courses until they move out of the state of Washington or the U.S. territory. Prospective students are encouraged to contact an admission counselor, and current students should contact their academic advisor, for more information. Applicants and students are advised that their success in their chosen program may be dependent on an ability to meet the Nursing Program Health and Technical Requirements (PDF).

$150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course) Students enrolled in the MSN program may be subject to ongoing licensure checks through a third party vendor, additional fees will apply and may vary by state.