Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Nursing Leadership

Master's: Online
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Northeastern University’s Master of Science in Nursing Leadership provides fulfilling professional paths for students who want to take their undergraduate nursing degree and career to the next level. The intensive program prepares you for healthcare leadership with advanced knowledge, skills, and experience in evidence-based clinical practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, healthcare innovation, fiscal responsibility, and principles of leadership. You can personalize your degree to your interests with a concentration in postsecondary teaching, nurse executive, or patient safety.

Online
Location
Full-Time
Part-Time
Commitment
2–3 Years
Duration of Program
Fall, Spring
Entry Terms
No
Meets F1 Visa Requirements
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Overview

Northeastern University’s Master of Science in Nursing Leadership provides fulfilling professional paths for students who want to take their undergraduate nursing degree and career to the next level. The program prepares you for healthcare leadership with advanced knowledge, skills, and experience in evidence-based clinical practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, healthcare innovation, fiscal responsibility, and leadership principles. 

Throughout your studies, you will learn alongside nursing colleagues who bring diverse experiences and specialties to the program. Together, you will explore theoretical topics and gain experience in various healthcare environments—building a deep proficiency in healthcare services and quality, organizational systems analysis, fiscal responsibility, and effective student and peer evaluation and mentorship.

You can personalize your degree to your interests with a concentration in postsecondary teaching, nurse executive, or patient safety. Your chosen concentration will prepare you for national certification in your area of specialty, including:

  • American Nurses Association Credentialing Center for certification as a Nurse Executive-Board Certified 
  • National League for Nursing for certification as a Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator 
  • The Institute for Healthcare Improvement for accreditation as a Certified Professional in Patient Safety

As a graduate, you will benefit from a lifelong, global network of healthcare professionals and alumni that will keep you connected to ongoing opportunities in an evolving field. 

More Details

Unique Features

  • Leverage your current experience in a program that develops new professional pathways
  • Flex your studies to meet your needs with online courses and the choice of a part- or full-time schedule
  • Advance your career with a rigorous and relevant curriculum 
  • Participate in research opportunities and professional mentorship
  • Earn an interprofessional degree with a concentration that matches your interests 
  • Study and network with high-performing, high-achieving classmates from a variety of backgrounds
  • Gain a lifelong alumni and professional community

Program Objectives

As a student in the MS in Nursing Leadership program, you will learn to:

  • Lead the design, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based practice improvement initiatives. 
  • Critically analyze complex clinical situations and practice environments to catalyze change in the healthcare system. 
  • Translate evidence to develop new models for nursing practice that will transform healthcare. 
  • Direct the development and implementation of social, economic, political, and health policies to ensure the quality of healthcare. 
  • Establish and evaluate cultural competency initiatives to promote equity in healthcare and health outcomes. 
  • Lead and coordinate diffuse interprofessional teams and collaborative efforts. 
  • Evaluate and analyze the impact of health information technology implementation on organizations and nursing practice. 

Career Outlook

Nursing leaders with advanced degrees are in demand as:

  • Educators 
  • Nurse managers
  • Nurse executives and officers
  • Clinical and nursing professors
  • Quality improvement specialists
  • Patient safety innovators
  • Nurse faculty
  • Unit leaders
  • Program directors
  • Industry leaders
  • Community leaders

Concentrations

Clinical Nurse Educator 

In many states, nursing registration boards now mandate that clinical nursing faculty and all BSN-prepared instructors serving as clinical faculty must have a minimum of a master’s degree with coursework in education or an education certification. This concentration allows you to meet employer requirements and pursue more advanced roles as a healthcare educator.

Administration/Nurse Executive 

Hospitals and healthcare facilities are looking to enhance the level of leadership and business skills in nurses who serve as nurse managers and departmental directors with unit, team, or service line influence. This interdisciplinary concentration prepares beginner nurse executives to meet the need for healthcare leadership on a unit and departmental managerial level. The concentration provides skills related to fiscal responsibility, budgetary management, communication, and organizational culture within a variety of healthcare settings. 

Patient Safety 

Patient safety is integral to healthcare quality and financial viability. While patient safety is the responsibility of all healthcare providers, nurses who are the direct care providers have the opportunity, with an expanded knowledge base, to serve as the leaders and designers of organizational patient safety programming and quality improvement initiatives. This concentration will prepare you to succeed in roles that uphold this critical nursing component.

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Admissions

A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern—a top-ranked university—can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and hands-on professional experience in the area of your interest. Apply now—and take your career to the next level.

Program Costs

$47K *
Tuition

Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships and assistantships.

How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.

Requirements

  • Application
  • Application fee
  • Baccalaureate degree in nursing 
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Transcripts from all institutions attended 
    • Transcripts from outside of the U.S. will require a course-by-course evaluation from WES or ECE
  • Current U.S. RN license
  • Two letters of recommendation (academic and professional)
  • Resume / Curriculum vitae
  • Statement of Purpose / Essay
  • *TOEFL or IELTS for applicants who do not hold a degree from a U.S. institution and whose native language is not English

Are You an International Student? Find out what additional documents are required to apply.

Admissions Details Learn more about the Bouvé College of Health Sciences admissions process, policies, and required materials.

Admissions Dates

Fall Term
Spring Term
Application Deadline: August 1
Application Deadline: November 15
Curriculum

Industry-aligned courses for in-demand careers.


For 100+ years, we’ve designed our programs with one thing in mind—your success. Explore the current program requirements and course descriptions, all designed to meet today’s industry needs and must-have skills.

 

Experiential Learning

Learning extends beyond the classroom at Northeastern, and we provide you with opportunities to gain professional experience. You’ll be able to apply your classroom learning in real-world healthcare settings and then bring your new experiences back to your coursework, providing valuable insights. This balance ensures that Bouvé College of Health Sciences graduates stand out.

Our broad mix of experience-based programs—including co-op, student research, service learning, and global learning—build the connections that enable you to transform your career with valuable opportunities to practice your profession as a healthcare team member.

Faculty

Our Faculty

Northeastern University faculty represents a broad cross-section of professional practices and fields, including finance, education, biomedical science, management, and the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors and collaborate alongside you to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.

Students

By enrolling in Northeastern, you’ll be connected to students at our 13 campuses, as well as 300,000-plus alumni and more than 3,500 employer partners around the world. Our global university system provides you with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally and serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions.

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