Enhance your career with a Master of Science in Nursing

Whether you’re caring for patients at the beginning of life or at the end of life — or at all points in between — nurses have an important role in the delivery of healthcare. You help save lives, decode medical jargon, support families and comfort patients. You work in hospitals, clinics, classrooms, labs or living rooms. Now that you’re an experienced nurse, it may be time to move into the next phase of your career. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) can help. Our on-campus and online MSN program prepares nurses for leadership roles in a variety of specialties, including:

• Nurse Administration — Learn how to coach other nurses, lead during organizational change and step into the business side of nursing.
• Nurse Education — Influence the future of nursing and healthcare by teaching in a variety of educational settings.
• Informatics — Understand how to use data to inform decisions and improve patient outcomes.
• Family Nurse Practitioner* — Offer high-quality primary and specialty medical care to patients.

*The Family Nurse Practioner speciality has pre-verification, clinical hour and residency requirements.

All of our MSN program specialty areas prepare students to sit for national certification exams, and most programs can be completed in about 21 months.

Nursing Bridge Program

Already working as an RN but have a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field? Our Nursing Bridge Program helps working nurses like you earn your MSN degree — saving you time and money. You’ll start with three upper-level courses and then move into the program specialty that fits your career goals.

An accredited MSN

Our MSN program is accredited* by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. This means our program is reviewed by experts to ensure quality — so your investment in education translates to the right skills.

* The Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Master of Science in Nursing programs at University of Phoenix are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

When it comes to your MSN, you have options:

Master of Science in Nursing/Nurse Administration:

Nurses completing this program are provided with a foundation to become hospital and healthcare leaders. You’ll study leadership and management both within and between diverse healthcare organizations. You’ll study the communication and collaboration strategies that contribute to effective team leadership. You’ll also study how to put systems in place that can improve quality, safety and patient outcomes. Your coursework will prepare you to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center Nurse Executive board certification (NE-BC) exam. In this program, you’ll learn how to:

• Use data to make decisions, develop strategic plans and allocate resources.
• Manage human resources.
• Apply leadership skills within an organization.
• Organize Systems.
• Advocate for and manage financial resources.

Master of Science in Nursing/Nurse Education:

If you’re looking for a professional role in nursing education, this program can help you get there. Graduates often teach in schools, colleges and universities, as well as in hospital settings. To help you get ready for these roles, coursework prepares you to sit for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) exam and the National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam. In this program, you’ll learn how to:

• Use technology in education.
• Develop educational activities, courses and programs.
• Facilitate engaged learning.
• Evaluate and assess learning.
• Be aware of regulatory and accreditation requirements.

Master of Science in Nursing/Informatics:

If you’re a registered nurse looking to use data to improve patient outcomes, you can earn your MSN in Informatics online. Learn how to use data to influence quality and reduce risk within healthcare. Understand how to provide evidence of meeting quality, compliance and regulatory standards. Coursework prepares you to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center Informatics Nursing board certification (RN-BC) exam. In this program, you’ll learn how to:

• Manage and analyze data.
• Apply information system design.
• Transform and distribute data.
• Use electronic data effectively while maintaining regulatory and ethical considerations.

Master of Science in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner:

If you’re a registered nurse seeking more autonomy in your practice, this may be the degree for you. The program prepares nurses for advanced practice, emphasizing comprehensive, preventive care with instruction also offered in treatment. After completing your degree, you’ll be eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Family Nurse Practitioner board certification (FNP-BC) exam or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Family Nurse Practitioner certification (FNP-C) exam to become eligible to be a certified nurse practitioner. In this MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program,* available online and at select campuses, you’ll learn how to:

• Understand pharmacology for advanced practitioners.
• Perform advanced clinical procedures.
• Become an advanced practice nurse.
• Analyze research and apply it to your practice.

* The Family Nurse Practioner speciality has pre-verification, clinical hour and residency requirements and takes about two years to complete.