Utilize our nurse bridge program to move forward with your education

Are you looking to take the next step in preparing for a career in healthcare? With our nurse bridge program, you can boost your knowledge base and earn your master’s degree in nursing by taking one course at a time.

Designed for RNs that have a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field, this program helps working nurses more quickly earn their MSN – in turn, saving time and money – and preparing you for new opportunities in your future.

How it works:

Take three upper-level courses and then choose the master’s path that best suits your needs. Once you completed your required nursing bridge courses and your introductory MSN course, you can move into one of the following programs:

• Master of Science in Nursing/Nurse Administration
• Master of Science in Nursing/Nurse Education
• Master of Science in Nursing/Informatics
• Master of Science in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Master of Science in Nursing programs at the University of Phoenix are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and are aligned with leading industry organizations, such as: – American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN®) – American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) – Quality & Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN).

The introductory courses in the nursing bridge to your master’s degree include: Theoretical Development and Conceptual Frameworks, Research Outcome Management for the Practicing Nurse and Professional Nursing Leadership Perspectives. These courses will teach you how theoretical and conceptual frameworks can guide professional decision making; how to analyze research and apply research based evidence to guide nursing practice; and how to manage resources while evaluating the impact to quality care and risk.

After taking the introductory nursing bridge courses, choose one of the following programs:

MASTER'S DEGREES

Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nurse Administration:

Nurses completing this graduate-level program are prepared to become hospital and healthcare leaders. Choose from two business elective options that align with your interests and goals. These include content in finance, human resources, and more. Your coursework will expose you to content aligned with the American Nurses Credentialing Centers Nurse Executive – Board Certification (NE-BC) exam. If you have the required practice experience, you will meet eligibility to sit for national certification. 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
• Establish quality markers
• Reduce risk

Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner:

If you are a registered nurse seeking more autonomy in your practice, this may be the degree for you. The program educationally prepares nurses for advanced practice which emphasizes comprehensive, preventative care in addition to treatment. After completing your degree, you’ll be eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (FNP-BC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Family Nurse Practitioner-Certified (FNP-C) exam and become eligible to be a certified nurse practitioner. In this 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
  

Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nurse Education:

If you’re looking for a professional role in nursing education, this graduate-level program can help you get there. Graduates of this program often teach in schools, colleges and universities, as well as hospital settings. To help prepare you for these roles, coursework aligns to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN^®) and the National League of Nursing (NLN) certification to become a nurse educator (CNE). Once you fulfill your teaching experience requirements, you’ll be eligible to sit for The National League of Nursing's 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
• Stay on top of regulatory and accreditation requirements to teach nurses

Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Informatics:

If you’re a registered nurse looking to study and effectively use data to improve patient outcomes, you can earn your Master of Science (MSN) in Nursing Informatics online. This program helps prepare you to pursue leadership roles in nursing informatics. Learn how to use data to influence quality and reduce risk within healthcare and to provide evidence of meeting quality, compliance and regulatory standards. Coursework aligns to content found in the American Nurses Credentialing Centers Informatics – Board Certification (RN-BC). Clinical electives are available for nurses who are seeking certification eligibility. In this program, you’ll learn how to:

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