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This program prepares registered nurses to assume roles as nurse educators, nursing faculty, or clinical nurse mentors/preceptors. Advance your knowledge of nursing concepts, theories, research, and practices. The program also includes focused exploration of health care policy and regulations; health care information systems and technology; management and leadership in professional nursing practice; and ethical and legal standards.

Outcome goals and graduates’ proficiency levels

These results show recent Capella graduates' proficiency levels in the expected learning outcomes for this program. Faculty make this assessment in the capstone course—the final course in which Capella students demonstrate what they've learned.

2017-2018 Demonstration of Program Outcomes

Master of Science in Nursing

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    2% Non-Performance Does not lead organizational change to improve the experience of care, population health, and professional work life while decreasing cost of care.
  • %
    1% Basic Attempts to lead organizational change, but omits some elements needed to improve the experience of care, population health, and professional work life while decreasing cost of care.
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    3% Proficient Leads organizational change to improve the experience of care, population health, and professional work life while decreasing cost of care.
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    95% Distinguished Leads organizational change to improve the experience of care, population health, and professional work life while decreasing cost of care; identifies knowledge gaps, unknowns, or missing information.

Lead organizational change to improve the experience of care, population health, and professional work life while decreasing cost of care.

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    0% Non-Performance Does not evaluate the best available evidence for use in clinical and organizational decision making.
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    2% Basic Attempts to evaluate the best available evidence for use in clinical and organizational decision making, but omits necessary connections between evidence and planned actions.
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    9% Proficient Evaluates the best available evidence for use in clinical and organizational decision making.
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    89% Distinguished Evaluates the best available evidence for use in clinical and organizational decision making, and impartially evaluates the strength of the evidence.

Evaluate the best available evidence for use in clinical and organizational decision making.

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    0% Non-Performance Does not apply quality improvement methods to impact patient, population, and systems outcomes.
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    1% Basic Attempts to apply quality improvement methods, but methods are not sufficiently developed to create a master's-level improvement to patient, population, and systems.
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    7% Proficient Applies quality improvement methods to impact patient, population, and systems outcomes.
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    92% Distinguished Applies quality improvement methods to impact patient, population, and systems outcomes; identifies areas of uncertainty, knowledge gaps, or additional information that would be needed in order to gain a more complete understanding.

Apply quality improvement methods to impact patient, population, and systems outcomes.

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    1% Non-Performance Does not design patient- and population-centered care to improve health outcomes.
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    2% Basic Attempts to design patient- and population-centered care, but plan lacks some elements needed to improve or measure health outcomes.
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    7% Proficient Designs patient- and population-centered care to improve health outcomes.
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    90% Distinguished Designs patient- and population-centered care to improve health outcomes, identifying assumptions underlying the intervention, implementation, and evaluation plans.

Design patient- and population-centered care to improve health outcomes.

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    0% Non-Performance Does not integrate interprofessional care to improve safety and quality and to decrease cost of care.
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    2% Basic Attempts to integrate interprofessional care, but plan lacks sufficient strategies to improve safety and quality or decrease cost of care.
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    12% Proficient Integrates interprofessional care to improve safety and quality and to decrease cost of care.
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    86% Distinguished Integrates interprofessional care to improve safety and quality, and decrease cost of care, impartially considering conflicting evidence or other perspectives.

Integrate interprofessional care to improve safety and quality and to decrease cost of care.

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    1% Non-Performance Does not evaluate the ability of existing and emerging information, communication, and health care technologies to improve safety and quality and to decrease cost.
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    5% Basic Attempts to evaluate the ability of existing and emerging technologies, but lacks relevance and insight needed to clarify the ability of health care technologies to improve safety and quality, and decrease cost.
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    24% Proficient Evaluates the ability of existing and emerging information, communication, and health care technologies to improve safety and quality and to decrease cost.
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    71% Distinguished Evaluates the ability of existing and emerging information, communication, and health care technologies to improve safety and quality, and decrease cost of care, identifying the criteria used for evaluation.

Evaluate the ability of existing and emerging information, communication, and health care technologies to improve safety and quality and to decrease cost.

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    1% Non-Performance Does not defend health policy that improves the experience of care, population health, and professional work life while decreasing cost of care.
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    2% Basic Attempts to defend health policy, but omits relevant aspects of policy that would affect the experience of care, population health, professional work life, or cost containment.
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    6% Proficient Defends health policy that improves the experience of care, population health, and professional work life while decreasing cost of care.
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    90% Distinguished Defends and proposes relevant changes to health policy to further improve the experience of care, population health, and professional work life while decreasing cost of care.

Defend health policy that improves the experience of care, population health, and professional work life while decreasing cost of care.

Learning and Career Outcomes | Online MSN Degree | Capella University
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Outcome Demonstrations
Source: Aggregated faculty judgments of learner demonstration of program outcomes from Q2 2017 — Q1 2018 capstone courses.

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Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) specializations

  • Care Coordination
  • Nurse Educator
  • Nursing Informatics
  • Nursing Leadership and Administration

Quality and Professional Relevance

  • The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Capella University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
  • The MSN curriculum incorporates The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing established by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
  • Capella’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences Advisory Board helps ensure the curriculum is developed with the insight and support of industry leaders.
  • All faculty members in the master's and doctoral nursing programs have doctoral degrees. Many faculty members have distinguished themselves through practice leadership, service to the profession, and scholarly endeavors.
  • Students will learn from faculty experts that bring both academic and professional experience into the courseroom from nursing and across the public service segments.

Master of Science in Nursing Graduates

Data from graduates of the Master of Science in Nursing program have been combined for these Career Outcomes results.

The graphs below show some key findings from Capella's Alumni Outcomes Survey. We use this information to help improve our courses, programs and services and to give you an idea of how alumni are using their degrees.

Career Preparation
MSN Graduates   

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  • %
    87%
  • %
    78%
  • %
    87%

Transcript

Career Preparation
Master of Science in Nursing Program Graduates

The skills and knowledge have been immediately applicable to my career: 87%

My degree has positioned me to achieve my professional ambitions: 78%

Capella's competency based curriculum has prepared me for the needs of my profession: 87%

Percentage of respondents who answered "strongly agree" or "agree."
Source: Responses to the Alumni Outcomes Survey one year after graduation. The data were collected during Q3 2017 - Q1 2018.

Career  & Professional Accomplishments
 MSN Graduates

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  • %
    47%
  • %
    32%
  • %
    43%
  • %
    32%
  • %
    38%

Transcript

Career and Professional Accomplishments
Master of Science in Nursing Program Graduates

 Made a significant contribution to my profession: 47%

 Successfully changed jobs and-or-careers: 32%

 Assumed leadership responsibilities: 43%

 Received a salary increase: 32%

 Received a promotion: 38%

Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography, and degree field, affect career outcomes, and Capella does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, or other career growth.

Percentage of respondents who indicated they had accomplished each item.

Source: Responses to the Alumni Outcomes Survey one year after graduation. The data were collected during Q3 2017 – Q1 2018.

Master of Science in Nursing Degree Program Graduates

Data from graduates of the Master of Science in Nursing have been combined for these Student Experience results.

The graphs below show some key findings from Capella's Alumni Outcomes Survey. We use this information to help improve our courses, programs and services and to give you an idea of how alumni feel about Capella and what general skills and abilities they gained.

Satisfaction With Capella
MSN Graduates

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  • %
    96%
  • %
    96%
  • %
    88%

Transcript

Satisfaction with Capella
Master of Science in Nursing Program Graduates

I have or intend to recommend Capella: 96%

I am satisfied with my Capella education: 96%

Capella gave me the most efficient direct path to completing my degree: 88%

Percentage of respondents who answered affirmatively.
Source: Responses to the Alumni Outcomes Survey one year after graduation. The data were collected during Q3 2017 - Q1 2018.

Skills & Abilities
MSN Graduates

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  • %
    100%

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  • %
    100%

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  • %
    95%

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  • %
    95%

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  • %
    100%

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  • %
    100%

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  • %
    100%

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  • %
    100%

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  • %
    96%

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  • %
    95%

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  • %
    95%

Transcript

Skills & Abilities
Master of Science in Nursing Program Graduates

Write clearly, accurately, and professionally; use sources appropriately : 100%

Communicate thoughts and ideas in varied settings : 100%

Show ethical conduct reflecting values and beliefs of discipline : 95%

Show knowledge of field; respect contributions of other fields : 95%

Analyze theoretical issues or investigate real-world phenomena, create knowledge : 100%

Locate, evaluate and communicate information; address legal, professional, other issues : 100%

Critically examine, analyze, and evaluate thinking using intellectual standards and creativity : 100%

Critically evaluate, select, and use discipline-appropriate technology : 100%

Show appreciation for group and individual differences : 96%

Demonstrate effective leadership in diverse environments : 95%

Apply the specialized knowledge associated with professional practice area : 95%

Percentage of respondents who rated themselves as "proficient" or "distinguished" on ability to demonstrate the skill or ability on the job.
Source: Responses to the Alumni Outcomes Survey one year after graduation. The data were collected during Q3 2017 - Q1 2018.

Earn Your Master's Degree

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Four graduate schools. More than 40 specializations. Enroll in an online master’s degree program at Capella.

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"I'd recommend Capella to anyone who wants to move ahead in their job or to find a new place to use their experience."

Cynthia Ashman, MS

2008 Graduate

School of Public Service Leadership

Specialization in Criminal Justice