Master of Science in Nursing

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program represents premiere educational pathways designed to empower nursing professionals to shape the future and transform healthcare in Kazakhstan. This 2-year (four semester) program is committed to advancing nursing science on both national and global levels. It prepares nurses to excel as clinical leaders, educators, researchers, and advocates in increasingly complex healthcare, educational, and organizational systems. This advanced education equips nurses with essential competencies and expertise to lead transformation, advocate for health, and advance the quality of care across diverse systems and populations.

Based on the principles of competency-based education, this master’s program emphasizes the development of advanced competencies related to evidence-based practice and education, the use of technology in patient care delivery, customization of care, health team and interdisciplinary leadership, communication strategies, research and quality improvement, outcome and risk assessment, and nursing education in the clinical and academic setting.

The Master of Science in Nursing program was developed by modeling the American Association of Colleges of Nursing framework for nursing education - “The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education”, released in 2021. These“Essentials” create a transformative model and framework for nursing higher education using a competency-based approach. The program will nurture nursing professionals who are passionate about independent nursing scholarly work and scientific advancement by equipping them with research skills that foster a critical approach to nursing knowledge and evidence-based practice. With a strong foundation in scientific inquiry and pedagogy, the program will prepare nurse professionals to navigate complex healthcare systems and contribute to advancing patient care, education, research, and leadership.

Practice Area: Clinical Nurse Leadership (MSN-CNL)

The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is a master’s educated nurse, prepared for practice within any healthcare setting. As clinical care environments become more complex, the CNL master’s program prepares nurses for advanced clinical roles to address the critical need to improve the quality of patient care and patient care outcomes. The MSN-CNL program will ultimately prepare nurses for leadership roles in clinical care. CNL roles have traditionally been in acute care organizations, but this trend is changing with greater emphasis placed on coordination of care in ambulatory care settings.

The CNL is a clinical leader – at the point-of-care – who focuses on:

• Care Coordination
• Outcomes Measurement
• Transitions of Care
• Interdisciplinary Communication & Team Leadership
• Risk Assessment
• Implementation of Best Practices Based on Evidence
• Quality Improvement

The following are the aims of the Master of Science in Nursing program:

• To cultivate transformative nursing leaders with expert-level and advanced knowledge and competencies in healthcare management, policy, practice and education, empowering and enabling them to lead innovations in healthcare systems and education in Kazakhstan and internationally.
• To develop a culture of nursing academic and practice excellence by engaging students in transformational education and continuous professional development in internationally accepted best practices that will strengthen professional-level skills such as communication, leadership, professional integration, research, education, and evaluation, contributing to patient care and nursing education reform.
• To build the capacity of nurses to conduct cutting-edge nursing research and translation of research while establishing inter-professional collaborations with top researchers and institutions globally.
• To create a model of modern nursing practice and education and as a benchmark for quality healthcare services in Kazakhstan by preparing graduates to be innovation catalysts for best healthcare practices, educational approaches, and technology.

Graduates of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program have access to a wide range of career opportunities. The specific paths depend on their specialization, interests, and professional goals:

Clinical Roles

• Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) – Leading and coordinating care at the point of care.
• Nurse Practitioner (NP) – Providing primary or specialty care, depending on focus area (e.g., Family, Pediatric, Adult-Gerontology, Psychiatric-Mental Health).
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) – Offering expert clinical guidance and leadership in a specific specialty area.

Administrative and Leadership Roles

• Nursing Administrator/Manager – Managing nursing staff and healthcare teams.
• Director of Nursing – Overseeing nursing departments or healthcare organizations.
• Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) – Leading nursing strategy and operations at an organizational level.
• Healthcare Consultant – Advising organizations on clinical practices, policy, or operational improvements.

Education and Academia

• Nursing Educator/ Professor – Teaching and mentoring nursing students in academic or clinical settings.
• Director of Nursing Education – Leading college or school of nursing in educating future nurses.
• Academic Researcher – Conducting studies to advance nursing science and healthcare practices.
• Program Developer – Designing nursing curricula or educational programs.

Policy and Advocacy

• Health Policy Analyst – Developing or analyzing healthcare policies to improve public health.
• Advocacy Specialist – Representing the nursing profession in legislative or organizational settings.
• Public Health Nurse Leader – Managing public health initiatives and education programs.

Specialized Roles

• Informatics Nurse Specialist – Integrating nursing science with IT to improve patient outcomes.
• Quality Improvement Specialist – Leading efforts to enhance care quality and patient safety.
• Occupational Health Nurse – Providing care and preventive health services in workplace settings.
• Case Manager – Coordinating care for patients with complex health needs.

Advanced Research and Innovation

• Nurse Researcher – Leading and organizing research activities that advance nursing and health in general.
• Clinical Research Coordinator – Leading research studies in clinical settings.

On successful completion of the program, graduates of the MSN program will be able to:

• Appraise and adapt established and evolving nursing science and knowledge within other disciplines to continually improve nursing care across diverse settings.
• Formulate evidence-based, individualized person-centered care strategies at an advanced level to guide holistic nursing practice within the scope of practice across diverse populations.
• Design collaborative, evidence-based population health strategies, care and preventative services that are comprehensive, client-centered, and culturally responsive to individuals, families, and identified populations.
• Integrate expert advanced-level nursing scholarship and relevant sciences into nursing practice to advance health care delivery and outcomes for individuals, populations, and/or systems.
• Critically evaluate and adapt safety and improvement science and principles, quality methods, tools, performance measures, and standards within an organization to enhance quality and safety and to minimize harm to patients and providers.
• Develop inter- and intraprofessional collaboration and communication competence as a team member or leader in managing and coordinating care.
• Critically appraise and adapt systems-based practice, policy development processes, advocacy strategies, leadership principles, and evidence-based methodologies to solve system-level problems and to deliver care that is proactive, safe, high-quality, cost-effective, ethical, respectful and person-centered at an advanced level within complex healthcare systems.
• Design and evaluate emerging informatics processes and healthcare technologies to gather, analyze, and interpret data that drives decision making to enhance patient care coordination and nursing practice.
• Cultivate a sustainable professional nursing identity that demonstrates professionalism, accountability, collaboration, and comportment that reflects nursing’s characteristics and ethical values.
• Model advanced leadership and professional development through participation in professional nursing activities that contribute to lifelong learning.

STEP 1. Create your personal account

1. Register on admissions.nu.edu.kz portal to create a Personal Account. Please select the «Masters» program during choosing the Academic level.
2. After completing the application, confirm it by clicking on the link sent to your email.
3. Be sure to read the Instructions about the application procedure given in your Personal account.

STEP 2. Complete your Application Form and attach the required documents

1. Fill out the application form. Please ensure that all information are correct.
2. Attach the required documents. The required documents differ depending on your category. Please check the list of required document based on your category, and ensure that all required documents are attached before submitting your application form.

Step 3. Provide results of IELTS/TOEFL (Applicable for Foreign Applicants or Stateless Individuals Who Do Not Speak the Kazakh or Russian Language).

In order to provide IELTS/TOEFL/GRE/GMAT certificates, applicants should fulfill the following requirements:

• Send the electronic results of valid IELTS/TOEFL/GRE/GMAT certificate via the Test Administrator directly to NU;
• Upload a scanned copy of the IELTS/TOEFL certificate to the «Upload IELTS/TOEFL results» section of a Personal account and indicate its unique number. Applicants can submit any number of certificates for the competition, but the last certificate uploaded to the Personal account will be considered.
• Upload a scanned copy of the GRE/GMAT certificate in the «My Application Forms» section (Step 2) when uploading the required documents (if available or as required by the program).

Please pay attention to important information regarding the codes for providing test results through the Test Administrator:

• Code for IELTS: NU
• Code for TOEFL iBT: 6762
• Code for GRE: 6496
• Code for GMAT: H6m-R7-93

Please note that issuance and submission of IELTS/TOEFL/GRE/GMAT results in the electronic database of NU is not within the competence of the University. You should independently contact the Test Administrator (Test Center) and make sure that your certificate has been sent. Please note that this action takes at least 7-10 working days. If the certificate is received after the deadline specified by the Admissions Office, results will not be considered in the competition

All certificates provided must be valid at the time of submission of application.

Detailed Instruction on the provision of IELTS/TOEFL certificates is available in the applicant's Personal account. IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL PDT results are not considered in the competition and selection process.

Applicants, at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test report in one of the following documented cases:

1. one of their earlier academic degrees was earned in a country with English or Russian as the language of official communication, academic instruction, and daily life, or
2. an undergraduate or graduate degree was earned in a program that was officially taught in English or Russian

STEP 4. Finish the application process

Finish the application process by pressing the “Submit application” button. After submission applicants can’t change their applications.

Further steps

Check your email for notifications from NU and your Personal account to stay informed about the status of your application. ​​Please keep in mind that sometimes letters from the University may go to the spam box.

Participate in the interview with the Admissions Committee in case of being invited. Interviews are conducted in Russian (or Kazakh) or English as necessary.

If you experience any difficulties with the registration or online application, please contact info_admissions@nu.edu.kz. Refer to your IIN and/or Applicant ID while sending us your requests.

For Applicants from Kazakhstan and Applicants who can Speak the Kazakh or Russian Language

Admission decision will be based on consideration of evidence provided by the applicants to satisfy the following areas:

• Completion of the online MSN application form by the applicant.
• Evidence of completion of an academic bachelor’s degree in nursing (or equivalent) with CGPA 2.50 out of 4.00. Kazakh nationals graduated from a medical doctor program (or equivalent) who are teaching in nursing programs or working as a nurse for at least 1 year are also accepted.
• Evidence of eligibility to practice nursing in Kazakhstan or in country of origin (e.g. Certificate of Specialist in Nursing, active nursing license, labor records). This document can be in Kazakh or Russian. This requirement is not applicable for Kazakh nationals graduated from a medical doctor program (or equivalent).
• A personal statement in Kazakh, Russian, or English of purpose for MSN graduate studies, including a potential research problem in the intended practice area.
• Official two letters of reference in Kazakh, Russian, or English provided by the applicant.
• Confirmation of knowledge of Kazakh, Russian or English will be validated during interview.

For Foreign Applicants or Stateless Individuals Who Do Not Speak the Kazakh or Russian Language

Admission decision will be based on consideration of evidence provided by the applicants to satisfy the following areas:

• Completion of the online MSN application form by the applicant.
• Evidence of completion of an academic bachelor’s degree in nursing with a CGPA 2.50 out of 4.00.
• Minimum admission requirement for English language proficiency:

a. An overall IELTS test score of 6.0 or higher (with no sub-score less than 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in other sections) or the equivalent TOEFL score (except Home edition) as posted on the ETS website;

b. Applicants to the Program, at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test report if:

1. one of their earlier academic degrees was earned in a country with English or Russian as the language of official communication, academic instruction, and daily life (Confirmation of knowledge of Russian or English will be validated during interview),
2. an undergraduate or graduate degree was earned in a program that was officially taught in English or Russian (Confirmation of knowledge of Russian or English will be validated during interview),
3. the applicant is a graduate of Nazarbayev University.

• Evidence of eligibility to practice nursing in their country of origin (i.e., active nursing license)
• A personal statement in English of purpose for MSN graduate studies, including a potential research problem in the intended practice area.
• Official two letters of reference in English.

The final recommendation of the MSN Admission Committee for admission into the MSN program will be based on a holistic consideration of all the areas indicated above. Selected applicants will be invited for personal interviews with the MSN Admission Committee members in person or online.

Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Applicants who can Speak the Kazakh or Russian Language

• Complete application form
• Scanned copy of a valid national ID for the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan or scanned copy of a valid passport for international applicants.
• Scanned copy of official document confirming name changes (if applicable). This document can be in Kazakh, Russian or English.
• Official Diploma and Transcript of Record for an academic bachelor’s degree in nursing (or equivalent). Final year students may submit the current transcript for consideration.
• Evidence of eligibility to practice nursing in Kazakhstan or in country of origin (i.e., Certificate of Specialist in Nursing or active nursing license). This document can be in Kazakh, Russian or English. This requirement is not applicable for Kazakh nationals graduated from a medical doctor program (or equivalent).
• For applicants graduated from a medical doctor program (or equivalent), official confirmation of at least 1 (one) year experience in any area of practice in nursing (i.e., teaching in a nursing program or working as a nurse in a hospital) is required.
• A personal statement of purpose for MSN graduate studies, including a potential research problem in the intended practice area. This document can be in Kazakh, Russian, or English.
• Two official letters of reference in Kazakh, Russian, or English. One letter must be from the employer of the applicant.
• 075у medical certificate (for Kazakhstani applicants) or a similar medical certificate with indication of general health (for international applicants). This document can be in Kazakh, Russian or English.
• A document stating the presence or absence of a criminal record. This document can be in Kazakh, Russian or English.
• Consent of the applicant/student to the processing of personal data.
• The Admissions Committee and/or Admissions Office may request additional documents when necessary.

Foreign citizens or stateless individuals who do not speak the Kazakh or Russian language

• Complete application form
• Scanned copy of valid passport.
• Scanned copy of official document confirming name changes (if applicable).
• Official Diploma and Transcript of Record for an academic bachelor’s degree in nursing (or equivalent). Final year students may submit the current transcript for consideration.
• Test certificates of IELTS or TOEFL (Electronic version from a test administrator with the obligation to submit a scanned copy or electronic copy (if not exempted). In cases where it is not possible to provide IELTS or TOEFL scores through a test administrator, verification may be conducted using digital credentials from services recognized by the Admissions Office.)
• Official confirmation about the language of instructions (if applicable)
• Evidence of eligibility to practice nursing in their country of origin (i.e., Certificate of Specialist in Nursing, active nursing license)
• A personal statement in English of purpose for MSN graduate studies, including a potential research problem in the intended practice area.
• Two official letters of reference in English.
• Medical certificate with indication of general health.
• A document stating the presence or absence of a criminal record.
• Consent of the applicant/student to the processing of personal data.
• The Admissions Committee and/or Admissions Office may request additional documents when necessary.

Online Application Deadlines:

• International applicants: available until July 10, 2025, (2 p.m. Astana time).
• Citizens of Kazakhstan: available until July 10, 2025, (2 p.m. Astana time).

Deadline for submission of IELTS/TOEFL:

• International applicants who do not speak the Kazakh or Russian language: July 11, 2025, 11:59 P.M. (Astana time).

The start of orientation week (for newly enrolled students): August 2025

First day of classes: August 2025

Selection process:

• Applications are considered to be complete upon their online submission. All electronic copies of the required documents must be uploaded to “Personal Account”.
• Applicants are responsible for ensuring the receipt of all required documents by the Admissions Department. Application documents are not subject to be returned.
• Nazarbayev University expects applicants to meet the minimum admission criteria but we do not guarantee admission to any applicant. The NU Admissions Committees make decisions on applicants based on a thorough evaluation of submitted applications, required documents, and test scores.
• The applicants with the highest-ranking scores are offered admission. Once a decision is made by the Admissions Committee, the Admissions Department will notify the applicants via email. The applicants can check the status of their applications in their NU personal accounts.
• All registered candidates can check the status of their application in the Personal account. Description of the status below is presented in the order of assignment to the candidate in the Personal account.

Application in processing. This is interim status, which means that the application is being processed. Admissions Committee will evaluate the application and inform the candidate on further steps/stages. Notification on final results will be sent to your email address.

Does not meet entry requirements. The status is assigned to the candidates who do not meet the minimum entry requirements. It is given after checking the application forms and the documents by the Admissions Department.

Disqualified. The status is assigned to candidates who are disqualified for gross violations of the conditions of the competition. For example, provided deliberately false information.

Rejected by Admissions Committee. At one of the competition stages, the Admissions Committee decided to reject the candidate’s application.

Pending. Candidate’s application is pending.

Waiting list. The Admissions Committee has finished reviewing the candidate’s application and made a decision to put you on a waiting list. Such candidates should expect notification from the University, as there is a possibility that if other candidates reject to study, they may be sent an invitation letter to study.

Recommended for admission to program. Admissions Committee has decided to recommend candidate for the program without going through the Year of Graduate programs.

Recommended for conditional admission. The Admissions Committee has decided to recommend a candidate for the conditional admission with a requirement to fulfill the condition by the deadline specified in the notification.

Withdrawn. Candidate decided to withdraw from the competition.

Accepted Program admission offer. The status is assigned to candidates who received offer letter, signed Enrollment confirmation form and fulfilled all the сonditions of the University indicated in the offer letter.

Refused admission offer. The candidate was recommended for admission, but refused to study.

Refused in favor of another NU program. The status is applicable for those candidates, who applied for several graduate programs at NU. The status is assigned when the candidate chooses another program.

Deferred. The status is assigned to candidates who were accepted for the program, but decided to postpone their studies until the next year.

Did not submit the documents/Refused. The status assigned to candidates who did not provide originals of the documents by the stated deadline, which means that the candidate refuses to study at University.

Did not come to Orientation week/Refused. The status is assigned to candidates who accepted the offer letter, provided hard copies of documents, but did not participate in Orientation week. The vacant place, if available, can be offered to the candidates in the Waiting list.

Enrolled to program. The status is assigned to candidates who enrolled to the main program by the Decision of the Provost. Candidate officially became a student.

Year 1: Semester 1

Year 1: Semester 2

Year 2: Semester 1

Year 2: Semester 2

MSN 501 Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing

This course comprehensively explores and analyzes health behavior models and nursing theories as foundations for advanced nursing practice. Graduate students will deeply understand how various factors interconnect in behavior initiation and changes. The course facilitates critical analysis, integrating theories into practice, and an appreciation of their pivotal role in guiding nursing care, research, and education. Ultimately, graduate students will develop a robust theoretical foundation, empowering them to inform and enhance nursing practice within the evolving healthcare landscape.

MSN 502 Advanced Physical and Health Assessment

The course emphasizes the practical use of advanced health assessment methods to conduct thorough and tailored health evaluations in diverse healthcare settings for patients of all ages. It incorporates educational lectures and practical demonstrations to equip graduate students with the essential expertise for conducting comprehensive client health assessments. Additionally, it aims to help graduate students enhance their abilities in obtaining medical histories, conducting psychosocial evaluations, and performing physical assessments. Key focal points include honing diagnostic skills, cultivating clinical judgment, mastering detailed health history acquisition, recording normal and abnormal findings, integrating core competencies and responsibilities, and application of evidence-based assessment.

MSN 503 Statistics for Nursing Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Quality Improvement

This course introduces graduate students to statistical concepts, principles, and methods vital for Nursing Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Quality Improvement projects. Graduate students will gain proficiency in measuring, evaluating, and treating data prevalent in nursing research. Graduate students will also learn to interpret results obtained from statistical data treatment, enabling evidence-driven decision-making and improving patient outcomes and healthcare delivery.

MSN 504 Informatics and Healthcare Technologies

This course explores emerging technologies and healthcare information systems that manage clinical information and support safe patient care. Graduate students will examine electronic health records, telemedicine, and health information systems. Social and ethical issues in the context of clinical information systems will be examined. The impact of emerging information technologies on healthcare provider and consumer roles will be discussed as well as entrepreneurial opportunities for designing applications to enhance health-related data, efficiency, and education. Completion of this course will allow students to utilize informatics and information technology in order to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making in patient care.

MSN 505 Health Policy and Advocacy

This course delves into the intricate world of healthcare policy, legislation, and advocacy. Graduate students will gain knowledge and skills to navigate healthcare systems, analyze policy implications, and advocate for innovative and transformative changes. The course provides graduate students a wide understanding of the policy-making process and how to influence healthcare policies to address disparities, enhance healthcare access, and improve the overall well-being of individuals and communities.

MSN 506 Nursing Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Quality Improvement

This course is meticulously designed to guide graduate students to the scientific core of nursing knowledge—research. It enables graduate students to employ the scientific method in exploring research phenomena in nursing, health, and healthcare. It cultivates a critical and appreciative approach to scholarly writings, scientific reasoning, and the effective utilization of scientific discoveries. Graduate students will develop proficiency in evaluating research critically, integrating evidence into practice, and leading quality improvement initiatives for enhanced healthcare and nursing education outcomes. This course will prepare student to begin thesis work.

MSN 507 Advanced Pathophysiology

This course critically examines normal physiology and pathological alterations, forming the cornerstone for clinical assessment, planning, nursing intervention, and precise patient condition evaluation. The course focuses on disease etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and broader treatment considerations. Specifically, the course emphasizes cellular and tissue mechanisms of the disease process, aligning to restore normal physiology rather than an exclusive focus on precise clinical treatment aspects of illness. Graduate students will acquire the essential knowledge base vital for advanced clinical decision-making and nursing practice.

MSN 508 Advanced Pharmacology

This course provides an in-depth exploration of pharmacological principles, drug classes, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic applications. Graduate students will develop advanced comprehension of drug pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, adverse effects, and patient-specific considerations for safe and effective medication management. The course also emphasizes critical analysis of drug research, evidence-based pharmacology, and integration of pharmacological knowledge into advanced nursing practice for optimized patient care.

MSN 509 Learning and Teaching Strategies and Innovation in Nursing

This course focuses on innovative and evidence-based classroom and clinical teaching strategies helpful in delivering an effective and holistic teaching-learning process. Graduate students will explore evidence-based and learner-centered approaches, technology integration, active learning methodologies, and simulation techniques. Graduate students will also gain practical skills to design, implement, and evaluate engaging classroom and clinical experiences, focusing on creativity and adaptability. The course aims to foster a dynamic teaching environment that nurtures critical thinking, clinical competence, and lifelong learning, preparing educators to excel in traditional and evolving education and healthcare settings.

MSN 510 Population-Based Health Promotion and Clinical Prevention

This course provides graduate students with the concepts and practices of population health, underscoring health promotion, disease prevention, and healthcare disparities. Graduate students explore different approaches to enhancing the health of communities and diverse populations through collaborative interventions, policy analysis, and interdisciplinary approaches. Graduate students also develop competence in designing and implementing effective population-based interventions by examining social determinants, healthcare delivery models, and public health initiatives.

MSN 601 Nursing Leadership Development

This course focuses on applying leadership theory and cultivating critical leadership skills essential for success in today's dynamic healthcare landscape. The course emphasizes vital nursing leadership competencies, including professionalism, business skills and principles, knowledge of healthcare environments, communication and relationship management, situational and transformational leadership. Graduate students will explore leadership theories and styles, conflict resolution, ethical considerations, and evidence-based practices to lead interdisciplinary teams and effectively influence healthcare delivery. The course prepares students to navigate healthcare complexities and drive positive transformations in employee and patient care by fostering a culture of safety, collaboration, innovation, and continuous quality improvement.

MSN 602 Organizational and Systems Management for Healthcare Leaders

Organizational and systems management and leadership skills are critical for healthcare and enhanced outcomes. This course delves into applying organizational, leadership, and management theories with a focus on transformational leadership, change theory, outcomes measurement, and data driven decision-making in both macro- and microsystems. The course will emphasize clinical nursing leadership through organizational and systems thinking lenses while considering global, political and cultural perspectives. Graduate students will explore service design and design thinking, quality enhancement and performance improvement strategies, which are critical for creating safe and effective care delivery environments.

MSN 603 Financial, Business, and Economics Drivers in Healthcare Management

This course is designed to familiarize graduate students with the essential concepts of business, economics, and financial management in healthcare organizations and how they influence patient care. Students will learn key financial terms, the relevance of healthcare finances in today's complex healthcare environment, and the ability to develop and monitor budgets for practice initiatives. Graduate students will be able to evaluate and design cost-effective practice changes to ensure optimal patient care and resource allocation. Decision-making processes that impact spending will be analyzed. The course utilizes financial and clinical data to allow clinical leaders to learn how to effectively balance the administrative and clinical needs of today's complex healthcare environment.

MSN 604 Clinical Nurse Leader Practicum 1

Clinical Nurse Leader Practicum 1 provides graduate students a foundational experiential learning opportunity as a clinical nurse leader. Graduate students will have 150 hours of supervised clinical experience in diverse settings. The course centers on the critical role of a clinical nurse leader in implementing quality improvement strategies, with a distinct focus on process improvement at both micro and macro levels within healthcare settings. Graduate students will engage in supervised practical experiences related to client satisfaction, patient-centered care, inter-professional collaboration, outcomes management, and evidence-based practice. The course will also allow graduate students to develop and refine skills in leading healthcare teams, analyzing healthcare processes, utilizing evidence to drive practice improvements, and fostering a culture of continuous quality enhancement. The AACN competencies and curricular expectations for clinical nurse leader education and practice (2021) will provide a structured framework for graduate students in this practicum to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world clinical settings.

MSN 605 Thesis Planning

This course allows students to develop a nursing research proposal addressing a specific practice problem in the chosen area of practice or major. The students will synthesize and integrate the acquired knowledge and competence from the theoretical courses and practical experiences into a research proposal. The course follows a process-oriented approach, encompassing a comprehensive literature review, reading, writing, presenting, and feedback. Throughout the course, the students will be mentored and supervised by expert nurse researchers in conceptualizing and planning for the research project and developing the project’s methodology. The final output of the graduate students to complete the course is a research project proposal, which will be presented and defended before a panel of experts.

MSN 606 Clinical Nurse Leader Practicum 2

Building on Clinical Nurse Leader Practicum 1, this course provides graduate students with advanced practical experience in clinical nurse leadership. Graduate students will engage in another 250 hours of supervised and more complex clinical leadership practicum to enrich their experience in this practice area. The course centers on the critical role of a clinical nurse leader in implementing quality improvement strategies, with a distinct focus on process improvement at both micro and macro levels within healthcare settings. Graduate students will engage in supervised practical experiences related to client satisfaction, patient-centered care, inter-professional collaboration, outcomes management, and evidence-based practice. The course will also allow graduate students to develop and refine skills in leading healthcare teams, analyzing healthcare processes, utilizing evidence to drive practice improvements, and fostering a culture of continuous quality enhancement. The AACN competencies and curricular expectations for clinical nurse leader education and practice (2021) will provide a structured framework for graduate students in this practicum to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world clinical settings.

MSN 607 Thesis Implementation

This course is a continuation of Thesis Planning course. Graduate students will continue working with their supervisors to implement the research project. This course allows students to complete and disseminate their research findings. The course will continue with the process-oriented approach, focusing on the interpretation, discussion of findings, writing the final research report, and disseminating of findings. Class hours will be used to provide lectures, seminars, and workshops on topics related to implementation, completion, and dissemination of research findings. These hours will also be used to schedule one-on-one mentorship and supervision.

The course cultivates critical thinking, research proficiency, and scholarly communication essential for successful academic and professional activities. Through the guidance of the supervisors, graduate students will complete the thesis and present and defend it before a panel of experts.