Increased popularity of online education, in combination with current and predicted nursing shortages across the country, has led to the development of new online nursing programs, including online master's programs for nurses.
One program, the online Master of Science in Nursing at Benedictine University, was recently accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an independent agency that works to improve the nation's health care system. CCNE accredits institutions that commit to "quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing." The accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and valid for up to five years.
BU's M.S.N. program has existed for over 25 years, and the online program was developed for the modern-day Registered Nurse to continue his or her education with the BU mission of "scholarship, diversity and service" in mind.
The health care field is evolving rapidly due to government reform and the availability of new technology, so BU designed its online program to include the type of education that nurses will benefit most from in the upcoming years. The online courses include instruction on current trends like caring for a growing senior population and patients who have chemical addictions.The curriculum of the Benedictine M.S.N. involves eight core courses and four electives chosen by students to create a unique course of study. Nurses have the option to focus their electives toward one specific track, or to take courses in several different areas of interest.
By allowing students to personalize a significant portion of their studies, the program accommodates a broad range of students while still meeting nationally accepted standards of nursing education.M.S.N. programs give nurses the opportunity to develop the skills necessary for working in leadership positions. Lisa Envoy, Ed.D., program coordinator, said that working with and teaching other nurses is a "gift" for BU's nursing faculty. She values how she "can make a difference for others."