South University

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Staff
Updated July 22, 2021

Founded in 1899, South University is a private university that operates a main campus in Savannah, Georgia as well as 8 campuses and 3 off-campus instructional sites in the U.S. It offers degree programs at the associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, and it began to offer online courses in 2004. Approximately 52 percent of South University students earn their degrees completely online. South University operates six schools in the arts and sciences, theology, business, health professions, nursing and public health, and pharmacy.

South University Accreditation Details

South University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). In addition, the Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nurse Administrator is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

South University Application Requirements

In order to be admitted into the Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nurse Administrator program, applicants must complete a graduate application. They are required to hold an unencumbered, current RN license in the state in which they intend to work, and students must successfully complete a drug screening and criminal background check. In addition, applicants must submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions. Depending on the clinical agencies with which the student is affiliated, additional personal testing may be required. South University may waive course requirements if a student's official transcript indicates that he or she has already completed the required course or its equivalent.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students pursuing an online Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nurse Administrator degree from South University can expect to pay $476 per credit, or approximately $34,781 per year if the student takes a full-time load of 32 credits per year. Students should also keep in mind additional fees for drug testing and criminal background checks, scrubs, ExamSoft testing software, MedWise, and stethoscopes and/or clinical supplies. Graduate students may be eligible for financial aid to help offset the cost of tuition, books, and other expenses. To determine eligibility, students must first complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In addition, as a military-inclusive school, South University is committed to providing support to veterans and active military members for their career and education goals by offering a number of benefits, including tuition assistance, and it recognizes the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, and participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. South University was recognized as a "2015 Military Friendly School" by Victory Media, and it is ranked among the top 15 percent of colleges that do the most to embrace the country's veterans and service members as students.

Online Master of Science in Nursing with a Specialization in Nurse Administrator

Through an unwavering focus on nursing excellence and outcome-oriented, evidence-based nursing leadership, skilled nurse administrators can transform the care of communities and patients alike. At South University, students are prepared to join the next generation of nursing leaders by pursuing the online Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nurse Administrator degree with a specialization in nursing administration. Key attributes from the American Nurses Association Scope of practice for Nurse Administrators, The American Organization of Nurse Executives Nurse Executive Competencies, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essential of Master's Education for Advanced Practice Nursing are incorporated into the program.

The online Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nurse Administrator degree helps students to develop the abilities, skills, and knowledge needed by RNs for leadership roles such as Nurse Manager, Director of Nursing, or Chief Nursing Officer. The curriculum prepares students for a variety of nursing duties, including promoting quality care and patient safety, making financial and policy decisions, designing healthcare systems, and incorporating ethics, practice, and contemporary technology into healthcare.

The Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nurse Administrator program curriculum is designed to be completed within two years, and it is targeted to the working professional nurse. The 48-credit degree includes 20 credits at the core level, where students will take courses in nursing research methods, health policy and health promotion in advanced nursing practice, advanced pathophysiology, advanced theoretical perspectives for nursing, and transformational leadership in advanced practice. An additional 28 credits are required for the nurse administrator specialization, and students can expect to cover topics such as quality outcomes and financial management in healthcare organizations, managing complex healthcare systems, pharmacology, human resource management in healthcare organizations, and two practicums that cover quantitative and qualitative skills in nursing administration. A four-credit-hour graduate project in nursing is also required for graduation.

The coursework teaches students how to analyze current scientific research and how to apply these findings with the goal of improving practice and initiating change. Throughout the program, students will create comprehensive action plans that address the disease prevention and health promotion needs of community populations, families, and individuals. Aspiring nurse administrators will also need to have the ability to make decisions based on ethics, and the coursework allows them to hone this skill while teaching them to analyze the various healthcare systems.

After graduation, aspiring nurse administrators should be able to apply the theories and concepts of nursing administration and organizational management to the design of complex healthcare delivery systems. The program also teaches students how to integrate the concepts of financing, regulation, and health policy to way in which healthcare is delivered, mainly focusing on the responsible and inexpensive use of resources. Graduates will be able to effectively evaluate nursing outcomes and design quality improvement and innovative patient safety efforts.

Students will also have the knowledge to facilitate the socialization of diverse nurse populations and simultaneously function as leaders and change agents in the healthcare field both in the U.S. and abroad. Finally, graduates will engage in scholarly activities, thus contributing to the development of nursing science and promoting the way in which nursing science is translated into patient care.

Related Resource: 20 Most Affordable Private Colleges for Master's in Nursing Administration Online Degree Programs

The fully online Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nurse Administrator courses combine advanced practice concepts with nursing theory, and dedicated faculty make sure that distance learners remain in touch. Rounding out the degree, the practicum courses provide students with valuable nursing administration experiences in clinical settings, and they are supervised by knowledgeable and supportive mentors. Students interested in pursuing the online Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nurse Administrator with a specialization in nursing administration degree from South University should keep in mind that, due to certain laws and regulations, the program is not available to residents of all US states.

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