Master's Degree in Nursing, Concentration in Leadership and Management

What is Nursing Leadership and Management?

Nursing leadership and management focuses on leading and mentoring nursing teams, managing healthcare operations, and influencing systems of care. Ball State University’s online Master of Science in Nursing offers a Leadership and Management concentration that is designed for Registered Nurses who want to move into leadership, management, or operational roles within healthcare organizations.

Since the program is online, you can continue working full-time while earning your degree. This program may be right if you:

• Want to supervise nursing teams or units
• Are interested in budgeting and operational decision-making
• Aspire to become a nurse manager or director of nursing
• Want to qualify for adjunct or teaching roles
• Prefer to maintain your nursing identity while expanding authority

What Leadership and Management Skills Will I Learn?

The hands-on experience you gain throughout your education results in skills that you can use the next day in your healthcare career.

Leadership and Operations

• Nursing administration in complex organizations
• Personnel supervision and team leadership
• Healthcare policy and regulatory awareness
• Quality improvement and system efficiency

Financial and Strategic Management

• Budget creation and cost management
• Resource allocation
• Performance evaluation
• Organizational decision-making

Nursing, Leadership, and Management Courses You Will Take

The online Master’s in Nursing with a Concentration in Leadership and Management is comprised of 40-48 credits. You will complete coursework 100 percent online and can complete your 180-hour practicum at your place of healthcare employment.

Required Research Courses (6 credits)

• EDPS 641 Introduction to Statistical Methods (3 credits)
  Or NUR 607 Data Analysis in Nursing Research (3 credits)
• NUR 604 Research (3 credits)

Required Nursing Courses (12 credits)

• NUR 603 Nursing Theory (3 credits)
• NUR 605 Nursing Information Technology (3 credits)
• NUR 610 Nursing Concepts in Health Promotion/Disease and Injury Prevention in Populations (3 credits)
• NUR 630 Advanced Nursing and Role Theory (3 credits)

Leadership and Management Concentration Courses (22 credits)

• NUR 640 Nursing Administration in Complex Organizations (3 credits)
• NUR 642 Administrative Management for Nurses (3 credits)
• NUR 643 Financial Management for Nurses (3 credits)
• NUR 672 Practicum of Role Expectations (4 credits)
• MBA 640 Introduction to Healthcare Administration (3 credits)
• MBA 647 Financial Management and Performance Evaluation in Healthcare Organizations (3 credits)
• MBA 649 Health Care Policy and Strategy (3 credits)

Should I Get an MSN or MBA or Both for Healthcare Leadership?

If you’re exploring healthcare leadership, you may be considering both an MS in Nursing and an MBA in Healthcare Administration. Each serves different professional goals.

Some students expand their career options by pursuing both degrees through shared credit pathways.

Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Administration

If you complete the three Leadership and Management concentration courses plus one additional MBA required course, you can also earn a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Administration in addition to your Master’s in Nursing, making you more marketable to employers.

Dual Master’s Degree: MBA and MS in Nursing

Ball State’s online Master’s in Nursing and online MBA share credits that count toward a dual master’s degree. Complete the seven core MBA courses to earn a dual Master’s in Nursing and MBA degree.

Please note: some students may need up to three additional business foundation courses if they do not have previous business schooling.

Experience a Real-World Leadership Practicum

Your 180 practicum hours can be completed in your workplace while under the supervision of a master’s- or doctoral-prepared RN in your community. Your practicum is leadership-focused (not bedside clinical care) and designed to prepare you for management role upon graduation.

Nursing Leadership and Management Careers

The demand for nursing leadership, management, and operations roles are growing 3.65% nationwide (Source: Lightcast™ – lightcast.io). Graduates have found careers as:

• Adjunct Faculty or Clinical Instructor
• Clinical Director
• Director of Nursing
• Medical Director
• Nurse Manager

More about Online Learning

State Authorizations

All students must reside in and complete all clinical hours in a state where the Ball State University School of Nursing is authorized to offer its programs. Students moving to a state where the master’s nursing program is not authorized will be unable to progress in the program.

Prior to applying, all prospective students need to visit the state authorizations website to determine if their state currently allows them to enroll at Ball State University for the master’s nursing program. The website and its links are updated on an as needed basis, so please check regularly for updates. 

Ready to Apply?

Are you interested in pursuing this degree? Then you will need to meet our admissions criteria and apply.