Program learning outcomes

Learning outcomes of the master's degree program are designed to prepare nurse leaders with a Christian perspective to enable them to contribute to professional nursing through clinical practice, teaching, and administration. Upon completion of the Master of Science degree, the graduate should be able to:

1. By the end of the program, graduates should be able to:

   1. Synthesize and apply research findings as a foundation for evidence-based practice.
   2. Apply informatics and health-care technologies to support data management and improve patient care.
   3. Collaborate interprofessionally to improve patient and population health outcomes.
   4. Utilize baccalaureate-level humanities, nursing, and science competencies as a basis for advanced nursing practice.
   5. Use organizational and systems leadership, management, and teaching skills to promote high-quality and safe patient care.
   6. Contribute to health policy and advocacy by working with clients, health professionals, and organizations to improve access, quality, and delivery of health care.
   7. Apply quality improvement and safety methods, tools, performance measures, and standards within professional settings.
   8. Engage in clinical prevention and health promotion to maintain and improve population health.
   9. Utilize advanced knowledge acquired from nursing and cognate sciences as a basis for advanced nursing practice.

In addition to Loma Linda University admission requirements, the applicant to the Master of Science program in nursing must also complete the following requirements:

1. Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited program
2. Undergraduate GPA of 3.0, both cumulative and in nursing courses
3. Current unencumbered RN license from a US State or territory before application and unencumbered California RN within three (3) quarters of matriculation for programs with practicum or clinical rotations in California.
4. One year of RN experience is required prior to entering clinical courses
5. Nursing experience is preferred in the area of desired clinical concentration
6. Each applicant’s clinical experience will be individually evaluated
7. NursingCAS application with personal statement
8. Two electronic recommendations. One from a recent nurse manager or director. Second from either of the following: nursing peer or spiritual advisor.
9. Official transcripts for all college credits
10. Interview by faculty members in the School of Nursing

Application deadlines

Applicants seeking graduate admission must have the application process completed by the dates indicated in the following.

Nurse Educator, Nursing Administration

• Autumn Quarter
  • Application submission deadline – April 15
  • Application documents and requirements deadline – May 15
• Winter Quarter
  • Application submission deadline – August 15
  • Application documents and requirements deadline – September 15
• Spring Quarter
  • Application submission deadline – January 29
  • Application documents and requirements deadline – February 15

Pre-entrance requirements:

1. Health clearance, including immunizations
2. Background check

Nondegree course status

Up to 12 units of required core coursework may be taken as a nondegree student, with the consent of the instructor, while the application submission and review are in progress. If grades of B or higher are earned, the coursework may be applied toward the graduate degree upon acceptance into the program.

Course scheduling

Core nursing courses are scheduled to accommodate the typical working nurse.

Curriculum change

The school reserves the right to update and modify the curriculum without prior notice to maintain currency with standards in health care.

Students in continuous attendance will meet graduation requirements of the CATALOG under which they enter the School of Nursing unless change is necessary to comply with new professional standards.

General requirements

For information about requirements and practices to which all graduate students are subject, the student should consult the general regulations section for the School of Nursing in this CATALOG.

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Acceptable alternate religion courses for students who have completed RELE 524 for a previous program:  RELE 534 Ethical Issues in Public Health (required for students in population health concentration, RELE 548 Christian Social Ethics, RELE 568 Bioethics and the Law. RELR 540 Wholeness and Health for concentration in nursing administration.

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Units are in addition to minimum required for the degree.

Concentrations

Demonstration of comprehensive learning is required, either through a project or requirements embedded in courses required for the Master of Science degree, depending on the selected area of concentration

• Nurse Educator: Adult-Gerontology
• Nurse Educator: Obstetrics and Pediatrics
• Nursing Administration
• Entry-level Masters Population Health