Online Master of Science Nursing (MSN) in Population Health
Online MS in Nursing
Caldwell University offers an online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Population Health, the first of its kind in New Jersey!
This online MSN program has been designed by the School of Nursing and Public Health to prepare you for population health positions including care coordination, case management, project management, quality improvement, and nursing leadership. Earning a master’s in nursing online is an excellent way to work towards career advancement, especially if you are interested in healthcare policy and population health research.
As a registered nurse, pursuing your MSN in Population Health prepares you to work within hospital systems in leadership positions, community health nurses at public health departments, or as nursing instructors. This master’s in nursing also provides you the credentials to teach undergraduate nursing students.
Online MSN Program Structure
The MSN in Population Health is offered fully online and comprises 36 graduate credits. The program is designed to take 2 years to complete over 6 semesters of part-time study (6 credits per semester). Courses are offered throughout the academic year in an asynchronous format over 7-week sessions. This convenient schedule and delivery format accommodates your busy schedule while providing the opportunity to further your education with an online master’s degree in nursing.
Within your MSN program, you explore how to integrate technology, utilize data to identify trends, and build a comprehensive understanding of population health. Your study focuses on developing strategies that aim to improve the health of populations and prevent disease, while considering social determinants that may impact care delivery and outcomes. Nurses who have training in population health will become increasingly important as the healthcare community strives to mitigate public health threats and manage populations with chronic diseases and conditions.
Palliative Care Track Online
Caldwell University is excited to offer a new program focusing on palliative care for individuals with serious illness. As a graduate student in the Palliative Care track you will gain the advanced knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to meet the needs of individuals facing serious illness. The four-course concentration provides the foundation of symptom management and quality of life for those facing serious illness and barriers to quality palliative care. Financial concerns, advocacy, and the need for changes in healthcare policies are addressed. This 12-credit Palliative Care track may be taken as a concentration with the MSN degree or as a separate post-baccalaureate certification.
Required courses are as follows:
- NU 502 Palliative Care Across the Lifespan
- NU 513 Foundations of Symptom Management and Quality of Life in Palliative Care
- NU 514 Barriers to Quality Palliative Care
- NU 603 Healthcare Policy, Advocacy, and Financial Considerations in Palliative Care
Online MSN Admissions
The online MSN in Population Health program offers rolling admission with no formal deadline. If you are a registered nurse interested in pursuing an MSN degree at Caldwell, you can begin your master’s in nursing in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited college or university, with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Completion of an undergraduate course in statistics with a grade of C+ or better
- Unencumbered R.N. License
- Formal application to Caldwell University Office of Graduate Admissions
- Two letters of recommendations
- Resume
- Writing sample, submission of an essay on the following topic: How would you envision this MSN in Population Health helping you to achieve your career goals?
MSN Admissions Process
- Apply for graduate admission online.
- Supporting documents can be sent via standard mail to:
Caldwell University, Graduate Admissions,
120 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell, NJ 07006
OR via email to graduate@caldwell.edu. Official electronic transcripts are welcomed at graduate@caldwell.edu if the transcript is sent to Caldwell University by the institution or an approved third party such as Parchment or eSCRIP-Safe.
A collaborative learning model allows students the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the spiritual, social and psychological issues affecting populations, individuals, and families within the community. Program outcome assessment includes an experiential research-based capstone project promoting implementation of a data-driven healthcare intervention at the population level, based on the individual student’s professional interests, experience and needs. This program is developed in alignment with the standards for accreditation as defined and described in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) The Essentials of Master’s Education in nursing (2011).
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
MSN Core Requirements (11 courses)
Course Code : NU 501
Course Description :
This course introduces graduate students to various concepts inherent to the growing field of Population Health. Students will consider principles of epidemiology, genomics, quality improvement and safety as related to the current and future needs of populations.
Credit : 3
Course Code : NU 503
Course Description :
This course builds upon the foundation of baccalaureate level nursing education while enabling students enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Population Health program to develop their advanced health assessment skills and integrate the social determinants of health while considering culturally diverse populations. Students will be prepared with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to perform advanced health assessments on vulnerable populations. Students will demonstrate skills in advanced interviewing strategies, advanced health assessment, which includes assessment of all human systems, advanced assessment techniques, concepts and approaches.
Credit : 3
Course Code : NU 505
Course Description :
This course focuses on the study of disease with emphasis on chronic disease as it relates to populations across the lifespan. Students will explore diseases commonly encountered as well as those attributed to genetic, environmental and stress related etiologies. Students will consider health disparities while integrating the Social Determinants of Health as they apply the principles of advanced pathophysiology to vulnerable populations.
Credit : 3
Course Code : NU 510
Course Description :
This course builds upon the students’ knowledge of pharmacology and provides advanced pharmacological theory and builds skills necessary to nurses working in advanced roles managing at risk, vulnerable populations. The focus of this course includes: factors affecting drug selection for populations, parameters for safe medication management, with special consideration for at risk populations. The student will learn the importance of monitoring the effectiveness of drug therapy, focusing on improved quality and safety. This course will also focus on the cost effectiveness of pharmacological therapies as well as emphasis placed on quality and safety.
Credit : 3
Course Code : NU 511
Course Description :
Students will research and analyze theories grounded in nursing, focusing on health promotion, integrating multicultural aspects of care, while considering the social determinant of health which influence disease. Students will identify a high risk vulnerable population and associated data. Students will integrate epidemiological data associated with disease and the prevention of disease while exploring culturally sensitive health promotion and patient education strategies.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
NU 501
Course Code : NU 512
Course Description : This course addresses the principles of health education while incorporating various strategies which can be used to assess needs of at-risk populations across the life-span. Students will learn to assess needs, plan, implement and evaluate health education interventions while incorporating various domains of learning. A variety of interprofessional teaching-learning strategies will be incorporated to promote the health of various populations, including case study-based learning and simulation exercises
Prerequisites : NU511, NU501
Course Code : NU 515
Course Description : This course provides knowledge in the core principles of nursing research. Students will explore specific evidence, demonstrate appraisal and analysis of evidence. Students will identify and explore a specific area of interest and identify a research question which will be used to guide methods of inquiry. Students will be introduced to both qualitative and quantitative research methods
Prerequisites : NU601
Course Code : NU 600
Course Description :
This course expands on the knowledge and skills to search and locate current research and non-research evidence to identify population health needs and social determinants of health for vulnerable, high risk populations. Evidence-based appraisal tools will be used to quantify the evidence located through literature search methods. Students will synthesize and summarize the evidence to determine best practices for health promotion activities for various high risk populations.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
NU 515
Course Code : NU 601
Course Description :
This course builds upon the knowledge of undergraduate statistics and incorporates the use of available epidemiological data as well as integrating the principles of statistics and data analytics. This course will serve as the basis for assessment, planning and implementation of
evidence based practice for populations. Students will learn how to identify data, predict results based upon data analytics and plan interventions for high risk vulnerable populations.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
NU 501
Course Code : NU 602
Course Description :
Students will explore current healthcare policy issues surrounding population health needs. Economic and financial factors affecting healthcare will be explored. Issues surrounding third party reimbursement, Affordable Care Act, MACRA/MIPS will be integrated. Students will learn principles of budgeting, variances and management styles.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
NU 501
Capstone Requirements:
Course Code : NU 619
Course Description :
The student will apply knowledge and skills related to data analytics as they develop their proposal for their Capstone Project. Student will be guided by a faculty member throughout this process.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
NU 515, NU 600 and NU 601
Course Code : NU 620
Course Description :
The purpose of the Capstone Project is for the student to apply theoretical knowledge acquired during MSN in Population Health program. The project will focus on a vulnerable population of the student’s choice. The student will integrate concepts from the curriculum, integrate data analytics as the population need is identified and develop a program to meet the identified needs of the population. The student will work closely with a faculty advisor. The number of direct or indirect practicum hours will be required based upon the individual project. The student will be required to submit a final Capstone project and presentation prior to graduation.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
NU 515, NU 600 and NU 619
Transfer of Graduate Credit
Caldwell University may accept the transfer of up to nine credits of graduate nursing coursework focused in the areas of Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Pathophysiology or Nursing Research, provided that the credits were completed within five years of the student’s graduate registration at Caldwell University. Official transcripts of previous graduate work as well as the catalog descriptions of each course must be submitted for review at the time of application. Each request for transfer credit will be reviewed by the Program Coordinator, Approval of transfer credit is based on the course content and the grade earned in the course which should be a B or higher.
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Earn an online MSN with Caldwell University!
At Caldwell, the 100% online MSN in Population Health offers practicing registered nurses the opportunity to expand their knowledge of community nursing and public health issues. Having a master’s degree in nursing develops new skills, the potential for leadership opportunities in a variety of healthcare settings, and the ability to teach nursing undergraduates. The online format of the two-year MSN program enables you to balance your current career with your education.
Request information to learn more about our MSN admissions process and the benefits of a master’s in nursing focused on population health. Ready to apply? Begin your Caldwell graduate application.
Testimonial
“I deeply appreciated how Caldwell’s MSN professors worked diligently to cultivate close, nurturing relationships with students, even in the virtual aspect of the courses. Despite the online format, we as students have the opportunity to closely interact with professors who are not only academically rigorous but also compassionate and supportive.
In my new role as a Public Health RN at Somerset County’s Office on Aging and Disability Services, Caldwell University’s Master in Nursing in Population Health has equipped me to advocate for seniors by providing accurate vaccination recommendations and facilitating access to healthcare resources. By addressing barriers such as misinformation, I’ve been able to promote behavior change through education, ensuring that seniors make informed decisions about their health and well-being.”
Cristina Lu, MSN, RN, Public Health Nurse