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College of Nursing and Health Sciences

MSN to DNP, Health Systems Leadership

Mastering Healthcare Leadership

Are you an Advanced Practice nurse looking to advance your leadership role?

The MS/MSN to Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Health Systems Leadership track prepares you for an executive leadership and management role that focuses on creating or redesigning healthcare systems to improve and guide care delivery in today’s complex environment.

Contact Us

Jill Matthes, DNP, RN, CHSE
Interim DNP Program Director
CONHS Assessment Coordinator
185, College of Nursing & Health Sciences
419-521-6827
jmatth2@ashland.edu

Valerie Burris, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC
Health Systems Leadership Program Director, Assistant Professor
276, College of Nursing & Health Sciences
419-521-6879
vburris@ashland.edu

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the graduate program, nurses are able to:

  • Implement best practices to improve health care and health systems using analytical methods.
  • Assume leadership positions at the systems level, integrating nursing science with organizational leadership and ethics.
  • Design, implement and evaluate quality improvement projects in health care systems to promote safe, effective and efficient patient centered care.
  • Evaluate health care policy and systems that provide care for individuals, communities and populations.
  • Engage in interprofessional collaboration to promote health, reduce risk and improve outcomes in varied health care delivery systems.
  • Enhance the culture of safety in health systems through the application of information technologies.
  • Improve patient outcomes locally, nationally, and globally through research and health policy.
  • Practice professional values and ethical behavior in nursing leadership.
  • Design culturally competent, equitable health services for vulnerable populations.

Curriculum Guide

Curriculum Guide

Core Requirements 

  • DNP Role and Interprofessionalism (NUR 9110)
  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics (NUR 9520)
  • Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice (NUR 9530)
  • Healthcare Informatics (NUR 9540)
  • Healthcare Delivery, Quality and Safety (NUR 9550)
  • Health Policy and Advocacy (NUR 9560)
  • Interprofessional Seminar (NUR 9580)
  • Scholarly Project (NUR 9810, NUR 9820)
  • MSN-DNP Residency (NUR 9831)

Transfer Credit Policy

A maximum of nine (9) graduate level credits from an accredited college or university may be transferred toward completion of the requirements for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Official transcripts certifying graduate level courses completed at another institution prior to admission to Ashland University should be submitted at the time of application and will be evaluated by the DNP program director for acceptability as transfer credit.

Transfer credit will only be accepted for courses in which a grade of B (3.0 on 4.0 scale) or higher has been received. Courses taken over 5 years prior to admission may not be accepted.

The student is responsible for initiating the request for transfer credit. For each course for which the student requests transfer credit, the student must:

  • Complete a Request for transfer credit form as part of the DNP Admissions application identifying the institution attended, course title, semester and year completed, and the number of credits for which transfer is requested.
  • Attach a copy of the transcript, which includes the grade received for the requested transfer credits, and a detailed course description/outline.
  • Submit these materials to the office of Graduate Admissions with the application. The request will be forwarded to the DNP Program Director.
  • Approval/disapproval of accepted transfer credits will be included in the admission letter to the applicant.
  • Approved transfer credits will be forwarded to the College of Nursing & Health Sciences Administrative Assistant for Graduate Programs for inclusion in the student file and processing with the Office of Records and Registration.

Contact Us

Contact Us

Jill Matthes, DNP, RN, CHSE
Interim DNP Program Director
CONHS Assessment Coordinator
185, College of Nursing & Health Sciences
419-521-6827
jmatth2@ashland.edu

Valerie Burris, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC
Health Systems Leadership Program Director, Assistant Professor
276, College of Nursing & Health Sciences
419-521-6879
vburris@ashland.edu

Student Learning Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the graduate program, nurses are able to:

  • Implement best practices to improve health care and health systems using analytical methods.
  • Assume leadership positions at the systems level, integrating nursing science with organizational leadership and ethics.
  • Design, implement and evaluate quality improvement projects in health care systems to promote safe, effective and efficient patient centered care.
  • Evaluate health care policy and systems that provide care for individuals, communities and populations.
  • Engage in interprofessional collaboration to promote health, reduce risk and improve outcomes in varied health care delivery systems.
  • Enhance the culture of safety in health systems through the application of information technologies.
  • Improve patient outcomes locally, nationally, and globally through research and health policy.
  • Practice professional values and ethical behavior in nursing leadership.
  • Design culturally competent, equitable health services for vulnerable populations.

Curriculum Guide

Curriculum Guide

Curriculum Guide

Core Requirements 

  • DNP Role and Interprofessionalism (NUR 9110)
  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics (NUR 9520)
  • Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice (NUR 9530)
  • Healthcare Informatics (NUR 9540)
  • Healthcare Delivery, Quality and Safety (NUR 9550)
  • Health Policy and Advocacy (NUR 9560)
  • Interprofessional Seminar (NUR 9580)
  • Scholarly Project (NUR 9810, NUR 9820)
  • MSN-DNP Residency (NUR 9831)

Transfer Credit Policy

Transfer Credit Policy

A maximum of nine (9) graduate level credits from an accredited college or university may be transferred toward completion of the requirements for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Official transcripts certifying graduate level courses completed at another institution prior to admission to Ashland University should be submitted at the time of application and will be evaluated by the DNP program director for acceptability as transfer credit.

Transfer credit will only be accepted for courses in which a grade of B (3.0 on 4.0 scale) or higher has been received. Courses taken over 5 years prior to admission may not be accepted.

The student is responsible for initiating the request for transfer credit. For each course for which the student requests transfer credit, the student must:

  • Complete a Request for transfer credit form as part of the DNP Admissions application identifying the institution attended, course title, semester and year completed, and the number of credits for which transfer is requested.
  • Attach a copy of the transcript, which includes the grade received for the requested transfer credits, and a detailed course description/outline.
  • Submit these materials to the office of Graduate Admissions with the application. The request will be forwarded to the DNP Program Director.
  • Approval/disapproval of accepted transfer credits will be included in the admission letter to the applicant.
  • Approved transfer credits will be forwarded to the College of Nursing & Health Sciences Administrative Assistant for Graduate Programs for inclusion in the student file and processing with the Office of Records and Registration.

What to Expect in the MS/MSN to DNP Health Systems Leadership Track

The Health Systems Leadership track prepares nurses to be leaders in any setting related to healthcare. Graduates of this program lead the charge in a host of capacities including chief nursing officers and quality control managers in various settings such as:

  • Primary and acute care
  • Research facilities
  • Professional, government and accrediting agencies
  • Non-profit healthcare

Benefits of the Health Systems Leadership Track

The Health Systems Leadership track is offered in an accessible online format with flexible scheduling to meet the needs of the working professional. Other program benefits include:

  • Earn your degree in nine semesters in as little as three years
  • The MSN to DNP program consists of 46-54 credit hours 
  • Collaborate with peers and faculty online and get access to online coursework 24/7
  • Complete your practice residency at area hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities near you
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