A Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in nursing is usually not offered; however, a number of universities offer a joint graduate degree in business administration and nursing titled MBA/MSN, where MSN stands for Master of Science in Nursing.
Duration
Generally a 3-year concurrent degree, it is jointly offered by a university's business school and school of nursing. The duration may vary for each student due to enrollment status and academic progress.
Who Should Enroll in the Degree?
Individuals interested in pursuing upper management positions in the healthcare industry or work as healthcare consultants may benefit the most from this joint degree. The degree is designed to meet the professional demands of students, employers, and faculty who have recognized healthcare challenges within the context of healthcare reform.
Why MBA/MSN, Why Not Pursue Them Separately?
The answer in one sentence is that students could save a year by enrolling jointly in the program. Before the joint degree was offered, students had to enroll separately in the degrees which usually took them four years to complete.
By completing the degree in three years, do students compromise on the quality of education?
No, since students have to fulfill all prerequisites and total course requirements for both degrees. Students save a year because certain courses are accepted for degree credit between the schools of management and nursing.
Admission Requirements
An applicant must be admitted in both schools. Acceptance in one school does not guarantee acceptance in the other. An applicant will have to meet requirements for both MBA and MSN programs.
General admission requirements for MSN degrees are:
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A BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) degree from an accredited nursing school
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Transcripts
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Valid nursing license
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Letters of reference
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Personal statement
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TOEFL (for international applicants)
General admission requirements for MBA degrees are:
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A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
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Transcripts
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GMAT score
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Letters of recommendation
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Personal statement
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Resume
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Work experience
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TOEFL (for international applicants)
Courses
Some MBA courses may be titled as:
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Human and Material Resources
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Social Impacts of Management
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Business Law
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Leadership Theory and Behavior
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Marketing
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Economics
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Strategic Planning and Operations
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Program Evaluation
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Statistics
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Accounting
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Finance
Some MSN courses may be titled as:
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Healthcare Management
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Organizational Analysis
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Nursing Ethics and Policy
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Nursing Research and Theory
Graduation Requirements
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Generally, students must complete a minimum of 63 credit hours, but this amount could vary at different schools.
Career Options
The degree is primarily designed for registered nurses who are interested in assuming mid- and upper-level leadership positions in:
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Hospitals
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Pharmaceutical companies
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Private practice
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Home health
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Public and community health
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Ambulatory and surgical centers
In addition, graduates may also pursue careers in information management, policy, and quality assurance.
Medical and Health Services Managers
They are also called healthcare administrators or executives. They plan, direct, and coordinate health and medical services. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported them earning a median yearly salary of $88,580 in 2012. The BLS predicts that the number of medical and health services managers' positions will increase at the rate of 23%, and this is faster than the average growth in all other occupations from 2012 to 2022.