Health Systems Management/Clinical Nurse Specialist

Program
Overview

Program Overview

Impacting Healthcare Environments

The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing HSM/CNS master's program prepares the graduate to manage the entire spectrum of healthcare: design, change management, implementation, and evaluation. With practical experience in direct patient and family care, nurses stand uniquely prepared to serve as leaders and managers in the constantly evolving environment of healthcare management and delivery.

For this master's program, renowned Hopkins faculty have developed a curriculum that responds to your combined interests in adult or pediatric patient care and improved management of healthcare systems. With the Hopkins medical institutions as your classroom, you will develop a strategic understanding of organizational management philosophy and techniques to ensure the safe and effective nursing care of patients.

Those who earn a master's of science degree in health systems management/clinical nurse specialist:

• Occupy positions as business and policy analysts; and as managers in pharmaceutical, consulting, and insurance companies, healthcare systems, and nonprofit and government agencies
• Evaluate and manage the fiscal health of institutions to provide the best nursing care within budget
• Collaborate with administrative and healthcare staff across departments to coordinate patient services
• Regulate change in the clinical environment and the healthcare delivery system effectively
• Are eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

Program
Requirements

Program Requirements

Students may apply for full- or part-time study.

The school seeks individuals who will bring to the student body the qualities of scholarship, motivation, and commitment. The Admissions Committee is interested in each applicant as an individual and will consider both academic potential and personal qualities. Therefore, school records, test scores, recommendations, and essays about goals and interests are important.

Recommendations about a student's character, intellectual curiosity, seriousness of purpose, and range of extracurricular activities are considered.

Selection factors include:

• Bachelor of Science degree in nursing
• Scholastic Grade Point Average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited college or university
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores within the past five years (for MSN/MPH and MSN/MBA applicants only)
• Demonstrated commitment to nursing practice and scholarly pursuit
• Community service and professional commitment
• Interview with faculty member*
• Written expression of goals
• Letters of recommendation
• Applicants must submit evidence of current nursing licensure. Students must have or obtain Maryland Registered Nurse licensure for matriculation

*Interview with a faculty member may or may not be requested.

Additionally, applicants for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program

• Will be exceptional students who are carefully chosen based on a number of factors including previous experiences.  Direct care acute care experiences will be required;
  OR 
• Will be required to attend part time during their first year in the program while working as a staff nurse in a critical care unit full time (more than 36 hours per week), and will not begin NP clinical courses until their second year.

Transfer of Credit

Transfer of credit is granted on an individual basis. The decision is based on equivalent content (for required courses), credit allotment and satisfactory completion of courses. You may petition for permission to substitute a course from another college or university by submitting a request to the Office of Admissions and Student Services along with the complete course syllabus.

Up to 6 credits of graduate course work taken at Johns Hopkins University or elsewhere may be accepted for transfer. Course work must have been completed within the last five years. Course work at the undergraduate level will not be considered for advanced standing credit.

Admissions
Procedures

Admissions Procedures

Start Early

Students are strongly encouraged to complete the application process early. Candidates for admission will be notified of a decision in writing after all the application documents are received and the Admissions Committee's review.

Note: The admissions committee for the Public Health Nursing, Nurse-Midwifery Track consists of representatives from both Johns Hopkins University and Shenandoah University.

Follow all instructions carefully to avoid delays in the processing of application materials. To expedite the application process, students may submit all supporting documentation, including official transcripts and recommendations, in sealed envelopes in one package (test scores excluded). Application supporting documentation may also arrive separately. Before a final admission decision can be made, all supporting documentation must be received.

Submit

• Completed and signed application form
• Signed statement acknowledging the School's Ethics Policy
• $75 non-refundable application fee
  (Make check or money order payable to "Johns Hopkins University")
• Goal statement
• Three recommendations:
  • At least one recommendation from an academic source (current or previous professor)
  • Remaining two recommendations may be from either an academic or professional source (employment/volunteer supervisor)
  • Recommendations should be enclosed in sealed envelopes with the recommender's signature across the envelope flap
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (including Johns Hopkins University)
• Current résumé
• Official GRE scores, if applying to the MSN/MPH or MSN/MBA programs, sent to the School of Nursing (School code: 5767)
• Verification of current RN license, all RN's must obtain a Maryland RN license and present verification by the time of matriculation

Note: Due to changing clinical site regulations, students are required to undergo a criminal background check prior to matriculation. The School will provide information about this process to accepted students.

Applicants Who Have Studied Abroad

International applicants and applicants who have completed courses outside of the United States must submit:

• Official course-by-course evaluation from the World Education Services (WES) or Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)
  (If any academic credit was granted from an academic institution outside the United States, credits must be evaluated)
• Official Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL) scores for international students whose native language is not English
• All international students seeking an F-1 visa are required to submit official documents in English showing proof of funding

More information for international applicants 
Office of International Student, Faculty, and Staff Services

Full
Curriculum

Full Curriculum

Core Courses (12 credits)

Advanced Practice Core Courses  (9 credits)

* Either NR.110.536 Adult/Geriatric Variation or NR.110.537 Pediatric Variation is taken.

Specialty Courses

Additional Courses

Education requirement (3 credits)
Financial Management requirement (2 credits)
Organization Management Theory requirement (2 credits)

* CNS Role Specialty Practicum I, II, and III topics are chosen by student and have a clinical component
 ** Pediatric HSM/CNS focus must take NR.110.589 Human Development Across the Lifespan (2 credits)

Sample Course
of Study

Sample Course of Study

Program Plan (full-time)

More than 500 clinical hours enable graduates to sit for national CNS certification exams.

Fall I (12 credits)

Spring I (15 credits)

Summer I (5 credits)

Fall II (15 credits)

Education Requirement (3 credits)
Organization Management Theory Requirement (2 credits)
Financial Management Requirement (2 credits)

* CNS Role Specialty Practicum I, II, and III topics are chosen by student and have a clinical component

Tuition

Tuition

Tuition and Other Costs

*Full-time: 12 credit hours per semester
**All students must have health coverage.  Purchase of the School’s plan is optional.
***Amounts for other expenses vary based upon student's selection of books, supplies, and living arrangements.

Billed expenses are subject to change without prior notice.