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Nurse Executive Certificate,
Post Master's Degree Program

You can have a greater impact on shaping the future of healthcare with a Post-Master's Certificate as a Nurse Executive. 

Today more than ever, the need exists for educated, experienced nurses to assume leadership positions in healthcare systems and other organizations - even in government. 

As an MSN-degree Registered Nurse, you already have the key qualities and values that form the basis of leadership. Now you can add the management and business skills that will make you an even more effective leader as you move forward in your career. 

Opportunities abound - and it all starts with choosing the right education for you.

Nursing salaries for nurse executives vary widely in the U.S. and are based upon many factors including geography, job description, specialty and experience. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates the median salary in May 2021 in the United States for Medical and Health Services Managers was $101,340 ($48.72 per hour), with a much faster than average projected job growth of 28 percent between 2021 and 2031.

Program Perks
  • This is a certificate that can be completed online in 12-16 months.
  • It's a great option for working RNs with an MSN degree who have a passion for both leadership and the profession of nursing.
  • The curriculum is 14 credit hours. Among the topics covered are principles of economics, finance, organizational behavior, strategic planning and healthcare policy to the work environment.
  • Courses are five or ten weeks long, with one week off before the start of the next course.
  • Students can access courses at any time of the day and from anywhere with Internet access.
  • Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible for executive certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Admissions Information

Criteria

Applicants are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

  • Master of Science degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution
  • Applicants who have a Master of Science or Arts degree in healthcare fields will be considered on an individual basis
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
  • Non- Nebraska Residents meet State Authorization

Requirements

To be considered for admission, the following items must be submitted to the Admissions Office:

  • NMC online nursing application
  • Current unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse
  • Resume
  • Official college transcripts from your MSN degree granting institution

Deadlines

Prospective students may apply anytime and are accepted on a rolling basis. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and students will be notified of their acceptance by postal mail, email or phone.

Starting Term - August and January

Standard Deadline - Rolling

Costs & Financial Aid

NMC is committed to helping you find every avenue to finance your education. View the Tuition by Program & Degree page for a comprehensive list of all fees.

Cost Per Credit Hour

$446

Private Student Loans

The Financial Aid Office can help facilitate this process for you. Check out our private education loans to find out how to make an informed choice when selecting a lender.

Student Grants or Loans

Visit our Financial Aid page to learn more about what's available and how to apply.

Employee Education Benefits

Employees of Methodist Health System can find details on the MHS Intranet.

External Scholarships

Visit our Scholarships page to learn more.

Calculate Your Net Price

Nebraska Methodist College Net Price Calculator.

Curriculum

All nurse executive certificate students are required to complete specific coursework. The following plan represents progression for the online post-master's certificate as a nurse executive.  There are a total of 14 credit hours to complete.

 

Required

NRS 500
MSN STUDENT ORIENTATION
DETAILS
This course provides an orientation for new MSN students to the Masters of Science in Nursing program at Nebraska Methodist College. Emphasis is placed on program expectations and student resources essential for success in the MSN program. Students will learn how to navigate our virtual learning platforms, access research materials, and engage with faculty and peers.

Prerequisites: Admission to MSN program

NRS 506
INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DETAILS
In this course, students examine nursing roles in informatics and information technology within the healthcare system. The history, theoretical models, and best practices of nursing informatics are explored. Students investigate ethical, legal, and regulatory standards and workplace policies. Exploration of digital health literacy will be performed. Students examine the consequences of using information and communication technology on the quality of care, efficiency of communications, and connections between the healthcare team, patients, and consumers. 

Prerequisites: NRS 502 or by permission

NRS 552
ROLE OF THE NURSE EXECUTIVE I: LEADING AN ORGANIZATION
DETAILS
The major focus of this course will be the planning, organizing, and coordinating aspects of management. The role of the nurse executive from the perspective of transformational, quantum, and organizational leadership theories will be explored. The concepts of creating a vision, planning, power, risk-taking, decision-making, reflective practice, emotional intelligence and competence, forces of magnetism, AONE and IOM competencies, and personal and professional responsibility and accountability will be discussed.

Prerequisites: NRS 502 or by permission

NRS 554
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DETAILS
In this course, students build on the management processes in leading an organization and continue to develop professional characteristics and responsibilities of the nurse executive. Emphasis is placed on the human resources aspects of management. Students will examine human resources management processes and interpret leadership traits that influence the processes. Diversity, equity and inclusion concepts related to human resource management as well as the nurse leader’s responsibilities of directing and evaluating will be explored.

Prerequisites: NRS 552 or by permission

NRS 558
ROLE OF THE NURSE EXECUTIVE III: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT & ECONOMICS
DETAILS
The history of healthcare reimbursement, economics and healthcare, accounting principles and information systems for data retrieval will serve as the introduction to budget principles, development, variances, and strategies. Strategic management, business plans, cost-benefit analysis, cost- effectiveness analysis, collective bargaining, productivity, marketing, staffing, and patient care delivery systems will be discussed from a financial perspective. Students will use Excel for solving financial problems and budgeting exercises.

Prerequisites: All program course work except NRS 559, NRS 592 and NRS 594, or by permission

NRS 559
PRACTICUM: MANAGEMENT, IMPROVEMENT, AND EVALUATION IN HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS
DETAILS
Each student will choose a healthcare setting (acute care, long term care, etc.) to work 126 contact hours with a nurse executive/administrator who will serve as a preceptor. Throughout this course, the student will synthesize management and leadership principles into the nurse executive role. The student must identify a project or topic for improvement, develop a strategy for improvement, use evidence and theory to support the proposed improvement strategy, implement and evaluate the improvement strategy and share the findings and outcomes of the project.

Prerequisites: All program course work except NRS 592 and NRS 594, or by permission

Meet the Faculty

Our nursing faculty are highly experienced and credentialed in their own fields, giving you constant real-world insight you can use. While any instructor can recite from a textbook, ours go a step further and draw from vast personal and professional experiences. Instructors here care as deeply about their students as they do the subject matter and it shows.

Meet the Faculty

Additional information

Technology Requirements

To be successful with your online courses, you should have a basic understanding of computers and the internet. Read more about the minimum knowledge and hardware requisites on our Online Technology Requirements page.

Private Education Loans

Students are encouraged to apply for all scholarships, Federal grants and Federal loans for which they are eligible before considering a private education loan, sometimes called an alternative loan. Terms and conditions for Federal student loans may be more favorable than those of private education loans.

Private education loans allow students to borrow in their own name, without any government guarantee. The loans are based on the borrower's credit, and it is often beneficial to have a credit-worthy co-signer. Since these are not governmental loans, the lender assumes more risk and may charge a higher interest rate, larger loan fees, or have more stringent credit requirements than the federal loan programs. Private loans cannot be combined with federal loans if a student wishes to consolidate his/her loans after graduation.

 

Applying for a Private Education Loan

  1. Determine your priorities.  Consider what aspects of a loan are most important to you, such as credit and co-signer requirements, co-signer release, interest rates, fixed or variable interest, fees, enrollment criteria, repayment terms, and borrower benefits such as a discount or rebate for paying through auto debit. 
  2. Research & compare your options.  Look at several lenders and loan products to determine which one best meets your needs.  (See next section for information on selecting a lender.) 
  3. Submit your application.  Once you have decided which loan to apply for, go to the lender's website to complete the application.  NMC's school code for loans is 006404.
    1. During the application process, you will be required to complete a Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification form.  Section 2 of that form will ask for your cost of attendance and estimated financial assistance for the loan period.  To obtain those figures, either refer to your award letter or contact your financial aid counselor. 
  4. Follow up promptly.  If you are pre-approved for the loan, the lender will instruct you on any additional steps that you need to complete.  Be sure to respond promptly to any request from your lender. 
  5. Wait.  Now it's our turn.  Once the lender has received everything it needs from you it will notify NMC that the loan is ready to certify.  After you have registered for classes, we confirm your eligibility and enrollment, and submit the certification to the lender.  At that time, we will send you a revised Award Letter showing the loan amount that was approved. 
  6. Receive final disclosure.  After NMC certifies your loan, the lender is required to send you a final disbursement disclosure informing you of your right to cancel the loan.  After providing that disclosure, the lender is required to wait at least 6 days before sending your funds to the school.
 

Selecting a Lender

Selecting a lender for a private loan is an important decision.  The loan programs differ, so it is important that you know the terms and conditions of the loan as well as your rights and responsibilities as a borrower.  Students (and families) are encouraged to research the lender benefits, customer service and other information related to loan processing, services and cost.  Remember that a loan is a debt that must be repaid, so it is recommended that students borrow wisely and no more than is necessary.

To assist in the comparison and selection process, NMC provides a Preferred Lender List on ELM Select.  These lenders were chosen based on the quality of products and services provided.  In selecting our preferred lenders we considered several factors: competitive interest rates, low or zero origination fees, borrower benefits such as co-signer release and interest reductions during repayment, stability and reputation, and quality of customer service.  As the borrower, it is your right to select a lender not on this list.  NMC will process your application for any eligible lender you select. 

Click here to access NMC's Preferred Lender List. Remember, you are not required to select a lender from our list. You have the right to select any lender you wish, that offers this type of loan. 

Code of Conduct

Educational institutions that participate in Federal Title IV programs are required to publish a code of conduct related to private education loans.  This code of conduct applies to all Nebraska Methodist College (NMC) employees, officers and agents of the College, including without limitation individuals who are employed in the Financial Aid Office or who otherwise have responsibilities with respect to education loans.  This code of conduct reflects NMC's commitment to conduct business and administer financial aid programs with integrity, in the interest of students, and in compliance with applicable law. 

  1. Ban on revenue-sharing agreements - The College will not enter into any revenue-sharing agreement with any lender.  The College will not accept fees, revenue, or material benefits from any lender in exchange for recommending the lender or loan products to students.
  2. Ban on gifts - NMC employees with financial aid responsibilities may not solicit or accept any gift or other item with a monetary value of more than a de minimus amount from a lender, guarantor, or servicer of student loans. 
  3. Prohibited consulting and contracting arrangements - No NMC employee or agent with financial aid responsibilities shall accept from any lender or affiliate of any lender any fee, payment, or other financial benefit (including the opportunity to purchase stock) as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender or on behalf of a lender.
  4. Ban on limiting a borrower's choice of lender - NMC employees will not direct first-time borrowers to a particular lender through award packaging or other methods, nor will NMC employees refuse to certify or delay certification of any loan based on the borrower's selection of a particular lending institution. 
  5. Prohibition on offers of funds for private loans - NMC will not request or accept from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans in exchange for a certain number or volume of loans, or in exchange for placement of the lender on a preferred lender list.
  6. Ban on staffing assistance - NMC will not request or accept from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or financial aid office staffing, unless specifically allowed by federal regulation.  Examples of allowable assistance include professional development training, educational counseling materials, financial literacy materials, or debt management materials for borrowers, provided that such materials disclose the identification of the lender; or short-term, nonrecurring staffing assistance to assist the institution with financial aid-related functions during emergencies or natural disasters.
  7. Ban on advisory board compensation - Any NMC employee with financial aid responsibilities, and who serves on an advisory board, commission, or group established by a lender, must not receive anything of value from the lender, except for reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in serving on the board.

Example Plan of Study