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MSN, Care Coordinator

Master's in Nursing, Care Coordinator Online Degree Overview

If you are a bachelor’s-prepared nurse who wishes to positively influence the health and well-being of the community, you may want to earn your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a Care Coordinator.

A nurse care coordinator is the bridge between public and population health and healthcare systems. You’ll work to improve health outcomes for those with complex diseases across the lifespan. This track embodies the mission of NMC in educating nurses to improve quality care in the community.

You’ll be educated in the knowledge and skills required to effectively coordinate the care of patients, families and communities. As a care coordinator, you’ll provide emotional and supportive care as well as information and education while assisting in the navigation of healthcare systems.

Want to learn more? Watch our most recent Virtual Information Session.

Program Perks
  • Online format, offered in January and August
  • No GRE required
  • Curriculum provides skills and knowledge to work as a care coordinator
  • Courses are 5 to 10 weeks long, with 1 week off before next course
  • Access courses at any time of day
  • Complete in 24 months

CCNE

Accreditation & Licensure

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master's degree program in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Nebraska Methodist College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 887-6791.

Graduates must pass programatic certification exam based on practice specialty

Admissions Information

Criteria

Applicants are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) from a state-approved program of nursing or a program professionally accredited by NLN CNEA, CCNE or ACEN.
  • BSN program GPA of 3.0.
  • GPA below 3.0 will be considered on an individual basis.
  • Current unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse.
  • Non-Nebraska Residents meet State Authorization
  • No GRE required for admission

Requirements

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

  • Free NMC online nursing application
  • Current unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse
  • Resume
  • Official college transcripts and/or certificates from graduating institutions
  • Professional consultation with an admissions representative

Deadlines

Prospective students may apply anytime and are accepted from deadlines throughout the year. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, and students will be notified of their application status by postal mail, email or phone.

Starting Term - Spring 2025

Standard Deadline - 12/6/2025

Starting Term - Fall 2025

Priority Deadline - 2/1/2025

Standard Deadline - 7/11/2025

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

$588

NMC Scholarships

NMC Scholarships consist of funds generously provided by the Methodist Hospital Foundation to assist our students.

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 MSN students are required to complete specific coursework. This list should only be used as a curriculum guide. Course listings and required curriculum are subject to change.

A student must earn a minimum of 39 total credit hours to be eligible for the Master of Science in Nursing degree. All course requirements as outlined below must be met.

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 502
LEADERSHIP IN AN ADVANCED NURSING SPECIALTY ROLE
DETAILS

In this course, students explore the transition of the nurse into the advanced nursing specialty role. This course will promote an understanding of how a nurse in an advanced nursing specialty role acclimates to new leadership responsibilities by influencing change, responding to chaos/crisis and managing conflict. The significance of team- building and interdisciplinary collaboration will be explored. Students begin to develop their professional portfolio based on program outcomes.

NRS 504
ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
DETAILS

In this course, students synthesize advanced concepts of pathophysiology, health assessment and pharmacology across the lifespan for the advanced nursing specialty role to complete an accurate health database, including history and holistic assessment, across the lifespan. Physiologic changes, clinical manifestations, and drug therapy are integrated to facilitate critical analysis to support clinical decision-making. Virtual clinical experiences allow for practical application of course theory.

Prerequisites: NRS 502, or by permission

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.

NRS 509, NRS 513 & NRS 517, or bypermission.

NRS 507
POPULATION HEALTH IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY
DETAILS

In this course, students explore concepts of population health and social determinants of health. Students will investigate issues that contribute to understanding population health and health inequities. Emphasis is placed upon the analysis of a population health assessment in informing strategies to advance health outcomes. Students will explore population-focused interventions to address health risks and disparities across selected health care delivery settings. Critical analysis of population health concepts and implementation of management strategies in a community-based practice setting will be examined. The practicum experience allows for practical application of course theory. 

Prerequisites: NRS 502 or by permission

NRS 510
HEALTH POLICY & SYSTEMS-BASED PRACTICE
DETAILS

In this course, students investigate the impact of local, regional, national, and global systems and regulations on the safety and quality of care for individuals and diverse populations. The relationship between healthcare economics, health policy, and the complex health system will be explored. Students will examine legislation on current health policies and factors shaping policy development. Students will explore factors of cost containment, resource allocation, risk benefit analysis, quality, advocacy, interprofessional collaboration, and developing and implementing systems solutions in systems-based thinking.

NRS 509 or by permission

NRS 513
Measurement & Statistical Concepts for Data Interpretation
DETAILS

In this course, students apply nursing knowledge with theory and statistical methods to broaden understanding of nursing concepts and nursing outcomes. Measurement principles, descriptive statistics, and relationships between variables are explored to better comprehend nursing and nursing phenomena. Using the framework of disparity and risk in a specific population, students apply content on variable association. Reports using statistics to compare groups and measure patient improvement over time are analyzed for implications for patient populations.

Prerequisites: NRS 502 or by permission

NRS 517
Critical Appraisal of Knowledge for Practice
DETAILS

The purpose of this course is understanding of research processes and interpretation of statistics to make accurate critical appraisals. Students apply the process of drawing conclusions, finding implications, and making recommendations based on an appraised study. Students learn to judge relative merits of studies in answering particular research questions. Questions of the fit of evidence or theory within an identified agency or institutional setting are explored.

NRS 509 & NRS 513, or by permission

NRS 572
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CARE COORDINATOR ROLE
DETAILS

In this course, students examine the development of the care coordinator role in meeting healthcare needs of the individual and community. Students will explore the influence of the social determinants of health, health disparities and health literacy in population health management. Legal and ethical considerations regarding confidentiality and client privacy, client rights are investigated. Students will integrate collaboration and communication in the care coordination process to enhance understanding of healthcare considerations.

NRS 509, NRS 513, NRS 530 or by permission

NRS 574
HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT IN CARE COORDINATION
DETAILS

In this course, students examine the country’s healthcare delivery system and the goals of reform. Students investigate how emerging healthcare models are incorporated into the larger framework of clinical care oversight. Students analyze how care coordination supports cost efficiency, promotes improved health consumerism, and affects positive health outcomes. The influence of technology on the development of data collection systems used in health care will be explored.

NRS 509, NRS 513, NRS 530, NRS 532 or by permission

NRS 578
FUNDAMENTALS OF CARE COORDINATION PROCESS
DETAILS

In this course, students will integrate client selection criteria, assessment tools, care plan/profile development and clinical efficiency in care coordination. The influence of diversity, equity, and inclusion will be examined. Students will incorporate data structuring for reporting into the care coordination process. Practices of aligning limited resources with client needs in a care coordination setting will be explored. Students will apply strategies to lead and support collaboration between key stakeholders in the care coordination process. The practicum experience allows for practical application of course theory.

Admission to the MSN program or by permission

NRS 579
CARE COORDINATOR PRACTICUM
DETAILS

In this course, students synthesize care coordination strategies into the advanced nursing practice specialty role. Students will select a nurse care coordinator/nurse navigator/care manager who will serve as a preceptor in a healthcare setting. Collaborative opportunities within the practicum setting will be explored. Students will develop a plan of care project
centered on individual/population health and efficient health care oversight. The precepted experience allows for practical application of the care coordinator role.

All program coursework except NRS 592 and NRS 594, or by permission.

NRS 592
Capstone I
DETAILS

In this first course of the capstone sequence, students will synthesize concepts related to research, practice, education, and leadership content as well as experiences learned throughout the master's programs of study. Groups of students will collaboratively begin a group-selected evidence-based project. Emphasis is placed on the process of identifying a nursing problem (PICO [T]), searching, and critically appraising the literature with development of a summary matrix table.

Typically taken in the second to last semester, or by permission.

NRS 594
Capstone II
DETAILS

In this second course of the capstone sequence, students will synthesize concepts related to research, practice, education, and leadership content and experiences learned throughout the master's program of study. Groups of students will collaboratively complete the group-selected evidence-based project begun in NRS 592. Emphasis will be on the process of completing an evidence-based manuscript suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, a poster presentation suitable for delivery at a local, national, or regional conference or a webinar presentation.

Typically taken in the last semester, 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

Program Outcomes

Graduates of MSN program will be able to

  1. Integrate scholarly inquiry into nursing practice to improve outcomes in healthcare.
  2. Demonstrate attributes of a professional, transformative, and visionary nurse leader in an advanced specialty role.
  3. Embrace life-long learning to advance personal growth, the nursing profession, and health outcomes.
  4. Foster interprofessional collaboration through mutual respect, effective communication, problem solving, and conflict resolution.
  5. Address the impact of social, political, legal, and ethical influences on diverse populations, health policies, and nursing practice.
  6. Demonstrate competence in an advanced specialty role using knowledge, skills, and professional judgment to promote evidence-based nursing practice.
  7. Advocate for compassionate person-centered care in the planning, coordination, and evaluation of care for individuals, families, groups, and populations.
  8. Engage in emerging technologies and information systems to optimize the multifaceted healthcare environment and nursing practice.
  9. Navigate complex systems to improve cost-effectiveness, quality, and safety initiatives that support health care outcomes and systemic equality.

Online Technology Requirements

Program Handbook