Graduate Certificate in Nursing Leadership Online

Elevate your nursing leadership expertise with hands-on practicum experiences tailored to your individual learning goals and coursework from the CNEA-accredited MSN program.

1/10/25 Apply by
1/21/25 Start class Apply Now
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Program Overview

How our online Graduate Certificate in Nursing Leadership suits your goals

Prepare to administer healthcare programs, guide teams of nurses and optimize patient care when you complete your Graduate Certificate in Nursing Leadership online program from Millersville University. Balance your personal, professional and academic goals with a with a 100% online curriculum taken from our fully CNEA-accredited MSN in Nursing Leadership program.

In this accelerated program, supportive instructors will teach you to apply conceptual and theoretical frameworks of leadership, change theory and organizational development to a broad range of healthcare industries. Plus, the program prepares you to sit for the ANCC Nurse Executive Board Certified (NE-BC®) and Nurse Executive Advanced-Board Certified (NEA-BC®) exams as well as the AONL Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML®) exam.

Learning outcomes:

  • Lead quality and safety initiatives to improve patient outcomes
  • Engage in nursing leadership roles and responsibilities across various healthcare settings
  • Use information technology and data to address healthcare issues
  • Incorporate legal, ethical, cultural and socioeconomic factors into your professional nursing identity
+Learning outcomes:
  • Lead quality and safety initiatives to improve patient outcomes
  • Engage in nursing leadership roles and responsibilities across various healthcare settings
  • Use information technology and data to address healthcare issues
  • Incorporate legal, ethical, cultural and socioeconomic factors into your professional nursing identity

Nursing leadership careers:

  • Nurse Manager
  • Clinical Manager
  • Healthcare Administrator
  • Nurse Leader
  • Quality and Safety Leader
+Nursing leadership careers:
  • Nurse Manager
  • Clinical Manager
  • Healthcare Administrator
  • Nurse Leader
  • Quality and Safety Leader

Also available:

Millersville University offers a variety of nursing programs in a flexible online format. Explore our full range of online nursing programs.

$9,075* Total Tuition
As few as 6 months Duration
15 Credit Hours

Accreditation

The Millersville University Master’s Degree in Nursing, Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037. 202-909-2487.

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Need more information?

Call 855-741-3189

Call 855-741-3189

Tuition

Get the details on our pay-as-you-go tuition

Millersville University offers accessible and affordable online nursing programs. Take advantage of affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition for our Graduate Certificate – Nursing Leadership online program.

View FULL TUITION INFORMATION+

Program Per Credit Hour Per Course Per Program*
Grad Cert – Nursing Leadership $605 $1,815 $9,075
*Tuition listed is total cost for in-state resident, including fees. Total cost for out-of-state resident with fees is $10,541.25. Total cost excludes application fee. Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time; changes become effective on the date of enactment.

Tuition breakdown:

$9,075* Total Tuition
$605 Per Credit Hour

Calendar

Review important start dates and deadlines

Millersville online programs are flexible and convenient, offering multiple start dates per year. View the calendar to choose your start date and review the corresponding deadlines.

View full calendar  + 

7-Week coursesProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlinePayment Due
Fall 210/21/2410/11/2410/15/2410/21/24
Spring 11/21/251/10/251/14/251/21/25
Spring 23/17/253/7/253/11/253/17/25
Summer 15/12/255/2/255/5/255/12/25
Summer 26/30/256/20/256/23/256/30/25
Fall 18/25/258/15/258/18/258/25/25
Fall 210/20/2510/10/2510/13/2510/20/25

Now enrolling:

1/10/25 Apply Date
1/21/25 Class Starts

Ready to take the next steps towards earning your next degree?

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Admissions

What you need to be admitted to our nursing leadership graduate certificate online

Review our streamlined admission process for this online Graduate Certificate program. Requirements for the Graduate Certificate – Nursing Leadership online program include:

View all admission requirements +

  • Complete the online application and submit this waiver code: MUGRADONLINE
  • Official transcript(s) from all previous colleges or universities attended
  • Active RN license in Pennsylvania or in the state where clinical practice or internship is to be arranged
  • MSN from an accredited program (CCNE, CNEA or ACEN)
  • MSN grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
    • When GPA is below this, provisional acceptance may be considered if you demonstrate graduate study potential by other means
  • Two professional letters of recommendation; one must be from a supervisor
  • Statement of intent (include why you’re interested, why you think you would succeed in the program and what you plan to do with the degree in the future)
  • Minimum of one year of clinical experience in nursing, but two years is preferred
    • Waived for graduates of the Millersville University BSN program
  • Interview with nursing program coordinator
    • MU will establish two times each week when interviews will be held. Once you are notified that your application is complete, you will be provided a link to schedule a 20-minute interview. An admission decision will be made immediately following the interview.
    • MU assumes all materials will be submitted at least one week in advance of the interview, allowing the University to make an immediate decision afterward. Interviews can be scheduled with incomplete applications, but the admission decision will be delayed until all outstanding materials are submitted.

Plan to provide these additional documents with your completed application:

  • Current resume, including all clinical experience to date
  • Copy of your RN license, including state where licensure is held, RN number and expiration date

Instructions for Document Submission

Applicants can submit transcripts/documents to:

Email: [email protected]

Mail:
Millersville University
c/o Graduate Admissions
P.O. Box 1002
Millersville, PA 17551

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS:

  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Active RN License
  • One year of clinical nursing experience

Courses

Preview online Graduate Certificate in Nursing Leadership courses

Students in the nursing leadership program must complete the following five courses for a total of 15 credit hours.

Expand All

Students must complete the following courses.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focused on the integration of the conceptual and theoretical frameworks of leadership into the role of the nurse leader. The role of the nurse leader to support the full spectrum of healthcare is addressed and analyzed. Additional focus on the role of change theory, organizational development, and complex healthcare systems.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focused on the role of the nurse leader in advancing the quality of patient care within complex healthcare systems. Investigates the impact of performance and quality improvement on patient safety. Using the guidelines developed by the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN), methods to positively impact patient safety and care quality are discussed.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focus on the healthcare industry’s shift to value-based and risk-based reimbursement. Analysis of the impact of the change on every component of healthcare. Focused on high-value, cost-effective, and evidence-based measures that incorporate innovation, resource stewardship, and systems thinking. Examines new payment models, where reimbursement is tied directly to clinical, organizational, and consumer outcomes.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focus on the essential competencies of the nurse leader in relation to communication, conflict management, employee development, and building relationships. Developing a business acumen through use of change management, decision-making strategies, and systems thinking. Additional emphasis on strategic planning, project management, and policy development.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Provides an opportunity to integrate theory and practice through an intensive practicum experience. The practicum provides the opportunity for the nursing leadership students to engage in an advanced leadership experience within a selected setting (112 practicum hours required).

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