Aug 23, 2015 09:16 PM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Sacred Heart University in Connecticut had made changes the online Master of Science in Nursing program.

The modifications, which included renaming the Patient Care Services Administration specialization to Nursing Management & Executive Leadership (NMEL), as well as updating appropriate courses in the curriculum, were made to reflect "current leadership trends and relevance in today's ever-changing healthcare environment," school officials said.

"The nursing faculty is excited about the enhancements to the curriculum of the NMEL track," Dr. Linda Morrow, assistant program director of the NMEL track, said in a statement. "We believe it will resonate with our nursing students, in and beyond the classroom as well as equip them with the knowledge and skills to become tomorrow's nursing leaders."

The online program is a rigorous one designed to meet the needs of the working career nurse seeking superior clinical, administrative and educational skills. The program offers three specializations: Clinical Nurse Leader, Nursing Education, and Nursing Management & Executive Leadership (formerly Patient Care Services Administration).

Sacred Heart's Nursing Management & Executive Leadership (NMEL) specialization prepares nurses to move into a position of greater leadership, usually in an administrative setting of a health-care organization. Delivering quality patient health care is becoming more complex, and in this track students learn the evolving role competencies essential for today's nursing leader.

The curriculum requires the student to complete 120 clinical practicum hours locally, under the supervision of a preceptor. Throughout the coursework, students will acquire knowledge and skills in the subject areas of health-care delivery systems, information management, finance, ethics, human resources, strategic planning and transformational leadership, among others. Motivating others, creating a positive and professional work environment, building trust and facilitating influential communication are other skills that will be covered in the specialty courses.

The changes are effective fall 2015.

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