Western Governors University Announces New
Master's Degrees in Nursing

SALT LAKE CITY -- Western Governors University is now offering two new master's degrees in nursing for prospective nurse leaders and managers and prospective nurse educators. The first degree is a Master of Science in Nursing—Leadership and Management Specialization. This degree is designed for baccalaureate prepared registered nurses interested in advancing into nursing and healthcare administration leadership roles. Students seeking this degree will learn all aspects of leadership and management roles, finance, human resources and system management and evaluation.

The second degree is the Master of Science in Nursing—Education Specialization, which is a degree for baccalaureate prepared nurses interested in advancing into nurse educator roles in schools of nursing and other healthcare settings. The emphasis in this degree is on research, theory, technology applied to nursing practice, evidence-based practice, ethics and new roles for master's prepared nurses. Enrollment for both programs is open now.

Western Governors University is currently accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and the Distance Education and Training Council and is applying for accreditation with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

WGU is working to fill these high-need areas in the booming healthcare field. The university has developed these degrees with a council of nursing competency experts. Western Governors University is supported in its efforts to design and offer these high-quality nursing degrees with assistance from one of the nation's leading healthcare providers, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), which is a key partner with WGU. HCA is composed of 173 hospitals and 109 outpatient centers in 20 states, England and Switzerland. HCA has provided financial support and has been actively involved in developing the competencies for the College of Health Professions degree programs.

Tom May, president of HCA-Far West Division says, "HCA has always been supportive of higher education in healthcare for all of its employees. Combining that with the flexibility of what Western Governors University (WGU) offers with its online educational programs has provided HCA and WGU with a very positive collaborative relationship in building the two advanced degrees in nursing available to any prospective nurse educator or nurse administrator student."

Dell Oliver, MSN, MBA, RN, director of the CNO Development Program with HCA, worked on the program design. "Working with an elite group of clinicians on the WGU Health Science Council has produced one of the best advanced nursing degree nursing programs I have ever seen or been a part of," says Oliver.

More details on these degree programs, applications and eligibility information is available at http://www.wgu.edu/nursing or call 1-866-225-5948.