Master of Science in Nursing Program
Nursing Programs
Are you interested in learning more about earning your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Western Washington University?
Visit the pages below for more information on Western's nursing programs, our admissions processes, and scholarship opportunities.
Program Overview
The purpose of Western's Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is to empower graduates to revolutionize healthcare leadership, enabling them to assume pivotal roles in nursing leadership and nursing education. Graduates earn an MSN in Nursing Education or Nursing Leadership & Administration, depending on their clinical concentration.
Philosophy
At Western Washington University, situated on the Salish Sea and the Canadian border, our history is marked by colonialism and racism, and the impacts still affect us today. Our nursing values inspire us to engage respectfully with our environment, communities, and cultures. Together with the university, we are committed to creating a positive impact through academic excellence and inclusivity. We recognize our place within systems of power shaping health conditions. We honor health perspectives and lived experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Thus, we commit to transform structures, including academia, to promote the health and thriving of all, especially minoritized and marginalized communities. The WWU Nursing Program provides accessible, high-quality education, preparing graduates to offer compassionate, person-centered care, addressing determinants of health, and serving underserved communities. Our graduates lead efforts for health equity, responding to the region's rural and population health needs.
Values
- Courage: Willingness to actively work for greater equity and justice and to defend individual and collective rights.
- Compassion: Actively centering on the needs of others, being present to them and open to the mysteries of life, suffering, and death that they experience, willing to be affected in heart and mind by those for whom we care.
- Commitment: Actively dedicating ourselves to intellectual, personal, and professional reflection that leads to the ongoing development of our nursing knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
- Communication: Intentional in our words and actions, fostering connections that deepen self-awareness and understanding while building deep and enduring relationships that promote well-being.
- Collaboration: Taking actions that arise from deep respect for all individuals and their unique lifeways, honoring diverse expressions of culture and tradition, and working collaboratively to achieve inclusivity and equitable healthcare.
Mission
The primary mission of the nursing program at Western Washington University is to empower graduates to revolutionize healthcare leadership within the nursing field. Our program prepares students to assume pivotal nursing roles while upholding the core values of courage, compassion, commitment, communication, and collaboration. We prepare students to actively address historical injustices while promoting inclusivity and greater healthcare equity and justice.
Vision
To be a passionate community of students, educators, and nursing leaders engaged in innovative and creative practices that enhance the nursing profession, healthcare systems, and communities we serve.
End of Program Student Learning Outcomes (EPSLOs)
Specific to the practice contexts of nurse leaders and/or educators, the graduate will:
- Integrate personal and professional reflective practice to enhance leadership skills and advancement in the nursing profession.
- Demonstrate the ability to promote safe, healthy, and sustainable environments across nursing education, leadership, and practice.
- Demonstrate competency in advanced-level nursing education as defined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials and specialty competencies in nursing leadership (American Organization of Nurse Leader’s Nurse Leader competencies) or nursing education (National League of Nursing’s Nurse Educator competencies).
- Engage in collaborative partnerships aimed at delivering accessible, equitable, and high-quality education and healthcare services.
- Identify the needs of and advocate for positive change in authentic relationships with rural and other marginalized communities.
Curriculum
The MSN program’s curriculum aligns with the new 2021 American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials incorporating Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (Essentials) (AACN, 2021): the 10 “Domains for Nursing”, the 8 “Concepts for Nursing Practice”; and the 45 “Competencies.”
Contact Us
Rika Winquist, Nursing Program Coordinator
Rika.Winquist@wwu.edu
(360) 650-6777