MSN Program Goals and Outcomes
Program Goals
• Prepare graduates to excel in advanced roles.
• Provide a foundation for doctoral study.
MSN Program Outcomes
At the completion of the program, the graduate will:
- Use advanced nursing knowledge as the basis for clinical decision-making in education and health care settings.
- Use adaptive leadership principles and theories within education and healthcare settings to improve individual and population outcomes.
- Use information, evidence, and effective communication to influence outcomes for individuals, families, and populations.
- Collaborate intra and interprofessionally to facilitate partnerships that enhance the healthcare experience and strengthen outcomes.
- Evaluate personal wellness, scholarship, and service for professional growth and advancement of the profession.
- Advance nursing scholarship through the appraisal of existing knowledge and evidence.
- Analyze advocacy efforts that promote social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion principles that influence health care outcomes.
DNP Nursing Program Goals
- Prepare DNPs to excel in advanced clinical leadership roles.
- Prepare clinical scholars able to transform the health care system.
DNP Program Outcomes
At the completion of the program, the graduate will:
- Select adaptive leadership principles that influence health system policy to improve individual, population, and/or system outcomes.
- Advance clinical scholarship by leading the ethical translation, implementation, and evaluation of evidence into practice.
- Integrate information, evidence, and effective communication to influence outcomes for individuals, families, populations, and systems that advance nursing practice.
- Engage in advocacy efforts promoting social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion to improve health care outcomes.
- Foster intra and interprofessional relationships to improve the healthcare experience, practice, and system outcomes.
- Synthesize advanced nursing and specialty knowledge as the basis for a systematic and defendable approach to clinical decision-making and innovation in practice.
- Evaluate personal wellness, scholarship, and service for professional growth and advancement of the profession.
Graduate Nursing Post Graduate Certificate Programs
Bellin College offers postgraduate certificate programs designed for nurses seeking to expand their professional expertise and credentials in specialized areas. Certificates are available in Nurse Education, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Each program provides a focused curriculum aligned with national standards, preparing graduates to advance in teaching and clinical practice with confidence and competence.
Post Graduate Certificate Program Goal
- Prepare graduates to excel in advanced practice roles.
Post Graduate Certificate Program Outcomes
At the completion of the program, the graduate will:
- Use advanced nursing knowledge as the basis for clinical decision-making in education and health care settings.
- Use adaptive leadership principles and theories within education and healthcare settings to improve individual and population outcomes.
- Use information, evidence, and effective communication to influence outcomes for individuals, families, and populations.
- Collaborate intra and interprofessionally to facilitate partnerships that enhance the healthcare experience and strengthen outcomes.
- Evaluate personal wellness, scholarship, and service for professional growth and advancement of the profession.
Graduate Nursing Program Tracks
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program
Bellin College offers two distinct pathways for nurses pursuing Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification: a graduate degree track, either MSN or BSN to DNP, or a Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC) option. Upon successful completion, graduates are eligible to sit for certification exams offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).
The FNP track within the MSN or BSN-DNP programs prepares students to become licensed and certified primary care practitioners. The curriculum integrates foundational coursework with specialized clinical content focused on delivering healthcare across the lifespan. Practicum experiences in primary and community-based settings help students develop advanced competencies in health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and prescriptive management. The FNP Post-Graduate Certificate is designed for nurses who already hold a master’s or terminal nursing degree and wish to broaden their scope of practice.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program
Bellin College offers two distinct options for nurses seeking certification as Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners: a graduate degree track (MSN or BSN to DNP) and a Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC). Upon successful completion of either pathway, graduates are eligible to sit for the certification exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).
The PMHNP track within the MSN or BSN-DNP programs prepares nurses to practice as certified and licensed mental health professionals. The curriculum includes core and specialized coursework focused on the full continuum of psychiatric and mental health services across the lifespan. Through practicum experiences in diverse behavioral health settings, students gain advanced skills in psychiatric assessment, diagnostic evaluation, and psychopharmacologic management. The PMHNP Post-Graduate Certificate is designed for nurses who already hold a master’s or terminal degree in nursing and wish to expand their professional practice in the mental health field.
Nurse Educator Track
Bellin College offers two options for nurses seeking to advance their careers in nursing education: the graduate Nurse Educator track and the Post-Graduate Certificate (NE-PGC).
The Nurse Educator track within the MSN program prepares graduates to serve as educators across academic, clinical, and staff development settings. Students engage in core graduate nursing coursework alongside specialized courses in evidence-based teaching, curriculum development and evaluation, instructional design and technology, and assessment of learning outcomes. In addition to educational preparation, students develop advanced practice knowledge through direct care practicum experiences that strengthen clinical expertise. A dedicated educator practicum further integrates these skills into real-world academic and practice environments, fostering readiness for the nurse educator role. Graduates are eligible to pursue certification through the National League for Nursing (CNEn, CNEcl, or CNE) following completion of the required professional nursing practice and teaching experience.
The Nurse Educator Post-Graduate Certificate is designed for nurses who already hold a graduate degree and wish to expand their knowledge and skillset in nursing education. The program focuses on curriculum design, instructional strategies, evaluation methods, and the transition into the educator role, supported by a dedicated practicum experience.