Accredited nursing administration degree programs in Minnesota help nurses living in the state gain the education and experience necessary for working in advanced positions and as managers or administrators. These programs are often available as hybrid programs or online. Hybrid programs give you the chance to take a few classes online before taking other classes that work around your busy schedule. Others may offer programs that meet on weekends or at night. The top programs are available from some of the best public and private colleges in the state and include courses that will help you with your career goals.

Augsburg College

Founded in 1869, Augsburg College is a small private college in Minnesota that has around 3,800 students enrolled in its programs. The college first opened as a seminary for Lutheran students. The name Augsburg comes from the town of the same name in Germany, which was home to many of the Lutherans who helped found the college. After the seminary portion of the school left and merged with another seminary, the school became Augsburg College. U.S. News & World Report ranked it as the 31st best college for service learning, and the college requires that all students do at least one project before graduating.

Master of Arts in Nursing Transformational Leadership Track

One of the best accredited nursing administration degree programs in Minnesota is the Master of Arts in Nursing Transformational Leadership Track program offered by Augsburg College. The program emphasized interpersonal relationships and teaches students how to interact with nurses, doctors and other professionals working in their fields as well as with patients. Graduates meet many of the requirements for certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for Advanced Nurse Executives. Though students complete 33 credits of work, only 24 of those credits will come from the classes they take. You'll gain nine credits for the practical work you do in the field, which requires that you spend just over 400 hours working in a single semester. The program also includes some unique courses like transcultural health care, the power of ritual and ceremony for transformation, research methods in nursing and transcultural healing and self care.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Contact

2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
(612) 330-1101
[email protected]
http://www.augsburg.edu/man/transcultural-nursing/leadership-management/

Capella University

Online Programs

Capella University is a large university in Minneapolis that also operates a large online school system and multiple campuses across the country. Established as The Graduate School of America in 1993, it became part of the Capella Education Company just a few years after obtaining accreditation. Though more than 36,000 students take classes through one of its programs every year, more than 70% of those students enroll in graduate or doctoral programs. Capella University operates campuses in more than 60 countries and has at least one campus in each state as well as dozens of online options for students.

Master of Nursing in Nursing Leadership and Administration

One of the nursing programs offered by Capella University is its Master of Nursing in Nursing Leadership and Administration program. The university allows students to transfer in up to 12 credits that they earned in another accredited program, but students must complete 56 credits to graduate with an MSN degree. A unique feature of the program is its immersion classes. These classes let you see what life is like for nursing administrators and managers and allows you to practice you own skills to see how well you handle those duties. If you have a BSN, you can earn your MSN in just two years. Capella also offers an option that lets you earn your DPN in just under three years. Courses in its Master of Nursing in Nursing Leadership and Administration program include advanced nursing leadership and management, orientation to graduate nursing study, leading the future of health care and health care technology.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Contact

225 South 6th Street, 9th Floor
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(844) 312-9582
http://www.capella.edu/online-nursing-degrees/

University of Minnesota

School of Nursing

The University of Minnesota is one of the oldest colleges in Minnesota and the flagship campus in the University of Minnesota System. Founded in 1851, it moved its original campus to Minneapolis to better meet the needs of those living in the city and in surrounding areas. Also known as the U and as just Minnesota, it operates four smaller campuses and has a total enrollment of more than 50,000 students across all campuses. ARWU, Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Report all ranked Minnesota as one of the best 100 colleges in America, but it ranks globally too.

Master of Nursing

The Master of Nursing program available through the University of Minnesota ranks as one of the best accredited nursing administration degree programs in Minnesota. Though it includes a clinical component, the university has partnerships in place with more than 200 facilities and hospitals in the state to help students meet this requirement. Working in one of these facilities will give you more practical nursing experience and administration experience too. You must agree to start in the fall and then take four full semesters of courses, which will include one summer semester. Many students earn an MSN and then transfer to the university's DPN program to earn a doctoral degree. Its curriculum includes a practicum that requires you spend at least 500 hours working in the field. You'll also need to take specific classes like advanced human pathophysiology, introduction to nursing interventions, health care leadership and population response to health and mental illness.

Accreditation

  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Contact

5-140 Weaver-Densford Hall
308 Harvard Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612) 624-5959
https://www.nursing.umn.edu/

Walden University

Online Master's Degree Programs

Located in Minneapolis, Walden University is a public benefit corporation that acts as a nonprofit organization to better the community surrounding the campus. Established in 1970 as a graduate school, it originally only offered doctoral programs and focused on creating programs suitable for working students and busy adults. Though Sylvan later acquired the campus, it broke off from that company and began operating on its own. It now has the right to award doctoral, master's and bachelor's degrees. Walden University still offers courses and programs designed for busy professionals to help them earn their degrees without taking time off work.

MSN Leadership and Management

Walden University offers an MSN Leadership and Management degree program that teaches students how to communicate effectively with their patients, identify, hire and train new nurses and evaluate all aspects of a health care facility. The university designed the program for students to complete it in 36 months, and more than 80% of its students graduate within 36 months or less. Students also have access to grants and loans that help them afford the cost of the program and to reduce the amount they spend out of their own pockets. You can enroll in the program with a BSN or an RN license, and a third program lets you turn your RN license into a BSN degree and then earn your MSN. Those who already have a BSN will take 51 credits of courses that include finance and economics in health care delivery, strategic planning in health care organizations and foundations for graduate study.

Accreditation

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Contact

100 Washington Avenue South
Suite 900
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(866) 492-5336
https://www.waldenu.edu/masters/msn-leadership-and-management

Winona State University

College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Founded in 1858, Winona State University opened as the Winona Normal School and trained teachers to work across the Midwest and in the new territories in the western United States. It also operated as a teaching college and awarded graduates bachelor's degrees before becoming a state college and then a full university. Also known as WSU, the university encourages students to study abroad and learn more about other cultures. It allows incoming students access to tablets and laptops that they can use in their classes, and WSU has a low ratio of just 21 students to each of its professors.

Master's Nursing Program in Nursing and Organizational Leadership

In addition to undergrad programs, WSU is also home to a Master's Nursing Program in Nursing and Organizational Leadership, which ranks as one of the best accredited nursing administration degree programs in Minnesota. Its MSN program also comes with three other concentration options too for those who prefer studying another aspect of nursing. Students must have a BSN from an accredited college, a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and at least one year of practical nursing experience. A separate program is available for those who have an RN license/degree rather than a BSN. You'll take a class on statistical research methods for the health care industry in the summer semester before classes start. Winona State University also requires that nursing students take a practicum course that includes fieldwork and that they write a thesis or complete a final project. The program includes classes like financial resource management and health care policy.

Accreditation

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Contact

175 West Mark Street
Winona, MN 55987
(507) 457-5000
https://www.winona.edu/nursingandhs/

Working in a management or administration position as a nurse requires that you have experience and understanding with the leading others, managing their schedules and working with patients. While you can gain some of those skills in the field, you'll gain even stronger skills in one of the top accredited nursing administration degree programs in Minnesota.

Related Resource: 50 Best Schools for a Healthcare Administration Degree 2016