Nursing: Hospice & Palliative Care, MSN

Department of Nursing

Admissions Contact
Graduate Recruitment & Admissions
Central Welcome Center
(860) 832-2350
graduateadmissions@ccsu.edu

Academic Contact

Michele McKelvey
Associate Professor
Nursing
Nicolaus Copernicus Hall
22512
860.832.2429
mmckelvey@ccsu.edu

Downloadable Version

Nursing, MSN

Central to Embracing Compassion.

Central’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is built on a foundation of advanced clinical knowledge, evidence-based practice, and the humanistic core of nursing. It offers two specialized tracks: Nursing Education and Hospice and Palliative Care. The Nursing Education track prepares students for the nurse educator role in academic and clinical settings. The Hospice and Palliative Care track prepares students to take leadership roles in the delivery of active, holistic therapies to end-of-life and chronic care patients. Both tracks are designed to empower nurses as leaders, educators, and advocates in today’s evolving healthcare landscape.

Program Features

  • Starts every August
  • 40-credit program
  • Attend part-time
  • 100% online
  • Doctoral prepared faculty with real world experience
  • A supportive environment for students with the challenges of work/school/family responsibilities
  • Virtual simulation
  • Dedicated Program Coordinator
  • Individual 1:1 advising
  • Financial aid and scholarships are available
  • No GMAT/GRE required
  • Degree can be completed in 18 months
  • Fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) through 2034

Why come to Central for Your MSN degree? (ppt)

Program Options

Combines core advanced nursing practice coursework with specialized courses focusing on curriculum development and the role of the nurse educator in clinical and classroom settings. Students gain the skills to shape the future of nursing by mentoring, teaching, and inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Combines core advanced nursing practice coursework with specialized courses focusing on current trends and integrative health for HPC. Students gain skills in holistic, person-centered care and learn to support patients and families through chronic illness and end-of-life experiences with dignity, empathy, and clinical excellence.

I believe nursing changes continuously and it is important to remain current. This MSN gave me hope that I could be a stronger voice for hospice and palliative care. This degree is a way for me to continue to work in the specialty I adore. I am motivated to educate the community and to improve care and quality of life.

Linda Spinetti
MSN '19

Learning Outcomes

  1. Utilize appropriate theories from nursing and related fields to respond to emerging health care challenges. 
  2. Apply ethical analysis and clinical reasoning to assess, intervene, and evaluate advanced nursing care delivery. 
  3. Understand how to influence health care policy for the purpose of advocating for clients and community. 
  4. Use quality processes and improvement science to evaluate care and ensure client safety for individuals and communities. 
  5. Synthesize evidence for practice to determine appropriate application of interventions across all populations affected by end-of-life and chronic care. 
  6. Incorporate global nursing knowledge, attitudes, and skills in planning, implementing, and evaluating hospice and palliative care practice. 
  7. Integrate inter-professional collaboration and informatics to make changes in the hospice and palliative care environment to improve delivery of care. 
  8. Develop leadership skills and integrate scholarship into nursing practice through participation in praxis courses. 
  9. Meet the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials for Masters Education in Nursing.