Nurse Executive

Course ID	Title	Credits
NSG 827	Epidemiology for Clinical Practice	3
NSG 876	Leadership and Healthcare Policy	3
NEX 803	Executive Presence I	2
NEX 804	Innovation, Evidence-based Practice and Quality Improvement for Nurse Executives	3
	Semester Total	11

Course ID	Title	Credits
NSG 947	DNP Project Seminar I	1
NEX 805	Nursing Leadership for High Reliability Organizations	3
NEX 806	Law, Policy, and Ethics in Health Care Systems	3
NEX 807	Nursing Leadership and Ethics in a High Reliability Organizations Practicum	3
	Semester Total	10

Course ID	Title	Credits
NSG 948	DNP Project Design and Methods	2
NEX 901	Executive Presence II	2
NEX 902	Financial, Human and Capital Resource Management	3
NEX 903	Financial, Human and Capital Resource Management Practicum	3
	Semester Total	10

Course ID	Title	Credits
NSG 949	DNP Project Implementation	2
NEX 904	Strategic Leadership and Crisis Management	3
NEX 905	Population Health, Epidemiology, and Data Analytics	3
NEX 906	Population Health, Epidemiology, and Data Analytics Practicum	3
	Semester Total	11

Course ID	Title	Credits
NSG 950	DNP Seminar II	1
NEX 907	Contemporary Issues in Nursing Leadership and Health Care	3
NSG 926	DNP Synthesis Practicum	6
	Semester Total	10 (
	Grand Total	63

Doctorally prepared nurse executives possess a wide range of skills that position them as leaders in health care and health systems. These skills include Leadership and Management Skills, Financial and Business Acumen, Nursing Practice Expertise, Public Health, Professionalism, Equity, Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Technology and Innovation, Policy and Advocacy. Doctorally prepared nurse executives use this diverse skill set to navigate complex health care environments, advocate for nursing, and lead transformational changes within and across health systems. You can learn more about Nurse Executive competencies at the American Organization of Nurse Executives.

A doctorally prepared nurse executive has diverse career opportunities in health care and beyond. Their advanced education, leadership skills, and expertise prepare them for leadership roles in various settings. Work opportunities include Health Care Organizations, Government and Public Health Agencies, Private Sector and Health Care consulting, Health Insurance Companies, Non-Profit Organizations and Foundations, Policy and Regulatory Agencies, and Entrepreneurship.

• Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Average Salary: $130,000 - $250,000
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO) / Chief Operating Officer (COO) in health care Average Salary: 150,000 - $300,000+
• Director of Nursing Average Salary: $90,000 - $180,000
• Nursing Faculty (Doctorally Prepared) Average Salary: $80,000 - $150,000+
• Health care Consultant Average Salary: $100,000 - $200,000+
• Health care Administrators in Government or Public Health Average Salary: $90,000 - $160,000
• Non-Profit Organizations or Global Health Leadership Average Salary: $80,000 - $150,000
• Entrepreneur/Private Consultant Average Salary/Potential Earning: Varies Widely
• In summary, a doctorally prepared nurse executive typically earns between **$90,000 and $300,000+** annually, potentially earning higher in top leadership positions or entrepreneurial ventures.

The Nurse Executive program at UT Health Science Center was created to provide an academic experience that will equip executive-level nurse leaders with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to lead with resilience in times of crisis and critically analyze the multitude of data available to them to facilitate strategic decision-making.  Along with a dynamic and challenging didactic program, students in the Nurse Executive Program must perform 1020 total practicum hours in which they apply the course material.

The length of the program varies depending on whether the applicant is applying as a BSN-to-DNP or MSN-to-DNP student. Additionally, the length of the program may vary based on the completion of previous graduate courses at another university. Please review the various program plans of study.

Full-time and part-time plans of study are available. Students should consult with the concentration coordinator about how to proceed with his/her respective program needs.

The UT Health Science Center Nurse Executive program is a rigorous, full-time program that requires a significant commitment to complete didactic successfully and practicum course experiences. For this reason, students are strongly discouraged from maintaining full-time employment while enrolled in the program. If employment is essential, students are encouraged to explore flexible part-time employment and utilize saved vacation or other leave to commit more time to the program.

Tuition costs are determined by in-state or out-of-state status and may change during the program. Tuition and fee information is located on the UT Health Science Center Bursar's Fees webpage. Additionally, the Academic Common Market may be available for some out-of-state students. Information on this program is available through the Office of Financial Aid. Many employers also offer tuition reimbursement for full-time and part-time employees. Students are encouraged to explore the many private scholarship funds available for graduate study in their communities as well as regional, state, and national financial aid. An internet search of graduate nursing scholarships can reveal various opportunities. Many diverse groups offer scholarship programs, and some states and organizations have loan repayment programs for nursing education. There are also federal government grants for nursing students.

Book purchases will vary by semester. Many books specific to the Nurse Executive program will be used in consecutive semesters. Textbooks are supplemented with electronic media, much of which is available in the library for the students at no cost. Students need adequate computer hardware and internet access. Lab coats are mandatory for practicum experiences, but the specifications may periodically change.

Practicum experiences are interspersed throughout the program and differ based on concentration and student background. Practicum hour requirements are identified in the plan of study. One credit of practicum experience equates to 60 practicum clock hours. To determine the number of practicum clock hours, multiply the practicum credits in the plan of study by 60. Practicum hours do not include on-campus experiences, conferences, travel, or mealtime. Please remember that these are minimum hours. 

Faculty are integrally involved in selecting highly qualified preceptors and the placement process so that students have opportunities that will meet course and student outcomes. Students living outside the Memphis area will collaborate with the practicum course faculty to identify appropriate practicum sites. Relatives may not serve as preceptors for students. Practicum contracts are required for all practicum sites; developing a new one can be tedious, so starting this process early in the program in collaboration with the Nurse Executive concentration coordinator is important.

Students in the Nurse Executive concentration are not required to come to campus.

Online education is very popular as it offers students greater flexibility regarding the location of learning sites. This flexibility can accommodate an individual’s learning style and lifestyle. Some online educational experiences are synchronized for classes to occur at a designated time. Online education requires discipline and self-motivation; it is not for everyone. Online education requires participative learning with much less traditional lecture-style teaching. Graduate coursework entails significant reading and discussions among learners with guidance from the faculty.  Good computer skills are essential. Strong grammar and writing skills are important.  The Faculty at UT Health Science Center CON are highly skilled in online education and are leaders in using distance technology in teaching/learning.

Obtain a diagnostic evaluation of your learning style. Numerous online engines offer this service at no cost. Simply enter "learning style assessment" into a search engine to locate these services.  Students admitted to the DNP Program have their learning style assessed prior to beginning classes. 

Evaluate your family, community, and work commitments and prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. The program requires commitment, and all students will need to make adjustments in their personal and professional lives to ensure success.