Skip to Main Content

South College - Your Career Starts Here

Master of Science in Nursing with a Concentration in Nurse Executive

CAMPUSES South College Online Programs
SCHOLARSHIPS Yellow Ribbon

What You’ll Learn

The online MSN with a Concentration in Nurse Executive at South College gives nurses a convenient, accessible way to improve their academic qualifications and expand their career options. In this program, you’ll gain the skills and expertise necessary for positions in nursing leadership, including financial management, organization building, healthcare informatics, evidence-based practice, and systems management.

Through a blend of about 80% online instruction and 20% clinical practicum, you will develop and apply executive-level management skills tailored to the healthcare workplace. Thanks to our distance learning course platform, you can pursue your degree on your own schedule without missing out on discussion and collaboration with classmates and faculty members.

This program prepares students for certifications like NEA-BC (Nurse Executive Advanced – Board Certified), NE-BC through the American Nurse Credentialing Center, and CENP (Certified Executive Nursing Practice) through the American Organization of Nurse Executives.

Nurses must be effective communicators and educators who assist patients and staff throughout difficult transitions while demonstrating financial accountability, systems thinking, and a constant awareness of patient care quality. As many nursing leaders, managers, and executives prepare to retire, it’s essential to prepare nurses who can exhibit these qualities to move into key roles.

South College nursing students in a lab.

What can I do with a Master of Science in Nursing with a Concentration in Nurse Executive?

Nurse Manager Nurse Administrator Director of Nursing Vice President of Nursing Chief Nursing Officer Clinical Educator Critical Care Unit Manager Post-Secondary Nursing Instructor Nurse Manager

16%* Estimated Job Growth

Keys to Success

To be successful in this program, students need self-discipline, excellent time management skills, and the motivation to learn and take on new roles and responsibilities. As a nurse executive, you will also need excellent leadership, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills.

South College is eager to support our students in any way we can. Our experienced faculty members are available to provide one-on-one mentoring, and the distance learning platform includes discussion forums so students and faculty can communicate and collaborate. Also, students may complete the clinical portion of the program at an approved location near their homes or workplaces.

South College Nursing Students

Continuing Education

This program is the most advanced nursing program offered by South College.

Additional Information

Accreditation or Approval

State Authorization (Knoxville, Nashville, Asheville, Atlanta)

The South College Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Parkside Learning Site (Knoxville) received initial approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing in December 2003, with full approval granted in September 2008. Approval for the addition of the Nashville Learning Site was granted in November 2016. The Master of Science in Nursing program received initial approval in November 2016. The Practical Nursing certification program (Knoxville) received initial approval in February 2018. The South College Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Asheville Learning Site received initial approval from the North Carolina Board of Nursing in February 2016. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Atlanta Learning Site received initial approval from the Georgia Board of Nursing in September 2018.

Knoxville & Nashville

The Bachelor of Science program offered at the Parkside Learning Site (Knoxville) and Nashville Learning Site are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing Inc. (ACEN, 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, 404-975- 5000, www.acenursing.org). ACEN approved the Substantive Changes report regarding the addition of the BSN program at the Nashville Learning Site in January 2017; Continued Accreditation granted in January 2018 following an on-site review.

Knoxville, Nashville, Asheville, and Atlanta

South College is pursuing initial accreditation for the baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in Nursing by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
Total Program and Degree Length
Total Program Credits*: 54 (BSN-MSN) 128 (RN-MSN) 234 (RN-BSN-MSN)
Degree Length: 12 months full-time enrollment
*South College operates on the quarter system, offering the possibility for more flexibility and more options for our students.
Program Tuition Rate
Please contact Admissions at 865-288-8750.
South College offers flat-rate tuition, which provides students the opportunity to take more hours for a lower cost. 10-18 hours is the same cost regardless of how many hours are taken.
Admissions Requirements

Consumer Information

Amounts for tuition, fees, books, and supplies are subject to change. Important information about the educational debt, earnings, and completion rates of students who attended this program can be found here. South College follows the required methodology provided by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for the reporting of employment information for graduates. This information is compiled on an annual basis and submitted to the Commission by October 15 each year for graduates during the most recently completed reporting year (July 1-June 30). For more detailed information related to the calculation of graduate employment rates, please click here.

*The career options listed above are a small sample of potential job titles, and are not meant to be comprehensive. Students may or may not find employment in these positions. Job growth statistics are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2014–2024 projections. Note that the Bureau does not publish estimates for all job titles, so in some cases these numbers are an approximation based on similar job titles.

Success at South College

Shawn Domm

I chose South College because it came highly recommended from mentors of mine, the faculty is second to none, and the program fits my ever-changing lifestyle. I also chose it because of the flexibility. My wife is still serving in the United States Air Force on Active Duty, and this means that we move when they tell us to move.

- Shawn Domm, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Elizabeth Ferichs

One of the major reasons I chose South College was for the smaller class sizes. It allows more one-on-one time between students and professors, which enhances the learning experience for me.

- Elizabeth Frerichs, Bachelor of Science in Health Science
Adam Hatcher

I went to college originally straight out of high school with the intent of majoring in musical performance with a concentration in theoretical studies. I was not prepared to for college at that point, so I decided to gain some experience and maturity by joining the work force full-time. After working for 10 years, I felt it was time to try school again.

- Adam Hatcher, Bachelor of Business Administration
View Success Stories
Back to top button