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School of Nursing

Care & Outcomes Manager


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Our Care and Outcomes Manager (COM) concentraiton allows you to focus on care management using an outcomes approach skill set necessary for being responsive in a continually changing health care environment. The program is organized around flexible learning modules that lend themselves to program tailoring for case managers, utilization review coordinators, risk managers, nursing educators, nursing directors and administrators, school nurses and selective clinical nurse specialization. Integrated class and clinical experiences will allow you to satisfy all of the didactic requirements for national certification as a clinical nurse specialist, clinical nurse leader, case manager, nurse educator,  nurse administrator, or informaticist (see role descriptions below).

The COM concentration will prepare you to:
  • Provide quality, cost effective care in a defined context
  • Participate in the design and implementation of an evaluation and outcomes model
  • Assume a leadership role in managing health care resources
  • Integrate clinical and evaluation competencies for care and outcomes management

You may complete the MSN: Care and Outcomes Manager program in either 2 years / 4 semesters on a full-time basis or 3 years / 6 semesters on a part-time basis. Designed for the working professional, our Master of Science in Nursing degree programs offer evening and Friday classes.

Quick link to ...

»  COM Sample Program Plan

Ready to Apply?
»  Download Application

Program Links:
»  MSN Degree

»  Entry-Level MSN (for students with a previous non-nursing Bachelor's degree)

MSN Concentrations:
»  Family Nurse Practitioner
»  Care and Outcomes Manager


Events / Deadlines:
»  Graduate Programs Open House

»  Priority deadline for applications: March 1 / Rolling Admissions


Care & Ouctomes Manager Curriculum

»  Download a sample COM Program Plan
Click the above link to download the sample Care & Outcomes Manager program plan for full-time and part-time study (Adobe Acrobat format).

Graduate course descriptions are available in the current PLU catalog, located online here.

Care & Outcomes Manager Required Coursework:

Course #
Course Title
Credits




Nurs 523
Role for the Advanced Nurse*
3




Nurs 524
Advanced Health Promotion*
2




Nurs 525
Theoretical Foundations*
3




Nurs 526
Nursing Leadership and Management*
3




Nurs 527
Evaluation and Outcomes Research*
3




Nurs 530
Resource Management
3




Nurs 531
COM Practicum I**
5




Nurs 532
COM Practicum II**
3




Nurs 533
Nursing Informatics
2




Nurs 538
Program Development**
3




Nurs XXX
Elective in Area of Focus, i.e.,
    NURS 582 Advanced Health Assessment (2)
    NURS 550 Curriculum, Instruction & Development (3)
    Appropriate MBA course, or other approved course
3 - 4




Capstone Nurs 596 Scholarly Inquiry*  or
Nurs 599Thesis*
2 - 4





Total Program Credis:   
37 to 41



*  MSN Core Requirement
** Clinical hours in addition to didactic

Note: Students preparing for the Clinical Nurse Specialist or Clinical Nurse Leader roles must complete additional coursework to fulfill national certification examination requirements. See the sample COM program plan for more information.

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Care and Outcomes Manager Roles

The COM coursework is organized around flexible learning modules that allow the program to be tailored toward a specific role. Role specialization options include ...


Case Manager Nurse Administrator
                                  


Clinical Nurse Specialist Clinical Nurse Leader


Nurse Educator Informaticist

Case Manager:

»  Evaluation of clinical and financial outcomes
»  The managed care and regulatory environment
»  Clinical and financial outcomes
»  Health services and programs
»  Role and responsibilities of an advanced practice case manager

Clinical Nurse Specialist:

»  Role and responsibilities of a Clinical Nurse Specialist
»  Target population assessment and program development as well as advanced individual assessment and care planning
»  Management of complex health problems to achieve clinical outcomes
»  Continuity of care across the continuum
»  Evaluation of clinical outcomes

Nurse Educator:

Nursing Education in higher education, staff development, or continuing education
»  Faculty role and responsibilities
»  Curriculum design and program development
»  Teaching and learning from an outcomes perspective
»  The teaching/learning environment and media
»  Curriculum and program evaluation

Nurse Administrator:

»  Administrative (RM/UM/QM and manager) role and responsibilities
»  Organizational assessment and program design in a regulated environment
»  Managing risk, quality, and utilization and improving outcomes
»  Ethical, legal, and fiscal dimensions of administration in a managed care environment
»  RM/UM/QM program evaluation

Clinical Nurse Leader:

»  Clinical Nurse Leader role and responsibilities (based on AACN recommendations, 2005)
»  Care coordination of a distinct group of patients
»  Provide direct patient care in complex situations
»  Use evidence-based practice to ensure that patients benefit from the latest innovations in care delivery.
»  Collect and evaluate patient outcomes, assess cohort risk, and change care plans when necessary
»  Function as part of an interdisciplinary team by communicating, planning, and implementing care directly with other health care professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, social workers, clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners

Nurse Informaticist:

»  Informatics nurse role and responsibilities
»  System analysis and design
»  System implementation, support and testing
»  Information data base management, and computer technology
»  System evaluation

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Links to more information ... 

More information on COM roles, job outlook, and career opportunities:

Case Manager Role:


Clinical Nurse Specialist Role/Certification:


Nurse Educator Role:


Miscellaneous Links:


Questions? Contact Us!

To request more information or ask questions, please contact us:

Phone: (253) 535-7672
E-mail: gradnurs@plu.edu
Or click here for the online request form.

If you would like to download the Graduate Program application, click here.

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