RN to BS-MS in Nursing Organizational Leadership (Accelerated)

Format: Online

HEGIS Code: 1203.10

Application Deadlines
  • Spring 2025 Extended Priority Deadline: November 18, 2024
  • Spring 2025 Regular Deadline: December 2, 2024

Across the nation, nurses have been encouraged to develop the knowledge, leadership abilities, and interpersonal skills beyond what is learned at the bachelor’s degree level to improve the healthcare system. The Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing report recommends that future nurses gain proficiency in competencies such as team leadership, systems thinking, decision-making, and quality improvement.

The RN to BS-MS in Nursing Organizational Leadership online degree prepares nurses to be able to contribute to the health, education, and social structure of communities by assuming positions of leadership. The program creates a landscape for nurses to promote innovative change and quality outcomes, translate evidence-based research into practice, build collaborative interprofessional healthcare teams to coordinate care, and employ advocacy strategies to influence healthcare policy across the healthcare spectrum.

Dual Degree

The RN to BS-MS in Nursing Organizational Leadership is a dual degree program that provides a seamless progression (and “fast track”) from the BS to MS programs. The program’s overlapping coursework allows students to complete both degrees within an integrated framework and in less time than each degree completed on its own.

Career Scope and Academic Prospects

The health care field presents unprecedented career opportunities for master’s prepared nurses as a direct result of the expansion of integrated healthcare systems, growth of the elderly population, advances in technology, challenges related to health insurance, and a focus on health disparities and underserved populations.

Graduates of the RN to BS-MS in Nursing Organizational Leadership degree are qualified to serve as directors of nursing, chief nursing officers, nurse managers, accountable care coordinators, and wellness program directors. Potential workplaces for these roles include hospitals, outpatient care clinics, medical centers, home healthcare agencies, long-term care facilities, and academic health systems.

Accreditation

CCNE Accreditation SealThe RN to BS-MS in Nursing Organizational Leadership at CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

This program is registered with the New York State Education Department. 

Completion Rates

CUNY SPS RN-BS benchmark for program completion rates:

75% of students will complete the RN- BS program within five years.

  • 2019-2024 = 94%
  • 2018-2023 = 96%
  • 2017-2022 = 96%

Job Placement Statistics

Undergraduate program outcome: 80% of RN-BS alumni will report employment as a RN within twelve months.

  • 2023 = 89%
  • 2022 = 92%
  • 2021 = 78%

Prior Learning Assessment

Credit for non-collegiate learning is a credit recommendation for college-level learning acquired outside of a college or university.

View Pre-approved Nursing Certifications

The American Council on Education (ACE) and the National College Credit Recommendation Service(NCCR) have evaluated college-level training programs, credentials, and licenses from the military, government, and the public sector that may be eligible for college credit at the CUNY School of Professional Studies.

CUNY SPS also awards credit for currently reviewed licenses and certifications in the fields of Health Information Management, IT, Project Management, Real Estate, Business, and Emergency Medical Technician.

For more information about credit for non-collegiate prior learning please contact us pla@sps.cuny.edu.

Prospective students and applicants may schedule a meeting with an academic advisor to obtain an unofficial credit evaluation for an undergraduate degree program.

Meet our Faculty

Estimated number of adjunct faculty teaching in the program: 40

Margaret Reilly
Professor, PhD, DNS, APRN, CNE
CUNY Graduate Center
Academic Director – Undergraduate & Graduate

Patricia Bartley-Daniele
Associate Professor, PhD, FNP-BC
Nursing Education - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Faculty Advisor MS in Nursing Education
Undergraduate & Graduate

Kenya Harris
Professor, EdD, Educational Administration, Leadership, and Technology
St. John’s University Nursing

Jan Oosting
Associate Professor, PhD
Johns Hopkins University
Undergraduate

Anne Marie Leveille-Tulce
Assistant Professor, PhD, Nursing
CUNY Graduate Center
Undergraduate and Graduate

Kathleen Marsala-Cervasio
Associate Professor, PhD, EdD, ACNS-BC
EdD, Educational Leadership Northcentral University
PhD, Kensington University
Undergraduate and Graduate

Lilly Mathew
Associate Professor, PhD, Nursing
University of Arizona
Undergraduate and Graduate

Linda Paradiso
Associate Professor, DNP, Nurse Executive
Old Dominion University
Undergraduate and Graduate

Admissions Criteria

To qualify for admission to the RN to BS-MS in Nursing Organizational Leadership program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or above out of a 4.0
  • Unencumbered nursing license and a current registration
  • Admission essay highlighting education and career achievement, including specific examples of problem-solving while working in the practice setting, leadership experience at the bedside or in other settings, and professional and community awards
  • Submit two letters of recommendation from each, a nurse educator/nurse faculty and supervisor/manager
  • A description of an evidence-based practice project completed in nursing school or in the practice setting
  • Resume

Residency Requirement*
In order to enroll in the RN to BS in Nursing program, students must provide documentation of one of the following categories:

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Permanent Residency
  • Granted asylum, refugee status, temporary protected status, withholding of removal, deferred enforced departure, deferred action status by the U.S. Government, deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or permanently residing in the United States under color of law (PRUCOL)

*International students may enroll in fully online degree programs. However, our online programs do not qualify for student visas.

Students may view the Undergraduate Nursing Student Policies Handbook (PDF). 

Complete list of the online nursing degrees offered at CUNY SPS.

Application Deadlines

  • Spring 2025 Extended Priority Deadline: November 18, 2024
  • Spring 2025 Regular Deadline: December 2, 2024
Apply Now

Student/Alumni Profiles

Pamela Lee

RN to BS-MS in Nursing Organizational Leadership 2023

"As I work consistently on my professional growth in nursing leadership and assist in enhancing care excellence, I have also begun steps to support leadership by serving on multiple committees."

Recent News About RN to BS-MS in Nursing Organizational Leadership (Accelerated)

Two female CUNY SPS faculty pose with female graduating nursing student at nursing convocation ceremony

Nursing Students Feted During Convocation and Pinning Ceremony

May 17, 2024

Nearly 200 nursing graduates earning their bachelor's and master's received nursing pins during a moving and heartfelt ceremony.

CUNY SPS Nursing Program students honored during Nursing Week

CUNY SPS Student Nurses are Passionate about Compassionate Care

May 08, 2024

CUNY SPS highlights three of its many outstanding Nursing Program students who share their passions that drive their studies and their professional life.

Screenshot of the webinar celebration for #CUNYTuesday featuring CUNY SPS alum mentors

CUNY SPS Celebrates #CUNYTuesday 2023 With Mentoring Event

December 06, 2023

CUNY SPS celebrated #CUNYTuesday by hosting an inspiring webinar on mentoring that featured alums from the nursing and health services administration programs.

Portrait of Dr. Bernadette Amicucci, CUNY SPS Nursing program professor

Let’s Hang On! Ramping Up Nurse Resident Retention Strategies After the Pandemic

June 01, 2023

Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing

Dr. Bernadette Amicucci, CUNY SPS nursing associate professor and consortial faculty, published the article "Let’s Hang On! Ramping Up Nurse Resident Retention Strategies After the Pandemic" in the Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing. She published the piece with her colleagues from the White Plains Hospital, where she is the Director of Clinical Education.