Health Systems Management

The Health Systems Management (HSM) program prepares graduates for the advanced role of nursing and health care management. This specialty is designed to prepare nurses at the graduate level to manage the delivery of nursing and health care services across the spectrum of health care settings. Graduates acquire the breadth of management knowledge and skills needed to perform effectively and assume leadership positions in health care delivery organizations. The HSM curriculum is offered in a full-time and a part-time, online format. Students may enter the part-time program during any semester; full-time students begin in the fall each year.

The HSM program is distinct as it will prepare you to achieve the following outcomes:

• Define, implement and maintain standards for quality patient care;
• Develop, manage and evaluate work teams;
• Implement processes and programs to achieve financial targets and maintain fiscal accountability:
• Implement processes and programs to achieve continual improvement in care delivery;
• Develop, performance counsel, and evaluate assigned staff;
• Mentor staff to boost individual and team performance and competency;
• Collaborate effectively across disciplines and health care settings to enhance integration of services and care delivery;
• Facilitate clear communication of expectations and accountabilities to assigned staff;
• Demonstrate collaborative problem solving abilities;
• Innovate, implement, and manage change;
• Engage support from supervisors, subordinates and peers in meeting organizational goals;
• Balance strategic, financial, operational, quality and interpersonal responsibilities;
• Participate in research.

Ranked 8^th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, the HSM program offers numerous advantages over other business or health care administration degree programs. These advantages include:

• An online learning environment dedicated to nursing professionals and flexible to support all types of professional work schedules.
• A learning environment with students comprised of nursing professionals from a diverse variety of nursing experience and backgrounds.
• A team of Vanderbilt University dedicated HSM faculty that represent a combined 150 years of nursing clinical, executive leadership and educational experience in private and public healthcare settings.
• A curriculum that is based on current, relevant nursing practice and challenges you to work as an individual and as a group member to critically analyze, evaluate, and develop solutions in response to emerging trends and issues in nursing practice and healthcare.
• A curriculum that leverages clinical practicum experiences with successful, nationally recognized executive nursing leaders in a variety of quality healthcare systems.
• A curriculum that specifically focuses on the impact of national, state and local healthcare policy and financing on nursing practice
• A curriculum that supports and applies the integration of case studies and analysis based on real world nursing practice scenarios.
• A program that successfully links technology with learning while embracing cultural and academic diversity.