Lead Healthcare Systems at the Highest Executive Level.
As healthcare delivery grows more complex, health systems need leaders who combine deep clinical insight with high-level executive organizational strategy. The Systems Management concentration is tailored specifically for MSN-prepared nurses aiming for C-suite, VP, directorship and administrative leadership roles.
Created in partnership with Gonzaga’s School of Business Administration, this interdisciplinary concentration bridges nursing practice with corporate organizational effectiveness. You will gain advanced proficiency in financial planning, system optimization, negotiation and administrative leadership, all while completing the terminal practice degree in nursing.
DNP Systems Management vs. MBA:
Why Earning Your DNP Matters in Health Care.
Advanced Practice nurses stepping into executive leadership often compare a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a DNP. While an MBA offers standard cross-industry corporate management tools, Gonzaga’s DNP with a concentration in Systems Management leads with nursing science and supplements with business strategy.
Core Perspective DNP Systems Management: Patient-centered, quality improvement, evidence-based practice, outcomes driven and human-focused nursing leadership.
Standard MBA: Profit-and-loss, general corporate business and broad cross-industry management.
Degree Level DNP Systems Management: Terminal practice degree in nursing (Doctorate).
Standard MBA: Master’s degree.
Curriculum Focus DNP Systems Management: Majority nursing science, health system quality improvement and evaluation, supplemented by 9 credits of targeted MBA coursework.
Standard MBA: Sequence of general business courses with minimal to no healthcare alignment.
Scholarly Project DNP Systems Management: A practice-focused scholarly project addressing real-world healthcare administration, quality improvement, quality assurance, or practice operations.
Standard MBA: General business case study or generic capstone project.
The Takeaway: An MBA teaches corporate management. The DNP with a Systems Management concentration qualifies you as a doctorally prepared nurse executive who understands both business operations and the realities of patient care systems.
What You Will Learn.
Through integrated 8-week online MBA courses alongside 12-week DNP nursing courses, you will build executive skills you can apply immediately in your current role. Some options include:
- Strategic financial planning, healthcare budgeting and resource allocation
- Operations, systems optimization and quality management
- Organizational behavior, people management and team leadership
- Contract analysis, risk management and labor union negotiations
- Healthcare program evaluation and policy implementation
- Evidence-based practice quality improvement
Target Career Roles:
This concentration prepares experienced nurses for high-impact executive and administrative appointments:
- Chief Nursing Officer & Chief Patient Experience Officer
- Vice President of Clinical Services & Operations
- Director of Nursing, Quality Improvement & Safety
- Risk Management Officer & Healthcare Administrator/CEO
- Director of Case Management & Transition of Care Programs
- Director of Behavioral Health Integration & Community Health
- University Nursing Faculty & Healthcare Policy Advocate
- Medical Science Liason (MSL)
- Key Opinion Leaders
- Nurse Consultant
Systems Management Concentration Curriculum:
Questions?
Contact:
Trevor Heilman
Admissions Specialist
Call or Text: (509) 313-6227
Email: heilman@gonzaga.edu