i-LEAD Nursing Leadership and Health Systems

Admits in fall and spring

Nursing administration has become a very specialized and integral form of management. i-LEAD (Innovation in LEadership and ADministration in Nursing and Health Care Systems) provides nurses who are interested in advancing their careers with essential competencies to become effective leaders and managers in a variety of healthcare settings. Knowledge gained in cultural competence, informatics, and evidence-based practice will provide educated leaders with the ability to excel in today's complex and changing healthcare system.

For more information regarding graduation rates, the median debt of students completing our certificate programs, and other important information, please visit the University of Colorado Denver Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness.

i-LEAD Program

One crucial point in national healthcare reform is the state’s demand for nurses to support healthcare services continues to exceed the supply of qualified and educated nurses in healthcare systems. In addition, the requirements of the nationally acclaimed Magnet Hospital recognition program have mandated that nurse managers hold a master’s degree. Our i-LEAD Program strives to make a substantial contribution to overcoming these obstacles.

Benefits and Uniqueness of the i-LEAD Program

• The College of Nursing faculty are experts in healthcare systems, informatics, leadership, research, and practice.
• i-LEAD is available entirely online; therefore, it is accessible to students in rural Colorado, nationally, and internationally.
• i-LEAD utilizes the benefits of social media to integrate students into the administrative network of experts within Colorado as well as across the country.
• Both in-state and out-of-state students share one low tuition rate.
• The program is designed to foster nursing leadership and reduce health disparities.
• Nurses interested in administrative positions will gain core competencies in management.

Exit Options

This master’s program provides a 30-credit core master’s degree in nursing leadership and healthcare systems, with the following exit options:

• Graduation with an MS in nursing leadership and healthcare systems
• Completion of an additional 12 credits for specialization in Health Care Informatics, offered as a post-masters certificate
• Seamless progression into our PhD program with a health systems research focus or our DNP Health Systems Leadership program.