As the healthcare system struggles with a shortage of physicians, nurse practitioners are stepping in to fill the gap and serve as primary care providers. As the largest contingent of advanced practice nursing professionals in the U.S., nurse practitioners are in a unique position to make a real difference in meeting the primary care needs of the American public. And their advanced qualifications make them uniquely qualified to so:
Nurse practitioners hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at minimum, national certification specific to a particular patient population focus, and state licensure as advanced practice registered nurses (APRN).
Both government agencies and private healthcare providers are working hard to balance high-quality healthcare with the need to control costs, and nurse practitioners are being seen as the answer. Not only can NPs provide preventive care and manage many chronic health problems with outcomes similar to physician-led care, they can do so at a much lower cost.
Nurse practitioners serve as the primary and specialty care providers for many Americans. Some of their duties include:
- Assessing patients
- Order medical tests
- Diagnose health problems
- Determine best ways to manage patient health
- Order medications for patients
- Advise patients on how they can integrate healthy habits into their lives
Educational Options and Requirements
To become a nurse practitioner, you must earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at minimum. The most common path is to enter practice with a pre-licensure BSN before transitioning to an MSN program. However RN-MSN programs are now very common, allowing RNs that hold an ADN or diploma to earn both a BSN and MSN in one accelerated program.
Nursing@USC
*If you’re an RN interested in entering advanced practice and becoming a nurse practitioner, earning a Master of Science in Nursing is your best option.
Nursing@USC — the Master of Science in Nursing program from the University of Southern California School of Social Work — is preparing a new kind of family nurse practitioner (FNP) who will address both the biomedical and social factors affecting patient health. Through a first-of-its-kind integration of nursing and social work education, the program trains FNPs to deliver care across the life span in a variety of primary care settings.
Eligible applicants are registered nurses who have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and at least one year of clinical experience.
Online and campus-based MSN programs are widely available.
If you choose an online program, you’ll complete clinical hours where you currently work or with another hospital or clinic that partners with your school. You will need to work with your program coordinator to schedule clinical hours with a local healthcare provider.
Here you’ll find our pick for the top 7 online MSN programs for nurse practitioners.
#1 Georgetown University
georgetown logoNursing@Georgetown is an online graduate program from Georgetown University that prepares nurses who have their BSN with the advanced knowledge and specialty skills they need to make an even greater impact in their field.
Advance your career with one of the following programs:
Family Nurse Practitioner
Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
#2 Simmons School of Nursing and Health
SimmonsSHHS-2u (1)Nursing@Simmons, the innovative, online nursing degree program from Simmons School of Nursing and Health Sciences prepares Registered Nurses for the next stage of their careers.
Explore Nursing@Simmons’ online degree programs:
RN to MSN: This Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program enables RNs who do not hold a bachelor’s degree to earn their graduate nursing degree. The rigorous curriculum focuses on developing the primary care and leadership skills RNs need to pursue a career as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
MSN: Designed for RNs who already hold a bachelor’s degree, this Master of Science in Nursing program features the same curriculum and faculty that have prepared Simmons’s graduates to pass the Family Nurse Practitioner exam on their first attempt.
#3 Maryville University
200x100_maryvilleuniversityHighly Recommended & 100% Fully Online! Study for your degree online with Maryville University. They offer Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs that can be completed 100% online. Online learning gives you flexibility to fit your studies into your busy life. You’ll be able to access classes anytime and from anywhere with internet access. Class sizes are small to enhance learning and ensure personal attention is given to the students. Designed for active nurses, the program teaches advanced skills and provides opportunities for clinical research focused on helping to improve your practice’s quality of care and patient outcomes.
Campus: St. Louis, Missouri or 100% Online
Type: Private, Non-Profit
Accreditation: CCNE/NLNAC
Tuition: Inquire
Minimum Time Commitment: 18 months (30 credits)
Degree Requirements: MSN, Advanced Practice Nurse certification, GPA of 3.5, letters of recommendation, essay and interview
Programs: DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner, DNP – Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and DNP
Rankings: Online Graduate Nursing Programs were named to the roster of U.S. News & World Report Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs.’Forbes and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazines consistently rank Maryville as a top private school. Kiplinger’s has named Maryville to its list of 100 best values in private colleges and universities for the past two years. Forbes has named Maryville to its “Best Colleges” list for the past three years.
#5 Clarkson College
Clarkson College offers a variety of online learning experiences for nurses, including two nurse practitioner programs at the graduate level. These programs allow for a majority of online learning which is convenient and flexible for students who are working while attending school.
Campus: Omaha, NE
Type: Online
Accreditation: the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Tuition: $497 per credit hour
Minimum Time Commitment: 2-3 years
Degree Requirements: 38-73 semester hours
Programs: Family Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
#6 Albany State University
Albany State provides education to a multitude of industries, including online nursing courses for nurse practitioners. The academics provided through this institution includes a majority of online learning, although some practical applications may be required.
Campus: Albany, GA
Type: Online
Accreditation: The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Tuition: $4,512 for in state students and $16,416 for out of state students
Minimum Time Commitment: 2-3 years
Degree Requirements: 80 credits with a B grade average or higher
Programs: Master of Science in Nursing
School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
#7 Angelo State University
Angelo State University provides a Master of Science nursing track through online learning resources. This program allows for minimal attendance requirements, with some additional clinical training completed through the city of residence for each student within the state of Texas.
Campus: San Angelo, TX
Type: Online
Accreditation: The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition: $5,464.60 per year
Minimum Time Commitment: 2-3 years
Degree Requirements: 39 credit hours and a 3.0 GPA
Programs: Master of Science in Nursing
School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
#8 Ball State University
Ball State University has been offering online graduate study programs in nursing since 1999 and is recognized as a front runner in online education. The majority of the coursework throughout the MSN program is online, with a small practical portion to complete as well.
Campus: Muncie, IN
Type: Online
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $17,220 for in state students and $29,136 for out of state students.
Minimum Time Commitment: 3-6 years with 1-2 courses per semester, making a full-time program 9 semester hours.
Degree Requirements: 50 credits plus additional clinical hours
Programs: Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on Gerontology and FPN
School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
Continued…
Bridge Programs
However, note that there are several paths to getting your MSN, which are detailed on this website. For example, you can find an educational program on this website that is referred to as a Direct Entry MSN program. This type of master’s program is for you if you have a bachelor’s degree in another field besides nursing. You can earn your MSN without first earning a BSN.
Another option is an RN to MSN program, which is designed for the active nurse who has an associate’s degree. You can earn your MSN straight from your associate’s degree without earning the BSN first.
Both the Direct Entry MSN and RN to MSN are referred to as bridge programs, and are excellent paths to earning an MSN. Both will take longer than simply earning an MSN if you already have a BSN, but you will save a lot of time over earning a BSN and MSN separately.
MSN Program Details
There usually are several nurse practitioner specialties available at most universities. You should check to see if your desired speciality is available at your university. Some universities may help you to custom design your speciality depending upon your interests. Common NP specialties include:
Family Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Whatever program and specialty you choose, you will need to complete the required number of clinical hours to graduate. You should ensure that the clinical experience requirements for your degree program meet or exceed the requirements of major national credentialing organizations such as the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP), American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), National Certification Corporation (NCC) and Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).
MSN Curriculum
You will need to take these classes or ones similar to them to graduate from most accredited MSN programs in the US:
Advanced Health Assessment
Physiology and Pathophysiology
Research and Biostatistics
Health Care Ethics
Primary Health Care
Professional Development and Leadership
Research Evidence and Best Practices
Health Systems and Policy Foundations
Advanced Practice Nursing
Also, students are usually required to complete 40-80 hours of clinical placements per year of the program.
Admission Requirements
Typical requirements for admission into most MSN programs include the following:
Current RN licensure (not the case if you are in a Direct Entry MSN program)
Bachelor’s degree (not the case if you are in an RN to MSN program)
Minimum bachelor’s degree GPA of 2.5+, generally.
Minimum of 2.7 GPA may be required in science prerequisites.
GRE may or may not be required.
Two or three professional or academic recommendations.
Official college transcripts from all universities you attended.
Common Prerequisites
To be admitted into most MSN programs, you will need to have most of the following classes completed from your bachelor’s program. If you do not have most of these classes, you may have to complete them before you can enroll:
Human anatomy with lab
Human physiology with lab
Chemistry with lab
Microbiology with lab
Algebra, statistics or calculus
English composition
Psychology or sociology
Search & Compare Nursing Programs
| 1. Entry-Level Nursing | 5. RN to MSN | 9. Joint MSN |
| 2. BSN Programs | 6. RN to BSN | 10. Nurse Practitioners |
| 3. Nurse Midwifery | 7. Doctorate of Nursing | 11. LPN to BSN |
| 4. Pediatric Nursing | 8. Clinical Nursing | 12. Nursing Assistant |
nurse practitioner school rankings, pediatric nurse practitioner school rankings, psychiatric nurse practitioner school rankings
Source: http://docphy.com/business-industry/higher-education/7-best-online-np-programs-ccne-accredited.html
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