Online Master Of Science In Nursing
The online Master of Science in Nursing degree program helps students prepare for opportunities for specialization in a variety of fields. Nurses build on their academic and practical credentials, using this knowledge to identify and solve patient care issues, leading to better health outcomes for individual patients and for society as a whole. Leadership, administrative, and quality improvement skills are incorporated throughout the program.
All MSN degree coursework is offered online. Students may continue to work while completing degree requirements. As with all South online programs, faculty members are available to support students via phone, email or using other forms of technology.
A state of the art simulation skills lab on campus helps students refresh and master skills and competencies required for the specialty.
Four of the courses in the masters degree in nursing program are offered at a doctoral level, so that students moving on to a Doctor of Nursing Practice program will have already completed 12 credit hours required for the degree.
What Is The Most Affordable Fnp Program
Choosing Your Msn Specialty
When it comes to choosing nurse practitioner programs, California and other states will often offer the option of choosing a specialty within the NP degree. Consequently, the area of practice that you wish to go into after graduation will play a significant role in what specific program you choose to attend.
Common nurse practitioner areas of specialization include family practice, acute care, pediatrics, adult gerontology, and emergency medicine.
The state of California recognizes a number of NP specialties, but family nurse practitioners are by far the most common option, according to the California Board of Registered Nursings 2017 survey. The report revealed that the field of educational specialty among nurse practitioners in California breaks down as follows:
- Family/individual .
- Adult primary care .
- Pediatric primary care .
- Womens health/gender-related .
- Geriatric primary care .
- Acute care adult/geriatric .
- Psychiatric/mental health .
- Acute care pediatric .
- Palliative care/hospice .
- Midwifery .
- Other .
Not sure which specialty is right for you? Spending time working in the clinical setting as a registered nurse is a great opportunity to experience different areas of care and gain a better idea of what option might be the best fit. If you dont actively work with nurse practitioners in your organization, consider reaching out to local NPs who practice in areas that you find interesting to learn more about what the day-to-day looks like in their role.
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Application Deadlines For Msn/post
- Fall Admission Application and Transcript DeadlinesPriority March 1st
- Spring Admission Application and Transcript DeadlinesPriority July 15th
- Summer Admission Application and Transcript DeadlinesPriority December 1stExtended February 1st
Extended deadlines allow applicants to complete the process after the priority deadline.
Please do not submit a Supplemental Application until you have a verified Primary Application in NursingCAS.
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Ready To Start Your Journey

If you’re an RN who wants to become a nurse practitioner , earning an advanced degree in nursing, such as a master of science in nursing , is essential. You can begin your career as an NP once you’ve earned your degree, completed the required number of clinical hours for your specialty, and passed a national certification exam.
MSN programs with a nurse practitioner focus typically include approximately 30-60 credits of coursework and at least 500 hours of clinical practice, though some programs require as many as 800 clinical hours. A student entering with a bachelor of science in nursing may complete the program in as little as two years.
Although tuition costs vary, nurse practitioner master’s programs typically cost $35,000-$70,000. In general, online and on-campus programs are comparable in price.
If you’re considering a career as an NP, keep reading. We’ve identified the best online MSN programs for aspiring nurse practitioners.
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How We Ranked The Nurse Practitioner Programs On This List
As you can see, there may be some surprises in the rankings here if youve done any research elsewhere. However, we stand by our rankings because we grade each school based on what we believe are the most important criteria how much you pay, the student-to-faculty ratio, and the graduation rate. Other factors that we consider included the number of programs each school offered and what students said about each school.
In cases where there was no available information on a point, we tried to rank the school accordingly based on what information we possessed. For example, some schools did not share their graduation rates, making them fall a little lower than they may have done otherwise.
We prefer the three main criteria that we included because it gives you an idea of how much debt youll have when you finish, your chances of success, and how much interaction youll get with professors during your training a factor that is critical when finding nurse practitioner programs that you can trust for your needs. The graduation rates are based on the average between full-time and part-time students, with the latter usually graduating at a lower rate, bringing down the overall average.
Which Np Path Is Right For You
Find the best program for your nurse practitioner schooling
You may be wondering which educational option will get you where you want to go. Our admissions representatives are always available to talk through your professional goals and partner with you to find the right fit. Request information to learn more about the MSN Nurse Practitioner Specialty Tracks.
FNP vs. NP: Whats the Difference?
When becoming a nurse practitioner, one may choose to specialize in a particular field of nursing. Nurse practitioners may specialize and achieve certification in areas including adult-gerontology and family.
DNP vs. NP: Whats the Difference?
A Doctor of Nursing Practice is a terminal educational degree, while a nurse practitioner is a professional role and job title. Nurse practitioners can be prepared at the masters level or earn a DNP degree. Read more on our blog.
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Professional Organizations And Credentials
There are several agencies and organizations that award certifications for nurse practitioners. These often require eligibility requirements such as experience in the field, a completed accredited nursing degree, and a passing score on an examination.
- The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers four initial certifications for nurse practitioners: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
- The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board awards certifications for primary and acute care pediatric nurse practitioners.
- Certifications as a neonatal nurse practitioner or womens health nurse practitioner are offered by the National Certification Corporation .
Your licensure as a nurse practitioner is determined by your states nursing board. Requirements are likely to vary but most include a graduate-level accredited nursing degree, a nationally recognized certification, like those above, license as a registered nurse, and an application fee. Check your states nursing licensure requirements for more information.
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
The women’s health NP program prepares nurses to provide advanced care to women throughout the lifespan. They educate women on reproductive health and prevention techniques, and also provide primary care through chronic or acute illnesses. Women’s health NPs provide a variety of gynecological health services, and may assist with prenatal and postpartum care. They can be found in hospitals, outpatient care facilities, community-based settings, and other types of healthcare centers.
Find out more about women’s health nurse practitioner programs.
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East Tennessee State University Online Np Programs Fnp Pmhnp Agpcnp
East Tennessee State University offers online Master of Science in Nursing , BSN to DNP, Post-Masters Certificate, and Post-DNP Certificate programs with varying specializations including Family Nurse Practitioner , Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner , and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner .
Briar Cliff University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs Fnp Agpcnp Pmhnp
Briar Cliff University offers an online MSN degree and Post-Masters Certificates with three specializations: FNP, AGPCNP, and PMHNP. Coursework is mostly online with six campus immersion days the first summer and clinicals local to the student. Graduates are eligible to take the national certification exam for their specialization.
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Emory University Atlanta Georgia
Tuition: $1,963 per credit
Emory Universitys Family Nurse Practitioner Program prepares graduates to meet the needs of individuals across the life span. The program has a strong focus on community-based primary care, offering multidisciplinary experiences in both the classroom and through clinical settings including rural and migrant populations. The program places students in more than 40 community-based sites and private practices to ensure a wide range of exposure and experience.
How Do I Become A Nurse Practitioner Without A Nursing Degree

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Traditional And Accelerated Nursing Program
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program maximizes the value of each students educational background. Traditionally, the first two years are spent in meeting general university requirements with courses in science, math, arts and humanities, while the last two years are focused on the professional preparation in nursing. The CON offers an accelerated program for students who have earned a bachelors degree in another field. In addition, an RN-BSN pathway is available to RNs who have completed an Associate Degree in Nursing or a diploma.
What Are The Highest
Based on PayScale data from September 2021, acute care nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse practitioners are among the highest-paid NPs. Acute care nurse practitioners earn an average annual salary of $103,910 per year, while psychiatric nurse practitioners earn an average annual income of $111,570.
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Credentialing Process For Nurse Practitioners
After completing the degree program, NPs will want to get certified in their specialty. The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers a wide variety of nurse practitioner certifications. Not only do they need to be licensed in the state in which they practice, but they must also undergo credentialing as well.
The credentialing process is rather complex. It involves verifying education, licensure, and certifications. It’s important that organizations move through the credentialing process to ensure the nurse practitioner is qualified to provide care. It also allows the organization to bill insurance companies and government agencies . Credentialing is required for nurse practitioners to be reimbursed for healthcare service.
University Of Southern Mississippi Online Np Programs Fnp Pmhnp
The University of Southern Mississippi offers BSN to DNP and Post-Masters Certificate programs with Family NP and Psychiatric-Mental Health NP specializations. The programs include local clinicals and one campus visit per semester. USM online tuition is affordable and the same low rate for both residents and non-residents of Mississippi.
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What Is The Adult Care Np Concentration
The aim of the Adult Care Concentration is to prepare the adult care nurse practitioner for this multifaceted role in settings where specialized and ultra specialized adult care is provided. These settings include hospitals, specialized outpatient clinics and certain complex services at home. The adult care nurse practitioner works specifically with the adult population with complex acute, chronic or critical care issues. The focus of the program is the development of expert clinical competence and leadership. The ability to function as an educator, consultant, collaborator, and leader are integral parts of the Nurse Practitioner role. These competencies are developed throughout the curriculum. In Québec, the adult care nurse practitioner title is that of Infirmière praticienne spécialisée en soins aux adultes .)
The McGill Ingram School of Nursing Adult Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration is one of three training programs in the province of Québec.The ISoN is accepting applications for Fall 2021 for nurses with a Bachelor in nursing degree and for Winter 2022 for nurses with a Masters in nursing degree .
Clayton State University Online Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
Clayton State University offers an online MSN Family Nurse Practitioner and a Post-Masters FNP Certificate. Students complete coursework completely online and are not required to come to campus. Clinical practicums are completed locally to the student. Students are eligible to study online from certain states, however, all clinicals must be completed in Georgia.
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Is A Nurse Practitioner As Good As A Doctor
Research suggests that NPs provide the same quality of care as physicians. However, in some states, nurse practitioners’ scope of practice is reduced or restricted. In reduced practice states, NPs can diagnose and treat patients but can only prescribe medication under a doctor’s supervision. In restricted practice states, NPs require physician oversight to diagnose, prescribe, and treat patients.
Mount Carmel College Of Nursing

Concentrations Offered:
About the School:
consider enrolling in one of the shortest online nurse practitioner programs in Ohio that can shape your career in advanced practice nursing in as little as 18 months
Program Details:
Admission Requirements:
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Loyola University New Orleans Online Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
Loyola University New Orleans offers an online Family Nurse Practitioner Master of Science in Nursing program with RN and BSN entry points and three campus visits. Also offered is an FNP Doctor of Nursing Practice program with a BSN entry point and four campus visits. Both programs also require clinical preceptorships to be completed at an approved facility local to the student.
Kent State University Online Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Programs
Kent State University offers MSN, BSN to DNP, and Post-Masters Certificate programs with adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist and womens health nurse practitioner specializations. These programs have 100 percent online courses and students complete clinical preceptorships at approved sites local to the student.
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About Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Though Nurse Practitioner programs are traditionally taught from brick and mortar classrooms in which lecturers provide in-person education, innovative technology has enabled the same course material to be provided online, opening new possibilities for nurses to continue working to support themselves and their families at the same time that they advance themselves professionally and increase their earning potential.
Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty
In the late 1980s, Dr. Mary Ann Lewis and two other nurses testified before the California Legislature asking that nursing programs that were preparing family nurse practitioners , pediatric nurse practitioners and gerontology clinical nurse specialists be able to compete for Song Brown funds that, at the time, only supported family practice residency programs. The legislature agreed about FNPs, and the Song Brown funds made it possible for the school to invest in the latest technology and coursework for providing quality primary care for persons across the life span.
This funding made the UCLA FNP program one of the strongest in the nation, said Lewis. It provided us with the opportunity to think about what would strengthen the theory and clinical components and then implement those elements.
Since 2014, the California Endowment provided additional funding for FNPs to work in three of their 14 Health Communities. Known as the Song Brown Special program, the school receives funding to support students who choose to work in clinics caring for the poorest and underserved where some students continue to work upon graduation.
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Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland
Tuition: $1,738
Johns Hopkins University offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice Adult-Gerontological Acute Care track geared towards improving outcomes for acutely and critically ill older adult patients and provided within the framework of Hopkins extensive resources, clinical sites and faculty. The curriculum includes nursing theory, research, nursing informatics, statistics, and ethics.
Family Nurse Practitioner Role And Preparation
The FNP implements evidence-based practice guidelines and critically analyzes and adapts health care interventions based on individualized assessments of individual/family needs. The FNP practices in the context of community, with broad knowledge, sensitivity and awareness of the specific needs of people from diverse populations and cultural backgrounds. Family nurse practitioners practice primarily in ambulatory care settings.
At UCLA School of Nursing, the FNP program has a long tradition of preparing nurse practitioners to work with underserved and vulnerable populations. Upon graduation many FNPs practice in settings that provide free or low cost health care to uninsured families.
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Frontier Nursing University Online Nurse Practitioner And Nurse
Frontier Nursing University offers several online nurse practitioner programs with varying entry points. Programs include MSN, MSN with Companion DNP , and Post-Masters certificate options. Specializations include FNP, WHNP, Nurse-Midwifery , and PMHNP. Coursework is 100% online with 2 to 3 campus visits and local practicums.
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences Online Fnp And Pmhnp Programs

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers an online MSN program with Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specializations. An RN to MSN Bridge program is also available for the FNP specialization. Three to four campus visits are required and preceptorships are completed local to the student.
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