The University Of Texas At Austin
The University of Texas at Austin offers the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse certificate programs to nurses who have a masters in nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Students choose a certificate path as a Family Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Family Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, or Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist.
As a student in the APRN Certificate Programs, you will complete the didactic and clinical hours necessary to take the national exam in your area of specialty.
Masters Degree Programs For Nurse Practitioners
According to the CCNE, there are currently over 400 various NP masters programs. The best pathway for you may depend on your previous education and career goals. Common program options include:
- Traditional MSN If youre a licensed RN and already have a BSN, a traditional MSN program is the most common way to earn a masters degree. This program takes about two years.
- RN-to-MSN This is a bridge program designed to help RNs with an associate degree or diploma complete their BSN and MSN quickly. The RN-to-MSN accelerated track allows students to graduate in around three years with a full-time course load.
- Direct-Entry/Entry-Level MSN Created for non-nursing professionals who have a bachelors degree in a subject other than nursing, entry-level or direct-entry programs allow students to change careers without re-earning prerequisites. Students earn an RN license and an MSN degree in one program.
Nurse practitioners can select one of six specialties or population foci . The program you select will often focus on this area, and some programs may require at least 1,000 clinical hours. Some specialties, such as midwives and anesthetists, are typically reserved for DNP holders.
Although programs vary, they each tend to offer core courses, classes in your specialty, and clinical study hours. Bachelor-level courses cover many of the prerequisites youll need to graduate programs, including:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Ethics in Nursing and Health
Building A Genuine Connection With Patients
While physicians are the primary caregivers in most healthcare settings, other roles such as nurse practitioners , have begun to gain more independence as the demand for primary care providers grows.
Because of their excellent care and holistic approach, patients frequently choose nurse practitioners as their primary care providers. Nurse practitioners can build genuine relationships with their patients and provide sincere service because they spend more time with them and often care for them through various stages of their lives.
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University Of California Irvine
Located in the economically dynamic Irvine community, the University of California is a leading employer in Orange County and contributes over $5 billion every year to Irvine and surrounding areas. UCI has a masters of science in nursing that specializes in family, acute and geriatric nurse practitioner fields. Graduate tuition is approximately $17,000. The University of California in Irvine is accredited by the Senior Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Career Outlook For Nurse Practitioners
Nurse practitioners are in high-demand, and NPs with DNP degrees are only expected to grow as more states allow for independent practice.
According to the BLS, NP jobs will increase at a rate of 26% by 2028. This growth is much faster than the national average for all jobs and will occur due to an increasing elder population, as well as a growing emphasis on preventative healthcare, allowing APRNs to replace traditional doctors. As the baby-boomer generation ages, many more APRNs will be needed to treat patients.
Certain specialties are also facing a growing need. A general nurse practitioner, for example, is the most in-demand position, with a projected job growth of 28%. This is closely followed by nurse midwives at 17% and nurse anesthetists at 16%.
Some states will employ more nurses than others, typically due to large populations or lack of doctors. Keep in mind that NPs may or may not be allowed to practice independently based on state regulation. The top five states who employ the highest number of NPs, according to the BLS, include:
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How To Pick The Right Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner School For You
Its hard to know what the perfect school is for what youre looking for. While there are only a handful of institutions that offer a psychiatric nurse practitioner program, narrowing it down further will likely be based on different factors, including:
- Cost: Is the school within an affordable range? Will you have to move to attend school, and how expensive is the new city going to be? Do they offer financial aid?
- Location: Commuting to and from facilities where you get real-world experience is common for psychiatric NPs. This means you might have to move to a new area for school or work with the school to find clinical sites near your home and complete your coursework online.
- Program length: Depending on the program you study toward, you may have to plan to be in school for 2-4 years, and possibly even longer if youre working full-time and studying part-time. If you have to continue to work while youre in school, youll also want to verify that the program can be completed while you work.
- Accreditation: Accreditation is always something important to keep in mind before selecting any school or programnot only does it ensure that your school will properly prepare you for your certifying exams, but if you plan on applying for federal loans, you may get turned down if your school is not accredited.
What Are The Best Masters In Nurse Practitioner
At CollegeRank, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. Please feel free to visit our dedicated methodology page for a step-by-step breakdown. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@collegerank.net.
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Mary P Oenslager Award
The Mary P Oneslager Scholarship Scholastic Achievement Award is for individuals with disabilities or official impairments. The award varies and ranges from $1000 to $6000. To be eligible, you must be legally blind and registered as a Learning Ally member. In addition, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. In addition, the winners of this award are representatives and spokespeople for Learning Ally. To apply, submit a series of essays, proof of your disability, one letter of recommendation, a brief description of your extracurricular activity honors, and noted achievements. For more information and to apply, check out their website.
Amount: $1000-$6000
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Columbia University New York New York
Tuition: $84,700 per year
Columbias Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP program utilizes an immersion technique that focuses on areas including palliative and end-of-life care and the integration of primary and mental health care. It combines didactic classroom instruction with advanced clinical practice in diverse settings and experiential clinical seminars.
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Online Np Program Specializations
Interested in a more specialized online nurse practitioner program? Nurse practitioners have a wide range of education and career tracks from which to choose. Get the details on these popular specializations, or read on to learn how todays online nurse practitioner programs work.
Secure National Certification And State Licensure
All NPs, CNMs, and CNSs must have the requisite credentialing prior to seeking work. State credentials vary by region and professionals should contact their local Board of Nursing for details.
National Certification Boards
- Nurse practitioners :
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- American Nurses Credentialing Center
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- National Certification Corporation
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
- Dermatology Nursing Certification Board
- Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission
- Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation
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Masters Vs Doctorate: Which One Should I Get
If youre trying to decide between a masters or a doctoratal degree, consider your career goals. If you want to work with a special population, such as children, or focus on an area of medicine like emergency care, your specialty may determine which degree is right for you. Likewise, you may need a higher degree depending on where you live or if you want to practice unsupervised.
The main difference between the MSN and DNP degrees is the level of coursework. According to the AACN, DNP programs are designed to prepare students for advanced nursing practice roles. Unlike a Ph.D. program, this doctorate program focuses on practice over research. It includes organizational and systems leadership, healthcare policy, information and technology systems, and evidence-based practice.
Time is another factor. Doctorate degrees tend to require more clinical hours than MSN degrees. Most DNP students must complete at least 1,000 hours post-BSN in addition to the curriculum, rather than 400 hours along with a capstone project, which is typically developed and implemented over multiple semesters and practicum courses. Students demonstrate their mastery of the theories and practices theyve learned in their DNP program through this main project.
Obtaining Nurse Practitioner Licensing After Graduation
Following the completion of a nurse practitioner program, nurses will need to obtain national certification by taking specialized examinations given by a certifying agency. States individually choose the certifications and/or organizations they will accept. States are also allowed to approve certifying agencies and certification examinations. Some states may reference the American Board of Nursing Specialties or the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
In some cases, nurse practitioner graduates may be issued temporary permits by state boards that let them practice while certification is pending. If a nurse fails their examination, this will usually invalidate their temporary credential.
Currently, there are five states that do not require nurse practitioners to take a national certification examCalifornia, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, and New York.
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Kcha Health Career Scholarship
The Kaukauna Community Health Associate provides a scholarship for students pursuing a career in healthcare. The award is a minimum of $500 for three years. You must graduate from the Kaukauna, Kimberlee, Little Chute, Freedom, or Wrightstown school districts to be eligible. Students must be enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university and health or medical related field. Additionally, applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. For more information about applying, check out their website.
Amount: $500
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Bertha P Singer Nurses Scholarship
The Bertha P Singer Nurses Scholarship is offered to four-year students attending a four-year college and are residents of Oregon studying nursing. Students must attend a college or college in Oregon and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Additionally, you must provide proof of enrollment and be in your second year of a nursing degree program. Scholarship awards vary and are based on need.
Amount: award amounts vary
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Madeline Pickett Cogswell Nursing Scholarship
The Madeline Pickett Cogswell Nursing Scholarship is a $2,500 reward for two students accepted or enrolled in an accredited nursing school. Applicants must be members or descendant members of the NSDAR. All applicants should be citizens of the United States and plan to attend an accredited college or university in the United States. DAR chapter sponsorship is not required. Check out their website for more information and to see if you qualify.
Amount: $2,500
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What Is A Masters In Nurse Practitioner Degree
Nurse Practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who have additional responsibilities outside of just basic nursing duties. They prescribe medication, examine patients, diagnose illnesses, and provide treatments. They perform many of the same duties as physicians.
With a masters degree in this specialization, you will learn how to monitor and deliver safe and effective quality care to patients in a variety of age groups in primary care. You will also learn how to demonstrate leadership and competence with a team as a nurse practitioner. Through hands-on practice and clinical work, you will help patients and advance your skills so you can succeed once you earn a degree.
Much of the coursework you take will include core courses that study pharmacology and pathophysiology as well as advanced nursing practices. You will also take specific specialization courses depending on what your emphasis is. Different emphases include family nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner, nurse leadership, and psychiatric mental health practitioner. During your final semester of coursework, you will need to complete a practicum that involves clinical hours.
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Nurse Practitioner Certification & Licensure
After finishing an online NP program, graduates are eligible to sit for exams from two nursing certification agencies. While not necessarily required, certifications can help newly minted nurse practitioners stand out from the competition and provide more options for individuals to network and continue building their specialized skills. Students looking to understand more about their options can read about the two credentialing agencies below.
How Long Are Nurse Practitioner Programs
An online Nurse Practitioner program at the Masters level may range from 35 to 50 credits. Program length depends on whether you are entering with a BSN or another credential. And, it matters whether you are studying full time or part time. In general, it takes one to three years to earn an MSN.
An online DNP program may take around two to five years. Again, it depends on your previous education. Students entering with a BSN may need to complete 64 to 94 credits to earn the DNP. Those entering with an MSN may only need to complete 31 to 40 credits.
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Georgia College & State University
Georgia College & State Universitys Womens Healthcare MSN program is offered online. That said, there are a few required trips to campus. Furthermore, all clinical hours must be completed in the state of Georgia. This program combines practical and theoretical knowledge for a well-rounded approach. Students learn how to care for women in all life stages and all levels of wellness. Its one of the best online womens Health NP programs.
GCSU is a thriving liberal arts college that combines theory and real-life experiences. Its a challenging school where students get the personalized attention that they need to succeed. Teachers often act as mentors for students. At GCSU, students become leaders and lifelong learners. They gather tools for success and learn how to use those tools well. GCSU has earned several awards over the years, both for quality and affordability.
Degree: MSN Womens Health Nurse PractitionerFormat: Online
Ranking The Best Womens Health Nurse Practitioner Programs
To rank the best traditional and online womens health nurse practitioner programs, Nursing School Hub editors researched accredited MSN and DNP programs across the US specializing in womens health. With the initial pool in place, editors ranked programs according to three practical factors that signal quality: Cost, Salary Potential, and Student Satisfaction. Data is drawn from College Scorecard, IPEDS, and Niche.
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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.
Considering Nursing Program Cost
Another factor students need to consider is the cost of their degree. Tuition rates vary by school size, the type of institution, and the degree program. For example, public schools offer in-state tuition to residents, and ADN programs cost less than BSN programs.
Aside from tuition, nursing students need to consider other costs, including:
- School and lab fees
- Other course materials such as uniforms and clinical supplies
- Cost of living expenses which may include on-campus room and board
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What Does A Pmhnp Do
Some of the duties that a PMHNP could take on include:
- Create healthcare plans, based on outpatient or home-based care for acute or chronic mental health care conditions
- Provide consultations
- Prescribe medications per their state laws
- Prescribe and offer various treatments, such as psychotherapy, medication therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, etc.
- Work alongside doctors for referrals and to provide patient care
- Participate and/or initiate research
- Education on mental health disorders
- Contribute to policy development, quality improvement, practice evaluation, and healthcare reform
Doctor Of Nursing Practice
The Doctor of Nursing Practice is the highest professional degree available in nursing. DNP programs build on the skills and knowledge taught at the MSN level, ensuring graduates are equipped to transform and lead not just through individual practice, but as a clinical scholar, administrator, and mentor to BSN- and MSN-qualified nurses. DNP programs typically teach:
- Advanced skills for conducting and evaluating clinical research
- Competencies for developing evidence-based policies and practices
- Systems leadership to improve quality of care, cost-effectiveness, equitable access, and cultural competence in clinical practice
- Advanced statistics and data analysis skills
- Interdisciplinary collaboration skills for health-care teams
- Advanced clinical decision-making skills, particularly for the most complex cases
DNP programs usually require applicants to hold an MSN and be actively certified in an APRN specialty. However, DNP-qualified nurses who are not already NPs can seek certification as nurse practitioners provided the DNP program they select includes coursework specific to an NP practice specialty.DNP programs may take anywhere from three to six years to complete. An increasing number of DNP programs are available fully or mostly online, due to their emphasis on leadership and research as opposed to clinical skills development.
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