Courses In A Nurse Practitioner Program
NP programs include content and methodology courses that prepare graduates for evidence-based nursing practice in several specialty areas. Accredited programs also provide an excellent educational foundation for graduates who plan to continue to a doctoral program after graduation.
Each school follows a curriculum that supports its academic goals for students. Along with foundation coursework, NP programs typically offer classes in specialty areas such as psychiatric-mental health, family nursing, and gerontology acute care. Many schools offer the courses below as part of a comprehensive NP program.
Master Of Science In Nursing
The MSN programs at WVU offer baccalaureate-prepared nurses the opportunity to earn a master’s degree with part-time or full-time curriculum options. Current programs include masters degrees in PNP and FNP nurse practitioner specialty tracks.
Nature Of The Work/duties
According to this website, these are the main asks and duties that a nurse working in a school setting has to perform on a day to day basis:
- Develop a healthcare plan for the school.
- Train school based staff in first aid, first response, dealing with epilepsy, and dealing with asthma in order to ensure that the first adult respondent to a health care emergency within the school is able to adequately cope with the situation.
- Educate students and teachers on different healthcare issues.
- Provide support and counseling services to students with mental health issues.
- Work closely with other community groups and social workers.
- Educate parents on the importance of nutrition and exercise.
- Test hearing and eyesight and monitor the weight and height of the child.
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Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is a public land-grant research university in Tallahassee, Florida. The historically black university emerged in 1887 as the State Normal College for Colored Students. Its name changed to State Normal and Industrial College for Colored Students in 1891, then again in 1909 to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes. It emerged under its final title in 1953. FAMU offers over 50 bachelors degree programs, roughly 30 masters degree programs, and 12 doctoral programs through 11 schools and colleges, though in total it owns 13. The institution is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. It serves over 9,000 students in total. The National Science Foundation has previously ranked the university as the top HBCU in the country for total research and development spending.
To learn more about FAMUs program, check out the program website.Freshman Retention Rate: 83%
Womens Health Nurse Practitioner Online Program
The Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares students to provide the highest level of primary nursing care for women. Students gain competency in advanced nursing management of common acute and chronic conditions. Students practice in direct care and in collaboration with other health care professionals. Practicum experiences foster development of clinical judgment and primary care skills through faculty mentorship and clinical preceptors in a variety of ambulatory care settings and specialty clinics.
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Can Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Medicine
NPs can prescribe medications, including controlled substances. Some states require a certain number of credit hours in pharmacology while others require NPs or newly credentialed NPs to work in collaboration with a physician. Others grant NPs full practice authority, meaning they do not require a physician’s collaboration or supervision.
Prairie View A & M University
Master’s Degree in Nursing
WebsitePrairie View A & M University makes getting an MSN in nursing as convenient as it is expedient. Featuring Master of Science degrees in Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Administration, and Nurse Education, as well a Doctor of Nursing Practice program, Prairie View provides many ways for students to make a difference in the medical field. Plus, Prairie View offers all of its degree programs in a hybrid online format, with 49% of coursework available over the internet that means in person class attendance is only required about half the time.Tuition and Fees: $10,144.50/year
WebsiteThe Master of Science in Nursing graduate program at Southeast Missouri State University is not for the faint of heart. Widely regarded to be as challenging as it is rewarding, there is no part-time option available for this program, making it particularly difficult for working students. However, online coursework is offered for a portion of the curriculum, and the entire online MSN nursing programregardless of specializationcan be completed in as little as two years. And with dozens of clinical contract sites around Missouri and southern Illinois, SMSU makes it easy for students to gain practical experience in their field before venturing out on their own.Tuition and Fees: $9,898.00/year
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Duke University Durham North Carolina
Tuition: $1,838 per credit
Duke Universitys Adult-Gerontology Acute Care offers intensive courses, state-of-the-art simulation techniques and immersion in clinical rotations for patients across all acute care settings including urgent care and emergency departments, hospitalist, intensive care services and step-down units in academic, community or critical access environments.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs
ACNP programs help prepare nurses to care for acutely ill patients. Some ACNP programs may have a population focus, such as adult-gerontology or pediatric. The curriculum for ACNP programs may include acute care management, clinical residencies, acute care procedures and diagnostics and acute care clinical skills. Learn more about online acute care nurse practitioner programs.
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Best Nurse Practitioner Programs 2021
Are you ready to find your fit?
Nurse practitioners provide primary and specialty care to patients. They conduct health assessments, diagnose acute and chronic conditions, and create treatment plans. Along with other advanced practice registered nurses , nurse practitioners assume leadership roles in healthcare.
Registered nurses can increase their responsibilities and earning potential by enrolling in one of the best nurse practitioner programs. A nurse practitioner degree strengthens graduate students patient care, clinical diagnosis, and assessment skills.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , nurse practitioners rank among the fastest-growing occupations in the United States. Nurse practitioners also earn above-average salaries the BLS reports that APRNs earn a median salary of over $115,000 per year.
In addition to ranking the best NP programs, this article introduces career and salary information for NPs, common NP courses, and scholarships for nurse practitioner students.
Pmhnp Salary And Job Outlook
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners are one of the highest-paying nurse practitioner specialties because they are a highly-specialized field.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mental Health Nurse Practitioners make a mean annual salary of $126,200 with an average hourly wage of $60.67 as of May 2021.
Although most NPs work full-time, salaries will also vary based on the type of occupation, hours, and the state and city.
Nurse Practitioners, in general, have a higher-than-average job outlook and because psychiatric nursing is a field that is still growing in interest and awareness, its reasonable to expect that wages are going to gradually climb over the coming years.
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Top Nurse Practitioner Programs 2022
Medically reviewed by Kathleen Gaines, MSN, RN, BA, CBC on 12/17/2021
Nurse Practitioners are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who enjoy the respect of their peers, the admiration of their patients, and an extremely high level of job satisfaction.
Becoming a Nurse Practitioner requires a significant investment of time and effort. The position requires a minimum of a masters degree level of education, and it is becoming increasingly common for Nurse Practitioner students to choose to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
In 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nurses developed a position statement suggesting that all schools move towards DNP programs in combination with an MSN degree for advanced practice nurses. The goal would be for all programs to have incorporated the new curriculum and suggested guidelines by 2015. Pre-existing advance practice nurses would enroll in fast-track programs to obtain their DNP.
While this still hasnt been fully enforced – it is highly recommended that all NP students enroll in DNP programs.
If you are beginning to explore becoming a Nurse Practitioner, you likely have many questions about which programs will provide you with the best education and position you for the greatest level of success.
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.
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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Master of Science in Nursing
WebsiteAmong all the schools of Indiana University, the School of Nursing was one of the first to use online learning, so it has plenty of experience in designing effective distance education. But students will also be required to get away from their computers by joining service-learning projects that earn academic credit. Students in this MSN nursing program choose from eight specialty tracks as nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists, including gerontology, mental health, pediatrics, and nursing education. Indiana is known for the comprehensiveness of its program, which expects graduates to “synthesize knowledge” from nursing and allied sciences, to “demonstrate scholarly inquiry and reflection that exemplifies critical, creative, and systems thinking,” and to understand the effects of “culture, diversity, values, and globalization” on healthcare. Plus, more than half of the professors are actively working in the industry themselves.Tuition and Fees: $16,496.00/year
Master Of Science In Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Major
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Entrance exam requirement: GRE if your GPA is below 3.4
- Ranked the best family NP program, second-best graduate school for nursing, and one of the top-10 best online graduate nursing programs for veterans by US News & World Report
- Ranked the 20th-best nursing school in the world
- Great networking opportunities, with graduates working in all 50 states and more than 19 different countries
- $33 million in active research grants as of 2018, including 16 grants from the National Institutes of Health
- Center for Nursing Research offers unique opportunities for scholarship
- Extensive connections with the local community for healthcare opportunities
- Possibility to earn clinical credit at an international site
- Ranked 10thin the nation for funding and research by the National Institutes of Health
- Scholarships available for masters students
- Opportunity to study abroad through global clinical/cultural immersion experiences
- Named the best school for men in nursing by the American Assembly for Men in Nursing
- Possibility to add a specialty in an area such as cardiology, endocrinology, HIV/AIDS, oncology, orthopedics, and pediatric behavior and mental health
- 49 credits with 728 clinical hours
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Northwestern State University Of Louisiana
Masters of Science in Nursing
WebsiteThe first school in the state to offer a master’s of science in nursing, Northwestern State University of Louisiana has a long tradition of advancing the standards of healthcare. As a result, the academic standards for MSN candidates at NSULA are higher than most other programs on this list. Students are required to develop both a clinical concentration as a well as a professional, “functional role” concentration in administration and/or education to earn their degree. They must also satisfy a year of clinical experience before their first clinical practicum, keeping the program competitive among working professionals.Tuition and Fees: $12,864.00/year
WebsiteWith nearly a quarter of the nursing faculty actively practicing in the medical field, Washington State University’s MSN program provides actionable education in-tune with the needs and challenges of modern nursing. Students can pursue advanced specializations in nursing education, leadership, or an individualized program that combines the two for greater career opportunities. This program caters to working professionals and students alike, with an RN-to-MSN option available to fast track a degree. It is also offered in hybrid-online format, requiring students to meet for classes no more than five times a semester.Tuition and Fees: $19,444.00/year
How Do You Become Certified As A Nurse Practitioner
After completing an accredited nurse practitioner program, you’ll need to become certified in whatever NP specialty you have chosen. There are different certification organizations depending on what you’re specializing in. They include:
Each certification board will have different requirements, though all will require you to have completed an accredited nurse practitioner program and to pass a certification exam.
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Online Master’s Degrees In Nurse Practitioner
An online Master of Science in Nursing degree with a nurse practitioner concentration prepares nurses for advanced practice roles in the field. Programs focus on advanced nursing theory and principles in the design and delivery of primary care. This training helps students prepare to take the national certification exam after graduation. Master’s NP programs also establish a foundation for pursuing doctoral studies in the field.
Program Requirements
Applicants to an online nurse practitioner master’s program should hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a registered nurse license. Students may be required to complete prerequisite courses such as statistics and basic computer courses. Once enrolled, NP master’s students will generally need to complete 42-48 credits including clinical practice hours. Full-time students may complete the program in two years, while part-time students may require three to six years.
Curriculum
What To Expect From A Career In Nursing
Nursing programs at Ontario colleges come at varying levels for those in or interested in the field. Courses meet the needs of current Registered Nurses looking to diversify their skills as well as future nurses looking to get started.
Patient care demands exceptional attention to detail and a compassion for those in need. If you have these things and you see yourself starting or continuing in nursing education, heres what you need to know.
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Why Become A Nursepractitioner
Over a billion patient visits were made to an estimated 325,000 nurse practitioners in the United States in 2021and that number is set to increase. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that openings for nurse practitioners will swell 52 percent nationally between 2020 and 2030, more than six times the average growth anticipated among all U.S. occupations during the same decade . These healthcare professionals also earn an average annual salary of $114,510, more than double the average salary of all professions .
Notably,studies show that nurse practitioners can improve healthcare costs,mortality rates, and patient satisfaction. Nurse practitioners aregraduate-trained and can provide many of the same services as primarycare physicians and specialists. An aging population, the adoption ofthe Affordable Healthcare Act, and a low supply of physicians haveincreased demand for qualified healthcare providers across the U.S.
Check out the best online NP program for you to become part of the solution.
Nursing Graduate Student Says Greensburg Campus Is Key
Theresa MacBlane 21 said Carlows Greensburg campus has been key to furthering her education. I receive quality instruction from doctoral professors still active in the field without driving to Oakland. The intimate classes allow for more one-on-one instruction and student work groups. Greensburg campus is perfect for working professionals.
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What Is The Schedule Of Courses
This program allows students to focus on one course at a time. Online courses are completed in the convenience of your home. Most classes are asynchronous, meaning you move through the weeks materials at your own pace when it is convenient for you. Clinical courses will be completed in a practice setting to develop your skills in caring for individuals and families across the lifespan.
University Of North Carolina
Tuition: $19,062 per year in-state, $40,394 per year out-of-state
UNC-Chapel Hills Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program prepares its graduates to provide for the psychiatric and mental health care needs of individuals, families groups and communities throughout the lifespan and in a broad range of practice and community settings. The program emphasizes cultural sensitivity and the ability to understand and integrate mental and physical health problems. Students are encouraged to complete their clinical hours in their own communities.
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Best Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Programs In 2020 On
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Nurse practitioner
A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse and a type of mid-level practitioner. NPs are trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose disease, formulate and prescribe treatment plans. NP training covers basic disease prevention, coordination of care, and health promotion, but does not provide the depth of expertise needed to recognize more complex conditions. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, an organization that aggressively lobbies for the expansion of the scope of practice of NPs, NPs are educated at the graduate level to provide “primary, acute, chronic, and specialty care to patients of all ages”, depending on their field of practice.
What Can I Expect From An Online Nurse Practitioner Program
The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties has identified several core competencies for NPs. If you possess strong leadership and analytical skills and can stay calm under pressure, you can excel both as an NP and as a graduate student working toward your MSN degree.
Online nurse practitioner master’s programs include 30-60 credits in advanced physiology, pathophysiology, assessment, and pharmacology. Students also take courses in specialty areas, such as pediatrics, gerontology, or psychiatric mental health.
MSN-NP programs typically include approximately 600-700 hours of clinical practice. If you earn your degree online, your program may help you find a facility near you where you can complete your clinical hours.
Many online programs allow students to complete coursework entirely online however, some programs include limited on-campus requirements. Also, some MSN-NP programs require students to complete a final capstone project. Although program length varies, full-time students with a BSN can usually earn the degree within two years.
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