Eight Which Schools Have The Best Np Programs
There are numerous NP programs throughout the country, so our panel of nurses ranked them based on reputation, certification pass rate, cost, accreditation, and acceptance rates to determine that these are some of the best options out there. Because nursing careers take different forms, the top 10 NP programs are ranked in no particular order.
Do Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Medicine
NPs can prescribe medication in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. However, some states regulate practice authority, limiting the degree to which NPs can prescribe medication without physician oversight. PMHNPs may practice autonomously without supervision in 25 states. In other states, they hold reduced or restricted practice authority, requiring them to enter into collaborative agreements with a supervising doctor or follow other restrictions.
How Long Is Nursing School Your Timeline To Becoming A Nurse
By Kirsten Slyter on 08/17/2020
You may know that college isnt always a cut-and-dried four-year journey. There are different options for different aspirations. And even those can depend on your specific college and program. Youre excited about nursing, but you want to know what to expectso how long is nursing school?
Whether you are hoping for a quicker route to hit the floor running, or are interested in obtaining advanced credentials, the amount of time youll spend in nursing school can vary greatly. Once you have your ideal timeline in mind, see if it matches up with your career objectives.
Nursing has several degree options, and each one is unique in its offerings. Weve outlined your options to show you how long you can expect nursing school to take. Weve also talked to experts who have been in your shoes so we could highlight the different experiences of nursing school. Ready to dive in?
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Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Acute Care Nurse Practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses that provide care to patients in acute care and/or hospital settings. Acute Care NPs see patients when they are sick, admitted to the hospital, or after a surgical procedure and/or trauma. Their focus is solely on caring for the adult population with complex diseases.
Professional Entry Degree: Msn
The most common professional entry degree for a Nurse Practitioner is the MSN. What are the prerequisites for getting into an MSN program? The benchmarks vary by school, but most require a BSN, current RN licensure, and at least a 3.0 GPA. Programs in advanced practice nursing also typically want each applicants Graduate Record Exam scores. Some MSN programs have made RN work experience a core admission requirement, too.
Just as RNs may specialize in a particular medical area or patient population, NPs may choose an advanced practice specialty in, for example, neonatal, acute care or psychiatric nursing. To that end, many Nurse Practitioners often seek post-masters certificates in their specialty of choice to access higher-paying employment in, for instance, consulting or specialty healthcare. Additionally, some MSN programs offer singular or dual specialization within the basic masters degree, so students can begin specializing as soon as possible at the graduate level.
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What Do You Do At A Nurse Practitioner School
Many nurse practitioners describe nurse practitioner school as similar to getting their RN, but faster-paced and with less hand-holding than you may have experienced in undergrad. Youll generally divide your time between three areas: core classes, classes that focus on the specialty youve chosen, and clinicals.
The core classes will typically focus on issues all nurse practitioners face or need to know how to deal with, such as using evidence-based practices, advanced nursing practices, statistics, pharmacology, and community health.
Specialized classes will vary depending on which area you choose to focus in. There are many specialties nurse practitioner students can choose, including acute care, family medicine, neonatal care, oncology, psychiatry, and womens health. Youll also typically have to complete 500-800 clinical hours to graduate.
Your class grades will usually be based on your scores on both papers and tests, although youll likely write more papers in grad school than you did in undergrad. Online nurse practitioner programs as well as hybrid online/in-person programs are also growing in popularity, and more students are choosing this option since it allows for greater flexibility when studying and completing coursework.
License requirements for nurse practitioners vary by state but, in general, once youve completed your classes, you can then sit for the nurse practitioner exam and, after passing, begin work as a nurse practitioner.
How Many Years Does It Take To Become A Nurse Practitioner
NPs typically spend six years earning their undergraduate and graduate degrees and gaining work experience in a clinical setting. Accelerated programs along with RN-to-BSN or RN-to-MSN bridge programs can shorten the time to an NP career. Conversely, certain specializations and part-time study can extend a candidate’s time line.
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Bachelors Degree In Nursing
A baccalaureate degree in nursing is needed to ultimately become a Nurse Practitioner. It normally takes 4 years to complete a BSN, though accelerated options are also available. After college, some students undertake a year-long residency to be more competitive in graduate school admissions. Most go ahead and apply for RN licensure.
Obtain A Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Once you have a year of experience, you can put your skills and knowledge to work and pursue certification as an advanced practice nurse . At Marquette University, we offer a number of certificate options, including:
- Acute care nurse practitioner
- Primary care nurse practitioner
- Health systems leader
Typically, post-masters certificate programs and the time it takes to earn a certificate will vary from school to school. In addition, during the program you will work with patients during clinicals under the direction of nurse practitioner preceptors.
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Online Np Program Specialty Tracks
What patient population do you want to serve?
Choose from three rewarding online nurse practitioner programs
Time to get a little more specific are you hoping to care for the whole family, acting as a primary care healthcare provider? Do you have a passion for the aging population? Or maybe you you want to work with individuals, families, groups, and communities, assessing their mental health needs? You can specialize in any of these areas during your nurse practitioner schooling.
How Hard Is It To Become A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Most nursing students find graduate-level coursework more difficult than a BSN curriculum and the clinical rotations more intensive. Because many students return to graduate school while maintaining full-time employment, they may face challenges managing the academic workload, fast-paced course schedules, and writing expectations.
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Gmercyu Your Pathway To Success
Students can start their educational journey toward licensure and practice in the nursing field at a top nurse practitioner school, like Gwynedd Mercy University. The programs and guidance available at this elite institution can provide real support for aspiring nurse practitioners in the modern educational environment. Contact our Admissions office today at 844-707-9064 or send an email to to learn more about our nurse practitioner degree programs. We look forward to the chance to help you achieve your career goals.
Working As A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median annual earnings of $117,670 for all APRNs, including PMHNPs. While BLS statistics do not break down nursing salaries by specializations, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners reports a median salary of $137,000 for PMHNPs, making them one of the highest-earning NP specializations.
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Full Time Vs Part Time
If you are able to dedicate yourself to your education on a full-time basis you will complete the program in the shortest period of time, but your personal responsibilities or financial situation may make that impossible.
Fortunately, studying part-time offers a solution to both of those challenges, reducing the costs and providing the flexibility to continue working, caring for your family, or attending to whatever other commitments you have.
Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Online nurse practitioner programs are ideal for various nursing professionals with busy schedules as they allow the entirety or majority of coursework to be completed remotely. They are flexible and give students the opportunity to work around their schedule.
While online programs are inclusive to all lifestyles, nurses with the following lifestyles may especially benefit from online programs:
- Nurses with difficult and/or set schedules
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Select Your Patient Focus
NP students determine their patient populations at the time of entry into an NP program. Identifying a population focus from the beginning of educational preparation allows NP education to match the knowledge and skills to the needs of patients and to concentrate the program of academic and clinical study on the patients for whom the NP will be caring. For example, a primary care pediatric NP will spend the entire time in didactic and clinical education dedicated to issues related to the development and health care needs of the pediatric patient.
While core courses in pathology, pharmacology and physical assessment are included in all NP programs, this population focus-based education ensures that an NP students educational time is 100% concentrated on the clinical area where the NP clinician will ultimately be practicing.
Population foci include:
The majority of people are familiar with NPs in primary care. Thats not surprising, as 89.7% of NPs are certified in an area of primary care and 69% deliver primary care. However, there is a growing need and interest in NPs in all areas. NPs work in a number of clinical and other professional settings, including but not limited to private practice settings, school-based health centers, hospitals, specialty clinics, correctional facilities, Veterans Health Administration facilities, community health centers and emergency departments or urgent care facilities.
Master Of Science In Nursing
A master of science in nursing is the minimum educational requirement to become a licensed nurse practitioner. Many programs combine professional core courses that dig deeper into subjects learned at the undergraduate level with clinical courses that focus on a particular specialty. These include patient-focused roles that cater to a specific population as well as educator roles designed to serve other nurses and industry professionals. MSN degree programs can also prepare an individual for a career as a clinical nurse leader, nurse administrator or nurse educator, and can lay the groundwork for those who wish to pursue a doctor of nursing practice degree. In most cases, the Master of Science program can be completed in two years.
At this level, students develop advanced problem solving and leadership skills necessary for more senior nursing positions, as well as the interpersonal communication skills with both patients and peers that will serve them in these roles. They also add to their clinical abilities by learning how to perform advanced scientific research that can contribute to the field’s knowledge base. Master’s programs prepare students to work and practice in a variety of medical and clinical settings, including hospitals, emergency rooms, community clinics, health maintenance organizations, urgent care settings, and correctional facilities.
Listed below are some common courses that nursing grad students may encounter in their MSN program:
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Five Certifications For School Nurses
Nurses can pursue a certification in School Nursing. Some jobs will require this prior to applying for a position while others will want the nurse to earn this certification once hired. It is important to look at all of the job requirements prior to applying.
The National Certified School Nurse is credentialed through the National Board for Certification of School Nurses . The certification is valid for five years. Recertification is more specific for this certification. It is strictly based on clinical practice hours. Individuals are required to maintain a current RN license and at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice in school nursing in the past 5 years, of which 750 hours must be in the past 3 years.
How Long Does It Take To Become An Lpn
Becoming an LPN is a great option for those who would like to become nurses as quickly as possible. LPNs do many of the same tasks as RNs, such as taking a patients vital signs, obtaining patient histories and providing basic personal care. However, LPNs are not responsible for the more advanced duties such as creating care plans, and they usually report to a supervising RN or physician.
The Rasmussen University Practical Nursing Diploma program can be completed in as few as 12 months for full-time students.1 While state requirements may vary, typically students will need to complete their education and then pass the NCLEX-PN® exam to obtain licensure.
Working as an LPN helps you earn valuable nursing experience and knowledge, and the academic credit earned can provide a solid foundation for those who decide to become a registered nurse.
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Working While Earning A Nursing Degree
We know that school is expensive, and you may balk at the thought of quitting your job in order to pursue your dreams. While it may not be ideal, working through nursing school is doable. It may extend your overall time in school, but earning money to pay for school and other necessities may be worth it.
Brittney Wilson, BSN-RN and blogger at The Nerdy Nurse®, suggests finding a job that allows you time to study.
If you cant find something where you can study, find something where youll get good clinical experience, like working as a CNA, she says.
While you may want to finish school as quickly as possible, dont worry if you dont follow a traditional path. Wilson explains how it took her four years to earn an ADN. I did not get in the first time I applied, so I used the additional year to complete all the classes that would be required for my eventual bridge to BSN.
Find a schedule and combination of work and school thats right for you. Rememberyou are not alone, and many have been in your shoes before. With a little perseverance and determination, your nursing career goals can be achieved.
What Will I Learn In My Program
Your coursework will depend on your specialty, but the focus will always be on patient care. NPs have an advanced scope of practice that allows them to take on many of the duties traditionally associated with physicians, but NPs always work from a nursing perspective.
Nurse practitioners are trained to be holistic, for your physical, mental, spiritual, and social needs, explains Hunt.
The course of study is all-encompassing and includes everything from physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, nutrition, behavioral issues, cultural issues, physical exams, minor procedures, and more, says Hunt. In other words, the focus on wellness goes beyond just treating an illness or injury.
Nurse practitioners treat the whole person not just their illness.
You think about things from the patient perspective and work with them as partners in health, says Hunt. The books, tools, and training often overlap with medical training.
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Are Online Programs Available
There are online programs available for nursing students at all levels, including students pursuing an MSN or a DNP. In many cases, youll take your classes online, then be placed at in-person, clinical locations in the community to get the hours you need. You might have the option to use on-campus resources like libraries, study groups, and more when you need them.
Family Nurse Practitioner Vs Registered Nurse: Whats The Difference
While family nurse practitioners and registered nurses both provide dedicated care for patients, there are several key differences:
- A nurse practitioner has at least a masters degree, while a registered nurse may hold an associates or bachelors degree.
- Family nurse practitioners can prescribe medicine, create patient care plans, and diagnose illness.
- FNPs are more likely to work in a university, community clinic, or a government agency.
- Nurse practitioners enjoy a greater median salary at $120,680 than nurses do at $77,600.
- Though both professions have a strong job outlook, the 52% projected growth for NPs outpaces the 9% growth for registered nurses.
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Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Degree
Those interested in becoming a registered nurse also have the option of earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing . There are a few options for earning a BSNthe best fit for you will depend on your academic background.
An RN to BSN program is a great option for registered nurses whove already completed an ADN program and would like to advance their education. Registered nurses in the Rasmussen University RN to BSN program can earn a BSN in as few as 12 to 18 months.1
For those who arent already nurses, the standard BSN program at Rasmussen University can be completed in as few as 33 months.1 Or, if you already have a Bachelors degree in a non-nursing field, you can leverage that experience to obtain a BSN in as few as 18 months in the Rasmussen University accelerated BSN program.1
If youre having trouble deciding whether to pursue your ADN or BSN, dig deeper with our article: ADN vs. BSN: Your Guide to Help You Decide on a Nursing Degree
Why Become A Nurse Practitioner
There are many reasons to become a nurse practitioner . NPs can provide care that differs from registered nurses. They can bridge the gap between RNs and primary care physicians while serving populations in need of quality care. Like the nursing profession in general, the demand for nurse practitioners exceeds the supply. In fact, the role of the profession is growing so rapidly that U.S. World News & Report recently named nurse practitioner as #1 in its list of best healthcare jobs and #2 in its overall list of the best 100 jobs for 2022.
See more of the benefits a MSN degree can offer you.
Among the many nurse practitioner benefits are opportunities for career specialization and growth.
Some of the specialties within advanced practice nursing that you can pursue as a nurse practitioner include:
- Pediatric Health
- Psychiatric/Mental Health
The scope of services nurse practitioners can provide still varies from state to state. However, as the demand for healthcare services increases, the number of states that allow nurse practitioners a full scope of practice is increasing. The number of nurse practitioners nationwide is growing quickly at present, there are more than 325,000, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
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