The vetoed bill was SB 538, a routine “sunset bill,” which would have granted a four-year extension to the Board’s authority to administer licenses and disciplinary action to the roughly 400,000 registered nurses in California. The bill authorized the Board of Registered Nursing to designate nursing investigators as sworn peace officers.

The intent of classifying certain investigators as peace officers was to accelerate the investigations by giving Board investigators access to criminal records statewide as well as giving them subpoena power. Doing so would also entitle these particular peace officers to more lavish pensions, significantly increasing state pension costs.

For this reason, on January 1, Governor Brown vetoed the bill, at which time he made it clear that classifying the investigators as peace officers was not a fiscally sound measure in light of California’s dire need for pension reform. He further stated that the Board could function without enhanced benefits as it had in past years. However, after one hundred and six years of continuous operation, the Board of Registered Nursing disbanded, and employees of the Board joined the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

Fortunately, largely due in part to a letter writing crusade by the nurses of California, the Board was reinstated on February 14 when a new bill, SB 98, was signed into law by Governor Brown. The bill ensures the Board’s continued existence through 2015 and excludes language intended to expand pension benefits for board investigators, which the original measure, SB 538, designated as peace officers.

The article goes on to say that Louise Bailey, the Board’s interim executive officer, stated that if it had been made known that the wording of peace officers was an issue, the Board would have willingly changed the language of the original legislation to include the removal of the provisions for peace officers. Since California’s medical and dental boards already use sworn investigators, the Board of Registered Nursing did not consider the addition of sworn peace officers to the Board’s ranks as being an issue.

The article states that the implications inherent in the downgrading of the Board of Registered Nurses were downplayed by the Board’s leadership. It goes on to say that other nursing leaders came forward to claim that impact could have been of great consequence for the State of California. One such leader, Pat McFarland, who is affiliated with a number of nursing organizations, is recorded as saying the oversight of the Board is crucial to the safety of patients in California.

Although the Board’s staff can conduct a disciplinary investigation and an executive officer can cause the suspension of a nursing license, the final decision can only be made by the Board. McFarland’s concern is that a nurse could be suspended indefinitely with no recourse without the Board’s presence. Additionally, the Board has the responsibility of nursing schools approval. McFarland states that without the Board’s approval, there could not be any nursing programs in California.

The article further states that another nursing leader, Trish Hunter, mobilized nurses from all over California to inundate the governor and budget committee members with letters beseeching them to bring about the Board’s reinstatement. McFarland states that the California nursing associations provided their members with letter templates they could use to contact their legislators. She goes on to say that the effort was completed in just ten days, following the opening of the legislative session.

The article points out that with Governor Brown’s reinstatement of the Board of Registered Nursing, nine new Board members will need to be appointed; the governor appoints seven and the House and Senate each appoints one. Until then, Louise Bailey will remain as the Board’s interim executive officer.

It may have been fiscally responsible for Governor Brown to veto SB 538, but the ramifications were huge. Here, an agency that for one hundred and six years had guarded the safety of California patients in its oversight of nurses, was allowed to be disbanded, allegedly without discussion.

Thank goodness for a grassroots letter writing campaign by California’s nurses that saved the day. This coordinated effort by a group of concerned people can serve as an example to citizens in any state: that motivated individuals can make a difference when it counts the most.

The Restoration of The California Board of Registered Nursing is a post from: Registered Nurse Training Blog

University of Mississippi Medical Center Nursing School

The University of Mississippi Medical Center Nursing School offer six masters options. Four of those are nurse practitioner programs: Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner; Family Nurse Practitioner; Gerontological Nurse Practitioner; Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

The Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner programs both require 630 clinical hours.

The 42 hour Adult Acute Care program calls for: Application and Interpretation of Acute Care Diagnostic Modalities, Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics, Advanced Health Assessment, Research Design and Methods, Health Policy, Ethics and Legal Issues, and Adult Acute Care Assessment, Management and Evaluation.

The 46 hour Family Nurse Practitioner program requires: Reproductive Health for Advanced Nursing Practice, Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics, Advanced Health Assessment, Therapeutic Management in Primary Care, and Advanced Interventions for Nurse Practitioner.

The Gerontological Nurse Practitioner program is a 46 hours curriculum that will require courses in: Clinical Management of Older Adults, Health policy, Ethics and Legal Issues, Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics, Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, Advanced Health Assessment, Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics, and Reproductive Health for Advanced Nursing Practice.

The 43 hour Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is rigorous as well. It will ask the candidate to become proficient in: Clinical Management of Families and Groups with Mental Health Problems, Health Policy, Ethics and Legal Issues, Clinical Assessment of Persons with Mental Health Problems, Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics, and Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, Advanced Health Assessment.

To be admitted, you need a bachelor’s degree in nursing, at least a 3.0 GPA, three letters of reference from instructor, professor, supervisor, or colleague. Send a copy of your license and your GRE scores that are current—within the last five years. If you are pursuing the Acute Care NP, you need one year of clinical experience.

University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast

The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast offers a family nurse practitioner, psychiatric nurse practitioner program, and gerontological nurse practitioner. This masters program requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school and a GPA of at least 2.75 on the final 60 hours. You must have a 3.0 on your undergraduate nursing courses, however. An introductory stats class is required. You must submit sufficient GRE scores. You should have a valid RN license and two years of clinical experience. A criminal background check will be ran.

Some of the required coursework includes: Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Health Assessment Clinical or Lab, Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapeutics, policy, organization, and financing, ethics and diversity, and evidence-based research.

The family nurse practitioner program is 48 hours. The psychiatric nurse practitioner program is 43 hours. The geronotological nurse practitioner program is 46 hours and 600 hours of clinicals. Expect 15-24 months to complete these programs.

Nurse practitioner schools in Mississippi offer a variety of options of specialty for the budding nurse practitioner. If you are a registered nurse looking to expand your repertoire, this is the path for you!

A Look at 2 Nurse Practitioner Schools in Mississippi is a post from: Registered Nurse Training Blog

The University of Pittsburgh is one of the Nurse practitioner programs in Pittsburgh to choose from. This program allows you to pursue Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner.

The Acute Care Nurse Practitioner is a 79 credit, 720 clinical hour program. Entry requirements include one year in a clinical setting of relevant specialty. This is a doctoral program only. This is a three year program. The coursework required includes statistics, health promotion and disease, ethics, public policy, genetics and molecular therapeutics, pathophysiology, pharmacology, research, diagnostic exam, theory, differential diagnosis, organizational management, disaster and mass casualty, finance, complex health problems, critical care, oncology, and trauma.

The adult nurse practitioner is also a doctoral only program. It requires stats, pathophysiology, research, pharmacology, genetics and molecular therapeutics, health promotion and disease, family theory, diagnostic exam, differential diagnosis, women’s health, public policy, ethics, adult acute/chronic, adolescent health, finance, and psychiatric conditions in primary care. This is a three year program.

The Family Nurse Practitioner is also a doctoral program that takes three years to complete. The courses include Pediatric Well Child Care, Management: Pediatric Health, pathophysiology, research, pharmacology, stats, pharmacology, differential diagnosis, adult acute/chronic, adolescent health, genetics and molecular therapeutics, health promotion and disease, health, public policy, ethics, family theory, and diagnostic exam.

The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program is a three-year doctoral degree requiring Neonatal Disease Process, General Management: Sick Neonate, Pediatric Well Child Care, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse Populations, Pathophysiology Across the Life Span, Applied Statistics, Advanced Pharmacology, Comprehensive Neonatal Assessment, Research for Evidenced Based Practice, Differential Diagnosis, Family Theory for Nurse Practitioners, Implications, and Applications Across the Life Span, Public Policy in Health Care, and ethics in healthcare.

The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner is a doctoral degree that requires a three-year commitment. Coursework is focused on Applied Statistics for Evidence Based Practice, Pathophysiology Across the Life Span, Introduction to Genetics and Molecular Therapeutics, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse Populations, Management: Adolescent Health, Research for Evidence Based Practice, Diagnosis and Management of Psychiatric Conditions in Primary Care , Advanced Pharmacology, Family Theory for Nurse Practitioners: Principles, Implications, and Application Across the Life Span, Public Policy In Healthcare, Pediatric Well Child Care, The Diagnostic Physical Exam Across the Life Span, Differential Diagnosis Theory Across the Life Span, Ethics in Healthcare, and Pediatric Health Theory.

The Psychiatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program is offered both online and traditional. It is a doctoral program that will take two years to complete. Coursework will include Applied Statistics, public policy, Genetics and Molecular Therapeutics, ethics, research, and finance.

Admission to the doctoral program in nursing requires a competitive GPA, essay, bachelors in nursing, license, stats course, and competitive GRE scores. Three letters of reference are needed: supervisor, professor, and colleague.

Training to be a nurse practitioner is a time-intensive process. Expect the coursework to be challenging and rigorous.

Carlow University

Carlow University is another option for nurse practitioner programs. This Pittsburgh-based program offers a hybrid option between online and traditional. This Family nurse Practitioner program requires courses that include stats, pathophysiology, pharmacology, health risks in communities, advanced practice in geriatrics, pediatrics, women’s health, family health, and primary care. This is a 75 credit, 600 clinical hour program.

To be admitted, have a 3.0 GPA and a bachelor’s in nursing. You should have taken a stats class in your undergraduate work. Be licensed in the state. Send two letters of recommendation. You need a year of clinical experience. You will also have to write a personal statement to submit.

Nurse practitioner programs in Pittsburgh offer you a way to find the program that suits you, whether online or traditional. Registered nurses seeking new ways to increase their knowledge and skills would do well to consider the nurse practitioner path.

An In Depth Look at Nurse Practitioner Programs in Pittsburgh is a post from: Registered Nurse Training Blog

Nurse practitioner programs in Missouri include the online program at University of Missouri. The Doctorate in Nursing Practice program is all online. You can choose to focus on adult health clinical nurse specialist, family nurse practitioner, family psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner, pediatric clinical nurse specialist, and pediatric nurse practitioner.

There are three pathways. You can enter after your bachelor’s degree or after your master’s degree in nursing, or after your master’s degree without a nursing degree.

This program centers on underserved populations and rural settings.

Coursework includes Leadership And Technology Institute, Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing, Advanced Nursing Role Acquisition, Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics, Advanced Health Assessment and Promotion, Research Basis for Advanced Nursing, Advanced Health Assessment for Pediatric Nursing Practice, Pediatric Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice, Family Dynamics and Intervention, Principles of Epidemiology, Special Health Care Needs of Children in the School Setting, Public Health and Sociocultural Issues, Health Disparities of Rural & Other Underserved Populations, Adult and Geriatric Primary Care I, Adult and Geriatric Primary Care II, Newborn Through Adolescence Primary Care, Reproductive and Sexual Health Primary Care, Advanced Diagnostics & Reasoning, Diagnostics and Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Nurses, Brief Individual Psychotherapy for Mental Health Nurses, Group Therapy and Social Skills Training, Mental Health Nursing Interventions for Families, Pediatric Mental Health Assessment and Treatment, Clinical Management OF Acute & Critical Care Problems, Symptom Management of Acute And Chronic Illness, Health Care Financial Management, Teaching Strategies in Nursing, Curriculum Development in Nursing, Translational Evidence-Based Nursing Practice, Quality, Safety, and Performance Outcomes, Health Program Design & Management, and Nursing & Health Policy, Leadership & Transformational Role Institute.

Admission is a degree in nursing with a GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 on your final 60 hours in your undergraduate. With your masters program under your belt, you need a 3.5 cumulative. If you do not have the minimum GPA listed, then you will need to submit scores from the GRE. Scores need to be less than 5 years old. You should be a licensed nurse and you will need to submit three letters of reference. You need to make sure your recommendations are from faculty members or nurses with their masters or doctorate. If you are already in a nursing program, one of your letters should be from a faculty member in your current program. Not accepted are letters from coworkers, clergy, or friends and family. Letters must delivered with a signed seal.

Submit your CV with all relevant experiences and publications. Also include your essay, which should be no less than three pages and no more than five. It should detail your goals in the nursing profession and explain how pursuing more education will help you with those goals. Your essay also needs to describe your subject of interest for your final academic project. Whatever subject you choose for your project needs to be broad enough to address organization, systemic, national or regional change.

The family nurse practitioner requires 48.5 credit hours and 810 clinical hours. The family psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner is a 49 credit hour and 720 clinical hour program. The pediatric nurse practitioner program asks you to complete 48.5 credit hours and 810 clinical hours.

University of Missouri Kansas City

The University of Missouri Kansas City offers a number of online programs for nurse practitioners. Neonatal Nurse Practitioner is a 43 credit hour program and more than 660 clinical hours. This is a seven-semester program. The coursework requires health promotion, cultural diversity and ethics, theoretical foundations, neonatal assessment, neonatal physiology and pathophysiology, policy, politics and political ethics, and neonatal pharmacology.

There is also a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program, which is 43 credits and 660 clinical hours. You will take advanced growth and development, advanced pediatric pathophysiology, theory, pediatric pharmacology, cultural diversity and values, advanced pediatric pathophysiology, and policy, politics, and ethics. This program requires a year of experience in a clinical setting.

Another online option is Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, which requires 43 credits and 660 clinical. You need two years in a clinical setting that has taken place in the last three years. The coursework includes care of the child bearing woman, theory, advanced pathophysiology, cultural diversity and values, pharmacology for advanced nursing and theory.

There are also two traditional tracks: Adult Nurse Practitioner , which is 42 credit hours, and Family Nurse Practitioner, also a 42 credit hour program. You can expect to take advanced pathophysiology, cultural diversity and values, pharmacology, research, policy, politics, and ethics, theory, and primary care.

The admission process requires a 3.0 GPA. With a GPA that high, you do not need a GRE score. If you have a GPA below 3.0, you can petition the committee for consideration, but be prepared to submit GRE scores, evidence of certifications, and one-page statement regarding why you would be successful. You will need two letters of reference and proof of recent nursing practice.

Nurse practitioner programs in Missouri offer the flexibility and variety to allow the registered nurse the opportunity to advance and enjoy more autonomy.

A Simple Guide to Nurse Practitioner Programs in Missouri is a post from: Registered Nurse Training Blog

Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University is based in Hyden, Kentucky offers a masters program requiring 42 credit hours. The coursework includes: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Pathophysiology for Primary Care, Decision Making in Health Assessment, Theories and Concepts of Advanced Practice Nursing, Pharmacology for Advanced Practice, Role of the Nurse Practitioner in the Health Care Delivery System, Women’s Health Care, Primary Health Care I: Acute and Common, Research Care of the Childbearing Woman, Primary Health Care II: Chronic Problems Primary Health Care III: Advanced Diagnostics and Urgent Care, Primary Care of Children, Primary Health Care IV: Psychosocial Problems in Primary Care, Health Care Policy and Financing, and Primary Health Care V: Complex Health Problems in Primary Care.

The post-masters option is 26 credit hours.

The Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner option is a 38 credit hour program. The coursework includes: Health Care Policy, Women’s Health and Advanced Women’s Health, Health Promotion, Pathophysiology, Decision Making, Reproductive Physiology, Theory, and Pharmacology.

Admission requirements are that you be a registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. If you are a nurse without a B.S., you have to submit a portfolio of your professional and academic experience. Your GPA should be a 3.0. If it is lower than that, you will need to submit your GRE or MAT scores. GRE scores will have to be 1000 with a 3.0 on the written. Your MAT score would need to be a 45 raw or 403-408 scaled. You should have a year of nursing experience and three references. You should have taken a physical assessment course and a stats course.

This is a distance learning program. Two on-campus sessions are required, but this program was designed to allow nurses to remain in their communities. This program grew out of a tradition in the community of nurse practitioners.

Spalding University

Spalding University offers a nurse practitioner program with these specialty areas: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree in nursing with a 3.0 GPA and a nursing license in Kentucky or Indiana. You will need to undergo an interview. Submit two letters of reference from employers or professors. A written statement of your goals and how further education plays a role is required. You must submit your health record and proof of CPR training. Your GRE scores should be submitted, but the GRE is waived if you have a 2.8 or higher GPA.

The core courses for the program include: Theoretical Foundations of Nursing, Transitions to Advanced Practice, Nursing Research, Scholarly Synthesis, Pathophysiology, Theoretical Foundations of the Family, Applied Pharmacology, Advanced Health Assessment, Complex Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Skills, Principles of Pharmacology in Advanced Practice Nursing, Women and Reproductive Health.

The Family Nurse Practitioner program can be completed in 2 years for full-time students and 3 years for part-time students. Coursework includes the core courses and Child and Adolescent Primary Care Nursing and Adult Primary Care Nursing.

The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Track is a 48 hour program that requires the core courses and Child and Adolescent Primary Care Nursing. It takes 2 years for full-time students and 3 years for part-time students.

The Adult Nurse Practitioner Track is a 48 hour program requiring the core courses and Adult Primary Care Nursing. This is a program that runs 2 years for full-time students and 3 years for part-time students.

University of Louisville

The University of Louisville’s Masters program for nurse practitioners requires a GRE score of 425 or better on both sections of the test plus 4.0 on the writing, plus two letters of recommendation.

They offer Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner programs.

The general core for all programs is: Foundations for Advanced Practice, Health Care Systems, Research Design and Professional Writing, Evidence Based Nursing for Advanced Practice, Statistics, Informatics in Health Care, and Health Promotion, Illness Prevention Across the Lifespan, Genetics, Advanced Practice Roles, Transition to Practice, Pathophysiology: Clinical Decision Making, Advanced Clinical Assessment, and Nursing Pharmacology.

For the Adult Nurse Practitioner program is a 51 credit hours, 630 clinical hour track. The Family Nurse Practitioner program is 55 credits, 700 clinical hours.

The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner track requires the core plus Neonatal Pathophysiology, Neonatal Pharmacology, Advanced Neonatal Assessment, High Risk Clinical: Neonatal NP, and Advanced High Risk Clinical: Neonatal NP. This is a 52 credit hour, 630 clinical hour program.

The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program coursework includes the core plus: Clinical Decision Making: Psychopathology Across the Lifespan, Psychopharmacology, Advanced Clinical Assessment, Advanced Psychiatric Assessment and Clinical Interviewing Techniques, Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Practice I: PMH Nursing of Individuals, Families, Groups, Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Practice II: PMH Nursing of Individuals, Families, Groups, and Advanced Clinical Psychiatric/Mental Health Practice I: Individuals, Families, Groups. It is a 52 credit hour program.

University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky also has nurse practitioner education. You can choose from Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner—with an Adult or Family Nurse Practitioner option, and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner—with an Adult or Family option. This is a DNP program, so you will be getting your doctorate.

Admission requirements are that your undergraduate GPA is at least a 3.3 and your degree is in nursing. You must be a licensed nurse. Your GRE is at least 500 on each section of the test. You must provide three letters of recommendation. There is a personal interview. You must have clinical experience as a nurse by the time you get to the first clinical course in your DNP program. Submit a goal statement, which explains your reasons for pursuing a doctorate as well as your long and short term goals in one- to three- pages. Include an example of your scholarly work on nursing. This would be a paper you wrote for a nursing course, a published article, etc.

There are two entry points for this program: post-baccalaureate and post-masters.  This program is 40 credit hours with 540 clinical hours.  The post- baccalaureate program is 80 hours with 600 clinical hours and 420 lab hours.

The curriculum for the program includes coursework in Older Women And Their Health, End Of Life Care In The Acute Care Setting, Complementary/Alternative Approaches To Health Care, Exploring Medical Missions, Proseminar In Contemporary Health And Nursing Policy Issues, Process Of Nursing Leadership, Nursing Leadership Through Effective Use Of Self, Nursing Leadership In Health Care Systems, Applied Biostatistics For Outcomes Evaluation, Epidemiology Applied To The Design And Evaluation Of Nursing And Health Services, Clinical Program Development And Implementation, Evaluation For Improvement Of Clinical Practice And Outcomes, Foundations For Population-Focused Interventions In Clinical Practice, Dynamics And Realities Of Implementing Clinical Practice Models, Individual And Group Dynamics In Nursing And The Health Care Environment, Theoretical Foundations, Economic And Financial Aspects Of Clinical And Population-Based Health Care Delivery Systems, Foundations Of Evidence Based Practice And Program Plan, Evaluation For Improvement Of Clinical Practice And Outcomes, Technology For Transforming Nursing And Healthcare, Strategic Analysis For Quality Improvement In Nursing And Healthcare, Advanced Nursing Practice In Dynamic Health Care Systems, Pathophysiology, Pharmacologic Applications In Primary Care, Concepts, Theories, And Models For Advanced Practice Nursing, Research Methods, Advanced Practice Nursing In Acute Care, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Care Of Acutely Ill Adults And Critically Ill Patients, and Advanced Parent-Child Seminar.

Nurse practitioner programs in Kentucky are varied and offer different approaches to pursuing the same goal. If you are a registered nurse looking to increase your knowledge base, becoming a nurse practitioner is a good way to accomplish those goals.

4 Schools with Nurse Practitioner Programs in Kentucky is a post from: Registered Nurse Training Blog

Westminster College

Westminster College in Salt Lake City offers a Family Nurse Practitioner Program. With classes scheduled one to two day each week, the program is designed for those who want to continue nursing while they pursue more education. Classes are usually in the early afternoon or evening, and a few weeks.

Coursework includes Advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology, theory, pharmacology, health promotion, research, and ambulatory care. It is a 42 credit hour program.

To be considered for admission, you need to submit a personal statement, three letters of reference, your nursing license, resume, drug screen, background check, transcripts, GRE scores, proof of immunization, and a physical and mental health certificate signed by your doctor.

Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University in Provo offers a Family Nurse Practitioner program. The coursework includes pharmacology, evidence-based practice, pathophysiology, health care policy and finance, theory, ethics, and management of acute and chronic disorders. There is also a post-Masters option.

To be admitted you need a bachelor’s degree in nursing and license. You need to have taken a stats course, a pathophysiology course in undergrad, and have a 3.0 in your final 60 hours. You will need three letters of reference. You need to write up your statement of goals and purposes of continuing your education. Submit your GRE scores. There will be an interview. You do not have to have experience to apply, but those candidates with experience are given preference.

University of Utah Graduate Center at Saint George

The University of Utah Graduate Center at Saint George offers nurse practitioner programs. The B.S. to doctorate online program offers four specialties: Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, and Adult Nurse Practitioner. This is a distance learning program that centers on rural health care and underserved populations. There is a focus on addiction and substance abuse. There is also a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a focus in neuro-biological science and psychosocial theory.

The university also offers programs that require face-to-face attendance.

The Acute Care Nurse Practitioner is an 85 credit hour program with 1000 hours in clinical. The coursework includes Evidence Based Practice, Advanced Pathophysiology across the Lifespan, Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics across the Lifespan, Bio statistics, Social Context of Medicine & Public Health, Cultural Competency & Mutual Respect, Advanced Physical Assessment & Health Promotion Across the Lifespan, Diagnostic Reasoning Advanced Acute Care Pathophysiology, Health Care Delivery, Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology & Population Science, Advanced Pharmacology for Acute Care Nurse, Adult Acute Care, Adult Critical Care, End-of-Life/Palliative Care, Leadership & Health Care Policy, Professional Roles and Collaboration, and Clinical Genetics. This program admits 10-12 students every fall.

There is a neonatal nurse practitioner program as well. It takes three years to complete. This is an in-person program. It is 83 credit hours with 1080 clinical hours. The coursework includes: Evidence Based Practice, Advanced Principles of Pathophysiology, Advanced Pathophysiology, Intro to Clinical Epidemiology & Population Science, Clinical Genetics, Cultural Competency and Mutual Respect, Development Pathology & Genetics, Introduction to Bio statistics, Professional Role and Collaboration, Health Care Delivery, Advanced Neonatal Assessment/Developmental Constructs, Advanced Neonatal Pharmacology, Neonatal Diagnostic Reasoning Seminar I, Advanced Neonatal Physiology/Pathophysiology I, Advanced Neonatal Physiology/Pathophysiology II, Leadership and Health Care Policy, Quality Improvement and Clinical Data Analysis, and Social Context of Medicine and Public Health.

To apply for these programs, you must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a license. You need a 3.0 GPA. If you have less than a 3.2 GPA, you need to submit your GRE scores.

You need to have taken a stats course, an upper-division pathophysiology or advanced physiology course. It is preferred that candidates have at least a year’s experience in a clinical setting.

Nurse practitioner programs in Utah offer a diversity of options in both specialty and design. You can find the program with the flexibility you need for your specific situation and circumstances.

3 Schools Offering Nurse Practitioner Programs in Utah is a post from: Registered Nurse Training Blog

University of Northern Colorado

Nurse practitioner education in Colorado include University of Northern Colorado, which offers a Family Nurse Practitioner program. They have a Masters and a post-Masters program, but it is part-time only. This program is 36-39 hours and must be completed within 5 years of starting. Classes include: health assessment, pharmacology, pathophysiology, health and care of families, and either a thesis or a research project. Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree in nursing, a license in Colorado, and a 3.0. You must send two letters of recommendation and a statement of your goals. To apply, you need at least a year of clinical experience.

University of Colorado Denver

The University of Colorado Denver offers a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program. There is also a post-Masters option. Coursework includes primary health care of children, women’s gynecologic care, studies in health promotion, Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Advanced Assessment, Health Systems, Policy, and Social Justice, Human Technology Interface, Research Methods for Advanced Practice, and Philosophic, Theoretic & Ethical Foundations of APN. This is a 46 credit hour program.

They also offer an Adult Nurse Practitioner program. This requires Studies In Health Promotion & Lifestyle, Diagnosis and Management I: Acute Alterations in Health, Diagnosis and Management II: Chronic Alterations in Health, Women’s Gynecologic Health Care, Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Advanced Assessment, Health Systems, Policy, and Social Justice, Human Technology Interface, Research Methods for Advanced Practice, and Philosophic, Theoretic & Ethical Foundations of APN. This is a 56 credit hour program with the thesis, and 540 clinical hours.

You can also pursue the Family Nurse Practitioner program, which requires coursework such as: Care During Pregnancy and Birth, Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Women’s Gynecologic Health Care, Advanced Assessment, Health Systems, Policy, and Social Justice, Primary Health Care of Children: Chronic Illness and Disabilities, Primary Health Care of Children: Minor Acute Illness, Primary Health Care of Children: Well Child Care, Research Methods for Advanced Practice, and Philosophic, Theoretic & Ethical Foundations of APN, Diagnosis and Management II: Chronic Alterations in Health, and Diagnosis and Management I: Acute Alterations in Health, Studies In Health Promotion & Lifestyle. This is a 52 credit hour program with 630 clinical hours.

Colorado has a significant shortage of Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. You can get pursue this path as well. It requires Primary Healthcare of Children: Chronic Illness and Disabilities, Advanced Assessment and Therapeutic Interventions for the PMHNP, Diagnosis and Management of Adults for the PMHNP, assessment and management with complex psychopharmacology, Diagnosis and Management of Children and Older Adults for the PMHNP, Philosophic, Theoretic & Ethical Foundations of APN, Research Methods for Advanced Practice, Human Technology Interface, Health Systems, Policy, and Social Justice, Advanced Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Advanced Pathophysiology. This is a 48 credit hour program with 630 clinical hours. This program is full time or part time.

Admission requirements include holding a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a license. You must submit four letters of reference, and at least one must be academic. You must have completed and earned at least a C in both a research course and a stats course. If you have less than a 3.0, you need to submit your GRE scores.

If your goal is to get into Nurse practitioner programs in Colorado, then you have worked to become a registered nurse. All you need to do now is get your materials together and begin applying.

Comparing Nurse Practitioner Programs in Colorado is a post from: Registered Nurse Training Blog

Nurse practitioner schools in Alabama include fine institutions such as the University of South Alabama. The specialties you can pursue are: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Gero-Psych Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Child Health Nurse Practitioner, and Emergency Nurse Practitioner. Most of these programs are online.

For the Masters program, You can get into these programs if you have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a license. You will need to undergo a drug and background check. You need a 3.0 on all your degree coursework. You also need to submit a resume. You should have two years of experience in an area that is appropriate for the specialty track you are choosing.

If you are seeking a post-masters, you gain admission by having a graduate degree in nursing, a license, and two years previous experience appropriate to your specialty choice. You must pass a background check and drug screen. Submit a resume.

If you do not have previous degrees in nursing, there is still hope. This university offers an accelerated track to the nurse practitioner certification. Be aware, this is a selective and competitive program. The coursework is intense and moves at an accelerated pace.

You need a bachelor’s with a 3.0 and all your coursework must have grades of a C or higher. You need to have taken biology, and anatomy and physiology I and II, all with labs. A course in microbiology or infectious disease is required, as is a stats class. You should have taken finite math or precalculus algebra. Chemistry with a lab and general psych courses are also required. You must submit a health form and submit to background and drug testing. You will send in a resume and have an interview.

For the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program and the Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner program, full-time admission is year round. Part-time admission is fall only. Theory, pharmacology, physio-pathological basis, and policy classes are all required. This is a 45 hour program with 600 hours in clinicals.

The Emergency Nurse Practitioner program allows enrollment for the masters is Spring and Summer for full-time students and fall for part-time students. Coursework includes physio-pathological basis, pharmacology, theory, and advanced care. It is a 57 credit program with 1080 clinical hours.

The Family Nurse Practitioner program is 45 credit hours and 600 clinical hours. It allows enrollment for the masters is Spring and Summer for full-time students and fall for part-time students. Health promotion and disease prevention, physio-pathological basis, pharmacology, theory, and advanced care are all required coursework.

The Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program offers entry for full-time in the fall only, but part-time year around. This is a 45 hours, 600 clinical hour program with physio-pathological basis, psych care, pharmacology, theory, and advanced care courses.

The Neonatal NP and the Pediatric NP programs allow entry for full-time year around and part-time in the fall only. It is a 45 credit, 600 clinical hour program. Health promotion and disease prevention, physio-pathological basis, psych care, pharmacology, theory, neonatal or pediatric—depending upon specialty, and advanced care coursework is required.

The Women’s Health NP program is also 45 credits with 600 clinical hours. It allows for entry for full-time year around and part-time in the fall only. Coursework is specific to women’s health as well as physio-pathological basis, psych care, pharmacology, and theory courses.

Samford University

Samford University also has a Family Nurse Practitioner program. This 42 credit hour program is designed for 5 or 6 semesters. There are 720 clinical hours. Physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, theory, research, statistical methods, policy, diagnostic methods, and family practice coursework are required.

To apply, you need a bachelor’s in nursing with a 3.0 and have taken a nursing research course and earned a C. You should have earned a b in your health assessment course. Your GRE must be 970 with a 4.0 on the writing or a 402 on the MAT. There will be an interview as well.

Nurse practitioner schools in Alabama offer good opportunities for registered nurses to continue their education and seek out specialty areas. Patients depend on nurse practitioners for individualized, focused care.

A Look at 2 Great Nurse Practitioner Schools in Alabama is a post from: Registered Nurse Training Blog

University of Illinois at Chicago

The University of Illinois at Chicago has a Nurse Practitioner program that lets you choose from these areas: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Occupational Health/Family Nurse Practitioner, School/Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, or Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner.

The coursework is rigorous and includes: Intermediate Statistics, Biostatistics, Nursing Inquiry I and II, Health, Environment and Systems, Issues of Advanced Practice in Nursing, Pharmacotherapeutics in Advanced Practice Nursing, Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Practice, Biological Basis of Disease, Health Management, Population-Focused Interventions in Primary Care, and Principles of Epidemiology. You then choose whether you want to do a project or a thesis.

There are several paths to admission depending on your starting point. If your bachelor’s is in a non-nursing field, consider the Graduate Entry Program. To gain admission, you must have a degree with a 3.0. Your degree must have included the following pre-requisite classes: intro to research methods, human anatomy and physiology, general chemistry or general biology—either with a lab, two humanities courses in two different fields, two social science courses in different disciplines, and a six hours in English composition. You must take the GRE. If you already have, make sure it was in the last five years. You then choose from one of the availability specialties.

If you want to pursue a Masters degree, then you need a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a 3.0 GPA. You must be licensed, have taken intro courses in stats and research. You need GRE scores that are less than five years old. However, if you have a GPA that is a 3.25 or higher on your final 60 hours of your degree, your GRE score is waived.

All programs have a part-time option.

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner are 48-50 hour programs with 675 clinical hours.

The Family Nurse Practitioner and the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs are 51-54 hours with 675 clinical hours.

The Occupational Health/Family Nurse Practitioner program is 67-70 hours with 720 clinical hours.

The School/Family Nurse Practitioner program is 58-63 hours with 775-975 clinical hours. The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program is 47-49 hours with 675 clinical hours. The Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program is 57-59 with 675 clinical hours as well. The Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program is 67-69 hours with 1035 clinical hours.

Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University

There is also the Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University. To gain admission to the Family Nurse Practitioner program you need: a bachelor’s in nursing and a 3.0 in your final 60 hours. You need to have completed a stats, nursing research, and physical assessment class and earned at least a C. You also need a grad level stats class—300 or above. If you do not have this, you can be working toward it and your admission conditional. There are part time and full time options available. The coursework includes theory, pathophysiology, diagnostic reasoning, pharmacotherapeutics, and epidemiology. Expect the program to take two years and plan to attend summer sessions.

If you are looking at nurse practitioner training programs, then you are a registered nurse ready to take the next step in your training and knowledge.

Nurse practitioner schools in Illinois provide options for you to specialize and move into an area of focus in which you are skilled and interested.

Comparing 2 Nurse Practitioner Schools in Illinois is a post from: Registered Nurse Training Blog

University of Wisconsin Madison

The University of Wisconsin Madison has a Nurse Practitioner program for Acute Care, Adult, Gerontology, Pediatric, Psychiatrist Mental Health, and Women’s Health. The coursework for all programs includes research, health promotion and disease prevention, health care and policy, leadership, advanced assessment, pharmacotherapeutics, and physiological basis of nursing. The Psychiatric Mental Health specialty requires 500 clinical hours. For the adult and gerontology programs, you will need 600. For the Pediatric and Women’s health programs, 600 are required. And for the Acute Care, you must log 720.

Admission can be gained if you have your bachelor’s degree and a license. You must have worked a year as a nurse. You need a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of your bachelor’s and obtained satisfactory scores on the GRE.

Viterbo University

Viterbo University has a program where you can focus on Adult Geronotological Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner. You can complete this degree in three years of full time study. The classes are offered one day a week. It is a rigorous program with coursework in theory, ethics, pathophysiology, and pharmacotherapeutics. The The Adult Nurse practitioner program is 44 hours. The Family Nurse Practitioner program is 49.

To gain admission, you need your transcripts, license, MAT scores (GRE are acceptable) and three recommendations. You should have taken a physical assessment course and a stats course, and a research course.

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee has a program where you can pursue Family Nurse Practitioner, or Post Nurse Practitioner. You need a bachelor’s degree in nursing with at least a 2.75 GPA. You need to have taken a stats class in the last five years and earned at least a C on it. You need to be licensed as a registered nurse. Your GRE scores should be no more than five years old. Three letters of reference; two need to be from work and academic experiences. Write an autobiographical sketch.

The Family Nurse Practitioner track is 46 hours. If you opt for the post-masters certificate in Nurse Practitioner, that is 25 credits. Coursework includes Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice, Epidemiology, Health Care Systems and Advanced Practice, Nursing Research and Knowledge Generation in Nursing, Physiologic Basis of Advanced Nursing Practice, Advanced Pharmacology, Comprehensive Assessment of Health: Implications for Clinical Decision-Making, Advanced Nursing Practice Interventions, theory and practicum courses.

If you do not have your bachelor’s degree, you can choose direct entry, which is a 90 credit hour program.

Bellin College

Bellin College in Green Bay is now offering a Family Nurse Practitioner Program. This is a 48 credit hour program. You need a bachelors in nursing and a 3.0 GPA. You also need to have worked for a year in a clinical setting and be licensed in Wisconsin. You need to have taken a health assessment and stats class in the previous five years. You need to have taken a research course. Send two letters of reference, resume, and personal statement to apply.

Nurse practitioner programs in Wisconsin are plentiful and there are many choices. Registered nurses can move themselves up the ladder in their career.

4 Schools Offering Nurse Practitioner Programs in Wisconsin is a post from: Registered Nurse Training Blog