Accelerated Nurse Practitioner Programs

Top Online Accelerated Nurse Practitioner Degrees

A nurse practitioner is a special type of advanced practice nurse. The pre-requisites for becoming a nurse practitioner include earning licensure as a registered nurse (RN) and earning a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree. Each of the following schools offers at least one accelerated online MSN program.

MSN: FNP MSN: Nurse Midwifery	Georgetown University -- "To improve the health and well being of all people" is the centerpiece of Georgetown University's online MS in nursing programs in both family nursing and midwifery & women's health nursing, offered by the School of Nursing and Health Studies. Graduates of the two-year virtual program will be able to continue their chosen profession as advocates of the patient utilizing proper clinical judgment and caring practices.
MSN: Administration MSN: Education	Kaplan University -- At Kaplan University, students in the MSN programs in both nursing administration and nursing education are proud to say they are fortunate to study a curriculum that is designed to allow for the exploration of the dynamic healthcare nursing environment. Courses include Advanced Nursing Roles, Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing, and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in a Diverse Community.
MS in Nursing MSN: Education MSN: Informatics MSN/MBA Dual Degree MSN/MHA Dual Degree	University of Phoenix -- The University of Phoenix College of Nursing offers several Master's programs in nursing, including the MS in Nursing, MSN - Health Education, and MSN - Health Informatics. All of these options feature dynamic curriculums that both engage and enthrall. Dual degrees are also offered: MSN/MBA and MSN/MHA.
RN to MSN MSN: Case Management MSN: Infection Control MSN: Nurse Management MSN: Nurse Informatics	American Sentinel University -- The American Sentinel University offers nurses several options in pursuing graduate level degrees within their respective field including RN to MSN, MSN: case management, MSN: infection prevention & control, MSN: management & organizational leadership, and MSN: nursing informatics. The degree programs are specialized to help meet the challenges of a demanding healthcare field and provide managerial expertise.
RN to MSN MSN: Education MSN: Informatics MSN: Leadership	Walden University -- Walden University offers an General MSN, as well as specialties in Informatics, Education, and Leadership. The Informatics program combines nursing with computer science, the Education degree incorporates teaching skills, and the Leadership option prepares nurses for entry into management level positions.
MSN: Education MSN: Education Bridge	Capella University -- As the demand for skilled nurses has skyrocketed, the need for excellent nurse educators has also increased. Capella University has answered this demand by training the teachers that will educate the next generation of nurses. The MSN educator and MSN educator bridge programs will help you achieve positions in higher education institutions, health care organization, and the military.
MSN: Clinical Nursing MSN: Family Nursing MSN: Nurse Midwifery MSN: Women's Health More MSN Degrees...	University of Cincinnati -- The MSN Programs at the University of Cincinnati's College of Nursing offers several MSN degrees, including MSN - Family Nursing, MSN - Nurse Midwifery, MSN - Nurse Administration, and MSN - Women's Health Nursing. The College is extremely diverse and full of talented professors eager to promote your success.
MSN: Education MSN: Leadership MSN/MBA: Leadership	Grand Canyon University -- Grand Canyon's MSN - Nurse Education, MSN - Nurse Leadership, and MSN/MBA - Leadership degree programs are designed to provide current nurses with the tools they need to become leaders in their field. The curriculum features classes that explore advanced topics encountered every day in the nursing field.
MSN: Adult Acute Care MSN: Adult Psych Care MSN: Clinical Trials MSN: Nurse Leadership	Drexel University -- Drexel University features a wide selection of specialized MSN programs including adult acute care, adult psychiatric care, clinical trials, and nurse leadership. Courses are offered in a flexible online format. Drexel offers students access to one of America's very best teaching hospitals.
RN to MSN MSN: Health Management	Loyola University of New Orleans -- Loyola University of New Orleans offers two educational tracks for nurses including RN to MSN and MSN: health management degrees. An RN to MSN degree will allow nurses to further hone their nursing skills at a graduate level. MSN: health management degree focuses on the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as leaders within health care organizations.
Accelerated RN to MSN Accel MSN: Adult Health Accel MSN: Education	South University -- South University offers an Accelerated RN to MSN, which is designed for nurses looking for a management career; Accelerated RN to MSN - Adult Health Nurse Practitioner, for those looking for a program that gives you the flexibility to specialize in the field; and a Accelerated RN to MSN - Nurse Educator, for those who wish to teach tomorrow's health care professionals.
Doctor of Nursing Practice DNP - Adult Nurse DNP - Family Psych Nurse DNP - Gerontology Nurse DNP - Neonatal Nurse DNP - Pediatric Nurse	Brandman University -- For years, Brandman University has remained one of the best providers of Nurse Practitioner degrees because of its dedication to its students and alumni. BU takes a practical approach to education with hands-on assignments and industry-driven subject material. These degree programs are for those want to become Nurse Practitioners with several specializations available including Adult Health, Family Psychology, Gerontology, Neonatal Nurse, and Pediatrics.
MSN: Nurse Educator	Vanderbilt University -- Vanderbilt University, one of the top educators in the nation, now offers an online program for their well-respected Masters of Science in Nursing: Health Systems Management degree. This program takes a practical and thorough approach as it builds upon the student's foundation in healthcare. While this program offers convenience and flexibility, work experience and a bachelor's degree are required for enrollment.
RN to MSN MSN: Education MSN: Leadership	Gonzaga University -- The General MSN, MSN Nurse Education, and MSN Nurse Leadership degrees from Gonzaga University provide the chance for nurses to take their professional skills to the management level. The curriculum features both theory education and relevant research and development.
MSN: Clinical Leadership	St. Xavier University -- St. Xavier University's MSN in Clinical Leadership is a master's level program that will ready you for leadership roles throughout the healthcare system. Take charge of your career by gaining the knowledge, expertise, and experience employer's are looking for with this unique advanced degree.
MS in Nursing	Benedictine University -- The online Master of Science in Nursing at Benedictine University provides both the convenience and curriculum necessary for effectively obtaining your goals in nursing. The curriculum builds the skills necessary to lead the health care system and also provides the flexibility to concentrate on the areas that students are passionate about.
MSN: Clinical Leadership MSN: Nurse Education MSN: Patient Services	Sacred Heart University -- Sacred Heart University offers several educational tracks for nurses including MSN: clinical nursing, MSN: nursing education, and MSN: patient care services administration. Each program is designed to either prep nurses to take on a managerial role or further hone their nursing skills within their respective field.
See all schools that offer Accelerated Nurse Practitioner degrees ...

Accelerated Nurse Practitioner Programs

A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice nurse who has earned a license as a registered nurse (RN) and a Master of Science (MSN) in nursing degree. The International Council of Nurses defines a Nurse Practitioner (NP) as “a registered nurse who has acquired the expert knowledge base, complex decision-making skills and clinical competencies for expanded practice, the characteristics of which would be determined by the context in which s/he is credentialed to practice.” Nurse Practitioners differ from doctors as they’re educated under the nursing model, a model designed to provide holistic and preventive care focused on their patients well-being.

What are Accelerated Nurse Practitioner Programs?

Accelerated Nurse Practitioner Programs (ANPP) are designed for baccalaureate graduates of other studies, including engineering, biology, business, the humanities education, the social sciences, communication and the arts, social work, and from other health care fields. Some students have extensive post college work experience and others are recent graduates. In most cases, non-nurses who already have a BA or BS degree can complete a master’s degree in an eighteen-month to two-year program. Time commitment varies depending on learning style and the efficiency of study habits. As the credit hours and content are very heavy in accelerated nurse practitioner programs, most require a full-time commitment.

Upon graduating the accelerated program, you are eligible for professional registered nurse (RN) licensing examinations and nurse practitioner licensure and national credentialing. These programs move at a very fast pace; to be most successful in this type of program you must be able to accommodate your style of learning to this fast paced method of teaching. Many hospitals and health-care facilities and clinics prefer to hire nurse practitioners who have undergone accelerated learning programs because participants typically demonstrate a higher level of competency among their peers, which makes them flexible to work with and adaptable to many different environments.

Are there pre-requisites to enter an Accelerated Nurse Practitioner Program?

You must have a BA or BS degree in order to apply for an ANPP. In addition to the degree, most programs require you to have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and some require GRE scores, with a competitive GRE score falling within the top 50th percentile on both the verbal and quantitative components. There are prerequisite classes that many online programs require. Usually schools require that classes have been taken within the past ten years and genetics within the past five years. Many also require transcript assessment to determine whether or not your previous credits will transfer. Typical required classes include:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Microbiology
• Chemistry
• Developmental Psychology
• Nutrition
• Statistics

Before being accepted to the program you must pass the pre-screening test that many universities offer. In addition, there are programs that require you to have CPR certification by the program application date.

What Does a Typical Accelerated Nurse Practitioner Program Entail?

Each program varies depending on the school you chose to go to and the type of nurse practitioner title you’re interested in. Your education should allow you to focus on the area of medicine that most interests you. For example, if you enjoy high-pressure situations, you could work as a critical care nurse, or if you enjoy working with children you could choose neonatal nursing or pediatrics. Programs are looking for candidates who have a more mature outlook on life, are responsible, assertive and goal oriented, and who are quick learners and possess a high competence in clinical skills. One must have these skills in order to keep up with the accelerated nurse practitioner program’s coursework and clinical studies.

What Happens After Completing an Accelerated Nurse Practitioner Program?

After completing the coursework and clinical experience, the candidate must then pass a national board certification. The two biggest certifying bodies include the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Both these groups require applications to fully complete the accelerated nurse practitioner program to be eligible to test for certification. Each state has their own criteria and licensing/certification criteria, therefore the candidate must be licensed by the state in which he or she wishes to practice in. One must know their state nurse practitioner laws because licensing periods vary by state with some requiring biennial relicensing and others requiring triennial relicensing.

What are the Job Prospects for Students of Accelerated Nurse Practitioner Programs?

It is estimated that in the next five years there will be a need for about a million new nurses to take over a generation of aging nurses, and employment of nurses is expected to grow by 22 percent from 2008 to 2018. The country’s population is steadily growing, and there are more health needs now then there ever have been before. Acquiring a degree as a Nurse Practitioner is therefore quite practical. An accelerated program helps suit the demand for health care and will help you get into your career at a quicker rate. Jobs vary by geographic settings, but overall employment of Nurse Practitioners is growing faster than the average occupation.

As a nurse practitioner you work with all age-ranges of patients and can treat both physical and mental conditions. A nurse practitioner performs physical exams, orders and interprets diagnostic tests, diagnoses disease, and provides appropriate treatment, including prescribing medication. Many people use nurse practitioners as their primary health care provider.

Other examples of things you may be doing as a nurse practitioner include:

• Prescribing physical therapy or other rehabilitation treatments
• Performing and interpreting routine lab tests, bon x-rays, EKGs, or other diagnostic studies
• Providing prenatal care and family planning services
• Administering immunizations, child vaccinations, and other related child-care services
• Counseling and educating patients on health behaviors, self-care, and treatment options
• Assisting or performing minor surgeries, such as dermatological biopsies or casting
• Obtaining medical histories and conducting physical examinations

Every state has their own guidelines for specific duties a nurse practitioner can perform. The Pearson Report provides a current state-by-state breakdown for those roles.

There are many settings in which a nurse practitioner can practice in. Some of these options include:

• Hospitals and hospital clinics
• Community health clinics, centers, or urgent care locations
• Hospice care
• Women’s health clinics
• Children’s clinics
• Nurse Practitioner private practice offices
• Nursing homes
• Nursing schools or private/public schools, universities and college working as a professor
• School/college clinics

No matter what path you take—an educator, administrator, researcher, or health care provider—accelerated nurse practitioner programs enable you to establish a strong foothold in a successful career that is helping save lives daily.

What is the Typical Salary for a Graduate of Accelerated Nurse Practitioner Programs?

The average salary for a nurse practitioner is $78,000, although it depends on the title and place a nurse practitioner chooses to work. A breakdown of average salaries with related titles:

• Nurse Practitioner Urgent Care: $123,000
• Geriatric Adult: $105,000
• Family Nurse Practitioner: $92,000
• Nurse Practitioner Mental Health: $97,000
• Nurse Practitioner Cardiology: $108,000
• Hospitalist Nurse Practitioner: $100,000
• Oncology Nurse Practitioner: $97,000