Accelerated Online NP Programs: Inside Top Schools

University of Southern California’s 21 Month Online FNP

The online Master of Science in Nursing at USC gives nurses advanced training to provide care to infants, children, adolescents, and adults throughout the lifespan in its Family Nurse Practitioner Program. Partnering with the School of Social Work, the FNP program utilizes social work coursework to enhance understanding of how the environment affects human behavior and to promote the ability to think globally about patients and their families while providing care.

Coursework covers health promotion and education, disease prevention, physical assessment and diagnosis, pathophysiology and pharmacology, and illness management. In addition to standard nursing courses, students also complete Human Behavior in the Social Environment, a core social work course, and two social work electives.

This FNP program requires applicants to be RNs interested in becoming FNPs. Application for this program requires:

• A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited college or university
• At least a 3.0 grade point average in your BSN program
• Completion of a 3-credit course in statistics with a grade of C or better
• Residing in the U.S. upon application and throughout the program
• One year of clinical experience

In addition to submitting a completed online application, a résumé, official transcripts, and a personal statement, applicants must also provide letters of recommendation from a clinical supervisor/nurse manager who directly supervised them; a professor, faculty member, or advisor who can meaningfully discuss their academic record; and a practicing advanced practice nurse (APRN) who served as a mentor or whom they shadowed.

The GRE is not required, but you must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System score if your native language is not English.

To help students who may have struggled with their earlier nursing education, the program’s 2-credit Bridge Course offers preparation in pathophysiology and pharmacology, two of the more challenging courses in the accelerated NP program. This course is required for students with:

• A grade of C+ or lower in undergraduate anatomy and physiology
• A grade of C+ or lower in undergraduate microbiology and chemistry
• A cumulative average grade of C+ or lower in undergraduate science courses
• An undergraduate/BSN completed overseas
• Academic transcripts more than five years old
• No undergraduate science courses beyond anatomy and physiology

The accelerated NP program uses both virtual and in-person education that includes online discussion groups with peers and faculty, regular office hours, and two On-Campus Intensives. The program is 49 credit hours of coursework plus 784 clinical hours and costs $1,995 per unit. The Bridge Course is not eligible for federal student aid, and students who must take it should plan on an additional $3,990 cost.

For your clinical placement, the Clinical Placement Team meets with you to discuss policies and give an overview of the placement experience before helping you secure a placement in or near your community. Placement requirements include:

• 4 completed unique rotations
• 14 weeks at each rotation
• 14 hours per week at each rotation
• 2-3 days per week
• 784 total hours

The placement team also screens all sites to ensure they provide diverse primary care clinical experiences.

USC’s FNP program offers both full- and part-time program tracks. The full-time track takes 21 months (5 semesters), and the part-time track, which allows you to continue working while earning your FNP, takes 33 months (8 semesters).

Simmons University’s Accelerated FNP Online

The Online Family Nurse Practitioner program at Simmons University, a private, non-profit school in Boston, prepares RNs to become clinical experts serving the holistic needs of their patients and meeting the challenges presented in today’s primary care settings. The academically rigorous curriculum concentrates on developing evidence-based NP skills and a strong background in research, enabling students to immediately apply what they learn.

Coursework focuses on promoting health and well-being as well as assessing, preventing, and managing chronic illness and disease. Students take foundational courses in pharmacology, pathophysiology, and physical assessment to help them think critically.

In addition to learning to conduct a complete physical exam, graduates will:

• Advance their knowledge of prescribing medications
• Improve their communication skills
• Become familiar with diagnosing acute and chronic illnesses
• Know what resources to turn to for developing plans for patients
• Understand the synthesis of various medications

Online course content is delivered through a mix of synchronous and asynchronous sessions with live courses offered on the same designated days each week. Flex scheduling includes utilizing recorded lectures allowing students to access and review material at any time.

Clinical practice skills developed during in-person rotations enable students to provide acute and chronic care across diverse populations. The Clinical Placement Team collaborates with students to identify and liaise with an appropriate clinical placement and preceptor for the required 672 clinical hours.

All students have access to an experienced APRN as an academic coach available outside of live sessions to answer questions, offer feedback, and provide advice. Students can begin on one of five start dates, and admission is on a rolling basis.

Duration: 24 months over six terms (full-time); 28 months over seven terms (part-time); 32 months over eight terms (extended). Each term is 14 weeks in length.

Cost: $1,275 per credit (tuition only). 47-49 total credits.

Admissions Requirements: The program takes a holistic approach to evaluating a student’s personal, professional, and academic experiences and determining preparedness for the program. To be considered, applicants must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university with a preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Possess a current, unencumbered RN license
• Earn an 83 or better in courses in statistics health assessment
• Submit a current résumé, personal statement, official transcripts, and three letters of recommendation
• Take the English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if their native language is not English

GRE scores are not required. However, you may submit them if you think they’ll strengthen your application.

The Ohio State University’s Accelerated FNP Program

The Family Nurse Practitioner APRN program at Ohio State University prepares students to work collaboratively with other healthcare providers and patients at many stages of health and in a variety of complex family situations. Students develop an understanding of nursing through classic nursing pedagogy and updated best practices.

Both traditional MSN and accelerated Post-Master’s options are available. Both online and on-campus options are available for the Post-Master’s option.

The curriculum consists of the following courses:

• Advanced Health Assessment
• Clinical Reasoning with Diagnostic Methods for Advanced Nursing Practice
• Pathophysiology of Altered Health States
• Advanced Pharmacology in Nursing
• Advanced Nursing Practice FNP Clinical Practicums I, II, III
• Advanced Practice Nursing: Final Professional Seminar

Core courses in the Post-Master’s option are completed online with clinical experiences attended in person at program-affiliated healthcare facilities typically in the student’s local community. Clinicals take place during the last three semesters of the program.

Graduates are prepared for advanced practice in a variety of clinical settings including private practices, clinics, hospital systems, managed care organizations, governmental agencies, and more.

Duration: The total program length for students in the Post-Master’s option varies, with most students completing all requirements in 20 to 32 months (five to seven semesters) of part-time study.

Cost: $972.50/credit (online, tuition only)

Admissions Requirements:

• BSN or MSN degree
• Active RN license
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on the last degree earned is preferred. Applicants with a lower GPA may still be considered on a case by case basis.

Factors considered for admission include:

• A clear understanding of the role of an advanced practice nurse
• Previous experience in their intended patient population
• Leadership and collaboration skills
• Community engagement
• Diversity of thought and experiences
• Personal resilience and growth
• Emotional intelligence, humility, and professionalism
• An overall commitment to the nursing profession

Georgetown University’s Online Accelerated FNP Program

The Accelerated Family Nurse Practitioner program at Georgetown University prepares advanced practice registered nurses to provide primary care for the whole family in a variety of clinical settings. Its online accelerated FNP option is designed for registered nurses with a previously-earned BSN or Clinical Nurse Leader entry-level MSN degree.

The FNP curriculum is grounded in the Jesuit ideal of care for the whole person, cultivating a holistic view that encompasses physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. Through this lens, students come to learn how to care for the whole patient and think critically about social and physical forces that affect family health.

The 44-credit program is presented in a blended format that includes:

• Asynchronous didactic content
• Synchronous class sessions
• Two Objective Clinical Intensives (OCIs) attended on campus during which students complete standardized patient interviews and assessments under program supervision
• Clinical rotations attended at program-approved clinical sites. Students complete a minimum of 750 clinical hours.

Duration: 24 months (6 terms)

Cost: $2,652/credit

Admissions Requirements:

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• BSN or CNL/entry-level MSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program
• Active RN license
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Completed college-level course in statistics with a grade of C or better
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) required for non-native English speakers

Applications requirements include:

• Professional résumé
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
• Personal statement
• Interview
• Three letters of recommendation

GRE scores or not required, but may be submitted to strengthen the application.

LaSalle University’s Accelerated Online FNP Program

A variety of study options highlight LaSalle University’s Family Nurse Practitioner MSN program. Features include:

• 100% online coursework
• Both full-time and part-time study options
• Both seven-week and full-semester format options
• Program starts in both the fall and spring

The course of study is grounded in evidence-based practice and combines theory, clinical practice, and current advanced nursing research. Students explore the psychological, social, cultural, environmental, and economic influences on health care, preparing them to:

• Meet the needs of diverse groups and populations
• Build their practices as FNPs
• Work in a wide range of practice settings that includes hospitals, community clinics, long-term care facilities, university student health centers, rehab facilities, private practices, and more

The 45-credit curriculum consists of:

• Nine credits of core courses
• Three elective credits
• 11 credits of field study/clinical courses (with 692 clinical practice hours)
• 12 credits of advanced core courses in topics that include women’s health, gerontology, and primary care of children

Graduates are eligible to sit for the exams for AANP and ANCC professional certifications.

Duration: Two to three years

Cost: $1,025/credit

Admission Requirements:

• BSN with a minimum 3.2 GPA. Applicants with less than a 3.2 GPA can submit MAT/GRE scores showing a score above the 50th percentile on verbal and quantitative skills.
• Active, unencumbered RN license
• Minimum one year of relevant RN clinical practice experience
• Professional résumé, personal statement, and letter of reference from academic or employer source
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended

Completed applications are evaluated weekly for admission for the next upcoming cohort cycle.

Accreditation for Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

Proper accreditation is your assurance that the online accelerated NP program you’re interested in meets important standards of academic quality. There are two forms of accreditation to look for in your program search:

• Institutional accreditation concerns the academic quality of a college or university overall. Institutional accreditation of U.S. colleges and universities is overseen by a number of regional and national accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Programmatic accreditation concerns specific program types. Look for accelerated NP programs with programmatic accreditation from either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

You’ll typically find current accreditation status information on program websites. You can also check accreditation status through this DOE Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP).

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