Top Online Nurse Practitioner and FNP Degrees

A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice nurse who provides primary and specialty care to patients. A nurse practitioner is responsible for administering both nursing and wider healthcare services; and, they are licensed to prescribe medications. Becoming a nurse practitioner requires the completion of a master's degree program. Below are the most popular colleges offering online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees.

MSN: Nurse Practitioners MSN: Nurse Education MSN: Nurse Informatics MSN: Nurse Leadership	Walden University - The Walden University Master of Science Nurse Practitioner degree program offers study in the advanced methods of practicing nursing throughout the healthcare industry. Registered nurses with bachelors in nursing are able to obtain their diploma in an accelerated format. Students can also specialize in various aspects of nursing, including education, informatics, and leadership.
MSN: Family Nursing MSN: Women's Nursing	Georgetown University - Graduates of the Georgetown University online MS in nursing programs in family nursing or midwifery and women's health nursing will have more than just a degree to their name upon completion. Students will have the skill and knowledge to help advance their profession, and medicine as a whole, while serving as sponsors of the well-being and overall health of each of their patients.
MSN: Nurse Practitioners RN to MSN MSN: Nurse Administration MSN: Nurse Education MSN: Nurse Informatics	Kaplan University - The Kaplan University MSN for Nurse Practitioners and RN to MSN programs offers students the opportunity to explore nursing methods in a dynamic healthcare environment. Courses include Advanced Nursing Roles, Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing, and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in a Diverse Community. MSN specializations are offered in nurse administration, nurse education, and nurse informatics.
MSN MSN: Health Education MSN: Health Informatics MSN/MHA Dual Degree	University of Phoenix - The University of Phoenix MSN programs give students the tools and knowledge necessary to succeed in the healthcare industry. Programs include Nurse Practitioner, MBA/Healthcare Management, Master of Health Administration, Healthcare Education, and Health Informatics. The University of Phoenix is known for graduating the leaders of the nursing industry.
MSN MSN: Case Management MSN: Health Informatics MSN: Infection Prevention MSN: Nurse Leadership	American Sentinel University - The American Sentinel University school of healthcare offers a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree with specializations in case management, health informatics, infection control and prevention, and nursing leadership. All of these programs are CCNE-accredited, so students can be assured that graduation from American Sentinel should lead to expanded career opportunities.
MSN: Nurse Practitioners RN to MSN RN to MSN: Adult Health RN to MSN: Nurse Education	South University - The South University Master of Science in Nursing program features a Nurse Practitioner specialization designed for Registered Nurses that wish to advance their skills, manage their patients care, and make critical decisions using evidence-based information. The program is conveniently offered online. For RNs looking to make a career jump, South University also offers an accelerated RN to MSN program with specialized tracks in adult health and nurse education.
MSN: Nurse Educator MSN: Educator Bridge	Capella University - The Capella University Master of Science in Nursing Educator specialization teaches nurses the art of nurse education. The curriculum features courses that provide advanced nursing methodologies along with the development, delivery, assessment, and review of nurse education programs. This program is also available as an RN to MSN bridge.
DNP DNP: Adult Nurse DNP - Family Psych Nurse DNP: Gerontology Nurse DNP: Neonatal Nurse DNP: Pediatric Nurse	Brandman University - The Brandman University School of Nursing offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree for the advanced practice nurse who already holds an MSN degree and is looking to complete his/her clinical doctorate. Areas of concentrations with the program include adult nurse practitioner, family psychiatric nurse practitioner, gerontology nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner, and pediatric nurse practitioner.
MSN: Adult Acute Care MSN: Adult Psych Care MSN: Clinical Trials MSN: Nurse Leadership	Drexel University - Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions offers several Master of Science in Nursing programs. Programs include Adult Acute Care, Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Care, Clinical Trials Research, and Leadership. The program's innovative curriculum is designed to meet local, national, and global health care needs.
MSN: Adult Nursing MSN: Clinical Nursing MSN: Family Nursing More Degrees...	University of Cincinnati - The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing provides students 3 options to obtain their Master of Science in Nursing degree: traditional, accelerated, and RN to MSN LINK program. Cincinnati offers both onsite and distance learning specialty tracks, including Adult Acute Care, Neonatal, and Women's Health.
MSN: Health Systems Mgmt	Vanderbilt University - At Vanderbilt University, students in the MSN - health systems management program will participate in an online format that confers an advanced degree in the management of healthcare. Graduates leave Vanderbilt with the education and confidence to tackle the most pressing medical management challenges.
MSN: Nurse Education MSN: Nurse Leadership MSN/MBA: Nurse Leadership	Grand Canyon University - The Grand Canyon University College of Nursing and Health Sciences provides students with a variety of master's programs tailored to meet the students specific interests. Specializations include Education, Leadership in Health Care Systems (also available as an MBA).
MSN: Nurse Educator MSN: Health Systems Leadership	Gonzaga University - For students who want to advance their careers and quickly accomplish life goals, Gonzaga University offers two degrees to help students become nurse practitioners. The first allows students to specialize as Nurse Educators while the second specialization is in Nurse Systems Leadership. Both degrees are accredited and through online courses, they can be accomplished in two years.
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What is a nurse practitioner degree program?

A nurse practitioner degree program is one for persons in the healthcare field who are eager to advance both their education and career opportunities. While there are specific nurse practitioner courses and programs, obtaining a different types of nursing degrees is also a way to enter this field. Nurse practitioners can work in a variety of environments, and as a result there are many options for nurse practitioner programs. Typical job responsibilities are to diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness. Nurse practitioners can work independently or as a part of a health care team.

What type of salary can someone who is a nurse practitioner expect?

Those who are starting, or advancing their nurse practitioner careers, will typically do so because of the highly competitive salaries offered by the industry. Demand for qualified nurse practitioners is generally increasing, due to the universal rise in demand for healthcare industry professionals. The average salary for nurse practitioners will typically fall between $81,000 and $94,000 annually. There can be variation in these numbers, depending on the specific health care organization, as well as the years of experience the nurse practitioner has.

What are the various degrees one can pursue in this field?

As previously mentioned, while there are specific nurse practitioner degree programs, many of the paths leading to a nurse practitioner career go through other types of nursing degrees and specializations. It is important to note that many nurse practitioner courses and degree programs are on a graduate level. Therefore, having an undergraduate degree is often required.

• BSN to MSN Programs
• DNP Programs
• MSN - Nurse Practitioner Programs
• RN to MSN Programs

What academic institutions offer nurse practitioner degree courses and programs?

Many excellent academic institutions offer nurse practitioner courses, as well as general nursing courses. Some of these schools have traditional, on-campus learning programs. Others offer distance education options. Distance education options are most useful for students who may have other occupational or family commitments. The following schools offer nursing degrees that can get students on their way to becoming certified nurse practitioners:

• University of Phoenix: The University of Phoenix has many different nursing programs. Students can benefit from the resources of the world's largest online university. Program options include; MS in Nursing, MSN in Health Education, MSN in Health Informatics, and MSN/MHA Dual Degree.
• University of Cincinnati: UC offers MSN programs with many different choices for specializations. Students can obtain a degree in Clinical Nursing, Psychiatric Care, Adult Nursing, Family Nursing, Nurse Administration, Nurse Midwifery, and Women's Health.
• Walden University: Walden offers students a vast array of options in regards to nursing degrees. Walden students can take courses in nursing that help them work towards getting degrees such as, MSN - Nurse Practitioner, MSN - Nurse Education, MSN - Nurse Informatics, MSN Nurse Leadership, and more.
• Liberty University: Founded with Christian values in mind, this school offers a well-rounded nursing program that aspiring nurse practitioners should be interested in. Students can pursue a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in acute care.
• Michigan State University: Learning about the nursing profession, while also being able to be a Spartan. MSU Spartans can study to become Nurse Practitioners or Family Nurse Practitioner programs, as well as Nursing Science Studies and RN Programs.
• Bringham Young University: One of the top universities in Utah offers several excellent nursing programs. Students can work towards degrees in in Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner Programs, as well as Registered Nurse Programs and Nutrition Services programs.
• North Dakota State University: North Dakota is home to a quality institution offering a top-notch education. Students at North Dakota State University can apply to RN nursing programs which will usually take two to four years for completion.
• Texas Tech University: Students interested in joining the illustrious Red Raider alumni network can find a multitude of nursing programs via Texas Tech. Texas Tech has programs in nursing administration, becoming an RN, and becoming a family nurse practitioner.
• Northern Arizona University: Located in sunny Arizona, NAU gives students the opportunity to pursue their nursing degree in an excellent academic environment. NAU offers programs in Public Health Nursing, Community Nursing, and becoming an RN.
• University of Iowa: The University of Iowa has many programs for persons interested in exciting careers as nurse practitioners. Students can take programs in Nursing for Adults and Seniors, Nursing Administration, Nursing Science Studies, and can also study to become a family nurse practitioner.

Is there financial aid available for nurse practitioner schools?

Obtaining an education can be extremely expensive. However, students sometimes overlook the vast amount of options that exist for financial aid and the like. There are many nurse practitioner financial aid options that students should certainly consider. There are also scholarships for nurse practitioners that students can apply for. Some of these scholarships include; the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) scholarship, the Upstate Medical University scholarship, the Elaine Gelman Nurse Practitioner Scholarship, The Emmalyn Ellis Freeman Nurse Practitioner Scholarship, and more.

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