Bradley University Online NP Programs

#17 Best Overall NP School

#4 Most Flexible NP School

#12 Best Program Variety

• BSN to DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• BSN to DNP – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• BSN to DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
• BSN to DNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• MSN – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
• MSN – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Post-MSN Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
• Post-MSN Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
• Post-MSN Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner
• Post-MSN Certificate – Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
• RN to MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ADN Bridge)
• RN to MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner (ADN Bridge)
• RN to MSN – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (ADN Bridge)

Bradley University offers several online nurse practitioner (NP) programs, including Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with two entry options (ADN to MSN, and BSN to MSN), BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Post-Master’s Certificates (PMC). NP specializations include Family (FNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care (AGPCNP), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AGACNP), and Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMHNP). No campus visits are required, and students complete practicums locally at approved facilities where they live and work.

With a projected shortage of 120,000 primary care physicians by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), more and more bachelor’s prepared nurses are moving into family nurse practitioner master’s programs. NPs may practice with individuals, families, and groups. They may seek careers in hospitals, medical clinics, private practice, schools, mental health, rehabilitation, correctional facilities, ICUs, long-term care facilities, health departments, government organizations, and urgent care clinics.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), “The changing demands of this nation’s complex healthcare environment require the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes.” As such, the preparation required for advanced practice nurses was moved from the master’s level to the doctoral level in 2015.

The BSN to DNP program through Bradley University is an excellent option for nurses wishing to advance directly to the DNP level. Learning outcomes include improving the quality of care for patients and communities, leading the way in the areas of healthcare information systems and informatics, and effecting change through evidence-based practice and decision-making.

For nurses who are already prepared at the master’s level and who want to expand their expertise, a Post-Master’s Certificate may be just the right choice. The 100% online PMCs offer the opportunity for master’s prepared nurses to gain advanced expertise in nursing theory, conduct medical research, and carry out patient-focused quality of care.

Bradley University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The online nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates of the online nursing programs will be eligible to take the ANCC or AANP certification exams. Bradley University is located in Peoria, Illinois.

What to Expect from the Bradley University Online NP Programs

Admission Requirements: All applicants to the Graduate School at Bradley University must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA for undergraduate and graduate coursework where applicable. Online applications are submitted through The Graduate School and must include an application fee, official transcripts, an admissions essay, two letters of recommendation, and proof of language proficiency if applicable. All nursing applicants must show proof of a current RN license. International students must also provide proof of financial ability. No graduate entrance exams (GRE/GMAT) are required.

• Program-Specific Admission Requirements
• RN to MSN (ADN Bridge Option): Hold an RN license with a diploma or ADN degree from an ACEN or CNEA accredited program, or an RN license accompanied by a non-nursing bachelor’s degree
• BSN to MSN and BSN to DNP: Hold a BSN degree from a CCNE, ACEN, or CNEA-accredited nursing program
• Post-Master’s Certificates: Hold an MSN degree from an ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA-accredited nursing program

State Restrictions: While Bradley University accepts students from most states into its NP programs, applicants outside of Illinois should check with the admissions department to ensure eligibility. The NP programs may not meet licensure requirements in New York and Tennessee at this time. Prospective students should contact the licensing board of their state of residence to determine if the programs meet state requirements for NP licensure.

Study Plan: The Bradley University online nursing programs deliver online courses with local practicums. No campus visits are required. Students may begin the programs in the Fall, Spring, and Summer. Class sizes are small, and students will be prepared for national certification in their chosen specialization.

The MSN program takes 2.3 to 3.3 years to complete and requires the completion of 600 to 750 clinical hours, depending on the specialization. The BSN to DNP program takes 3.3 to 3.7 years to finish and requires the completion of 1,000 clinical hours. The PMCs take 1.3 to two years to complete and include 600 clinical hours.

MSN Curriculum: The RN to MSN program includes the following bridge courses: Conceptual Basis for Professional Nursing Practices; Community Health Nursing Theory; Research in Nursing; and Community Health RN-MSN Practicum.

Core MSN courses include Advanced Pathophysiology; Statistical Procedures; Nursing Theories: Analysis and Development; Evidence-Based Practice; Advanced Health Assessment; Health Informatics; Healthcare Policy; Advanced Pharmacology I; Diagnostic Reasoning; and the capstone course Professional Aspects of Advanced Nursing Practice (Professional Aspects of the PNP for PMHNP students).

• Courses by Specialization
• FNP Specialization: The RN to MSN-FNP program comprises 59 credits and 750 clinical hours. The BSN entry comprises 50 credits and 700 clinical hours. Specialty courses include Primary Care of Acute Conditions Across the Lifespan I; Primary Care Chronic Conditions Across the Lifespan II; Primary Care Across the Lifespan III; and Primary Care Immersion IV.
• AGPCNP Specialization: The RN to MSN-AGPCNP program comprises 56 credits and 600 clinical hours. The BSN entry comprises 47 credits and 600 clinical hours. Specialty courses include Management of Adolescents, Adults, and Geriatrics I-III.
• AGACNP Specialization: The RN to MSN-AGACNP program comprises 56 credits and 600 clinical hours. The BSN entry comprises 47 credits and 600 clinical hours. Specialty courses include Management of Acutely Ill Adults and Geriatrics I-III
• PMHNP Specialization: The RN to MSN-PMHNP program comprises 60 credits and 650 clinical hours. The BSN entry comprises 51 credits and 600 clinical hours. PMHNP students do not take the course Diagnostic Reasoning. Specialty courses include PNP Roles; Psychopharmacology and Neurophysiology for the PNP; Advanced Psychiatric Interviewing and Differential Diagnosis; PNP Continuum of Care Across the Lifespan and Practicum I-II; and PNP Specialty Practicum Focus III.

BSN to DNP Curriculum: DNP courses include Health Care Economics and Finance; Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science; Health Promotion in Populations; Research Design and Statistical Methods; Methods in Evidence-Based Practice; Leadership in Advanced Practice Nursing; Healthcare Policy and Ethics in Advanced Practice Nursing; Advanced Health Informatics; and DNP Project I-IV. BSN to DNP students also complete all of the MSN courses plus 1,000 clinical hours.

The DNP-FNP program comprises 71 credits. The DNP-AGPCNP program comprises 68 credits. The DNP-AGACNP program comprises 68 credits. The DNP-PMHNP program comprises 74 credits.

Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The PMC-FNP program comprises 35 credits plus 700 clinical hours. The PMC-AGPCNP and AGACNP programs comprise 32 credits plus 600 clinical hours. The PMC-PMHNP program comprises 36 credits plus 600 clinical hours.

PMC courses include Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology, and the specialization courses for each track.

Online Experience: Bradley University utilizes Sakai as its online Learning Management System (LMS). Sakai includes a variety of tools for online learning as well as class development. To ensure a quality online learning experience, Bradley University ascribes to Quality Matters (QM), which provides standards of quality online education. Courses are asynchronous with a flexible 24-hour online learning environment. Students can collaborate with faculty, peers, and academic advisors in real-time through the Sakai LMS. Nursing students can access online library services, academic advising, admissions counseling, career services, online tutoring, and 24/7 technical support.

On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements for the Bradley online nursing programs as the courses are 100% online with practicums completed locally.

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