Clarkson College Online Nurse Practitioner Programs – FNP, AGPCNP

• Post-Master's Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Master's Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Master's Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• BSN to DNP – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (BSN to DNP AGPCNP)
• BSN to DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN to DNP FNP)
• BSN to DNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (BSN to DNP PMHNP)
• MSN – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
• MSN – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (ADN bridge)
• MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
• MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner (ADN bridge)
• MSN – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Clarkson College offers several online nurse practitioner programs with two specializations: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). These are as follows:

• MSN
• RN to MSN
• Post-Master’s Certificate
• BSN to DNP

Coursework is 100% online with up to four campus visits for the RN to MSN, MSN, and Post-Master’s certificates, and up to five required campus visits for the BSN to DNP. Students also complete their preceptorships at approved locations near them.

These online NP programs offer hands-on, real world applications of the material presented. Classroom content is undergirded with the understanding and skills necessary to apply the material in real-world settings. Online content includes presentations from guest speakers who are leaders in the nursing field.

The BSN to DNP nurse practitioner program prepares nurses as leaders in evidence-based practice. DNP prepared graduates will be able to complete competency goals in critical thinking, technology, diversity, communication, and professionalism. The AGPCNP specialization of the BSN to DNP is in the accreditation process with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), along with a PMHNP specialization.

Graduates of all Clarkson College NP programs are eligible to take the appropriate nurse practitioner certification exams through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).

Clarkson College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). All nursing programs (except the BSN to DNP – AGPCNP which is currently in process) are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Clarkson College is located in Omaha, Nebraska.

What to Expect from the Clarkson College Online NP Programs

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the Clarkson College online NP programs must hold a current, unencumbered RN license and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Application materials include an application, application fee, a scholarly essay, official transcripts, two professional letters of recommendation, completion of Acute Care Skills Assessment form, and a current resume. The applicant must also provide documentation of professional licensure and earned certifications. NO GRE or GMAT is required. Students whose primary language is not English must provide proof of English language proficiency. Students are expected to have 1-2 years of professional nursing work experience before beginning FNP or AGPCNP specialty courses.

• Program Specific Admission Requirements
• MSN: Hold a BSN degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA
• RN to MSN: Hold an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a 3-year nursing diploma from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Post-Master’s Certificates: Hold an MSN degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• BSN to DNP: Hold a BSN degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA

State Restrictions: While Clarkson College accepts students from most states, applicants outside of Nebraska should check with the Nursing Department at Clarkson College to make sure they are eligible for the nursing programs.

Students from the following states may not enroll in the NP programs at this time: Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.

Finally, interested students should contact their state licensing board to determine if the online NP program meets state requirements for NP licensure.

Study Plan: NP programs begin in the fall, spring, and summer. All programs are offered both full and part-time. The MSN can be completed in 2.5 to five years with most students taking three years. The Certificate programs can be completed in 18 months, and the BSN to DNP and RN to MSN programs in three to five years depending on the number of courses taken per semester. Nursing students have up to seven years to complete the programs. Students also come to campus for graduate weekends during each practicum course so they may come to the Omaha, NE campus 3-5 times depending on the NP program chosen.

MSN Curriculum – FNP and AGPCNP: The MSN FNP and AGPCNP programs comprise 47 credits plus 650 clinical hours. Core courses include Essentials of Scholarly Writing; Theories and Concepts of Advanced Practice Roles; Applied Statistics; Healthcare Delivery Systems and Managed Care; Application and Evaluation of Theory in Nursing; Nursing Law and Ethics; Research Design and Methods I-II; and Interprofessional Education.

• FNP Specialty Courses: Advanced Physical Assessment; Primary Health Care I-II; Advanced Nutrition; Pharmacology for Practitioners; Advanced Pathophysiology; Primary Care of Children and Adolescent; Primary Care of Women; Behavioral Health Care for Practitioners; and Family Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice.
• AGPCNP Specialty Courses: Advanced Physical Assessment; Primary Care of the Adult-Gerontology Client; Primary Health Care I-II; Advanced Nutrition; Pharmacology for Practitioners; Advanced Pathophysiology; Primary Care of Women; Behavioral Health Care for Practitioners; and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice.

RN to MSN Curriculum – FNP and AGPCNP: The RN to MSN program comprises 81 credits for both FNP and AGPCNP specializations plus 650 clinical hours. This is in addition to 93 transferred credits from previous schooling. Required courses for the BSN portion include a choice of three health care courses, Interprofessional Education, and either Statistics or Applied Statistics. BSN Major courses include Evidence-Based Inquiry in Healthcare for the RN-BSN/MSN Student; Principles of Leadership and Management for the RN to BSN/MSN, Population Health for the RN to BSN/MSN, and Capstone/Practicum for the RN to BSN/MSN. The support course is titled Pathophysiology and Pharmacology: Current Practices. Courses then follow the MSN core and specialty tracks.

Note that students who have two or more years of work experience in population health, leadership, or evidence-based nursing may be eligible for transfer credit of one 400-level nursing course. In addition, students may enroll in some graduate-level courses while completing the BSN portion of the curriculum.

Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum – FNP and AGPCNP: The Post-Master’s Certificate programs comprise 26 credits for the FNP and AGPCNP specializations, plus 650 clinical hours.

• FNP Courses: Students take the same specialty courses as the MSN – FNP track, except that Family Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice is not included.
• AGPCNP Courses: Students take the same specialty courses as the MSN – AGPCNP track, except that Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice is not included.

BSN to DNP Curriculum – FNP and AGPCNP: The BSN to DNP program comprises 69 to 77 credits plus at least 950 clinical hours. 69 credits are required and up to 8 more elective credits can be completed. The following courses are required for both FNP and AGPCNP specializations: Outcomes of Healthcare in a Global Society; Healthcare Informatics and Data Analytics; Organizational Systems and Behaviors; Health Care Policy and Law; Leadership; Biostatistics/Epidemiology; Healthcare Economics and Financial Management; Evidence-Based Practice; DNP Scholarly Project I-III; and Interprofessional Education.

Other required courses for both specializations include Essentials of Scholarly Writing; Theories and Concepts of Advanced Practice Roles; Pharmacology for Practitioners; Application and Evaluation of Theory in Nursing; Advanced Physical Assessment; Advanced Nutrition; Primary Health Care I-II; Applied Statistics; Behavioral Healthcare for Practitioners; Advanced Pathophysiology; and Primary Care of Women.

Four credits of electives are required and students may complete up to 12 credits. Choices include Entrepreneurship, Learning Theories and Adult Education Methods; Program Planning and Evaluation; Teaching and Learning Strategies for the Nurse Educator; and DNP Scholarly Project IV and V.

• FNP Courses: Primary Care of Children and Adolescent and Family Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice.
• AGPCNP Courses: Primary Care of the Adult-Gerontology Client and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice.

Online Experience: Clarkson College utilizes Canvas as its online Learning Management System (LMS). Through this platform, students are able to access online content, collaborate with faculty and peers on assignments, discuss readings and assignments through discussion boards, submit coursework, view syllabi and grades and complete other tasks. Help for Canvas is available round the clock and students have access to a Student Success Guide which leads them through an introduction to the online Canvas LMS. The guide shows students how to use the platform and helps them develop online learning skills for greater success in the online program. In addition, the learning format allows students and faculty to correspond 24/7. Online resources include faculty office hours, an online library and bookstore, admissions counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, and technical support.

On-Site Requirements: The NP programs require students to come to campus for all clinical courses for a graduate weekend, scheduled in advance each semester during clinicals. During these weekend intensives, students are evaluated on their clinical skills and learn information related to clinical course content. Failure to attend the entire weekend will result in failure of that clinical course. All other coursework is online and students complete local clinicals.