IUPUI Online Clinical Nurse Specialist & Nurse Practitioner Programs
The Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) School of Nursing offers online Post-Master’s Certificates in several areas of specialization:
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-CNS)
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-PC)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Typically students do not need to attend any campus immersions for the certificate programs, with the exception of the AG-CNS program which requires one to four campus visits for the Advanced Concepts in Gerontology course. Clinical preceptorships must be completed in Indiana at approved locations. Students participate in synchronous sessions through videoconferencing technology, as well as asynchronous course delivery.
Clinical nurse specialists are prepared to serve patients in varied healthcare settings such as clinics, hospitals, schools, home care situations, long-term care, and government facilities. They develop care plans for their patients and groups of patients with similar needs. CNS duties may lean more towards administrative and program development as opposed to direct patient care.
Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialists serve populations ranging from young adulthood through adulthood and geriatric patients. Graduates are eligible to take the AG-CNS certification exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Nurse practitioners may focus more on direct patient care and working in teams to serve patients in various locations such as clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, schools, rehabilitation centers, prisons, private practice, and government facilities.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners serve the mental health needs of patients, prescribing psychotropic medications, and assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients. PMHNPs serve patients across the lifespan. Graduates are eligible to take the PMHNP certification exam through the ANCC.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioners serve newborns, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults, sometimes up to the age of 24. PNPs provide primary care, assessing, diagnosing, and treating acute and chronic illnesses. Graduates of this track are eligible to take the PNP-Primary Care certification exam through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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What to Expect from the IUPUI Online Nursing Programs
Admission Requirements: All nursing applicants must hold an unencumbered RN license in their state of residence. An Indiana RN license will be required for clinicals. The GRE and GMAT are not required.
- Program Specific Admission Requirements
- Post-Master’s Certificate: Hold a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree from a CCNE, CNEA, or ACEN accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The same application materials are required as the MSN. Courses not completed during the MSN degree will need to be completed to earn the certificate. Each student will have an analysis done to see which courses are required.
State Restrictions: Although IUPUI accepts students from all NC-SARA states, clinicals for the programs listed here must be completed in Indiana. Students outside Indiana may participate in the program but must move to Indiana to complete clinicals, therefore all other states are considered restricted as this would not be feasible for most students. The IUPUI nursing programs meet certification requirements for the state of Indiana.
Study Plan: The certificate programs can be completed in two years on a part-time basis due to when courses are offered. There is no full-time option for post-master’s certificates. Courses are completed online, typically. The certificate programs are typically 100 percent online, with the exception of the AG-CNS program which requires one to four campus visits for the Advanced Concepts in Gerontology course. For all programs, clinicals are completed where the students live in Indiana.
AG-CNS Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The AG-CNS Post-Master’s Certificate comprises 17 credits and includes 525 clinical hours. Courses include CNS I: Scientific Basis of Practice; CNS II: Symptom Management; CNS III: System-Level Leadership; and Advanced Concepts in Gerontology.
PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate comprises 20 credits and includes 525 clinical hours. Courses include Neuropsychopharmacology; Substance Use/Abuse; and Advanced Clinical Practice PMHNP I-III.
PNP Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The PNP Post-Master’s Certificate comprises 17 credits and includes 525 clinical hours. Courses include Child and Family Wellness Assessment; Advanced Practice Nursing of Children; Advanced Nursing Management; Child Health Maintenance; and Collaborative Clinical Practice.
Online Experience: IUPUI online nursing students utilize Zoom for videoconferencing and collaboration. Synchronous class sessions may take place as often as twice a week during specialty courses and distance students connect via Zoom. Students will need a built-in or external web camera as well as a sound card and headset for the best audio quality. It is recommended that computers be new within the past five years and have an updated operating system and web browser.
Other courses or parts of courses are delivered asynchronously with assignments, assessments, readings, and projects due as assigned. Student services include academic advising, faculty office hours, technical support, library and bookstore services, career counseling, and disability services.
On-Site Requirements: Distance education students are not required to come to campus for synchronous sessions, but rather attend via videoconferencing. Synchronous dates are published in advance and may take place once a week or more or less often depending on the specialization and course.
Post-master’s certificate students are not required to come to campus for Advanced Physical Assessment unless this course was not completed as part of their MSN program. This would mean five campus visits would be added to the program. Certificate students may be required to attend the MSN orientation day and the MSN Professional Practice Day on campus. In addition, AG-CNS certificate students come to campus one to four campus times for the Advanced Concepts in Gerontology course. Again synchronous sessions are attended via videoconferencing. Clinicals are completed near the student’s residence in Indiana.
Paying for the IUPUI Online Nursing Programs
IUPUI online NP and CNS programs are designed primarily for Indiana residents. Non-resident students willing to travel to Indiana for clinicals (which must be completed in Indiana), will be charged higher tuition. Each program’s tuition is listed in its table below.
IUPUI graduate nursing students may be eligible for unsubsidized federal student loans through the FAFSA. Some employers may also offer a tuition reimbursement program. Students should check with the Indiana University School of Nursing (IUSON) as to the option of scholarships. In addition, MSN and certificate students may seek outside resources for scholarships and grants.
IUPUI offers APRN certificate programs to residents of Indiana. All programs are offered part-time and full-time in cohorts.
Post-Master's Adult-Gerontology CNS Certificate
Post-Master's Pediatric Primary Care NP Certificate
Post-Master's Psychiatric Mental Health NP Certificate
1111 Middle Drive, NU 122
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist
August
Yes
1-4
17
525
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
17
$650.25
$11,054.25
N/A
N/A
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
PNP – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
August
Yes
0
17
525
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
17
$650.25
$11,054.25
N/A
N/A
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
August
Yes
0
20
525
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
20
$650.25
$13,005.00
None
None
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Sara Navratil
WriterSara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She’s the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online NP programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.