New Mexico State University Online FNP and PMHNP Programs
The New Mexico State University (NMSU) School of Nursing offers an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP) and Post-Master’s Certificate with two specializations: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Most coursework is completed online, except for a 1-week summer boot camp at the Las Cruces, NM campus each summer. In addition, BSN to DNP students come to campus for a 2-day orientation at the beginning of their program. Clinical experiences take place at approved facilities local to the student.
The mission of the NMSU School of Nursing is, “To promote health and improve the quality of life of the people of New Mexico through nursing education, research, practice and public service, recognizing the state’s multicultural heritage and dynamic environment.” Outcomes for the DNP program are based on the Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Practice Nursing from the American Association Colleges of Nursing (AACN). These include concepts of integration, design, evaluation, research, delivery, advocacy, collaboration, leadership, ethics, integration, and implementation all applied to improve the quality of care, organizational outcomes, and patient safety. Outcomes for the graduate certificate fall along the same lines.
There are additional outcomes included for the APRN portion of the program from the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). These include the ability to carry out independent and interprofessional nursing practice, evidence-based, patient-centered care, and a thorough knowledge of health care systems. In addition, nurse practitioners must be able to use technology and inquiry to improve health outcomes, healthcare policy, and delivery of healthcare in a safe and effective manner.
The BSN to DNP program is a 3-year, full-time only cohort program, beginning in the Fall and including summers. The week-long boot camp takes place in the summer before the third year of studies whereas certificate students participate in this boot camp prior to the first semester of their program. Admission decisions are based on the applicant’s nursing GPA, career goals, work experience, clinical experience, quality of writing, and answers to interview questions.
Family nurse practitioners may work in primary care clinics, hospitals and ER centers, government facilities, long-term health care organizations, urgent care, research facilities, and home health care situations. Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners may work in these facilities as well as psychiatric hospitals and clinics, inpatient treatment programs, rehabilitation centers, counseling centers, and prisons.
NMSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The DNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), while the certificate programs are pursuing initial accreditation with the CCNE. New Mexico State University is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
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What to Expect
Admission Requirements: Applicants to the BSN to DNP program at NMSU must hold a current, unrestricted RN license. BSN to DNP applicants must hold a BSN degree from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. Prerequisites include undergraduate or graduate statistics. Certificate applicants must hold an MSN with a 3.0 minimum GPA. Nursing students must also gain admission to the NMSU Graduate School. No work experience is required, but it is recommended. No GRE is required.
An interview (either on-campus or through videoconferencing) will be requested for likely candidates. After acceptance, nursing students must provide a background check, immunizations, and other requirements.
Application materials include an application to the Graduate School, a resume or CV, proof of RN licensure, official transcripts, a letter of intent, and the contact information for three references in clinical practice. BSN to DNP applicants must also include a two to four-page description of an area they would like to see changed in clinical practice.
State Restrictions: New Mexico State University accepts students from several states and is an NC-SARA participant. NMSU is currently authorized to offer the nursing programs in Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., and Wyoming. In addition, approval is pending in Oregon and Texas. Students in all states outside of New Mexico should contact the NMSU School of Nursing to verify enrollment eligibility. Additionally, interested students should contact their state licensing board to determine if the program meets state requirements for NP licensure.
Study Plan: The BSN to DNP program can be completed in three years on a full-time basis, including summers. The program is full-time only and cohorts begin each Fall. The Post-Master’s Certificate program may be completed in as little as one year or three semesters, depending on the number of credits transferred in.
BSN to DNP Core Curriculum: Core courses for the BSN to DNP program include Nursing Informatics; Quality Improvement in Healthcare; Health Policy for Advanced Nursing Practice; Professional Roles for Advanced Practice Clinical Nursing; Advanced Leadership in Healthcare; Innovations in Healthcare Organizations; Evidence-Based Practice for Nurse Practitioners; Advanced Pathophysiology for Clinical Nursing; Advanced Health Assessment; Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing Practice; Promoting Health Behavior; Advanced Clinical Pharmacology; DNP Project I-III; and Doctoral Nursing Seminar (Bootcamp).
- FNP Specialty Curriculum: The FNP specialization comprises 69 credits and requires completion of 1,024 clinical practicum hours. Courses include Primary Care I-III; Women’s Health; and Health Needs of Special Populations.
- PMHNP Specialty Curriculum: The PMHNP specialization comprises 69 credits and requires completion of 1,024 clinical hours. Courses include Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I-III; Psychopharmacology for Advanced Practice; and Health Needs of Special Populations.
Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The Post-Master’s Certificate program consists of 18 credits for the FNP specialization and 21 credits for the PMHNP track, plus 576 clinical hours. Courses for the FNP specialization include Primary Care I-III and Health Needs of Special Populations. Courses for the PMHNP specialization include Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I-III; Psychopharmacology for Advance Practice; and Health Needs of Special Populations.
Online Experience: New Mexico State University delivers courses through the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) and the Zoom video conferencing platform. Computer requirements include a current web browser that works with Canvas and Zoom, JAVA, Microsoft Office 2010 or higher, Adobe Reader, and a webcam plus microphone and headset. Courses may include readings, lectures, projects, assignments, and assessments. There may be asynchronous and synchronous components. Students have access to typical services such as technical support, academic advising, admissions counseling, library and bookstore services, and career counseling.
On-Site Requirements: BSN to DNP and certificate students come to the Las Cruces, NM campus for a 2-day orientation during the first week of fall classes. In addition, they come to campus for a one-week boot camp during the second summer, before beginning clinicals. All other coursework is online, with clinicals completed at locations near the student.
Paying for New Mexico State University Online NP Programs
The NMSU online NP program tuition numbers are listed in the tables below, and do not include additional fees or travel expenses for the campus visits. Interested students should contact the NMSU School of Nursing for cost clarifications and updates.
NMSU graduate students may be eligible for unsubsidized federal Stafford Loans and Graduate PLUS loans through the FAFSA. As well, some employers offer tuition reimbursement programs or tuition discounts to students. Finally, online nursing students may seek outside funding for their degrees such as community or organizational scholarships and grants.
New Mexico State University's DNP program is a 3-year, full-time, cohort program that includes a campus orientation, a 1-week boot camp, and summer study with Post-Master's Certificates also available.
BSN to DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
BSN to DNP – Family Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master's Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master's Certificate – Family Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
P. O. Box 30001, MSC 3185
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
2
69
1,024
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Yes (80th percentile or better in all GRE categories)
3.0 (2.75 may apply, but must submit GRE scores)
AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, NJ, NY, NC, OR, PA, TN, UT, WA
Program Tuition
69
$444.40
$30,663.60
$444.40
$30,663.60
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
2
69
1,024
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (pending)
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Yes (80th percentile or better in all GRE categories)
3.0 (2.75 may apply, but must submit GRE scores)
AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, NJ, NY, NC, OR, PA, TN, UT, WA
Program Tuition
69
$444.40
$30,663.60
$444.40
$30,663.60
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
2
18
576
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
Yes (80th percentile or better in all GRE categories)
3.0 (2.75 may apply, but must submit GRE scores)
AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, NJ, NY, NC, OR, PA, TN, UT, WA
Program Tuition
18
$444.40
$7,999.20
$444.40
$7,999.20
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
2
21
576
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (pending)
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
Yes (80th percentile or better in all GRE categories)
3.0 (2.75 may apply, but must submit GRE scores)
AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, NJ, NY, NC, OR, PA, TN, UT, WA
Program Tuition
21
$444.40
$9,332.40
$444.40
$9,332.40
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.