Northeastern University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

Admission Requirements: The admission requirements for Northeastern University’s Bouve College School of Nursing nurse practitioner programs are designed to ensure candidates are well-prepared academically and clinically for advanced nursing roles.

Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing (master’s degree for post-master’s) from an accredited program, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and grades of ‘B’ or better in all nursing courses. A valid current U.S. RN license is required, along with at least one year of full-time nursing experience for all specialties; PMHNP applicants need one year of active psychiatric nursing experience, while NNP applicants require two years of full-time NICU experience.

Applicants must also have completed a statistics course, including probability theory and hypothesis testing, within five years prior to enrollment. GRE scores are not required.

Additional application materials include two professional or academic letters of recommendation, a curriculum vitae, official transcripts from all prior college coursework, and a letter of intent stating personal goals and expectations of the program.

State Restrictions: The state restrictions for Northeastern University’s online NP programs are determined by each state’s licensing and practice regulations. It is important for students to verify their state’s policies regarding NP licensure and practice authority. Northeastern currently accepts applications from students residing in certain states, including Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Study Plan: Designed to accommodate the varying needs of working nurses, the Bouve College School of Nursing offers flexible study plans for its online NP programs. Programs can be completed full-time or part-time. Most MSN programs take approximately two years of full-time study. Part-time students may take additional years depending on their personal schedules.

Credit and clinical hour requirements vary depending on the specialty. The MSN programs in AGPCNP and PMHNP require 43 credits each. The MSN FNP program includes 47 credits with 750 clinical hours, while the MSN NNP program includes 41 total credits. All post-master’s certificate programs typically require around 24 credits. Programs begin in the fall and spring semesters.

Students complete clinical rotations locally, working with clinical preceptors approved by the program. Additionally, students are required to attend two on-campus clinical intensives, each lasting two to three days. Students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs for these intensives.

MSN Curriculum: The curriculum for the Bouve College School of Nursing MSN programs incorporates a set of core courses common to all NP concentrations. These include healthcare system and professional role development; epidemiology and population health; advanced pharmacology; pathophysiology for advanced practice; translating research evidence into practice; and evidence-based practice research application.

Each nurse practitioner concentration then includes specialty-specific courses tailored to prepare graduates for their focused clinical roles.

• AGPCNP Specialty Courses: health assessment; pharmacology of adults and older adults; health promotion of adult/older adult; primary care of adult/older adult health problems; primary care of adult/older adult complex patients; health promotion of adult/older adult practicum; adult/older adult practicum 1; and adult/older adult practicum 2.
• FNP Specialty Courses: health assessment; family care of the adult/older adult patient; family theory; family care of the pediatric and adolescent patient; healthcare of women in family practice; pharmacology of adults and older adults; prescribing considerations in the pediatric and adolescent populations; practicum for family care of the adult/older adult patient; practicum for family care of the pediatric and adolescent patient; and practicum for healthcare of women in family practice.
• NNP Specialty Courses: advanced health assessment of the neonate and infant; nursing management: critically ill neonatal 1; nursing management: critically ill neonatal 2; neonatal pharmacology; neonatal clinical practicum 1; neonatal clinical practicum 2; and neonatal clinical practicum 3.
• PMHNP Specialty Courses: health assessment; dimensions of clinical psychiatric practice; clinical psychopharmacology; psychobiological bases of mental health; contemporary psychotherapies—theory and practice; child and adolescent psychopharmacology; psychiatric practicum across the life span 1; and psychiatric practicum across the life span 2.

Post-Master’s Curriculum: For nurses pursuing post-master’s certificates, the curriculum is designed to build upon prior knowledge and specialization. The post-master’s programs include advanced core courses and specialty-specific practicum experiences that align with their nurse practitioner specialty track. These certificates focus on critical clinical skills and advanced practice knowledge necessary to expand the scope of practice.

Online Experience: The Bouve College School of Nursing offers a flexible and engaging online experience designed to accommodate the busy schedules of working nurses. Coursework is delivered through a blend of synchronous and asynchronous formats, allowing students to access recorded lectures and modules at their convenience while also participating in live online sessions for interactive learning and discussion.

Clinical rotations are completed locally, with students responsible for identifying and proposing clinical preceptors within 100 miles of their home. In addition to local clinical experiences, students attend two on-campus clinical intensives, each lasting two to three days.

On-Site Requirements: The online NP at the Bouve College School of Nursing requires students to attend two on-campus clinical intensives, each lasting two to three days. These intensive weekends provide students with opportunities to connect with faculty members, perfect clinical skills, and prepare for certification exams.

In addition to the on-campus intensives, students complete clinical rotations locally under approved preceptors within 100 miles of their residence. Students are responsible for identifying and proposing clinical preceptors. Students bear the cost of travel, accommodation, and related expenses for these clinical intensives. These on-site requirements ensure students gain hands-on experience and develop the clinical competencies necessary to succeed in advanced nursing practice and certification exams.