If you’ve already earned a BSN and are looking for online degrees in nursing to expand your career possibilities, you may want to look into what Montana State University online has to offer. The MSU program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and, according to its website, prepares graduates to take certification exams in Family Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Leader, or Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Courses are offered online and through teleconference. Interactive videos are also used to supplement course content. A breakdown of each program is as follows:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
According to the MSU website, “The focus of the family nurse practitioner option is to prepare advanced practice nurses who will manage the primary health care of families across the lifespan. Elements of the practitioner role blend with the unique features of rurality, rural nursing, and rural health care systems. Socialization to the advanced practice role emphasizes the development of a strong nursing identity and prepares the student for interdisciplinary collaboration.”
Students who pursue this option may choose from a 2-year program of study or a 4-year program of study.
Clinical Nurse Leader
The Clinical Nurse Practitioner program is offered for 1½ and 2½-year program of study options. Graduates will provide a generalist role in clinical leadership but will not qualify to practice as a family nurse practitioner. Graduates of the program are eligible for the CNL certification.
Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
This program of study, offered as a 2-year program of study as well as a 3-year program of study, “uses distance learning methodologies and linkages with mental health providers across the state of Montana to: (1) make advanced psychiatric and mental health nursing education accessible to nurses throughout rural Montana; (2) contribute to improved healthcare outcomes for underserved populations by active recruitment of graduate students from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds; and, (3) help Montanans and others in sparsely populated areas of the region gain access to high-quality, psychiatric and mental health care.” This program is ideal for individuals who are interested in advancing their careers in psychiatric nursing.
Non-Degree Certificate Programs
You can also attend online university at MSU to pursue a Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate and a Certificate in Nursing Education. The Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate consists of 36 semester hours of study while the Certificate in Nursing Education requires four theory courses in preparation for a career in nursing education.
How to Apply
There’s no better time than the present to take advantage of the online opportunities available at Montana State University. With the current nursing shortage – and the anticipated need for even more healthcare providers in the future – earning an advanced degree or certificate in nursing can put you head and shoulders above the rest when applying for jobs.
Interested individuals may apply by visiting the MSU online website. Nurses who want to advance their level of education but don’t have the time or resources to attend classes at a state university may find that pursuing coursework online at Montana State University is a viable option.
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