Colorado Nurse Practitioner Programs
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in Colorado are also referred to as Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). According to the Colorado Board of Nursing, in order to be accepted to the Advanced Practice Registry a registered nurse must first successfully complete a specialized education program in a specialty area that they will practice in. A specialized education program refers to a graduate degree, post-graduate nursing degree or a post-graduate certificate in an appropriate specialty, such as Adult, Family Practice, Women’s Health, Neonatal, Pediatrics, or Mental Health.
To become a nurse practitioner in Colorado, a registered nurse must hold a Colorado Registered Nurse License or a Multi-State Compact Registered Nurse License. This is actually a prerequisite for any nurse practitioner program. To practice in a specific area a nurse practitioner must apply to the Colorado Advanced Practice Registry as well as for prescriptive authority. An academic advisor from the nursing school can help guide graduates through the application process and more information, including the application for the Advanced Practice Registry can be found on the Colorado Board of Nursing website (www.dora.state.co.us/Nursing).
Due to the clinical time requirements of nurse practitioner programs, many schools suggest that students not work while completing these portions of the program. For many registered nurses working to advance their career, this is not really an option to quite their job and continue to pay for their education. Online nurse practitioner programs have created an opportunity for nurse practitioner students to arrange a more flexible schedule that allows them to work around the clinical component of the program.
The Colorado Nurses Association recommends, as of 2009, that APNs be required to successfully pass the national certification exam in their area of specialty. Examples of accrediting agencies are the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the American Nurses Association - American Nurses Credentialing Center, The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, or the National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecological and Neonatal Nursing Specialties. The schools below will help prepare graduates for the appropriate national certification examination.
According to the Advance for Nurse Practitioners 2007 Salary Survey, Nurse Practitioners in Colorado earned an average annual salary of $77,450. Urban settings offered higher salaries than rural areas.
(Sources: Colorado Nurses Association, Colorado Board of Nursing, Advance for Nurse Practitioners)
Nurse Practitioner Programs Offered in Colorado
Regis University
The Regis University School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The University is located in northwest Denver, CO and offers campus based as well as online Nursing programs. Regis University School of Nursing offers Fall, Spring and Summer start dates for their programs. Request information about the program that fits your goals today.
Programs Offered: Traditional BSN, Accelerated BSN, CHOICE BSN, RN to BSN (Online or Campus), RN to MS in Nursing (Online or Campus) - (Concentrations: Management, Education), MS in Nursing (Campus Based) - (Concentraions: Leadership in Health Care Systems, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner), Post-Master's - Nurse Practitioner, MS Articulation for Nurse Practitioners, MS Completion of Nurse Practitioners
- Click Here to request information from Regis University.
Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies - Online
The Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies Graduate nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) accredits the certificate and graduate nurse-midwifery education programs. These programs are enrolling now. Request information today.
Programs Offered Online: MSN - (Specializations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwifery/Women's Health Nurse Practitioner)
- Click Here to request information from Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies.
University of Cincinnati - College of Nursing
The University of Cincinnati - College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The MSN - Nurse Midwifery online program is accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM).
Programs Offered Online: MSN - (Specializations: Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Midwifery, Clinical Nurse Specialist - Nurse Educator)
- Click Here for information about the University of Cincinnati Online MSN programs.
Saint Joseph's College of Maine Online Division of Graduate & Professional Studies
The Saint Joseph's College of Maine Online RN to BSN and MSN Nursing Programs are Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited. The MSN/EDU and MSN/Admin degree programs can be combined as joint degrees, MSN/MHA or MSN/MBA. These programs are accepting applications now.
Programs Offered: Online RN to BSN, Online MSN - (Tracks: Administration, Education and Family Nurse Practitioner)
- Click Here to request information about the Saint Joseph's College of Maine Online MSN programs.
Kaplan University
Programs Offered: RN to BSN, RN to MS in Nursing, MS in Nursing - (Tracks: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, Nurse Informatics), Graduate Certificate - (Tracks: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, Nurse Informatics)
- Click Here to request information about the Kaplan University Nursing Programs.
Spring Arbor University
The Spring Arbor University MSN programs are in the accreditation process with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and are accredited by the The Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The MSN - Nurse Practitioner program is designed to prepare graduates to sit for National certification as an Adult and/or Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. Request information about these MSN programs today.
Programs Offered: Online MSN - (Concentrations: MSN/MBA, MSN/Education, MSN/Nurse Practitioner)
- Click Here to request information from Spring Arbor University.
Frontier Nursing University - Distance Education
The Frontier Nursing University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of College and Schools. They offer online MSN Programs with post masters certificates in the following areas: Certified Nurse Midwifery (accredited by ACME), Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (accredited by the NLNAC). FSMFN also offers an online DNP program accredited by the AACN.
Programs Offered: Online ADN - MSN (Tracks: Nurse Midwifery) , Online MSN - (Tracks: Nurse Midwifery), DNP (Online)
- Click Here for more information about the Frontier Nursing University distance education programs.
Graceland University - School of Nursing
The RN-BSN, RN to BSN/MSN and MSN programs are CCNE and NLNAC accredited. RN to BSN and RN to BSN/MSN program Practicums can be completed in the student's community.
Online Programs Offered: RN to BSN, RN to BSN/MSN and MSN - (Specializations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator), Post-Graduate Certificate (Specializations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Education), Doctor of Nursing Practice DNP (Online)
- Click Here to request information from Graceland University.
Regis University - Loretto Height School of Nursing
The Regis University School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Programs Offered: RN to BSN, RN to MS in Nursing (Tracks: Leadership in Health Care Systems - Management or Education), Online DNP - (Tracks: Advanced Practice Nursing, Advanced Leadership in Health Care)
- Click Here to request information about the Online DNP program.
Philadelphia University - Distance Education
The Midwifery Institute is accredited by the American Commission for Midwifery Education.
Programs Offered: MS Completion Program - Midwifery, MS in Disaster Medicine and Management, MS - Midwifery.
- Click Here for information about the Philadelphia University's Online Master's in Disaster Medicine & Management Program.
- Click Here for information about the Online MS - Midwifery Programs.
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs - Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences
The MSN Programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the university is approved by the Colorado State BON.
Programs Offered: MSN - Nurse Practitioner, MSN - Clinical Nurse Specialist, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-7150 Phone: 719-262-4422
University of Colorado Denver
The MSN Programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Programs Offered: MSN - Clinical Nurse Specialist, MSN - Adult NP, MSN - Family NP, MSN Pediatric NP, MSN - Women's Health Care NP, MSN - Nurse Midwifery, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- 13120 East 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045 Phone: 303-724-1812
University of Northern Colorado - School of Nursing
The MSN Programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Programs Offered: MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner, Post-Graduate Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
- Greeley, CO. 80639 Phone: 970-351-2269
