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
University of Phoenix College of Health and Human Services - Online and Campus Programs
University of Phoenix is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Request free information from University of Phoenix below to find out more.
Regis University
The MSN Programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The University is located in northwest Denver, CO.
Programs Offered: MS, Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner, MS, Nursing Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Post-Master's Certificate Nurse Practitioner, MS Articulation Program for nationally certified NPs, MS Completion Program for nationally certified NPs, MS, Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems, RN to MS in Nursing
- Click Here for information about the Regis University MSN or RN to MSN programs.
Frontier School of Midwifery & Family Nursing - Distance Education
The Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing 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), Family Nurse Practitioner, and/or Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (both accredited by the NLNAC). FSMFN also offers an online DNP program accredited by the AACN.
- Click Here for more information about the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing distance education programs.
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 - Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, MSN - Adult Nurse Practitioner, MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN - Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist, MSN - Nurse Midwifery, MSN - Clinical Nurse Specialist (Nurse Educator)
- Click Here for information about the University of Cincinnati Online MSN programs.
Liberty University - Department of Nursing
Liberty University's Online MSN - Clinical Nurse Specialist Acute Care Track is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. Graduates are prepared for national certification as a CNS and work as practitioners and/or educators. This program is enrolling now. Request information today!
Program Offered: MSN - Acute Care Track Online
- Click Here to request information from the Liberty University Online MSN Program
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
