Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Practitioner

• Nurse practitioner concentrations available: Psychiatric/Mental Health, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, and Family
• $729 per credit hour
• Three opportunities per year to start classes
• 12-week courses

Each concentration is highly competitive. A review of official transcripts will determine your course of study.

• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) concentration: $31,347
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) concentration: $29,160
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) concentration: $30,618

Note: Tuition listed is based on the number of required courses for each program. An analysis of previous coursework may allow for fewer courses and in turn, a lower net cost when applicable. 
Tuition totals presented are maximum amounts not including fees.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing with a 3.0 GPA
• Unencumbered RN license
• One year of clinical experience (by the start of the nurse practitioner clinical courses)
• Resume and cover letter

If you’re concerned about paying for your education, you’re not alone. Most people can’t simply pull out a checkbook to cover the cost of college tuition. The good news is a Wilkes University education may be more affordable than you think. Follow the links below to learn about your financial aid options. Consider it a down payment on your future.

FAFSA

Apply - Grad Plus Loan 

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The Economist  — Ranked 25th in the Nation for Economic Value
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G.I. Jobs Magazine  – Proud Military Friendly School for 10 Consecutive Years
CCNE* Accredited - Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

*The baccalaureate degree in nursing/master’s degree in nursing/doctor of nursing practice, and post-graduate A.P.R.N. certificate programs at Wilkes University are (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Forever Growing and Changing 

For more than 80 years, Wilkes has been dedicated to the success of our students through academic excellence, educational access and return on investment. Some of the nation’s leading publications and renowned organizations have recognized this commitment. We are constantly evolving to meet the needs of our students, and that includes clinical placement. 

Family/Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner students integrate theories from nursing and other sciences that are evidence-based and sensitive to cultural and ethical issues. Promoting quality outcomes in the family population across the lifespan is the focus of the clinical experience in primary care settings. Advanced health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and the development of therapeutic interventions for self-limiting conditions are involved. Opportunities for interdisciplinary experience and collaborative practice are also provided. The seminar component of the course is designed to develop critical-thinking and clinical decision-making skills through case presentations.

(Prerequisites: NSG 500, NSG 550; Total: seminar, residency and 250 clinical practice hours; Credits: 3)

Family/Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner students integrate theories from nursing and other sciences that are evidence-based and sensitive to cultural and ethical issues. Promoting quality outcomes in the family population across the lifespan is the focus of this clinical experience in primary care settings. Advanced health assessment, diagnostic reasoning and development of therapeutic interventions for complex health conditions occurs. Opportunities for interdisciplinary experience and collaborative practice are provided. The seminar component of the course is designed to develop critical-thinking and clinical decision-making skills through case presentations.

(Prerequisite: NSG 549; Total: seminar, residency and 250 clinical practice hours; Credits: 3)

This course is designed to prepare Family Nurse Practitioner nursing students to provide primary healthcare to a pediatric client and their family. The course integrates nursing theories that are evidence-based with health assessment and diagnostic reasoning of acute primary healthcare problems. Health promotion, protection, and disease prevention interventions are provided with consideration to culturally diverse populations.

(Prerequisites: NSG 500, NSG 530, NSG 533, NSG 550; Credits: 2)

Family Nurse Practitioner nursing students integrate theories from nursing and other sciences that are evidence-based and sensitive to cultural and ethical issues. Promoting quality outcomes in the pediatric population across the lifespan is the focus of the clinical experience in primary care settings. Advanced health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and the development of therapeutic interventions for complex health conditions are involved. Opportunities for interdisciplinary experience and collaborative practice are also provided. The seminar component of the course is designed to develop critical-thinking and clinical decision-making skills through case presentations.

(Prerequisite: NSG 546; Total: seminar, residency, and 84 clinical practice hours; Credits: 1)

This course is designed to prepare primary care nurse practitioner students to provide primary healthcare to the adult and older adult population during wellness and acute/episodic illness. The course integrates nursing theories that are evidence-based with health assessment and diagnostic reasoning of acute/episodic primary healthcare problems. Health promotion, protection, and disease prevention interventions are provided with consideration to culturally diverse populations.

(Prerequisite: NSG 550; Credits: 3)

This course is designed to prepare primary care nurse practitioner students to provide chronic primary health care to the adult and older adult population. The course integrates nursing theories that are evidence-based with health assessment and diagnostic reasoning of chronic, primary health care problems. Health promotion, protection and disease prevention interventions are provided with consideration of culturally diverse populations.

(Prerequisite: NSG 550; Credits: 3)

This course provides a foundation for the major systems of therapy for individuals and groups used in advanced psychiatric mental health nursing and other disciplines engaged in mental health practice. A key focus of this course will be on therapeutic modalities, such as brief psychotherapy, group processes and practices, milieu therapy, and crisis intervention, as they relate to advanced nursing practice in mental health.

(Prerequisites: NSG 500, NSG 550, NSG 552; Credits: 3)

This course focuses on the most frequently observed pathologies in psychiatry and mental health, the various conceptual models and theories related to the practice of psychiatric mental health nursing, and the most advanced clinical modalities congruent with the analysis of the best evidence.

(Prerequisites: NSG 526, NSG 535; Credits: 3)

This foundational clinical course introduces students to advanced practice psychiatric nursing in a variety of mental health settings. Students will acquire skills in completing comprehensive mental health assessments, and will be able to identify and apply concepts, theories, and principles to the practice of individual, family, and group psychotherapy, with an emphasis on process dynamics. Considerations and challenges in providing psychotherapy to culturally diverse individuals, families, and groups are also explored and discussed. Skills will be developed in assessing psychopathological symptoms across the lifespan and in implementing planned interventions, as well as requiring students to integrate theory and practice of the advanced practice psychiatric nurse in a supervised clinical practicum.

(Prerequisites: NSG 500, NSG 550, NSG 552; Total: residency and 250 practice hours; Credits: 3)

This clinical course focuses on refining the assessment, diagnosis, and pharmacological and psychosocial management of individuals of all ages with mental illness. Individual, family, and group psychotherapies will also be refined. Students will gain skills in identifying individuals/populations at risk of mental illness and primary prevention in mental health. The mental health needs of culturally diverse, rural, and underserved populations will also be explored. Leadership and advocacy roles of the advanced practice psychiatric nurse as an agent of healthcare policy change are emphasized, and students will be required to integrate theory and practice of the advanced practice psychiatric nurse in a supervised clinical practicum.

(Prerequisites: NSG 526, NSG 535; Total: residency and 250 practice hours; Credits: 3)

This course is designed to assist the P.M.H. nurse practitioner in developing competencies in prescribing and monitoring psychopharmacological agents used in the treatment of common psychiatric/mental health disorders across the lifespan. In addition, this course will examine the effects of major classes of psychopharmacological agents on neurobiological function with a particular emphasis on the clinical management of target psychiatric symptoms. Drugs of abuse, side-effects, issues of polypharmacy, and the management of advanced practice prescriptive privileges will also be explored.

(Prerequisite: NSG 533; Credits: 3)