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
Maryville University
Maryville University – St. Louis offers two CCNE accredited online MSN Nurse Practitioner Programs: Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner.
Programs Offered Online: MSN – (Family Nurse Practitioner -FNP, Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner – AGNP)
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)
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)
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.
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)
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)
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