Nurse Practitioner Programs in South Carolina
A master’s nursing program in a nurse practitioner area of specialization is required to apply for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) nurse practitioner licensure in the state of South Carolina (after 1994). Nurse Midwifery and Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) have the same master’s degree education requirement for licensure as an APRN. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) has become another educational pathway for nurse practitioners. There are master’s entry and BS entry programs. Listed below are the nurse practitioner programs offered in South Carolina as well as the Nurse Midwifery and CNS programs.
The South Carolina Office of Research and Statistics – Health Care & Demographics Section conducted a survey of APRNs and their practice type in 2005. What they found was that the majority of advanced practice nurses were practicing as Nurse Anesthetists and Family Nurse Practitioners, 37% and 33% respectively. Adult Nurse Practitioners made up 7%, Pediatric NPs 5%, Acute Care NPs 4%, Women’s Health NPs 2%, Clinical Nurse Specialists 3% and Nurse Midwifery 3%. Any area of advanced practice nursing looks to have significant opportunity for finding jobs after graduation and licensure, especially in the under served areas of South Carolina.
Specializing in advanced practice nursing is not a career limiting choice. there are a number of post-master certificate programs that allow advanced practice nurses to gain education and eligibility for certification in other advanced practice specializations. Some APRNs have selected to pursue nurse educator post graduate degree studies so they can work as faculty at the entry-level nursing programs in South Carolina. This has become a popular second job/part-time job for many APRNs across the country who want to earn additional income. The bottom line is that there are no definitive outcomes when pursuing higher education, only opportunities. Start researching the nurse practitioner programs and other advanced practice specializations listed below and offered in South Carolina.
Nurse Practitioner Online Programs Offered in South Carolina
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)
Kaplan University
The RN to BSN program offered by Kaplan University is CCNE accredited. Kaplan University is currently seeking accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nurse Education (CCNE) for the Master of Science in Nursing – nurse practitioner programs. The CCNE accreditation visit to Kaplan University for review of the MSN programs occurred in November, 2011. Graduates of unaccredited nurse practitioner programs are not eligible to sit for national certification exams. The majority of states require nurse practitioners to be nationally certified for licensure to practice. Currently the Online MSN – Adult NP and Family NP programs are only available in Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and South Dakota. If you are at the “researching” nurse practitioner programs stage, this would be a worthwhile opportunity to request information from Kaplan University to learn more about approval dates and more.
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)
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)
Colleges & Universities Based in South Carolina Offering Nurse Practitioner Programs
Medical University of South Carolina
The nursing programs are CCNE accredited. The Undergraduate program is approved by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Board of Nursing.
Programs Offered: Accelerated BSN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN, MSN – (Concentrations: Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, Adult Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner), DNP, PhD, Post-Doctoral
Medical University of South Carolina,
Charleston, SC,
PH: 843-792-6683
Clemson University
The University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Programs Offered: BSN, RN to BSN, MSN – (Concentrations: CNS – Child/adolescent nursing or Adult/gerontological nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education, Nursing Administration)
309-H Edwards Hall,
Clemson, SC 29634,
PH: 864-656-1437
University of South Carolina
CCNE accredited programs
Programs Offered: BSN, RN to BSN, MSN – (Concentrations: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Clinical Specialist, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Community/Public Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, Dual Degree – MSN/MPH, Nursing Administration, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Specialist or Clinical Specialist), DNP, PhD
1400 Greene St, Columbia, SC 29201, PH: 803-777-3861