Overview
The health care landscape is constantly changing. As a nurse, you need to stay on top of the latest health practices, delivery systems, regulations, and administrative procedures. In addition, with research indicating a clear link between higher levels of nursing education and better patient outcomes, it’s no longer a luxury to update your knowledge; it’s a necessity.
The Nurse Practitioner options are designed to help prepare the professional nurse to function in an expanded nursing role providing direct care to specific groups of clients in a variety of health care settings. Since that practice is inherently interdisciplinary in nature, advanced knowledge and research from nursing is combined with knowledge from science, medicine, and related disciplines. The Nurse Practitioner may also function in supervisory, consultative, education, and research roles.
The program is designed to be completed in two years (four semesters) of full-time study. Graduates are eligible for national certification and state licensure as a family nurse practitioner, adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, or adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. The Nurse Practitioner program is delivered on-site with some courses offered online.
Options
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner
Detailed information can be found on the Bulletin.
Locations
- Nurse Practitioner – University Park, Hershey, Schuylkill, Fayette, Shenango, and Scranton campuses (based on enrollment need)
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner – Herhsey (only)
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner – University Park, Hershey, Schuylkill, Fayette, Shenango, and Scranton campuses (based on enrollment need)
- Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner – University Park, Hershey, Schuylkill, Fayette, Shenango, and Scranton campuses (based on enrollment need)
Admissions
Admission requirements are outlined on the Penn State Bulletin website. Applications to the program can be done through the Graduate School.