MSN @ Aspen Univ??

I am interested in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) offered at Aspen University, a DETC accredited institution, located in Colorado.

They offer 2 tracks; one in administration and another in nurse practitioner.

Does anyone have any experience with this program?

http://www.aspen.edu/nursing/index.htm

 

I have no experience with this program, but I wonder if DETC accreditation is sufficient for the NP program. In Massachusetts the board of nursing has specific guidelines:

(a) The following requirements apply to persons seeking authorization to practice as a nurse practitioner except as they are varied by 244 CMR 4.13(2)(b).

1. Satisfactory completion of a formal educational program for registered nurses which has been approved by a national professional nurses accrediting body which the Board recognizes as such. The program must have as its objective the preparation of professional nurses to practice in an expanded role as nurse practitioners. The Board will accept in satisfaction of this requirement only those educational programs whose attendance and training requirements are the equivalent of at least one academic year; and
2. Current certification by a nationally recognized accrediting body approved by the Board for nurse practitioners

 

1 State down 49 to go!

Most States require the passing of a nurse practitioner national certification exam offered by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

To be eligible to take these certification exams one has to graduate a regionally and NLN accredited program or a foreign program that meets approval.

There are a handful of states that will accept nationally accredited nursing programs with masters degrees. Possibly Colorado, Wyoming, California and a couple of others.

Most states now require a masters degree and there is a movement to implement the doctorate degree for NP's by 2012.

In any case, it is certainly worth investigating to see if Aspen Univ. graduates are able to be licensed as a NP in at least one state! It is my understanding that once licensure is obtained in one State, one is able to petition the AANP to sit for the national certification exam and if passed, be eligible for licensure in many other states.

 

Upon closer look.

When reading the degree description for the MSN at Aspen, it says, "Nurses interested in practitioner related courses take the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Concentration."

Does that mean you take "related" courses because you happen to be interested, or does it mean that it will lead to nurse practitioner utility??

In any case the website is vague and doesn't make any statments that the program will lead to becoming licensed or registered as a nurse practitioner.

 

I spoke with a counselor at Aspen about the MSN( family nurse practitioner track) program and she states that the program lacks a pharmacology course and pathophysiology course needed for certification. And the clinical courses are not structured which would be needed for national certification. She indicated that if you completed the MSN program and took some additional courses (as above) some states might consider you for licensing in the expanded role, but most states require a MSN in a program accredited by a nursing organization {AACN or NLN}

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/Backgrounders/acredfct.htm

or regionally accredited and passing either the certification exams offered by ANCC or AANP for licensure in the expanded role. She descibes it as a introductory program. It doesn't appear to be worthwhile at this point given you will not most likely be able to gain nurse practitioner status with it at this time. You can contact Aspen for any further info.

 

National Council of State Boards of Nursing www.ncsbn.org/regulation/boardsofnursing_boards_of_nursing_board.asp

 

Thanks!

Too bad! The price was right, about $7200. In addition a 20% discount is offered to nurses that work in clinics and hospitals.

However, the MSN in nursing administration appears promising for RN's looking for career advancement.

I haven't found very many NA accredited nursing schools.

 

The nursing administration program might be useful and is priced well. Given the nursing shortage and staffing issues hospitals and LTC facilities have a tough time recruiting for some middle and higher management positions. DETC accreditation might be acceptable for this role where clincial roles will still require regional or Nursing organization accreditation. (NLN or AACN)

 

Re: Thanks!

Having just duly clicked on the profile button in the bottom left corner of one of my postings, and then having clicked on "see all posts by this user" in the top right corner of my profile page, I found that I had 63 pages of postlinks (25 per page) and on page 41, I came up with this old thread listing DL nursing programs with weblinks http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19446 . Hopefully you can find something from the following array that will suit your needs.

 

DETC list 3 programs to earn degrees for RNs in USA.
1. Aspen -MSN
2. California College for Health Sciences Bachelor's and Masters in Nursing
http://www.cchs.edu/
3. University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Master of Nursing Education.
http://www.usa.edu/
Questionable whether regionally accredited schools would allow this degree to teach but there is a need for nurse educators now.

 

A small sampling of old nursing threads:

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19446
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18943
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16701
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15915
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14931
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12134
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11912
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5044
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3130

 

also see www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/elearning/directory/gradonline.htm

 

Albany State University www.asurams.edu

 

Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in 2015

It looks like in the near future advanced practice nurses will require a doctoral degree instead of a Master's. Nurses who are in these advanced roles now or prior to implemenatation will be "grandfathered" in. So the nurse will be "doctor' in these advanced roles if the AACN proposal goes through. The new nursing degree will a D.NP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) Go to:
http://www2.nurseweek.com/Articles/article.cfm?AID=14530
or
http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=1964
for info.

 

Brilliant!

Brilliant! I'm sure requiring a doctorate in nursing will now fix the health care provider shortage!

What a bunch of idiots!

 

It's hard to imagine this happening -given the current nursing shortage, high cost of education etc.. The debate about all nurses having a BSN began in the 1970's and never happened-so this may never happen. If you get a master's before the "deadline" you 'd be gradnfathered in without the "DNP".

 

Re: Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in 2015

Nurse Practitioners have been doing the work of physicians for many years and undergo rigorous training. As a clinical social worker I have worked with a number of Psychiatric Nurse Clinical Specialists who have great skills. I agree that the nursing shortage should definitely impact this AACN proposal, yet I'm not sure if there is a huge shortage of advanced nurses.

 

Re: Brilliant!

I agree that it must be frustrating when the educational requirements are raised after one is already in the field. And raising educational requirements is certainly no way to deal with a shortage (as that will restrict the labor supply even further). But for those who may be interested, DL nursing docs are available at:

Case Western Reserve University www.cwru.edu (BG15, 157)
Central Queensland University www.dtls.cqu.edu.au (BG15, 103)
Duquesne University www.duq.edu (BG15, 108)
University of Melbourne www.unimelb.edu.au (BG15, 140)
University of South Africa www.unisa.ac.za (BG15, 144)
University of Teesside www.tees.ac.za (BG15, 181)

 

Another regionally & professionally accredited distance learning nursing program: Ball State University www.bsu.edu/nursing .

 

Another DETC accredited Masters in Nursing program.

Sentinel University's online Master of Science in Nursing Program

http://www.sentinel.agsm.edu/MasterinNursingProgram.shtml
But it is pretty pricey at US$16,200 plus $1500.00 for books and materials.