Founded in 1842, this school provides a Christian environment and flexible schedules, boasts a low faculty-to-student ratio (listed as 1:8,) and is recognized as the largest fully accredited higher learning and privately supported school in Alabama. Those entering this school to focus on the nursing field are prepared for a competitive education in liberal arts and a career in nursing. A four-year bachelor of science in nursing is offered. A second-degree bachelor of science in nursing (five semesters) allows students who have acquired a bachelor's degree to earn a nursing degree. The master of science in nursing allows students to specialize in study areas such as family nurse practitioner and nurse educator and management. The nurse anesthesia program is a 28-month course, and upon completion students are prepared for the Nurse Anesthesia National Certification exam. After completion of the nursing practice degree, students are ready to occupy positions of leadership in government, educational organizations, healthcare facilities, and business. Part-time and full-time staff members are registered nurses. They also hold master of science in nursing degrees.
This evangelical Christian university is 26 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The environment promotes faith, spirituality, and diversity. More than 80 programs in various fields of study are offered at this college. The university is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, but has another 13 accreditations through several of its school programs including the School of Music, the School of Theology, the Art Department, the School of Business and Management and the School of Nursing. Degrees offered in nursing include bachelor of science in nursing, nurse practitioner programs, and a Ph.D. in nursing. The master of science in nursing (MSN) program is nationally accredited. Students are given hands-on experience in a specialized clinical area. Upon graduation, students are prepared to maintain positions in areas including pediatric nurse practitioners, family nurse practitioners, school nurses and clinical nurse specialists.
A private university in Connecticut, approximately two hours from Boston and 90 minutes from New York, Quinnipiac University enrolls 2,000 graduate students and 5,900 undergraduates. Regarded as having one of the best undergraduate and master's degree programs by the Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Reports, the college promotes small class sizes, with 25 being the average number of students. Fifty-two undergraduate majors including criminal justice, journalism, mathematics, diagnostic imaging, management, legal studies, and nursing are offered. Twenty graduate programs including business administration, public relations, information technology, occupational therapy and nursing are available as well. The graduate nursing program is licensed by the National League for Nursing Accredited Commission and the Connecticut Department of Higher Education. Students in the program work with top-of-the-line equipment in the 180,000-square-foot School of Health Sciences building that opened in 2009.
Located in Philadelphia, the family nurse practitioner program at the University of Pennsylvania, created in 1973, is one of the oldest master's degree programs in the United States. Penn's family nurse practitioner program is ranked consistently by U.S. News & World Reports in the top three. State-of-the-art equipment is used to educate students. Faculty members provide students with a unique view because they are all currently in practice. The family health nurse practitioner program (16 months) offers part-time, full-time, post-master's, bachelor of science in nursing and master of science in nursing study degrees. Students receive an opportunity to complete lab work, classroom work, and obtain experience in a clinical setting while developing skills in areas including chronic health problems, physical assessment, and health maintenance.