Regis College – Online DNP Nurse Educator and Nurse Practitioner Programs

The Richard and Sheila Young School of Nursing at Regis College offers an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Educator concentration with two entry points: MSN to DNP or MS to DNP. Regis College also offers a BSN to DNP Nurse Practitioner program with six NP specializations and an MSN to DNP Nurse Practitioner program with five NP concentrations. Additionally, nurses who already hold NP certification may earn a second NP specialty through the MSN NP to DNP (second specialty) program. Finally, an MS to DNP program is available to those wishing to earn a nurse practitioner specialization in conjunction with their DNP. All of the programs are 100% online with no campus visits required and can be completed either part-time or full-time.

The MSN to DNP Nurse Educator program is designed for registered nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Applicants may include nurse practitioners, nursing practice leaders, nurse educators, or clinical nurse specialists. Topics covered include research and theory, effective communication, informatics, teaching and learning for nurses, and assessment of nurses in educational settings. The MSN to DNP comprises 36 credits and can be completed in as little as two years. The program is 100% online with no campus visits, however, field work hours are required.

The MS to DNP Nurse Educator Bridge program is designed for nurses with a BSN and a Master of Science (MS) degree in a field other than nursing. Topics covered include nursing theory and research, nursing leadership, effective communication, health policy, informatics, educating future nurses, and assessment of nurses in educational settings. The MS to DNP program comprises 48 credits and can be completed in as little as three years. The program is 100% online with no campus visits, however, field work hours are required.

The BSN to DNP Nurse Practitioner program is designed for nurses with a BSN who desire a terminal DNP degree with a nurse practitioner specialization. The curriculum streamlines the move from BSN to NP with the option of six concentrations: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). The BSN to DNP Nurse Practitioner program consists of 73 credits for all concentrations except the PMHNP concentration which comprises 76 credits. The degree can be completed in as little as 3 years.

The MSN to DNP Nurse Practitioner program is designed for nurses who hold an MSN degree without NP specialization. The degree comprises 58 to 63 credits and can be completed in as little as 3 years. The MSN to DNP second specialty program is designed for those who already hold NP certification and wish to earn a second specialty. Credits for this pathway vary depending on prior education. The MS to DNP Nurse Practitioner Bridge program is designed for those who hold a BSN plus a master’s degree in a related health field. This pathway comprises 70 to 75 credits and requires the completion of four bridge courses. The degree may take up to 44 months to complete.

Graduates of the nurse practitioner specializations are eligible to sit for their respective national nurse practitioner (NP) exams. Courses are 100% online with required clinicals (typically at an approved facility near the student’s residence).

Regis College utilizes the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver courses asynchronously. Students participate in online discussion boards and have access to lectures, assignments, and assessments. RegisAccess is a program that gives students access to class schedules, syllabi, grades, and financial aid information. Students also have access to the SmartThinking round the clock online tutoring service and 24/7 technical support.

Courses for the MSN to DNP Nurse Educator and Nurse Practitioner programs include core courses such as Cultural Perspectives in Health Care; Advanced Research Methods for EBP I-II; Epidemiology/Biostatistics; Informatics in Healthcare; and Scholarly DNP Project I-IV. Nurse Practitioner students must also take Advanced Health Assessment.

Nurse Educator concentration courses include Seminar in Teaching and Learning for Nurse Educators; Instructional Methods in Nursing Education; Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education; Online Instruction and Course Facilitation; and Online Development and Teaching Strategies. Each of these courses requires 24 field work hours for a total of 144 field work hours. Concentration courses for the nurse practitioner specializations follow those listed below for the BSN to DNP program for the AGPCNP, FNP, PNP, PMHNP, and WHNP specializations.

The online MS to DNP Nurse Educator and Nurse Practitioner Bridge programs include the same courses as the MSN to DNP plus four bridge courses that allow students to move seamlessly into the DNP portion of the program. Bridge courses include Nursing Theory; Advanced Nursing Research; Concepts in Nursing Leadership; and Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives.

Courses for the online BSN to DNP may include Nursing Research; Health Promotion – Disease Prevention; Epidemiology/Biostatistics; Advanced Pathophysiology; Concepts in Nursing Leadership; Informatics in Healthcare; Advanced Health Assessment; Regulatory Issues: Nurse Leadership; and Roles and Issues in APN. Students also complete the Scholarly DNP Project I-IV and a Clinical Seminar. Finally, students complete the required courses for their chosen specialization.

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) courses include Primary Care of the Adult-Geriatric Client I-II and clinicals with 600 hours of clinicals; and Sociological, Political, and Economic Perspectives in Gerontology.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) courses include Acute and Critical Care Pharmacology; Acute and Critical Care of the Adult-Geriatric Client Course I-II; and Acute and Critical Care of the Adult-Geriatric Client Clinical I-II. Clinical courses include a total of 600 clinical hours.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) courses include two clinical concentration courses that include 600 hours of clinicals; and one of the following: Care of the Childbearing Woman; Teaching & Learning Seminar in Nurse Education; Advanced Psychopharmacology; or Complementary Therapy.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) courses include Advanced Psychopharmacology; Theory and Practice of Contemporary Psychotherapies; and Primary Care of the Psychiatric Mental Health Client I-II and clinicals with 600 hours of clinicals.

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) concentration courses include Primary Care of the Woman I-II and clinicals with 600 hours of clinicals and Care of the Childbearing Woman.

Regis College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The MSN program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).