Briar Cliff University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs – FNP, AGPCNP, PMHNP

What to Expect from the Briar Cliff University Online NP Programs

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the Department of Nursing at Briar Cliff University must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA for all prior coursework. Online applications require a CV or resume, a goal statement, official transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. All nursing applicants must show proof of a current, unencumbered RN license and have a YouseeU interview. International students must also provide proof of English language proficiency. Accepted students will pay a matriculation fee to hold their place in a cohort, which will be applied to first semester tuition.

• Program Specific Admission Requirements
• MSN: Hold a BSN degree from a CCNE, CNEA, or ACEN accredited nursing program; documentation of completion of Physical Assessment, Nursing Research, Ethics, and Statistics; documentation of 2,000 or more hours of clinical work experience as an RN within the past two years with verification by employer
• Post-Master’s Certificate: Hold an MSN degree from a CCNE, CNEA, or ACEN accredited nursing program; documentation of completion of Physical Assessment, Nursing Research, Ethics, and Statistics; documentation of 2,000 or more hours of clinical work experience as an RN within the past two years with verification by employer

State Restrictions: Briar Cliff University participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), a compact in which states agree to accept online students from other member states. Briar Cliff does not currently admit students from Massachusetts. When in doubt, students should contact the Briar Cliff Department of Nursing to determine state eligibility. In addition, prospective students should contact the licensing board of their specific state of residence to determine if the program meets state requirements for NP licensure.

Study Plan: Briar Cliff University admits MSN students in the Fall only. The MSN program is a 3-year program of study. Post-Master’s Certificate students may enter at varying points depending on the specialization and prior education. The program takes about three semesters to complete. Students are expected to complete their degree within six years of the start date. Online nursing program coursework is delivered 100% online and practicums are completed local to the student. All MSN students are required to attend six lab days on campus in the first summer of their program.

The Post-Master’s Certificate program with FNP, AGPCNP, and PMHNP specializations also begins in the Fall and takes five semesters to complete including summers. If students have not completed the prerequisite courses which include Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Health Assessment, these courses must be completed the year prior to beginning the certificate program. Those who need to complete the health assessment course must attend six immersion days during that semester. Otherwise the certificate program is completely online with no campus visits required.

MSN Curriculum: The MSN program comprises 51-54 credits and includes at least 600 clinical hours. FNP students complete 54 credits while the AGPCNP specialization is 51 credits and the PMHNP specialization is 52 credits. Core courses include Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice; Healthcare Systems: Paradigms, Policy, and Ethics; Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice; Nursing Research; Advanced Pharmacology; Advanced Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nursing; Advanced Health Assessment; Advanced Practice Skills Lab; Evidence-Based Practice I-III; Cultural Competence in Healthcare; and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across The Lifespan.

• MSN-FNP specialization courses include Primary Care in Pediatrics, Primary Care of Adult/Gerontology Client I-II, and FNP Practicum I-II.
• MSN-AGPCNP specialization courses include Primary Care of Adult/Gerontology Client I-II’ AGNP Practicum I-II; and Gerontology Practicum.
• MSN-PMHNP specialization courses include Therapeutic Modalities for APNs; Neuroscience of Psychopharmacology for APNs; Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Adult; Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Children, Adolescents, and Older Adults; and Practicum in Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Nursing.

In addition, students take an oral comprehensive exam to graduate.

Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The Post-Master’s Certificates consist of core courses if necessary and specific courses for each specialization. The FNP certificate consists of 25 credits, the AGPCNP certificate consists of 22 credits, and the PMHNP certificate consists of 23 credits. Students also complete 600 hours of clinicals. If necessary, core courses include Advanced Pharmacology; Advanced Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nursing; Advanced Health Assessment; and Advanced Practice Skills Lab. All other courses follow the specialty courses listed for the MSN degree.

Online Experience: Briar Cliff University uses Brightspace as its online Learning Management System (LMS). Courses are asynchronous with assignments, projects, and discussion forums. Online chat, web conferencing, discussion boards, email, and other forms of communication are available. Students have access to several services including academic advising, admissions counseling, online tutoring, library and career services, and technical support.

On-Site Requirements: MSN students are required to attend six on-campus lab days the first summer of their program. These take place on campus in Sioux City, Iowa. All other coursework is completely online with practicums completed local to the student. In addition, if certificate students have not completed Advanced Health Assessment in prior graduate work, they must also attend the six immersion days. Otherwise, the Post-Master’s Certificate program is 100 percent online with no campus visits, plus practicum requirements.

Paying for the Briar Cliff University Online NP Programs

The online MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate program costs are detailed in the tables below. Travel expenses for the on-campus lab days are not included, and there may be other fees associated with the nursing degrees. Since tuition generally changes from year to year, interested students should contact the Department of Nursing through Briar Cliff University for more details.

Briar Cliff University may offer grants, scholarships, and loans to online graduate students, including graduate loans determined through the FAFSA. Graduate nursing students should also inquire with their employers as to the possibility of a tuition reimbursement program or tuition discount. Additionally, Briar Cliff students may seek outside opportunities such as organizational or community scholarships.

Sara Navratil

Writer

Sara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She’s the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online NP programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.