Nicknamed the “Centennial State” because it became a state in the centennial year of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Colorado is located in the Western United States as the 8th most extensive and 22nd most populous state. Encompassing most of the Southern Rocky Mountains within its borders, Colorado has been named the highest state with the most mountains reaching 14,000 feet. While the state lays claim to more than 300 days of sunshine, the world-famous ski resorts enjoy over 300 inches of snow on an annual basis. Colorado is best known for its major tourist attractions at Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Black Canyon, and Great Sand Dunes, but it is also home to some of the best universities in the nation. The following are the fully accredited graduate Master’s level degree programs in a variety of nursing specialties in Colorado.
Aspen University
School of Nursing
First founded in 1987 from the International Academy in Denver, Aspen University is a nationally accredited university that offers exclusively distance learning courses at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree levels. The Colorado-based program currently has more than 1,050 students enrolled nationwide. Through a dynamic and highly interactive online learning experience, the Aspen University School of Nursing focuses on evidence-based practice that will provide the best care for patients. Graduates are well-prepared for a wide variety of nursing careers in various healthcare roles, ranging from direct clinical patient care to administration or management.
Master’s Level Nursing Degree Programs
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – In order for working Registered Nurses (RNs) to advance their education for leadership roles in the field, the Aspen MSN program is offered in a flexible, fully online format. Designed for students who have already earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the program offers two areas of specialization for personalized education: Nursing Administration and Management or Nursing Education.
RN to MSN Bridge Program – Within the unique, fully online RN to MSN Bridge Program, Registered Nurses (RNs) with an associate’s degree have the power to expand their advanced career opportunities with a graduate level degree. Instead of earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, students are given an accelerated pathway towards an MSN degree in the specialty areas of Nursing Education or Nursing Administration and Management. After completing just 21 Bridge credits, students advance to complete the 36 MSN credits for a total of 57 credits.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
Contact Information
720 S. Colorado Blvd. Suite 1150N
Denver, CO 80246
(303) 333-4224
[email protected]
http://www.aspen.edu/school-of-nursing
Colorado State University – Pueblo
Nursing Department
Situated at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the beautiful Pikes Peak region of southern Colorado with more than 300 days of sunshine each year, Colorado State University – Pueblo is an ethnically and culturally dynamic public institution. With a minority student population of nearly 40 percent, CSU Pueblo has been named as the top Hispanic Serving Institution by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). The CSU Pueblo Nursing Department has also been nationally recognized for having the 166th best graduate nursing program in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
Master’s Level Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult/Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) – The ACNP program has been designed to prepare students to provide evidence-based, safe, and high-quality patient care in a variety of chronic, acute, and emergent care settings. After completing the 51 credits and 570 clinical semester practice hours, graduates from the program are eligible for completing the national Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification exam.
MSN Adult/Geriatric Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner (ACNP/FNP) – Intended to prepare students for primary clinical practice in various healthcare settings across the entire lifespan, the joint ACNP/FNP program involves 1,020 clinical hours, 90 lab hours, and 67 credit hours that must be successfully completed with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
MSN Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) – Students enrolled in the PMHNP program are prepared with a patient-centered approach to working with psychiatric and mental health patients across the lifespan as preparation for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification exam. The program requires students to complete 30 lab hours, 570 clinical practice hours, and 55 course credits.
MSN Nurse Educator – Designed to prepare nurses to become valued faculty members at colleges, universities, hospital-based schools, or staff development directors at healthcare facilities, the Nurse Educator program focuses on curriculum design, learning outcomes, clinical evaluation, and teaching strategies for diverse learners. Students must complete 44 total credit hours, including a thesis research project.
Accreditations
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Colorado State Board of Nursing
National League for Nursing
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact Information
Technology Building Room T221
2200 Bonforte Blvd.
Pueblo, CO 81001
(719) 549-2401
[email protected]
Regis University
Loretto Heights School of Nursing
With campuses in Lowell, Broomfield, Colorado Springs, Denver, Loveland, Thornton, and Henderson, Nevada, Regis University is a comprehensive private institution built upon a strong foundation of Catholic and Jesuit traditions. According to the 2014 U.S. News and World Report survey, Regis University is ranked as the 27th best college in the West with an impressively low student to faculty ratio of 12:1. As one of the top nursing schools in Colorado, the Regis University Loretto Heights School of Nursing within the Rueckhert-Hartman College of Health Professions is home to both the 193rd best graduate nursing and 26th best online graduate nursing programs in the nation.
Master’s Level Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) –Offered on the main campus in Denver, the FNP program is designed for Registered Nurses with a BSN who have a passion for providing direct patient care to the health needs of families across the lifespan. In addition to classes that meet every-other weekend for six semesters, students gain 630 hours of clinical practice divided among pediatrics, adult, women’s, and family settings for eligibility to take the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner Certification exam.
MSN Leadership in Health Care Systems – Students can participate in the Leadership in Health Care Systems program either on-campus in evening classes or fully online in flexible eight-week terms without a single campus visit. Students are required to concentrate the MSN degree in either Nurse Education or Management depending on career goals and complete two practicum experiences for a total of 210 hours.
MSN Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) – Recognized by the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) for fostering superior leadership skills in neonatal nursing practice, the NNP program is designed to prepare students for direct patient care of high-risk newborn infants. Within the two-year campus-based program, enrolled students must complete a minimum of 630 clinical hours in a variety of Level III neonatal intensive care units alongside experts in the field.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU)
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
Contact Information
3333 Regis Blvd.
Denver, CO 80221
(303) 458-4344
[email protected]
http://www.regis.edu/RHCHP/Schools/Loretto-Heights-School-of-Nursing/LHSON-Degrees-and-Programs.aspx
University of Colorado – Colorado Springs
Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences
As one of the fastest-growing universities in the state, the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs is a public academic institution spread out on a 520-acre campus on the eastern edge of the Southern Rocky Mountains. The U.S. News and World Report survey has ranked UCCS as the 42nd best college and 10th top public school in the West. Currently the fourth largest public university for graduate enrollment with more than 1,750 graduate students, it has been ranked in the top 20 percent of national colleges and universities for military veterans by GI Jobs magazine. The UCCS Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences has also been recognized as having the 99th best graduate nursing programs in the nation.
Master’s Level Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) – Through a fully online format with no campus visits required, the AGNP program at UCCS is designed to prepare students for expanded clinical roles in adult and geriatric healthcare through extensive experience with research, health policy, nursing theory, and clinical practice. Students are required to complete a minimum of 47 credits and 630 clinical hours within the specialty.
MSN Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (ACNS) – In order to prepare advanced practice nurses for an ever-evolving healthcare environment, the ACNS program focuses on clinical judgment, clinical inquiry, interdisciplinary collaboration, care delivery models, advocacy, and caring practices. Upon completion, students are eligible to take the Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist exam from the ANCC.
MSN Community Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (CHCNS) – The CHCNS program at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs aims to prepare nurses for advanced roles in the direct care of vulnerable populations and at-risk communities. Through the required 43 credit hours, students focus their learning on community assessment, leadership strategies, health policy development, and collaboration.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – With the goal of producing evidence-based advanced practitioners to provide holistic care across the lifespan, the FNP program focuses on promoting health for individuals, families, and whole communities. Upon completion, students will have completed 46 credits and at least 630 clinical hours providing patient-centered care to diverse patient populations.
MSN Nursing Education – The MSN Nursing Education program is designed to prepare students as nurse educators to teach in baccalaureate or associate degree level nursing studies and various clinical training settings. The program enables students to develop essential skills in curricular development, program planning, evaluation, and teaching strategies through 38 credit hours and 225 hours of practicum experience.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Colorado Commission of Higher Education (CCHE)
Colorado State Board of Nursing
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
Contact Information
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
(719) 255-4420
[email protected]
https://johnsonbethel.uccs.edu/nursing-programs
University of Colorado – Denver
College of Nursing
Attracting more funding for applied health research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) than any other university in Colorado, the University of Colorado at Denver is a major public research institution right in the heart of the “Mile High City.” UC Denver is currently ranked as the 190th best college and 108th top public school in the United States. Based at the new state of the art Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, the UC Denver College of Nursing has also been nationally recognized as the 15th best graduate nursing school in the nation with the 70th best online graduate nursing programs. In particular, the U.S. News and World Report has ranked it as the 16th best for Family Nurse Practitioner, 5th best for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and 13th best for Nursing Midwifery from coast to coast.
Master’s Level Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG CNS) – Designed to prepare nurses to become evidence-based and theory-guided advanced practice nurses, the AG CNS program focuses on providing quality care to acutely and critically ill elderly patients. Within the 52-credit program, students have the option to focus their learning further in Acute Critical Care, Palliative Care, and/or Geriatric Nursing.
MSN Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) – Based on national trends established by the National Council of State Boards in Nursing (NCSBN), the 48-credit AGNP program at UC Denver focuses on preparing advanced practitioners who will provide safe, competent, and satisfying care to older adolescent, adult, and elderly patients within their specialty.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – In order to satisfy the educational and clinical requirements for professional certification by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the FNP program involves 52 credits and 630 hours in a clinical setting providing primary care for infants, children, adults, or geriatric patients across the lifespan.
MSN Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (FPMHNP) – Since there is a significant shortage of nurse practitioners specializing in psychiatric medicine and mental health in Colorado, the 48-credit FPMHNP program was created to focus on the specific complex psychiatric nursing assessments and interventions and provide highly-qualified individuals ready to fill this gap.
MSN Health Care Informatics – Built upon the broad concepts by the American Nurses Association for nursing informatics practice, the MSN Health Care Informatics program provides students with a framework in Information Management, Decision Support, Health Care Technology, and Life Cycle of Information Systems.
MSN Leadership and Health Care Systems – Within the fully online 30-credit MSN in Leadership and Health Care Systems program, students gain the essential skills in cultural competence, informatics, communication, decision making, and evidence-based practice to become effective leaders/administrators of various health care organizations.
MSN Nurse Midwifery (NMW) – Students enrolled in the ACNM-accredited Nurse Midwifery program at UC Denver are prepared to provide competent care to women and their families throughout the childbearing years. The rigorous curriculum includes 48 credits on prenatal care, family planning, neonatal care, menopausal care, and treatment of common women’s health problems.
MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) – Focused on providing students with an in-depth understanding of advanced nursing practice related to the primary healthcare of infants, children, and adolescents under the age of 21, the PNP program involves 46 credit hours and 540 clinical hours within diverse pediatric healthcare settings.
MSN Pediatric Nursing Leadership and Special Needs (PNL) – Within the PNL program, students are prepared to serve as advanced practice nurses in leadership healthcare roles working specifically with children or youth with special needs. Graduates can also achieve leadership positions in the related fields of education, medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, social work, and speech-language pathology.
MSN Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) – After completing the required 46 credit hours and 630 hours of clinical practicum, the WHNP program prepares graduates with a broad understanding in gynecological, prenatal, post-partum, and acute care to serve all health needs of women.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM)
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
Contact Information
Education 2 North C288
13120 East 19th Ave.
Aurora, CO 80045
(303) 724-1812
[email protected]
http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/nursing/programs-admissions/graduate-programs/ms-program/Pages/ms-program.aspx
University of Northern Colorado
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Situated about 50 miles to the northeast of Denver to the east of the Rocky Mountain National Park, the University of Northern Colorado is a comprehensive public institution spread over a vast 236-acre campus in Greeley, Colorado. With more than 13,000 students walking along the tree-lined sidewalks each year, UNC stands as the fifth largest university in the state. Although it was first established in 1889 for teacher education, the university has expanded its reach considerably to offer more than 150 programs in varying fields. Within the College of Natural and Health Sciences, the School of Nursing has been ranked in a tie for having the 99th best graduate nursing programs in the nation with 100 percent pass rate on the APN certification exams.
Master’s Level Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) – The CNL program at the University of Northern Colorado intends to prepare nurses for advanced generalist nursing practice to oversee the care coordination of patients, assess risks, develop quality improvement plans, facilitate team communication, and implement evidence-based strategies for solutions at the unit level. Completing the 36 credit hours and 450 clinical practicum hours qualifies graduates to sit for the Clinical Nurse Leader Certification exam.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – Focused on providing experience in primary care, health promotion, and disease management across the lifespan with an emphasis on diverse, underserved populations, the 48-credit FNP program can be completed on-campus with one class day per week or part-time online with fewer than 9 credit hours each semester. In collaboration with the Family Medicine Residency program, FNP students gain valuable experience in a variety of primary care sites.
MSN Nursing Education – Within a convenient online format, the MSN in Nursing Education program is designed for nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to advance their knowledge for nurse educator roles in academic or clinical practice settings. The program is strongly focused on teaching methods, learning theory, curriculum design, clinical evaluation, cognition, visual literacy, and leadership.
Accreditations
Council on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Colorado State Board of Nursing
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
Contact Information
Gunter Hall 3080 Box 125
501 20th St.
Greeley, CO 80639
(970) 351-2293
[email protected]
https://www.unco.edu/nhs/nursing/programs/graduate/