Are you searching for accredited Master’s in Nursing degree programs in Utah to start pioneering your way into advanced practice nursing roles in the state’s thriving healthcare industry? Then, you have come to the right place! Often called the “new economic Zion,” Utah is named the country’s second fastest-growing state with a hotbed of growth in education, transportation, energy, mining, and healthcare. While Utah has been named the sixth healthiest state in the United States with the single lowest rate of childhood poverty and a low prevalence of physical inactivity, there are still major public health concerns across the state. With a growing limited availability of primary care providers, Utah has experienced an alarming growth of drug deaths and the highest rate of antidepressant prescriptions nationwide. If you are interested in furthering your education to help combat these rising concerns and improve Utah’s health, the following are the accredited master’s degree programs available in nursing for the “Beehive State.”
Brigham Young University
College of Nursing
As a comprehensive independent religious institution sponsored by the Church of Latter Day Saints with an academically minded and internationally experienced population of over 33,000 students, Brigham Young University is based on a 557-acre urban campus in the beautiful mountain location of Provo with other locations in Idaho and Hawaii. Named 5th in the nation by the National Institute of Health (NIH) for graduates who go on to earn doctorates, BYU is ranked as the 62nd best college and 10th best value university in the country by the U.S. News and World Report. Even more importantly, the BYU College of Nursing is strongly recognized for having the 99th best graduate nursing degree programs in the United States.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Built with an emphasis on health promotion for the prevention and detection of abnormalities in wellness through supportive interventions, the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program track leads to a Master of Science (M.S.) degree for qualified graduate students who wish to become advanced practice nurses for covering all aspects of illness care management from diagnosis through treatment. Based on an epidemiological approach to common chronic and acute conditions, the program increases nurses’ understanding of family and community systems to improve access to primary care for all populations. Within the 60-credit program, students will be required to complete a semester-long internship in an approved clinical agency of urban or rural Utah to further develop as an independent practitioner of medicine.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact Information
400 SWKT, Box 25426
Provo, UT 84602
(801) 422-4142
[email protected]
http://nursing.byu.edu/academics/Grad/grad_prg.aspx
Independence University
College of Health Sciences
Since first opening in 1978 as the California College for Health Sciences, Independence University has merged with Stevens-Henager College to become a satellite campus of the private non-profit institution owned by the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Inc. in the state’s capital of Salt Lake City. With more than 35 years of experience in providing distance education to working adults, Independence reaches beyond the barriers of traditional on-campus education to offer programs specializing in allied health professions from a distance. Within the College of Health Sciences, students can choose from associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs that lead to exciting career opportunities in the healthcare industry.
M.S. in Health Services-Health Promotion
In an effort to develop registered nurses as wellness experts, health educators, community health specialists, and public health advocates in community-based organizations or government agencies, the M.S. in Health Services-Health Promotion program is available to build the strategies needed to help communities improve their health. Founded in the principles of education and prevention, the program covers the knowledge on the psychological, social, physiological, and cultural aspects of health behavior for students to take charge as health promotion professionals in our society. Within the 100% online program, students are required to complete at least 57.5 total credits on nutrition, health communication, health psychology, addiction, health counseling, management practices, health behavior change, and practicum.
M.S. in Nurse Education
Within a fully online program that can be completed in as little as 15 months full-time for a grand total of 59 credits in advanced graduate studies, the M.S. in Nurse Education degree has been designed to provide registered nurses with the credibility needed to inspire our nation’s future generation of nurses as competent, compassionate, and caring healthcare delivery professionals. In a convenient format that accommodates nurses working at their careers while receiving their master’s degree, the program encourages students to boost their own nursing skills with furthered education and learn the teaching strategies to have a positive effect on others. Graduates will possess the instructional techniques, evaluation methods, and curriculum development guidelines for successful teaching.
M.S. in Nursing Administration
With a 57.5-credit curriculum focused on management, finance, economics, marketing, outcomes assessment, information systems, law, and leadership in relation to the health services field, the M.S. in Nursing Administration program is designed to prepare registered nurses for administrative roles in various health-related organizations. In a fully online format that can be completed from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection, the program features a self-paced schedule that can be completed within 15 months full-time or up to five years part-time. Graduates of the program often find abundant employment opportunities in entry-level management positions of nursing personnel in hospitals, clinics, private practices, long-term care centers, and home healthcare services.
Accreditations
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
Contact Information
4021 South 700 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84107
(800) 972-5149
http://www.independence.edu/healthcare
University of Utah
College of Nursing
Since first being founded in 1850 as the first institution of higher education in the State of Deseret before Utah had even obtained statehood, the University of Utah has evolved dramatically to become the state’s flagship public space-grant research institution with more than 32,000 students enrolling on its vast 1,534-acre urban campus in Salt Lake City. With the nation’s 67th highest research expenditures, the U of U is currently ranked as the 121st best college and 60th top public school in the country by the U.S. News and World Report. Within the College of Nursing, students also have the opportunity to join the 36th best graduate nursing degree programs in the United States with full CCNE accreditation.
M.S. in Nursing Informatics
Established to fulfill the demand for qualified professionals in one of the ten hottest emerging careers in the United States, the M.S. in Nursing Informatics program is focused on preparing registered nurses to lead the development, implementation, and assessment of information systems for any area of practice for organizing critical patient data. Through a multi-disciplinary curriculum of psychology, architecture, information technology, biomedical engineering, computer science, and clinical science, the program ensures students have the skills needed to design patient-centered computerized solutions. With some courses available online or at a distance, the program can be completed in two years full-time or three years part-time for 40 total credits, including hands-on informatics projects.
M.S. in Nursing Education
Available on-campus or online to residents in the Intermountain Region of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming who are at least one hour’s drive from the main campus, the M.S. in Nursing Education program offers a master’s degree in nursing for registered nurses seeking the advanced practice role of nurse educator to contribute to the field’s next generation. As the United States is increasingly in need of qualified nurses who have been educated to effectively function within academia, the program is specifically focused on developing nurses with the knowledge and tools needed to instruct qualified pools of men and women who apply to nursing degree programs at university campuses. With a master’s synthesis or thesis option, the 36-40 credit program can be completed in just two years full-time with one summer.
M.S. in Care Management
Leading to a Master of Science in Nursing degree with an emphasis in Care Management and an optional concentration in Geriatric Care Management, this program utilizes a systems approach to training nurses with a higher degree of learning about multiple systems of care to address patient quality outcomes in today’s increasingly complex medical world. In order to contribute to a more highly-educated workforce of nurses and fulfill a growing shortage of advanced practice nurses, the program is focused on preparing nurses to coordinate health services in response to individual patient’s health needs along the care continuum. Within the 40-credit program, students will take advanced nursing coursework, participate in a care management practicum, complete an IPE simulation experience, and finish a master’s synthesis.
M.S. in Gerontology
Requiring the completion of at least 33-34 credit hours of advanced nursing coursework with a master’s project or thesis, the M.S. in Gerontology program offers an interdisciplinary approach to preparing registered nurses to work with our nation’s aging baby boomer population to provide comprehensive healthcare to older adults in various clinical settings. Focused on studying the biological, medical, social, psychological, and emotional factors that contribute to aging, the program looks at the process of growing older from multiple perspectives and across multiple healthcare professions. Within the program, students will take courses related to geriatric care management while gaining hands-on experience in a 150-hour practicum and working with a faculty mentor to complete research on special topics in gerontology.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact Information
10 South 2000 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
(801) 581-3414
[email protected]
https://nursing.utah.edu/programs/graduate/ms
Utah Valley University
Department of Nursing
Named the largest public university in Utah with a total of over 33,300 students, the Utah Valley University is a comprehensive four-year publicly funded institution of higher learning based on a 412-acre suburban campus in Orem with five satellite locations statewide. Although UVU has chosen to not participate in rankings by the U.S. News and World Report, it has still been nationally recognized by Forbes magazine for being the 556th best university nationwide and 100th top college in the West. The Department of Nursing is committed to offering associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs for nursing majors who show tremendous promise in building the sound clinical judgment to become a competent, caring nurse for the 21st century.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
At Utah Valley University, the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is designed to prepare post-baccalaureate nurses for advanced practice positions as nurse educators in academic settings and/or as clinical nurse educators for staff development in various healthcare settings. Intended to deliver the skills and strategies needed to facilitate learning in nursing to encourage qualified students to fill the nation’s shortage of nurses, the program requires the completion of a synthesis of teaching practice in an academic or clinical setting with direct mentorship. For admissions into the program, applicants will need to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing program from an accredited institution, have current licensure to practice in the State of Utah as a registered nurse, possess a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher, and submit three professional letters of recommendation.
Accreditations
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact Information
800 West University Parkway
Orem, UT 84058
(801) 863-6317
[email protected]
Weber State University
Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions
Nestled on a 500-acre suburban campus in Ogden at the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains along the western flank of the glorious Rockies, Weber State University is a public co-educational institution offering professional, liberal arts, and technical programs to more than 25,000 students. Known for being a pioneer in the development of online education for the state’s system of higher education, WSU is currently ranked as the 80th best college and 32nd top public school in the West by the U.S. News and World Report. Furthermore, the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions is highly regarded for having the country’s 127th best graduate nursing degree programs in advanced practice.
Master’s in Nursing Education
Designed to prepare innovative nurse experts who can shape and advance the profession of nursing by training future nurses in a variety of academic and clinical settings, the Master’s in Nursing Education program blends the national guidelines with professional competencies to enable graduates to make a significant contribution to education within today’s changing healthcare environments. The program is focused on building the skills nurses will need to design curriculum, develop evaluation strategies, implement innovative instructional techniques, and educate students in clinical practice. Offered exclusively in a full-time format for four semesters of graduate studies, the program is organized in a flexible hybrid format that combines face-to-face classes on-campus in Ogden with online learning. For completion, students must finish at least 40 credit hours and a nursing residency of 85 clock hours.
Master’s in Nursing Administration
For operating at the highest levels of healthcare organizations, the Master’s in Nursing Administration program is structured to prepare the training needed for registered nurses interested in becoming chief nursing offices, nurse administrators, nurse consultants, nurse managers, quality directors, nurse entrepreneurs, and chief executive officers. Within the 40-credit program, students will be trained how to establish professional nursing practice environments, lead inter-disciplinary healthcare teams, create high practice standards, build system processes, and ensure the best quality patient care in a supportive environment. As a flexible hybrid program, students are required to complete four semesters of studies full-time through a blend of on-campus courses for face-to-face learning and online classes from a distance. Students must also participate in an administrative internship experience for about six to seven hours per week in an approved healthcare setting in the final semester.
Accreditations
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact Information
3848 Harrison Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84408
(801) 626-6128
[email protected]
https://www.weber.edu/Nursing/MSN.html
Westminster College
School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Situated on a 27-acre urban campus in the nation’s most fiscally fit city where the Salt Lake meets the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Westminster College is the only nationally recognized comprehensive independent liberal arts institution in Utah with a unique environment of engaged learning. Named among the top 15% of universities in the United States and Canada in Princeton Review’s “376 Best Colleges,” Westminster is currently ranked as the 22nd best college and 10th top value school in the West by the U.S. News and World Report. Within brand-new educational facilities, the School of Nursing and Health Sciences is also nationally acclaimed for hosting the 234th best graduate nursing degree programs in America.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Offering working professional nurses the valuable opportunity to become both licensed and certified as an advanced practice registered nurse with prescriptive privileges, the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program is focused on training students to develop therapeutic relationships that utilize a holistic evidence-based approach to treat families across the lifespan. Boasting a historical 100% job placement rate and 100% pass rate on national certification exams, the program features qualified nursing faculty who maintain current practice to share their expert knowledge on implementing health promotion interventions. With small class sizes and campus-based instruction in state-of-the-art teaching facilities, the 42-credit program accommodates working students by scheduling all courses one to two days per week in the evening hours.
Master of Science in Nursing Education (MSNEd)
Available in a two-phase educational program that requires the successful completion of at least 30 credit hours, the Master of Science in Nursing Education (MSNEd) program has been established to address the national shortage of credentialed nursing faculty members by producing graduates with the teaching abilities needed to make the transition from clinical practice into the classroom. In preparing nurse educators for academia, the program provides extensive service-learning experiences in a variety of urban and rural academic or healthcare settings, including an unparalleled capstone role immersion project. With a unique emphasis in technology methodologies for teaching in the 21st century, the program qualifies graduate students to sit for the NLN certification exam in nursing education.
Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia (MSNA)
As a 29-month program beginning each year in the last full week of August with clinical rotations beginning the first week of September, the Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia (MSNA) program is designed to provide a rigorous and academically challenging environment for students to master the skills required to become competent in the safe administration of anesthetics in a variety of healthcare settings. The program features small class sizes, an individualized learning model, extensive clinical rotation experiences, SimMan anesthesia simulation projects with an operating room setup, and many of the state’s leading nurse anesthetists as clinical coordinators. Known for its long tradition of excellence, graduates of the 64-credit program have an average 90% first-time pass rate on the national certification exam and a 100% job placement rate within three months of graduation.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (CANAEP)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact Information
1840 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
(801) 832-2159
[email protected]
http://www.westminstercollege.edu/msn/
In order to take your registered nursing career to the next level to realize tremendous opportunities for career advancement that lead to better pay, increased specialization, leadership potential, job stability, and enhanced emotional rewards, consider attending one of these top-notch accredited Master’s in Nursing degree programs in Utah!
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