The 16 Most Affordable Nurse Practitioner Programs - Best Value Schools (2023)

A registered nurse earns a college degree known as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in addition to earning board certification in a specific form of nursing or medical specialty selected prior to acceptance into one of the many registered nurses. Internship programs are now offered online.

A nursing degree is a type of APRN:Advanced Registered Nurse- A Nurse with the authority and certification to diagnose, treat and manage patient conditions, including the provision of prescription medication. Certain states allow NPs to practice without the direct supervision of a physician; however, each state sets the standards for the professional scope of an NP.

Nursing professionals can choose from nursing specialties including but not limited to:

• Mental health
• women health
• geriatrics
• paediatrics
• family medicine
• adult medicine

The following list of distance learning nursing programs represents some of the most affordable online nursing practitioner programs available across the country. Keep in mind, however, that most schools only offer a subset of nursing specialties, so choose a program that fits your career goals. Online skilled nursing programs typically combine online courses and a clinical internship in a location convenient for the student.

16 Most Affordable Online Qualified Nursing Programs

Types of Nursing Practitioners

family carer

A Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) cares for patients of all ages. FNPs typically work in primary care, treating chronic and acute conditions. FNPs provide preventative education to patients and their families to promote health and well-being. To practice as an FNP, a Master of Nursing (MSN) and Family Nurse Practitioner certification from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurse Practitioner Credentialing Center (ANCC) is required.

Adult Gerontology Acute Nurse

This type of nurse attends to patients within a hospital setting or those in need of immediate treatment. Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (AGACNP) can only care for adolescents and adults with a focus on the geriatric population and cannot treat pediatric patients. AGACNPs must have a master's degree in nursing and be certified by the ANCC or the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).

General practitioner for adult gerontology

Adult Gerontology General Practitioners (A-GNPs) may care for adolescent and adult patients but cannot treat pediatric patients. These professionals typically work in a primary care, long-term care facility, or hospice and treat acute and chronic health conditions. A-GNPs provide education to prevent disease and reduce risk of injury in geriatric populations. In addition to a college degree in nursing, professionals must also obtain board certification through the AANP or ANCC.

Newborn Nursing Practitioner

Nurse Practitioners (NNPs) care for high-risk newborns and infants who need comprehensive medical care. NNPs can also care for infants up to two years of age with chronic health conditions. Typically, an NNP works in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Board certification from the National Certification Corporation (NCC) and two years of nursing experience in the NICU are also required, in addition to a master's degree in nursing.

Pediatric Nurse (acute or primary care)

Pediatric nurses (PNPs) conduct child welfare assessments, ensure pediatric patients meet developmental milestones, and treat acute and chronic conditions in patients from birth through age 21. PNPs typically work in a primary care or pediatric office. They can also work in hospitals or intensive care units. Pediatric nurses are required to earn a master's degree in nursing and board certification through the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Board (PNCB).

Alternative practitioner for psychiatric psychiatry

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) assess mental health, diagnose mental disorders, treat mental illness, and provide psychotherapy or counseling. PMHNPs generally work in private practice, but may also work on teams in hospitals, correctional facilities, schools, or other settings. To practice as a PMHNP, a master's degree in nursing and ANCC board certification are required.

Women's Health Practitioner

Women's Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNPs) provide acute and primary care to female patients of all ages. WHNPs perform Pap tests, prenatal care, pelvic exams, and other OB/GYN services. WHNPs often work in OB/GYN practices. To practice as a WHNP, a master's degree in nursing and NCC board certification are required.

What to expect from a qualified nursing program

curriculum

While qualified nursing programs can vary, most have a similar curriculum. Qualified nursing programs prepare nurses for advanced practice and include courses in advanced pharmacology, physical assessment, epidemiology, nursing theory, pathophysiology, and lifelong nursing. Qualified nursing programs emphasize peer leadership as advanced in-practice nurses. In addition to the didactic courses, a clinical component is also required in which students receive hands-on training and practice patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and care management.

Long

Full-time MSN programs typically last two years. If you're studying part-time, it can take three to four years to earn an MSN.

Nursing Certification

National certification from an accredited certification body is required upon completion of a qualified nursing program and prior to pursuing training to become a qualified nursing professional. There are five certification bodies for nursing practitioners: the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the American Nurse Practitioner Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB), and the Certification Society ( NCC). Each type of nurse requires a specific certification body, and each accreditation body ensures that the nurse is competent to provide care at the highest level of their training.

Scholarships and Grants for Nurses

Obtaining financial aid and student aid is essential when enrolling in a qualified nursing program. Unlike federal grants or private loans, most scholarships and grants do not have to be repaid after graduation. Colleges and universities may offer different types of scholarships or grants for nursing practice students in their programs. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) offers scholarships and grants, as well as additional financial assistance to nursing degree students. AANP also provides resources for nursing graduate students to apply for grants and scholarships. State Boards of Nurse are another valuable resource as they often provide scholarships or grants for students in graduate nursing programs.

Budget Tips While Earning a Nurse Practitioner Degree

The first step in budgeting while earning a nursing degree is to understand your current finances, spending habits, and debt. The best way to do this is with a budget sheet, which can be created by hand or with an online budgeting tool. After understanding your budget, you should research the cheapest online nursing programs before applying. This will help minimize student debt. In addition to buying from one of the cheapest NP programs online, buy used textbooks or borrow them if you can. These options are usually much cheaper than buying new books. While you are in a qualifying nursing school, your budget may have less to spend on non-essential items or services. Prepare your coffee and meals at home and wait until after graduation to shop. Smart shopping is another way to budget. Doing your pre-shopping research and planning your meals before heading to the supermarket can result in reduced spending. Finally, take advantage of student discounts at utilities, restaurants, and other businesses.

Our classification methodology

The MSN nursing degree programs listed above represent a complete cross-section of those availablethe cheapest online nursing programs.These online degree programs for nursing practitioners are also listedthe cheapest online programs for nursesin first place, according to the total enrollment required.

The per-credit rate for each program relates to the cost of earning one graduate credit hour for the 2020-2021 or 2019-2020 calendar year, based on the most current information available from the school's proprietary website or the National Center for Educational Statistics be provided federal government (NCES) website.

Each Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program includes additional information to help students make the best decisions regarding thethe cheapest online programs for nursesthat best suit your needs and academic goals. This additional data includes:

• The credit units required to meet the nursing profession program requirements
• The number of practical or clinical hours required to meet the requirements of the NP program
• Accreditation indicates which of the regional or specialty accrediting agencies have reviewed and approved the nursing practitioner programs offered by each college.

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Fuentes
https://www.aacnnursing.org/Students/Financial-Aid
https://www.aanp.org/education/professional-funding-support