Nurse Practitioner Schools in Nevada

Registered nurses interested in practicing independently and managing patient’s acute and chronic illnesses can advance their practice and become nurse practitioners. Autonomy is a key aspect of advanced-practice nursing and one that is highly valued by nurses.

In Nevada, nurse practitioners have the authority to practice independently without physician involvement, may act as primary care providers, and prescribe medications.

Choosing a Nurse Practitioner Program

After deciding to return to school for an advanced degree (master’s or doctoral degree in nursing), nurses should consider the following when choosing a graduate program:

• Accreditation-Nurses should look for schools that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). This accreditation agency ensures the school provides not only a quality curriculum but quality faculty and specific graduation criteria that will prepare the nurse practitioner for independent practice. According to the CCNE, Nevada has two accredited graduate programs (both MSN and DNP available).
• Program Cost-The cost per credit in Nevada is about $300 for in-state residents. However, several schools have additional fees based on the number of credits the student is enrolled in, health insurance fees, student union fees, etc. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the schools’ website for complete tuition/ fee information. Graduate nursing students can expect to complete between 35-50 credits to graduate
• Program Length- Schools may require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree (BSN) before enrollment. BSN to MSN can take around two years to complete, and BSN to DNP can take three to four years (if the student is attending full time). For nurses who do not have a BSN, they can expect an additional eighteen months to two years to earn a BSN (depending on full or part-time status)
• Internship/Externship opportunities- Graduate nursing students are required to complete a pre-determined number of clinical practicum hours (usually around 500 hours) before graduating to ensure they have gained the necessary clinical experience they will need to work independently. Nurse practitioner residency programs are a relatively new concept in which nurse practitioner graduates enroll in a "residency" program (like medical students) to further their clinical experience and education. Unfortunately, Nevada does not currently have these programs for nurse practitioners at this time, but neighboring states (California and Utah) have several available.
• Online/Campus Options-According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), both schools offer 50-100% distance learning. These benefits nurses who must work while working for an advanced-level degree. Students should check the schools’ websites to determine the campus visitation requirements to ensure it will work with their schedules.

Admission and Certification Requirements

Prerequisites for admission into a graduate nursing program may vary slightly between schools, but students may be required to:

• Have a current RN/APRN license
• Have earned a BSN from an accredited school
• Have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher in previous collegiate coursework (GPA requirements may vary)
• Have completed a statistics course
• Have prior clinical experience as an RN
• Have completed the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Provide letters of recommendation
• Complete interviews

As stated earlier, specific admission requirements may vary between schools and between degree programs (MSN or DNP) and may be dependent on the track the student wishes to pursue (such as critical care, acute care, mental health, etc.) Students should check specific requirements before enrollment.

After completion of the graduate program, students can earn certification in their chosen specialty. Certification can include:

• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (acute or primary care)
• Psychiatric-mental health
• Pediatrics

If not obtained through the nurse practitioner program, certification can be earned through national credentialing agencies. Nevada requires national certification before licensure, and accepts the following credentialing organizations:

• American Board of Nursing Specialties
• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• National Commission for Certifying Agencies of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners
• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board

The above is not a comprehensive list; graduate nurses should review the board's website for detailed certification requirements.

Licensing/Certification

Besides earning national certification in the specialty of choice, APRN requirements for licensure in Nevada include:

• Hold and active RN license
• Complete the application for licensure
• Submit a copy of national certification
• Submit official transcripts (sent directly from the graduate program). Transcripts must reflect the graduate has completed:
  • Advanced Health Assessment
  • Advanced Pathophysiology
  • Advanced Pharmacology
  • Advanced role preparation
  • Specific specialty area
  • Clinical preceptorship
• Complete additional information on the application (if the nurse practitioner will be prescribing medications)
  • If the APRN is prescribing schedule II controlled substances, a formal protocol must be obtained with a collaborative physician if the applicant has less than two years (or 2,000 hours) of clinical practice

Additional requirements are outlined on the board's website for APRNs seeking licensure when they have completed a graduate program before 1992, between 1992 and June 2005, or after June 2005. Applicants are encouraged to read the requirements carefully when submitting their licensure application.

Nevada Nurse Practitioner Agencies and Organizations

• Nevada State Board of Nursing
• Nevada Nurses Association
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners

Schools That Offer Nurse Practitioner Programs in Nevada

Nevada is a large state, yet only has two accredited universities offering advanced-level degrees. To help Nevada nurses achieve their goals of advanced-practice nursing, online programs are readily available.

Are we missing your school's program or need to update information listed? Please contact us so we can make the necessary changes.