Master's Programs
School of Nursing Associate Professor Dr. Mary Baumberger-Henry discusses the work of nursing theorist Virginia Henderson in her "Models and Theories for Advanced Practice Nursing" course. Video.
Dr. Kathleen Williamson talks to her graduate students in the Evidence-Based Practice course, part of Widener Nursing's Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Video.
Lynn Freda, a nurse and graduate student in Widener's Family Nurse Practitioner master's program, talks about her experiences working with Dr. Shirlee Drayton-Brooks, professor at the School of Nursing. Video.
Widener offers an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) clinical nurse specialist (CNS) program in adult health-gerontology nursing. Students also have the choice to build an adult emergency/critical care specialty onto the adult health-gerontology CNS program. A family nurse practitioner (FNP) primary care program is also available.
Graduates of the master's degree programs are eligible to sit for certification examinations as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as an adult-gerontology (population) clinical specialist (role). In addition, graduates may sit for specialty certifications above and beyond the APRN certifications. In addition to the degree programs, post-master's (PM) certificates are available for each APRN role.
Curriculum
The 39-41 credit advanced practice CNS role may be completed in 18 to 24 months of full or part-time including summer. Core courses for the CNS role are offered on both the Harrisburg and Main campuses. A minimum 500 hours of faculty supervised advanced practice is required.
The 46-credit Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program may be completed on either the Harrisburg or Main campuses in 20 months of full-time study or 24 months part-time study including summer. A minimum of 672 hours of advanced clinical practice is required.