Just as the field of medicine (focused on cure) varies widely, the field of nursing (focuses on health) varies widely as well.
For Nurses and Nurse Practitioners, there are many specializations and sub-specializations to consider. Future Nurse Practitioner has many specialization opportunities to choose from when looking to earn their required MS in Nursing degrees.
According to nurse.org, the most popular NP specializations are:
- General Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary or Acute Care Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric/Mental-Health Care Nurse Practitioner
While there are even more specializations out there for Nurse Practitioners, the above are the most common avenues for a nurse practitioner when selecting an educational path.
At South College, we offer the MS in Nursing program with the following specialization opportunities:
- Master of Science in Nursing with a Concentration in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
- Master of Science in Nursing with a Concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing with a Concentration in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing with a Concentration in Nurse Executive
- Master of Science in Nursing with a Concentration in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Each of the MSN degrees and their specializations are offered online and the Family Nurse Practitioner is offered to students with varying educational backgrounds:
- RN-BSN-MSN allows registered nurses to earn both their BS in Nursing and MS in Nursing in 3-years (36 months) depending on academic background
- For students who are already Registered Nurses, the RN to MSN track for the Family Nurse Practitioner specialization is a 30-month program depending on academic background.
- Registered Nurses would have already earned their BS in Nursing degree can enroll in the BSN to MSN which is an 18 month program
With various specializations and tracks for students to consider, the faculty and staff at South College School of Nursing take the time to discuss each students’ professional and education background. Sometimes that means dispelling a few common misconceptions about being a Nurse Practitioner.
If you’re interested in going back to nursing school to become an NP, it’s worth reading the 3 most common misconceptions we hear most often before you register for classes.