Advanced Nursing

Overview

Advanced nursing programs provide further training for people interested in a nursing specialty.

Advanced nursing programs include topics such as:

Patient care
Health education
Patient examinations and treatments
Health economics and finance
Health policy
Pharmacology
Pathophysiology
Research methodology and statistics
Bioethics

Concentrations

In advanced nursing specialty programs, students may be able to specialize in:

Nursing science
Emergency room/trauma nursing
Nursing practice
Palliative care nursing
Clinical nurse leader
Geriatric nursing
Women's health nursing

Schools

Very few community colleges offer associate degree programs in advanced nursing specialties. An associate degree program at a community college usually takes two years of full-time study to complete.

Several colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in advanced nursing specialties. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.

Most advanced nursing programs are offered at the graduate level. Many universities offer graduate degrees in advanced nursing specialties. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.

See schools that offer this program.

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Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Admission to nursing programs is competitive, so make sure to get good grades. There are many types of programs and requirements vary based on the particular specialty and program.

Additional requirements at most schools include:

Knowledge of CPR and first aid
Ability to speak, read, write, and understand English well
Criminal background check
Immunizations
Letters of recommendation
Course work in nutrition, algebra, anatomy, and physiology

Graduate Admissions

Admission to nursing programs is competitive, so make sure to get good grades. There are many types of programs and requirements vary based on the particular specialty and program.

Additional requirements at most schools include:

Knowledge of CPR and first aid
Ability to speak, read, write, and understand English well
Criminal background check
Immunizations
Letters of recommendation
Course work in nutrition, algebra, anatomy, and physiology

Typical Course Work

Graduate Program Courses

This program may include courses in the following subjects:

Advanced Practice Nursing
Health Economics and Finance
Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
Advanced Health Assessment
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Clinical Skills
Nutrition
Advanced Pharmacology
Health Assessment and Maintenance
Bioethics
Concepts in Integrated Health Care
Research Methodologies
Statistics
Clinical Research Designs and Testing

Graduate programs that lead to a master’s or doctoral degree typically include:

Required courses
Clinical practicum
Thesis (master’s degree)
Preliminary exams (doctoral degree only)
Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree)

Most advanced nursing programs require students to participate in several clinical and laboratory rotations. This means that students work in hospitals and medical centers under the close supervision of professional nurse administrators. They perform duties such as administering medications, diagnosing illnesses, and writing reports.