Nurse practitioner program becomes specialty within graduate nursing degree
Nurses can now obtain their accredited family nurse practitioner course work online through Saint Joseph’s College. The family nurse practitioner (FNP) classes can be done either as part of the Master in Nursing (MSN) degree or as a post-MSN certificate.
“There are only a handful of online FNP programs nationwide,” says Dr. Lois Hamel, online nursing program director. “The timing couldn’t be more perfect, given the federal Nurse Education Loan Repayment money to help nurses further their education,” she adds.
The integrated curriculum includes 15-week online classes in ethics, leadership, research, and policy, in addition to advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced physical health assessment. Courses blend a student’s professional experience with the course content, allowing for immediate application in the work setting. The 600 hours of clinical work are done in the student’s home area with approved preceptors. Those hours are combined with another 80 hours on campus in two weeklong summer intensives that emphasize clinical skills. Graduates of the program can sit for the national FNP exam and practice in any state in the country.
Family nurse practitioners are primary care providers who perform comprehensive health assessments, develop diagnoses, and prescribe pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments to manage acute and chronic health problems. They are also involved in all levels of prevention and health promotion. While they see patients for office visits and yearly exams, they are particularly known for their increased emphasis on patient education and patient support.
For more information, call 800-752-4723 or visit our family nurse practitioner page.
Master of accountancy can help pave the way to CPA status
The Graduate & Professional Studies division has announced a new online Master of Accountancy degree. The 36-credit graduate program will prepare people with an undergraduate business degree for a career in public accounting or auditing, and for taking the certified public accountant (CPA) exam. It also satisfies the widely adopted 150-hour educational requirement for certification and licensure as a CPA.
In response to disreputable corporate behavior over the last decade, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 set rigorous requirements that affected corporate governance, financial disclosure and the practice of public accounting. This legislation changed the practice and import of the accounting profession.
The 12-course curriculum offers work not only in accounting but also ethics and leadership. “This degree is integrated and interdisciplinary,” says Dr. Greg Gull, director of online business programs. The program addresses both technical competence and interpersonal skills, he adds.
People who have bachelor’s degrees in a non-business field are welcome to the program once they complete prerequisites in accounting, finance and macroeconomics.
In an era of heightened attention to ethically sound accounting practices and increased regulations, the business world has an increasing need for fully prepared accounting professionals. The opportunity for a rewarding career in the accounting field is greater than it has ever been, according to Gull.
For more information, please call 800-752-4723 or you can visit our master of accountancy page.
