Nurse Practitioner (MS)

Careers in Nursing 
The shortage of physicians and nurses in the United States and around the world is very well recognized. As the demographics of countries are increasing shifting towards more aging populations, societies are experiencing a rise in chronic conditions, placing stronger demands on the healthcare sector. These conditions are what is driving the strong demand for more high-quality professionals in the workforce. 

Family Nurse Practitioner 
Family Nurse Practitioners possess a comprehensive understanding of all dimensions of patient care. They assess, diagnose, plan and institute management of health care services for individuals and families in need of care. With this advanced degree in nursing, individuals have the capabilities which include but are not limited to diagnosing medical conditions, prescribing medications, creating treatment plans, performing advanced procedures, serving as a primary care provider, and operating clinics and billing for their services independently. 

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 
Like Family Nurse Practitioners, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners are providers of holistic care and possess an understanding of all dimensions of patient care. They assess, diagnose and provide treatment using an in-depth understanding of mental health disorders. They treat patients of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds as they work with individuals, families and groups. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners are often employed in traditional outpatient and inpatient settings, though as holders of advanced degrees, they often develop their own private practices, conduct research, and/or do consulting work.  

Nursing Management 
Nurse managers are the leaders of nursing teams and play pivotal roles in supporting, recruiting, and managing nursing employees. Since nurse managers have experience as practicing nurses, they are uniquely qualified to understand the demands of a primary care environment and balance administrative and staff decisions while ensuring patients receive superior care. Graduates in the management field often work as managers, administrators, and directors in a wide range of healthcare settings, from hospitals to nursing homes. 

Nursing Educator 
Nurse educators are leaders in academic and clinical settings. They also often provide valuable education to the public and community groups in all areas of the healthcare. The high demand for nurse educators provides ample flexibility to work in all parts of the world, and in a wide array, or combination, of healthcare positions. Nurse educators perform a wide range of roles, including but not limited to working as nursing faculty, developing community health programs for non-profits, consulting with healthcare or pharmaceutical companies, and overseeing staff development in healthcare teams. 

Family Focus- 
As a graduate of the program, you will be qualified to support the healthcare needs of families by providing primary and specialty care for children, adolescents, and adults. You will learn to: 

• To assess, diagnose and manage common acute and chronic illnesses
• Skills in promoting healthy habits and educating patients about disease prevention 
• Practical experience in women's health, pediatrics and adult settings 

Mental Health- 
As a graduate of the program, you will be qualified to provide specialized mental health services and care to individuals, families, and groups. You will learn to:  

• To assess, diagnose and manage acute and chronic mental health conditions 
• Gain experience and skills to promote mental health and educate patients about mental illness prevention and recovery 
• Receive practical experience in primary care and behavioral health settings 

Management- 
As a graduate of the program, you will be qualified to 

• Financial skills to target healthcare issues from managing your healthcare team to completing budgets and performing audits 
• How to analyze information to solve organizational problems and ensure you are delivering quality care through cost-effective method 
• You'll complete 180 hours of hands-on fieldwork under the supervision of a qualified preceptor and faculty to apply what you've learned in the classroom to the real world 

Education- 
As a graduate of this program, you will be qualified to implement education programs in hospitals, educate a new generation of healthcare students in academic settings, or lead the continuing development of a healthcare staff. You will learn to: 

• Skills needed to teach students to think critically and communicate accurately while helping them foster a desire for life-long learning 
• How to develop educational programs for patients, groups, communities, industries, insurance providers, and government agencies 
• To better collaborate across healthcare disciplines and work with information systems to assure your patients and their families have access to information and can easily understand it 

Additional information is coming soon!

Additional information is coming soon!

D'Youville University’s Patricia H. Garman School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Possessing CCNE-accreditation is a sign to employers that you have received instruction under rigorous standards. Graduates of this program will be prepared to succeed in their respective certification examination and further demonstrate their knowledge and experience to their future employers. 

Family Focus 
As a graduate of the program, students will be prepared to take the exam for board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) to further demonstrate their expertise in the family health field. 

Mental Health 
As a graduate of the program, you will be prepared to take the exam for board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to further demonstrate your expertise in the mental health field. 

Management  
Graduates of this program will be prepared to take the NLN Nurse Educator Certification Exam to further demonstrate their knowledge and experience to employers. 

Prerequisite Courses 
Applicants to the Nurse Practitioner (MS) program must complete the following undergraduate course prerequisites: 

• Statistics 
• Health Assessment (or equivalent) 
• Pathophysiology (or equivalent) 
• Pharmacology (or equivalent) 

Use the Online Course Equivalency database to see whether the courses you've taken at other institutions can be counted towards a degree at D'Youville. 

Enrollment Requirements 

1. Complete the free online graduate application 
2. Baccalaureate degree completion in nursing from CCNE or NLNAC (ACEN) accredited program in the US, or by the CNO in Ontario. 
3. Satisfactory proficiency of degree prerequisites courses or equivalents.  
4. One year of nursing practice with active unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse. 
5. Current CPR certification with psychomotor component. 

Additional Information

• Preferential admission awarded to students with undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale). 
• Proof of official transcripts are not required for admission but must be verified before students can begin classes. Non-U.S. students must submit ‘course-by-course- evaluation (or equivalent) of all transcripts through the World Education Services (WES) or other approved foreign transcript evaluation agencies. 
• Canadian RN students must submit both their original Certificate of Registration (issued upon passing initial examination) and a copy of their Annual Registration Renewal (showing current unencumbered license). 

Students may transfer up to nine (9) graduate credits with grades of B or better into their program at the discretion of the program director. Credits must be earned from an accredited institution in courses required by the program being pursued. 

Additional information is coming soon!

D’Youville University summarizes all tuition and fee information in one location to ensure accuracy and keep things simple for you. The Nurse Practitioner degree costs are aligned with our standard Master’s Degree costs for on campus/hybrid programs. Click here to be re-routed to our Tuition and Fees Page. 

Canadian applicants interested in commuting to D’Youville University should review the information listed regarding Canadian border commuters on the F-1 Status Page. 

What is a Nurse Practitioner, and what do they do? 
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses who provide primary, acute, and specialty healthcare. They diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, manage treatment plans, and focus on patient education and preventive care. 

How is a Nurse Practitioner different from a Registered Nurse? 
While Registered Nurses (RNs) focus on direct patient care, NPs have advanced training that allows them to diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, and function as primary care providers in many states, including New York. 

What specialties are offered in the Nurse Practitioner program? 
Our program offers specializations in areas like Family Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health, Management, and Education, depending on your career goals. 

Do Nurse Practitioners earn more than Registered Nurses? 
Yes, the median pay in 2023 for NPs in New York was around $130,000, compared to $86,000 for RNs. (source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook) 

Do I need to have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to apply? 
Yes, a BSN is typically required.  

What is the application deadline for the program? 
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Typically, larger cohorts start in the Fall semester. However, we will start a new cohort whenever there are enough interested and qualified students to fill a cohort. 

Are continuing education opportunities available for alumni? 
Yes, alumni of this program can further distinguish themselves with the NP+MBA combined program or doctorate of nurse practitioner (DNP). D’Youville University also offers a variety of certificate programs to compliment the degree. 

We respect your time, and that of others. In alignment with this, we don’t ask for unnecessary paperwork (that you or someone else needs to generate). As standard practice across all degree programs, D’Youville University is a test-optional institution, which doesn’t require SAT/ACT, or graduate entrance exams. We won’t ask you for letters of recommendation, and official transcripts aren’t necessary to be admitted. Just focus on your life transition and provide verification of your official transcripts sometime after you choose DYU is right for you, but before your first day of classes.