Professional Program

Master of Science in Nursing

Post Graduate Advanced Certification

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Why This Program?

Make a difference in health care.

Do you already have your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, and want to go into an advanced practice nurse practitioner role? Enroll in our online Post-Graduate ARNP Certificate program, and be eligible to take the certification exam for advanced practice in just two years.

Advance care in your community by choosing a track:

Family Nurse Practitioner

Become qualified to serve as a general primary health care provider. Students who successfully complete the program (27.5 credit hours +3P's if needed*) are eligible to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam offered by the ANCC and AANP.

*3P’s include Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Physical Health Assessment

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Care for individuals across the lifespan with psychiatric mental health conditions and diseases. Students who successfully complete the program (25.5 credit hours + 3P's if needed*) are eligible to sit for the certification exam offered by the ANCC.

*3P’s include Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Physical Health Assessment

Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Practice primary health care in multiple settings, particularly while caring for an aging population. Students who successfully complete the program (24.5 credit hours + 3P's if needed*) are eligible to sit for the Adult Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certification exam offered by the ANCC and AANP.

*3P’s include Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Physical Health Assessment

How does the certificate program work?

MSN in hand: You must have your Master of Science in Nursing degree to be eligible to enter the program.
Convenient, online courses: The Master of Science in Nursing is a three-year part-time program where all course work, aside from our summer health assessment course and clinical, take place online. FNP & AGNP students are expected to attend 5 mandatory on-site days on the BCU campus (2 days in Summer Year 1 during Advanced Health Assessment and 3 days in Summer Year 2 during Advanced Skills Lab). PMHNP students are expected to attend 2 mandatory on-site days (2 days in Summer Year 1).
Clinicals with impact: We'll work with you to find clinical preceptors close to home, at places where you can truly make a difference. The 600-hour clinical component also includes an experience in a rural, underserved or multicultural setting where you'll help provide primary care to those who need it most.
Caring, veteran faculty mentors: Who says an online program can't be personal? Our instructors have decades of teaching and professional experience, and they'll be with you at every step never more than an email, phone call, or video chat away

More About the Program

The Post-Graduate APRN Certificate program is designed for nurses who have completed their Master of Science in Nursing [MSN] and are interested in serving as family nurse practitioners, adult/gerontology primary care nurse practitioners, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. The post-graduate APRN certificate program at Briar Cliff University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education .

Graduates will synthesize caring, holistic relationships through advanced practice roles with every individual in our global society. They will integrate the breadth and depth of knowledge to exercise art and science to promote the health of all individuals, and also orchestrate and evaluate evidence from nursing research and assimilate nursing theory into practice. Graduates will be qualified as decision-making leaders process and policy development in the delivery of healthcare at all levels, while ensuring the ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness, accountability, and teaching/learning opportunities for one's own nursing practice and the practice of others.

All courses, with the exception of advanced physical assessment, advanced skills, and clinical are offered online. Students will need a computer with a microphone, web camera, and stable internet connection. AGPCNP, FNP, and PMHNP students are all required to complete a minimum of 600 clinical hours.

View the Nursing Student Handbook

Applications are accepted year-round.

Advance your degree.

Steps to Enroll

One copy of the formal application for admission.
Current resume and/or curriculum vitae.
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4 point scale) from the undergraduate program from which they received their bachelor?s degree in nursing.
An official transcript from all prior undergraduate and graduate study (if applying for the Post-Graduate APRN Certificate program) documenting a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a CCNE, CNEA or ACEN accredited program, with an upper division major in nursing including the following courses:
- Physical Assessment
- Nursing Research
- Ethics
- Statistics
Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical nursing practice as a registered nurse within the two years prior to enrollment in the first nursing specialty course. Employment must be verified by the employer.
Demonstrate logical thinking and writing skills in the preparation of a goal statement. This statement must:
- Include the applicant's short-term and long-term professional goals in nursing (maximum 250 words)
- Include the applicant's professional leadership and work experience in relation to practice setting, client population served, number of years of experience, and how the experiences prepared them for graduate education (maximum 250 words)
- Include areas of inquiry where the applicant would like to pursue in the graduate studies (maximum 100 words)
- Signature of the applicant and date the statement was written.
Evidence of Licensure as an RN in Iowa or a state participating in the licensure compact, prior to enrollment in the first graduate nursing core course.
Computer proficiency in email, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Access to and ability to utilize a functional webcam and microphone are required for the application process and online course participation.
Two letters of reference/recommendation from individuals within the profession, one of which is from an individual with an advanced degree (APRN, DNP, MD, DO preferred).
Submission of the YouseeU interview.
A non-refundable $250.00 matriculation fee will be required to hold the applicant's place in the cohort. This fee is not due until after the applicant is accepted to the program and will be applied to the first semester tuition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I transfer in nursing courses?

A: A total of 9 graduate credits can be transferred from another institution.

Q: What is the cost of the program?
A: $525/credit plus a $60 per credit fee. Our Family NP program is 54 credits. Adult Gero NP is 51 credits. Psychiatric Mental Health NP is 52 credits. Learn more.

Q: Are there any "hidden fees"?
A: Each course that has a lab or a clinical component in the MSN program has a $75/clinical credit fee. In addition, several courses require clinical applications fees, however, our program views these similar to textbook fees, since they assist students as resources within the program. All "resources" will be billed as a fee for the course, so students can therefore pay these fees with their financial aid assistance.

Q: Are there any out of pocket costs that are not associated with the University Bill?
A: Textbooks, Clinical Background Check and Tracking, Assessment Tools for clinical, and Lab Coats are required for all students. Students are responsible for these costs.

Q: How long are your programs?
A: We consider our program a part-time graduate program. The MSN program is 3 years or 8 semesters (which includes 2 summers).

Q: Can I utilize financial aid for graduate school?
A: If you are enrolled in 5 or more graduate credits, you should qualify for federal financial aid loans.

Q: Does your institution have any scholarships for graduate students?
A: Unfortunately, we do not have any scholarships offered by Briar Cliff University in the graduate program. However, we have very low and affordable tuition compared to other institutions.

Q: Will the school find my preceptors?
A: We ask that students, especially those outside of the Siouxland region, share a role in identifying preceptors for clinical experiences. Students will work with the clinical coordinator to identify potential preceptors. The clinical coordinator in collaboration with the NP faculty will vet the preceptors, sites, and establish the clinical contracts.

Q: Can I still work and go to graduate school?
A: Since our program is designed to be part-time, it is feasible to work and go to school. The first year of the MSN program is 100% online, and clinicals begin in year two. Students need to make time in their work schedules to complete clinical rotations. We strongly recommend that students shift to part-time work, if possible, during the final 3 semesters of their MSN education in order to be fully immersed in their graduate education and clinical experiences.

Clinical Preceptor Program

Help shape the next generation of health care providers.

Preceptors are needed to facilitate the education of Briar Cliff students enrolled in our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) nurse practitioner programs.

Preceptor Responsibilities

Preceptors act as role models, helping our students strengthen their skills in performing assessments, diagnosis and treatment of diverse patients across the lifespan and in a variety of settings. Preceptors provide opportunities for students to interact with other health professionals and learn necessary communication and organizational skills that prepare them for practice. Preceptors assist with the evaluation of student attainment of established competencies.

Preceptor Benefits

Sharing clinical knowledge and skills with the next generation of advanced practice nurses can be both personally and professional rewarding. Our graduate nursing students are dedicated and enthusiastic learners, with a passion for helping people and making a difference in the Siouxland community. Some of the benefits for becoming a BCU preceptor include:

Appointment as Adjunct Clinical instructor (ACI): ACIs receive access to cultural competence training and Spanish for Health Professionals courses, preceptor training and other continuing education opportunities.
Access to BCU's Bishop Mueller Library: The library offers access to more than 200,000 volumes in its physical and digital collections, and subscriber access to 20-plus scholarly databases. It is a member of Iowa Open Access. There is also access to UpToDate, an online clinical information database.
Credit toward recertification (ANCC & AANP in 2017)
Streamlined communication with clinical coordinator
Training program for clinical preceptors

Preceptor Qualifications

Health professionals with the following credentials are qualified to precept BCU graduate nursing students:

Nurse practitioners, medical doctors and physician assistants
Active license in state of practice
Board certification in area of specialty
Two years of practice in current or similar practice site(s)
Strong desire to teach and learn

Learn More

Request to Become a Preceptor

Licensure

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), the Post-Graduate APRN Certificate, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs at Briar Cliff University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). All BCU nursing programs are approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing and meet the state educational requirements for licensure in the state of Iowa.

All graduates of our accredited pre-licensure BSN program are eligible to take the national licensing exam (NCLEX) in the state of their choice. Completion of the BSN following licensure as an RN does not lead to additional licensure.
BCU has not made a determination that its MSN and Post-Graduate APRN certificate curricula meet the educational requirements for any other states. Students from other states are encouraged to contact their state licensing boards to determine if the program meets the educational requirements for licensure in that state, by checking e ach state's licensing board.
Completion of the DNP program does not lead to additional licensure.

Learn More

Career Options

Health Care Executive
Nursing Faculty
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
Heath Care Lobbyist
Clinical Researcher
Nursing Professor
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DPN) Pathway

ARNP Certificate

Why This Program?

Make a difference in health care.

How does the certificate program work?

More About the Program

Applications are accepted year-round.

Help shape the next generation of health care providers.

Preceptor Responsibilities

Preceptor Benefits

Preceptor Qualifications

Career Options

Cliff Stories

Meet the Faculty