Master’s in Nursing Schools in Nevada

As a registered nurse, you may wonder how you can take your expertise in patient care, health care skills, and collaboration to the next level. Nurses are at the core of health care organizations all over Nevada, and you can play an even bigger role in your place of employment after earning your Master’s degree in nursing. Nursing schools in Nevada offer a variety of graduate programs to choose from, including bridge programs and online option. Contact the Nevada nursing schools that offer the programs you are interested in today to get started.

While each nursing school has its own learning outcomes and goals, you can generally expect to tackle the same skills in any MSN program. Nevada programs focus on improving nursing care for individuals and families, improving evidence-based practice across the state, and increasing the volume of available nursing research.

Each nursing track addresses these goals in a unique way. In a nurse practitioner or other direct care track, you advance the field of nursing by providing high-quality care on a daily basis. As a nurse educator, you improve the field of nursing by training entry-level nurses. Nurses that go into the field of nursing administration and leadership change nursing on an organizational level, affecting policies and practices.

To obtain these skills and the clinical skills you need to succeed as a Master’s-level nurse, you should plan on spending about two to three years in school. If you have an Associate’s degree or unrelated Bachelor’s degree, you may need more time to earn your Master’s degree.

Upon being accepted to your Master’s degree program of choice, you can begin your financial aid search. There are a variety of nursing scholarships you can apply for, including those that are specifically for Nevada students. Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement is a local group that awards eight nursing scholarships each year. If you are willing to serve in a Critical Shortage Facility, consider applying for the NURSE Corps Scholarship Program. Earning your Master’s degree in nursing has the potential to take you to new career heights, so be sure to request information today to start heading toward your nursing future!

Nursing Career Information in Nevada

If you want to continue working directly with patients, there are several direct care specialties you can go into. Popular career choices include nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, and clinical nurse specialist. There are many benefits to studying in Nevada; advanced practice nurses currently enjoy full freedom of practice. Nevada nursing regulations make it possible to open your own practice or work completely independently in the state.

This is particularly important in light of Nevada’s primary care physician shortage. Many parts of Nevada are considered underserved by primary care practitioners. Since nurse practitioners can offer many of the same services as physicians, they may be key to solving state care shortages.

You may be interested in shaping the next generation of nurses; a Master’s degree in nurse education can help you reach this goal. According to the State of Nevada, nursing is considered one of the top 10 hot jobs in Nevada. However, waitlists in nursing programs have decreased the amount of graduating nurses. When you become a nurse educator, you can help solve the nursing shortage.

What You Can Expect From Your MSN Program

The Nevada Campaign for Action group of Nevada along with the leaders of the nursing industry are working hard to transform the Nevada nursing workforce by utilizing evidence grounded with in-depth analysis and sound research. They are drafting strategic initiatives that take nursing to the next level as their goal is to retain the nursing staff and attract new nurses for this highly regarded profession. They encourage nurses to return to school for higher degrees, which may make this the perfect time for you to enroll in college to earn your graduate degree.

There are numerous graduate programs, which give you a wide variety of choices to meet your career goals. Some of the available master’s degree in nursing programs in Nevada include; Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Leader, Nurse Educator and Nurse Midwife. Graduate nursing education is designed to prepare you for advanced practice in a changing healthcare environment. These programs provide a strong foundation for evidence–based practice, leadership and critical thinking.

Some of the typical Nevada master’s in nursing programs have admission requirements that may include:

  • Bachelor’s degree from accredited institution in nursing
  • Official transcripts from every college or university attended
  • GPA of 3.0 or better
  • Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field
  • An unencumbered Nevada RN License
  • The GRE must be taken within five years of application
  • Three letters of reference that meet the university graduate school requirements
  • MPH, international students must have a TOEFL score of at least 600 and have a minimum of 12 credits of undergraduate work in health and wellness-related disciplines with a GPA of 3.0

There may be additional requirements according to your chosen program specialty. One of the more relevant specialties may be that of public health, as the U.S. continues to deal with epidemics, disaster training and community-wide preparedness for many different health concerns.

The University of Nevada offers a dual degree, which is the Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Public Health and requires approximately 78-90+ credit hours for graduation. This program offers two tracks, (Epidemiology or Social and Behavioral Health). The Social and Behavioral Health concentration is designed to cover health promotion, prevention and health education, while the Epidemiology program covers the fundamental science underlying public health, as well as, the study the distribution of diseases, injuries and disabilities in the population.

The core course work curriculum for public health includes:

  • Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Health
  • Health and Environment
  • Epidemiology in Public Health
  • Biostatistics in Public Health
  • Healthcare policy and Administration
  • Research Methods for Public Health
  • Intro to Knowledge Development & Scientific Inquiry
  • Health Care Policy & Social Justice
  • Population/Aggregate Health Care Issues
  • Advanced Nursing Care of Specialize Populations

Upon graduation you may apply for the credential given by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for Public Health Nursing–Advanced. The examination has been retired, so you can receive a certification by submitting a portfolio of evidence that documents your specialized knowledge and skills. The portfolio must articulate your performance in four domains of practice, which include; Professional Development, Professional and Ethical Nursing Practice, Teamwork and Collaboration and Quality and Safety. The portfolio is peered–reviewed by a team of nursing experts, and if you have met the eligibility requirements you will be awarded the credential of Advance Public Health Nursing–Board Certified. The cost for an American Nurse Association member is $470 and nonmembers pay $525.

If you are a nurse with a dual degree you may have a variety of job opportunities due to your specialist education. Your employment history, a credential and the employer also impact your salary. Some job opportunities may include being a Public Health Director of Nursing, Advisor in Nutrition and Health or an Education Associate for Public Health.

If you are seeking financial help for your tuition, visit the Financial Aid Office of your university and complete the FAFSA application, which is a Federal grant and loan program. The Health Resources and Services Administration also offers a loan repayment program called NURSE Corps, which requires you to work for two years in one of their facilities, and they pay 60 percent of your unpaid nursing student loans. The federal government also has low-interest loans.

The University of Nevada has the Dan Mordecan Educational Scholarship Award, which is available for nursing graduate students. The award is $1000, and you must write a 100-word essay about your career goals to apply. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing also have a long list of financial aid programs on their webpage.

This may be a good time for you to consider returning to nursing school in Nevada for a graduate degree as it may open the door to the type of career that will give you a sense of satisfaction, and any degree your choose can help the field of nursing as a whole.

Nevada RN to MSN Bridge Programs

As a Nevada nurse, your skills have likely been put to good use throughout the course of your career. MarketWatch reports that Nevada has fewer nurses per capita than most other states. If you’re considering taking your career to the next level, you may want to start looking at RN-to-MSN bridge programs in Nevada. These programs may help you start a career in nurse administration, advanced patient care, or nursing education.

You’ll need to choose an advanced nursing specialty before you select an RN-to-MSN program in Nevada. There are many different specialties out there, and you want to select a school that can help you get the career you want. To learn more about the schools on our site, you can request information from multiple colleges to find the best program for you.

If patient care is your favorite part of nursing, you may opt to study as a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist. Becoming a clinical nurse leader or nurse administrator may serve you well if you want to direct patient care or oversee other nurses. Nurse education is a popular field if you are interested in teaching undergraduate nurses.

Once you’ve been accepted to your program and your specialty, you may begin your undergraduate nursing courses. These courses look at nursing leadership, evidence-based practice, and nursing specialties that are typically reserved for BSN-level nurses.

You can transition directly into your MSN courses after completing your bachelor’s degree classes. Core classes you may take include Knowledge Development and Scientific Inquiry, Advanced Principles of Pathophysiology, and Population Health Care Issues. As you progress through the program, you’ll need to demonstrate your expertise in many different ways. Of course, there are clinical requirements. Some schools require over 700 hours of clinical work. You may also complete a graduate project or write a thesis.

Through your school, local nursing organizations, health care employers, and education agencies, you may be able to apply for a great variety of nursing scholarships and grants. Taking advantage of the opportunities in your area may help you save quite a bit of money on your nursing education. For those going into nurse administration or leadership, the Nevada Organization of Nurse Leaders offers scholarships and grants to help with the costs of schooling. The Nevada Nurses Association is a major scholarship resource in Nevada for nurses at any level of education. If you have achieved impressive success in your nursing career, you may qualify for funds awarded by Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement.

As an advanced nurse specialist, your career will be overseen by the Nevada State Board of Nursing. Only those who go into practice as nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, and nurse midwives must get an advanced practice license. Otherwise, you must simply keep your RN license up-to-date to continue working in your chosen specialty. You will need to submit your transcripts and an application to the Nevada State Board of Nursing.

In short, getting an MSN degree can be an excellent way to expand your career options while enhancing the nursing field in Nevada. You may motivate other nurses, provide patients with more personalized and evidence-based care, and improve health care with your advanced degree. Find out more about each program by requesting information from each school you’re interested in.

Nevada Direct Entry MSN

Health care headlines from Nevada tell an alarming story about critical shortages of qualified workers. The state’s primary care workforce is not growing, and there are woefully few doctors, nurses, and other medical employees to meet the needs of the population. In fact, the Silver State ranks near the bottom of the list among states in nearly every nursing category. It is 50th in the number of registered nurses (RN) for every 100,000 residents, 41st in nurse practitioners, 49th in licensed practical nurses, and 44th in nurse midwives. These numbers clearly show one thing: educating new nurses must be a state priority.

One of the most promising suggestions is the development of direct entry or accelerated master’s degrees. These programs allow you to make the switch to a nursing career even if you graduated from college with a degree in a non-nursing subject. If you choose one of these degree plans, you can typically expect a quicker route to RN licensure and advanced nursing status than the traditional path.

Direct entry master’s programs take a variety of different forms. In many cases, your studies will be divided into several phases. In the first phase, you may be asked to complete courses leading to RN licensure and to take the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX) before enrolling in any clinical classes. After that, you would take more specialized master’s courses in a second phase. However, some colleges combine the initial RN phase with a slate of more specialized studies, allowing you to receive your RN designation and your master’s degree at the same time. The typical length of all of these programs is two to three years.

As an applicant for these programs, you could face stiff competition. Most of these schools require an undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0, with some institutions asking for a slightly higher or lower base GPA. Although not every college requires the Graduate Record Examination, some nursing schools set minimum standards for these test scores as well. For most programs, you also will be asked to complete a variety of prerequisite classes. These standards vary by school, but they can include subjects like human anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, statistics, developmental psychology, ethics, and economics.

Your nursing curriculum is likely to include a wide range of topics, including health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. If you’ve chosen a master’s focus, such as nurse midwife, you can expect to take specialty classes in addition to typical core courses. Not all direct entry degree programs lead to clinical practice, but those that do will require a certain number of clinical or practicum hours.

If you continue to work within the state, you will need to maintain your active license status through the Nevada State Board of Nursing. The state’s nursing licenses expire every second birthday, so you may have to renew your license in less than two years depending on when the credentials are first issued. For details about applying for a license, check out the state nursing board’s website.

Nevada CRNA Programs

As a working registered nurse, you may have wondered about how you can advance your knowledge of patient care while increasing your independence as a skilled medical provider. Exploring advanced nursing career options may not only benefit you, but the entire state of Nevada. The health care field is going through massive growth and struggling to keep up with patient needs all over the country. By becoming a nurse anesthetist and providing much-needed pain relief to Nevada patients, you may find an advanced nursing career that you love.

Nurse anesthetists are health care professionals that possess an extremely detailed knowledge of pharmacological pain relief, human anatomy and physiology, and patient care standards. While working as a nurse anesthetist, you may work with medical providers like general practitioners, surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners. Your expertise may be relied upon in many situations, from surgery and emergency care to labor and delivery.

Of course, you must meet strict training standards to achieve the title of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. It all begins with a Master’s degree in nursing and plenty of practical experience in anesthesia. If you’re considering a career in nurse anesthesia, you can learn more about CRNA programs in Nevada by submitting a request for more information directly from our site.

Admissions and Curriculum for CRNA Programs in Nevada

Before you begin applying to CRNA programs in Nevada and applying for scholarships, you may want to look at the admissions requirements for programs in your area. Doing so may help you obtain the proper work experience, make your application as strong as possible, and increase your chances of being accepted into your program of choice. Almost all CRNA programs require a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. A few schools have RN-to-MSN programs in nurse anesthesia, and these programs only require an associate’s degree in nursing. You may also need specialized nursing experience in critical care nursing, trauma nursing, or emergency nursing. Nevada schools may require one to three years of relevant experience.

The financial aid process starts as soon as you are accepted to a CRNA program. In addition to need-based state and federal programs that require you to fill out the FAFSA, you may wish to consider financial aid through private organizations, employers, and associations. This can make the most of your funding opportunities and help you minimize your student debt. Mary Greeley Medical Center offers nearly one dozen scholarships for nursing students. The Nevada Nurses Association funds several different scholarships in addition to offering other types of professional support to nurses. If you live in the northern part of the state, consider applying for aid through Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement.

You may be amazed at all you can learn in a nurse anesthesia program. You may get high-level training in how the human body works, different types of anesthesia, pharmacology, and ethical standards of advanced nursing care. In the early part of your two to three year education, you may take core courses like Basic Principles of Anesthesia, Chemistry and Physics Related to Anesthesia, and Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents. These courses lay the base for advanced classes like Advanced Principles of Anesthesia, Clinical Anesthesia Practicum, and Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurse Anesthetists. You build a strong clinical skill set as you work through these courses. By the time you graduate, you should have amassed at least 550 hours of clinical experience.

Working as a Nurse Anesthetist in Nevada

Nurse anesthetists in Nevada must adhere to rigorous licensing and certification standards, both at the state level and at the national level. The first step is getting certified at the national level. As you near graduation, contact the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists to prepare for your certification exam. They may examine your transcript and your clinical records to ensure that you meet the standards for certification. You can achieve the title of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist after passing the exam. Have your scores sent to the Nevada State Board of Nursing so you can get your advanced practice license in this state. You must submit a completed application in order to upgrade your registered nursing license to an advanced practice license.

Consider exploring all the benefits of working in this field by joining the Nevada Association of Nurse Anesthetists. They aim to empower CRNAs through legislation, continuing education opportunities, networking events, and leadership opportunities. You may also get discounts on professional supplies and services like insurance. As CRNAs must have professional liability insurance prior to working independently, this membership benefit can be extremely helpful.

Nursing is a varied, exciting field with many career options. If you think you would thrive in the field of nurse anesthesia, reach out to CRNA schools in Nevada today.

Clinical Nurse Leader Degrees in Nevada

Nurses are at the center of medical care. Whether you ask doctors, administrators, or specialists, everyone involved in health care can tell you that nurses are responsible for the vast majority of patient interaction and care in most settings.

Given the role of nurses in health care, the nursing shortage in Nevada is of particular issue. Even when facilities are able to attract new nurses to fill their positions, those nurses then lack the leadership of experienced nurses. In fact, the shortage is so pressing in Nevada that many facilities have changed their recruiting practices entirely (Nevada Daily Mail).

It should come as no surprise that Nevada ranks low for the amount of nurses it has—but on the flip side, it ranks extremely well in opportunities for nurses (Las Vegas Review-Journal). If you’ve been waiting for the right time to take the next step in your career, this may be what you’ve been looking for.

Take the first step and request information from nurse leadership graduate programs in Nevada.

How Can I Become a Clinical Nurse Leader in Nevada?

Finding the perfect nurse leadership program is the first step to finding your leadership persona and enhancing your clinical confidence and abilities. Programs in Nevada range from 33 to 39 credits, and the topics covered in different programs tend to be fairly similar.

By comparing curricula and learning outcomes across local and online programs, you can find one that suits your current experience and education while preparing you for your chosen career.

Courses that are commonly required in nurse leadership programs in Nevada include:

  • Health Care Policy and Social Justice
  • Evidence-Based Practice and Management of Clinical Outcomes
  • Leadership Development and Care Management
  • Care Management in a Health Care Microsystem
  • Health Informatics
  • Populations and Aggregate Health Issues

Leadership principles and techniques are obviously covered in some detail, but you can also see that you study public health, health technology, statistical analysis, and nursing research. Studying all of these topics prepares you for the multitude of tasks that come with nurse management jobs.

Program outcomes should play a fairly important role in your school choice. When schools lay out exactly what they expect of students, it is easier for you to choose a program that fits your learning style. Learning goals and competency areas in this specialty may cover the proper use of nursing research, the ability to work independently in clinical care, level of comfort in leadership situations, and understanding of the CNL scope of practice.

To advance your nursing education and career, you need to have a valid nursing license. The Nevada State Board of Nursing expects you to renew your license every other birthday. Each two-year period involves earning 30 continuing education units and paying a $100 renewal fee.

With your nursing license, you should be ready for the Clinical Nurse Leader certification process. After graduating, you have to earn a passing score on a comprehensive three-hour exam, which is administered by the AACN. You can then renew your license every five years.

What Does a Clinical Nurse Leader Do?

Learning more about the creation of the CNL role and what the AACN expects of Clinical Nurse Leaders may give you a fairly strong idea of what you can expect in your nurse leadership career. In general, be ready to take on many tasks and duties that are not entrusted to other registered nurses. This may include overseeing care coordination, integrating care across specialties, being accountable for care outcomes, and working toward improved care outcomes for different populations.

These responsibilities may involve evaluating and utilizing data, collecting and compiling data, implementing new procedures and standards as evidence becomes available, and improving the patient care experience in response to feedback.

Learning from other nurse leaders is a great way of making the most of your resources. Becoming a member of the Nevada Organization of Nurse Leaders allows you to learn about issues facing nurse leaders in your community, how this role is evolving from year-to-year, and how you can most efficiently meet the expectations of your institution.

As the health care industry adapts to the changes of the Affordable Care Act, care providers will be looking toward leaders to aid during the transition.

Start the path to becoming a trusted nurse leader by reaching out to Master’s in nursing leadership programs in Nevada.

Nevada Research Nursing Graduate Programs

In the early days of this career field, nursing may have started out as a support position for doctors. However, the field of nursing has grown so much in scope and size that it is now its own industry. This is good news for you—the experience you have as a registered nurse can be applied to a number of advanced career path that may allow you to positively impact the world of nursing. If you are interested in taking the next step in your Nevada nursing career, find out more about research nursing graduate programs in Nevada.

As a research nurse, you may focus your efforts on any number of areas in this field. Areas of interest include nurse employment and education, patient outcomes and experience, technology and procedures, and instruction methods. One recent nursing study in Nevada looked at how the nursing workforce is changing. This study concluded that the the male nursing workforce is growing rapidly, with health care becoming more popular overall as a career field.

Nevada Graduate Degree Programs in Nursing Research

Although your RN experience is extremely valuable in the field of research, you also have to develop a whole new set of skills and knowledge to make your way into a research career. Your Bachelor’s degree in nursing provides the base critical thinking skills and nursing knowledge that you need to head into a graduate nursing program. Programs in Nevada range from 30 to 90 credits, depending on whether you want to earn a Master’s degree or a PhD. This is a big decision, so it is worth your time to consider multiple schools and truly find one that fits your research goals and your learning style. It is also crucial to find a good cohort, since you will be working with them on research and group studies for the duration of your education.

The coursework in your curriculum should walk you through every step of developing and carrying out research. Some of the core classes you may take include Nursing Research Methods, Nursing Inquiry and Scholarship, Nursing Theory, Measurement and Data Analysis, and Theoretical Perspectives of Nursing Science. In many of your courses, particularly toward the end of your degree, you may participate in research studies to build your confidence and your knowledge of proper research protocol.

There are quite a few organizations and associations that have scholarship and grant opportunities for graduate nursing students. Since you are an RN, you may already know of some of these organizations. Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement is one local scholarship resource to look into.

The Role of Clinical Nurse Researchers in Nevada

With a graduate degree in research nursing, you may be able to explore opportunities in a variety of settings. Hospitals, clinics, and educational institutions often have dedicated research wings and laboratories. You may also be able to work in a medical specialty, particularly if you have nursing experience in that area. One large research center in Nevada is the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nevada.

Since few nurses ever reach this level of education, you may enjoy a strong earning potential in this field. Find out what your full potential is as a nursing professional. Research nursing graduate programs in Nevada can help you get there.

Nevada Certified Nurse Midwife

If you ask women about the most important time in their lives, many will comment on the birth of their children. Pregnant and childbearing women deserve personalized, evidence-based care. If you’re interested in meeting this need, learn more about certified nurse midwifery programs in Nevada by contacting the schools you see listed below.

Certified nurse midwives (CNM) are being used more and more to meet the primary care needs of women, particularly as OB/GYNs become scarcer and more overbooked throughout Nevada. Women may seek out CNM care if they are interested in natural birth or if they want to give birth in a birthing center.

In fact, CNMs in Nevada may get the chance to explore new types of technology and pain relief in this field. KTVN reports that some CNMs in Nevada have started using nitrous oxide for pain relief.

Find out more about what it means to be a certified nurse midwife and contact certified nurse midwifery schools in Nevada today.

Becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife in Nevada

To take care of women at various stages of life, you must be educated in a variety of health conditions and medical needs. Because of this, you must typically have a bachelor’s degree in nursing prior to beginning your nurse midwifery courses. Due to the demands of a CNM program, most schools require a 3.0 GPA or higher for admission. You may also need some nursing experience—often one year or more.

Your curriculum should contain a wide variety of nursing and midwifery courses to prepare you for the various duties that come with this profession. Core advanced nursing classes include Research for Evidence-Based Practice, Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice, Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan, and Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice.

Once you’ve developed your nursing skills a bit, you can start taking courses that are specific to nurse midwifery. Classes in this category include Advanced Practice Nursing with Women and Neonates, Clinical Care of Childbearing Women, Advanced Nursing Assessment of Childbearing Women, and Pregnancy & Childbirth Complications.

You will learn a lot in the classroom, but you will put it all together when you get into a clinical setting. To meet the requirements of this profession, you may work with women of various ages and medical backgrounds. You may perform gynecological exams, fundal height checks, and cervical checks. As you advance in your training, you may take the lead during labor and childbirth to learn when a patient needs assistance and when care must be transferred to an OB/GYN.

Nevada is home to many organizations and companies that fund scholarships for advanced nursing students. Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement is a local group that awards scholarships every year. Scholarships for graduate students are also funded by the Nevada Organization of Nurse Leaders. If you are willing to work in an underserved area after graduation, you may want to consider applying for a NURSE Corps Scholarship.

Working as a Certified Nurse Midwife in Nevada

Before you begin working with the women of Nevada, you must meet the licensure standards of this state. First, this involves getting your certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board. You must submit proof of your graduation from an approved program and then pass a rigorous certification exam. With this certification, you can apply for your state practice license through the Nevada State Board of Nursing.

CNMs are an integral part of care for women. Find out more about your options by contacting nurse midwifery schools in Nevada today for more information on this rewarding nursing career.

Nevada Clinical Nurse Specialist Programs

With the increase in demand for affordable healthcare throughout the nation, becoming a clinical nurse specialist may open new career opportunities for you at medical offices across Nevada. Hospitals, home care systems, and outpatient centers are just a few of the medical facilities looking to hire certified clinical nurse specialists (CNS).

Job duties of the CNS in Nevada may entail direct or indirect patient care activities as well as assisting other nursing staff or working with patients and their families. Earning your Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice can increase your marketability in this growing sector of the advanced nursing community, and should prepare you for the credentialing exam to become Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Contact the nursing schools in Nevada that offer CNS preparation to learn more about entering this advanced nursing profession.

Becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Nevada

As you review potential CNS programs in Nevada, you should take into consideration the school’s accreditation. Colleges that have obtained accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing can better prepare you for ascertaining your license upon completion of the program, allowing you to successfully diagnose and treat patients in your area of specialty. Contact the schools listed on our site to find an accredited MSN program today.

Most accredited colleges in Nevada insist on the completion of certain prerequisites before you can apply for MSN programs. Prerequisites for graduate programs may include passing a qualifying statistics course, ascertaining your RN degree, sitting for the RN license, and including a letter of recommendation and personal statement with your application.

MSN degrees oftentimes require a two-year, full-time commitment through campus or online courses as well as the completion of a clinical practicum. During your course of study, you will need to choose a nursing specialty, such as acute care nursing, cardiovascular nursing, or infectious disease nursing.

Classroom instruction in a clinical nurse specialist program will likely cover:

  • Curriculum development and implementation
  • Instructional theory, design, and delivery
  • Health assessment
  • Physiology
  • Pathophysiology

When it comes to advocating healthcare policies and researching new techniques, a DNP may be the degree for you. Requiring up to three years of full-time study, DNP degrees prove you are an expert in your particular specialization, which may increase your earning potential as well as position you in an expanded CNS role.

Coursework may cover topics like:

  • Clinical data management
  • Health economics and finance
  • Advanced nursing policy

No matter what degree you earn, you will need to complete the corresponding clinical practicum at an approved facility. Most CNS practicums entail supervised training to teach you how to treat patients in your particular specialty, requiring you to fulfill a minimum of 500 hours of training before graduation. Look up MSN and DNP programs near you today.

Due to the increase in demand for specialty care across the country, many MSN and DNP programs qualify for financial assistance to encourage you to work in underserved areas. The Health Resources and Services Administration offers several different financial aid options that can help cover your college costs, including loan and scholarship programs.

Depending on your financial standing, you may apply for scholarships and loans through the following programs:

  • National Health Service Corps
  • NURSE Corps

Working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Nevada

Once you complete your academic program you should qualify for the CNS certificate, which can be taken through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Certification specialties include:

  • Adult health
  • Adult psychiatric/mental health
  • Home health
  • Public/Community health
  • Adult-gerontology
  • Child/Adolescent psychiatric-mental health
  • Pediatric
  • Gerontology

Start working toward your clinical nurse specialist career today by contacting the schools with MSN or DNP programs near you for program information.

Nevada Public Health Graduate Programs

No matter how long you have worked as a registered nurse in Nevada, you have likely become very familiar with the field of public health nursing. The role of public health in Nevada is far different than it is in any other state, thanks to the huge amount of tourists that come through Nevada every year. Public health threats from across the country can quickly threaten the health of Nevada residents.

Contributing to the field of public health empowers you to strengthen ongoing health care efforts in Nevada communities. The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health aims to make health care a priority to everyone in the state. If you want to use your nursing knowledge to run community health programs, reach out to citizens, and analyze data, reach out to public health nursing graduate programs in Nevada.

Master’s Degree Programs in Public Health Nursing in Nevada

The field of public health is diverse and multifaceted, so you should plan on studying hard and taking a variety of courses as a graduate student. Learning goals in public health programs center around several areas of study. By the time you graduate, you must be able to read and interpret nursing research, use data to analyze public health issues, effectively reach the public in regards to health concerns, and design programs that reach as many residents as possible.

Clearly, reaching these goals takes quite a bit of study. Most students spend two to three years in school to earn a graduate degree in public health nursing. Some of the classes that may be required for this program include Population Health Informatics, Health Equity and Social Justice, Public Health Nurse Leadership Role, Behavior Change Theory and Population Health, Fundamentals of Epidemiology, and Research for Evidence-Based Practice. These courses and the clinical classes you take help you build the skills and understanding required for public health nursing positions in Nevada.

Through your school, private organizations, and the state government, you may apply for graduate student aid to cover some or all of your educational expenses. If you live in the northern part of the state, you can apply for grants through Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement.

The Role of Public Health Nurses in Nevada

You must be ready to act as a leader when you get started in the field of public health. Your input and knowledge may be requested for controversial issues and decisions. A major public health movement in Nevada centers around making birth control free and easily accessible for all women to minimize public health care costs. As a public health nurse, it is your job to look at the evidence, figure out what is best for the people of Nevada, and advocate for the decision that best fits these criteria.

The field of public health may only become more important in years to come. Get involved now by requesting information from public health nursing programs in Nevada.

Graduate Nursing Programs in Healthcare Policy in Nevada

Healthcare policy is quite possibly one of the most complicated aspects of healthcare. Not only does it drive change at a federal level, it impacts how state agencies run and even the work of individual organizations. Given that, it is easy to see how policies that don’t reflect the realities of the health industry can have disastrous effects.

That is why it is so important for nurses like you to get involved in healthcare policy in Nevada. Once you complete a Master’s degree in this specialty, you can begin tackling the specific problems that healthcare providers and patients face in your community.

Although Nevada has struggled with its healthcare rankings, it is on the road to improvement. Recently, Nevada moved up one ranking in terms of overall health (RGJ). Some of its most remarkable improvements are in the areas of infant mortality, preventable hospitalizations, obesity rates, and smoking rates.

If you are ready to put your nursing experience to work in a new specialty, why not explore policy and administration? Keep reading to find out more about Master’s in healthcare policy programs in Nevada.

Master’s Degree Programs in Healthcare Policy in Nevada

To start changing healthcare policy from the inside, you should study policy at the graduate level. Throughout Nevada, the majority of healthcare policy programs require the completion of 40 credits.

By meeting these rigorous requirements, you can thoroughly cover the healthcare system of the United States, legislative processes, and the policy creation process. You may find the following courses in your curriculum:

  • US Healthcare System
  • Epidemiology in Health Services Management
  • Healthcare Economics
  • Advanced Healthcare Finance
  • Operations and Management of Health Services
  • Health Services Research Methods
  • Healthcare Law and Ethics

These courses are chosen for very specific reasons. As you compare schools, check out the learning goals they have set for healthcare policy students. These goals structure your education and assess your progress throughout your course of study.

Nevada schools expect students to understand population trends, describe different influences on the American healthcare system, use economics in health policy discussions, and effectively contribute to the health policy process.

Upon meeting the course requirements of your school, you may be expected to pull everything together in a capstone course, thesis, or professional paper. This work may impact your career options after graduation, so you want to show how you can contribute to healthcare through your work.

To work in any nursing capacity, you must maintain your nursing license. The Nevada Board of Nursing requires renewal of your license by every other birthday. Each two-year cycle should also include 30 hours of continuing education.

How Do Nurses Impact Healthcare Policy in Nevada?

Since nurses work on the front lines of healthcare, their input is often taken into heavy consideration during the legislative process. As a nurse, you may become a lobbyist for a nursing group, direct policy change and implementation at various institutions, or change statewide healthcare laws. To get an understanding for how nurses may influence healthcare policy, just look at the work of the Nevada Nurses Association. They affect legislation through committees like the Rural and Frontier Nursing Advisory Committee and the Healthy Nevada program.

In many cases, working in healthcare policy means working in local or state government. Agencies like the Division of Healthcare Financing and Policy explore the potential financial consequences of implementing certain bills, analyze the costs and risks of certain policies, and decide how and if policies are passed.

Those who create policies have a significant amount of power in deciding the future of the healthcare industry. With your nursing background, you know what the healthcare industry needs to thrive.

Find out how you can use your insight today by contacting graduate healthcare policy programs in Nevada.