Drexel University

Drexel University offers CCNE-accredited online BSN to MSN and post-MSN programs in the following specializations: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. All of these programs are part-time, and are comprised of fully online instruction primarily delivered in a synchronous format, with live and interactive lectures. The online classes are supplemented with on-campus intensives that students must attend (the number of on-campus intensives that students must fulfill varies depending on their specialization and whether they are enrolled in an MSN or post-MSN certificate program). In addition, students must complete a certain number of clinical hours under the supervision of a preceptor at pre-approved sites.

Applicants to Drexel’s BSN to MSN or post-MSN programs must carry a current registered nurse license. RNs who apply to a BSN to MSN program must have earned a BSN from a CCNE or ACEN-accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. RNs who apply for a post-MSN certificate program must have completed an MSN from an accredited institution while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. No GRE scores are required to apply to Drexel’s online graduate nursing programs. However, certain specializations may require applicants to have completed one or more years of nursing experience in a particular field. Prospective applicants should also note that Drexel University’s online programs do not accept applicants from Iowa, Louisiana, North Carolina, or Wisconsin.

Drexel’s Online Family Nurse Practitioner Programs

Drexel’s BSN to MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program consists of 56 credits and 720 clinical hours. This program takes 36 months or 12 terms to complete, and students can only start in the Fall term. Classes in this program include Primary Care of Adults and Older Adults across the Age Spectrum, Primary and Episodic Care of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, Pharmacology for Family Nurse Practitioners, and Advanced Clinical Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning Across the Lifespan. During their enrollment, students must make four visits to campus as part of the following residency and simulation courses: FNP I Summer Residency and Simulation, FNP III Winter Simulation, FNP IV Spring Residency, and FNP V Summer Simulation Experience. During their on-campus intensives, students participate in simulated clinical learning experiences under the supervision of faculty.

Drexel University’s post-MSN certificate Family Nurse Practitioner program consists of 28 to 38 credits, which students complete over the course of 24 months, or 8 terms. Students must attend 3 on-campus intensives, as well as 720 clinical practicum hours.

The 720 hours of clinical practicum for Drexel’s online FNP programs are divided across four clinical courses that each require 160 hours of practicum, and a fifth clinical course that requires 80 hours. Students of this program must obtain and maintain Pennsylvania RN licensure prior to starting the clinical aspect of their program.

Upon graduation from one of Drexel’s online FNP programs, students are eligible to complete the AANP or ANCC examination for Family Nurse Practitioner certification.

Drexel’s Online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs

Drexel University’s online BSN to MSN program with a focus in adult-gerontology acute care requires the completion of 57 course credits and 800 clinical hours over the course of 36 months, or 12 terms of part-time study. In addition to their fulfillment of clinical hours at an approved medical facility, students must make four trips to campus for on-campus intensives that involve simulated lab experiences. The types of courses students take when enrolled in this program include Pharmacology for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners, Management of Care of Patients in Critical Care Settings, and Advanced Clinical Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning Across the Lifespan.

Drexel’s online post-MSN certificate in adult-gerontology acute care is comprised of 29 to 39 credits, as well as 800 clinical practicum hours and four on-campus intensives, which students complete over the course of 24 months or 8 terms.

Upon graduation from Drexel’s online AG-ACNP program, students are eligible to complete the AANP or AACN examination for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification.

Drexel’s Online Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Programs

Drexel’s online BSN to MSN program in adult-gerontology primary care consists of 52 credits and 640 clinical hours. Students complete this program over 36 months of part-time study, during which they must also attend four on-campus intensives. Classes for this program include Introduction to Adult-Gerontology Primary Care and Care of the Young Adult, Management and Care of Adult Patients in Primary Care, Advanced Clinical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning Across the Lifespan, and Advanced Pharmacology for Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners.

Drexel’s post-MSN certificate program in adult-gerontology primary care is comprised of 24 to 34 credits, 640 clinical hours and four on-campus intensives, which students complete over the course of 7 terms, or 21 months.

After graduating from Drexel’s online AG-PCNP program, students are eligible to complete the AANP or AACN examination for Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certification.

Drexel’s Online Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs

Drexel’s online BSN to MSN program in pediatric acute care consists of 57 credits, 800 clinical hours, and four on-campus intensives that include supervised clinical simulations. The program takes 36 months, or 12 terms, of part-time study to complete. Classes for this program include Pharmacology for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner,
Primary Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents, Episodic Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents in Primary Care, and PNP Management of the Medically Fragile and Technology Dependent Child in the Community.

Drexel’s post-MSN certificate program in pediatric acute care is comprised of 29 to 39 credits, 640 clinical hours and four on-campus intensives, which students complete over the course of 8 terms, or 24 months.

In addition to fulfilling Drexel University’s general application requirements for its online graduate nursing programs, applicants to Drexel’s BSN to MSN and post-MSN PACNP programs must have completed at least one year of professional experience in a pediatric acute care setting.

After graduating from Drexel’s online PACNP program, students are eligible to complete the PNCB or ANCC examination for certification as a Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.

Drexel’s Online Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Programs

Drexel’s online BSN to MSN program in pediatric primary care consists of 52 credits, 640 clinical hours, and four on-campus intensives that involve clinical simulation experiences. The program takes 33 months, or 11 terms, of part-time study to complete. Classes for this program include Advanced Clinical Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning Across the Lifespan, Primary Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents, Management and Care of Adolescents in the Primary Care Setting, and Primary Care of Children with Special Health Care Needs. Students must also complete three on-campus intensives that involve simulated clinical learning experiences under the guidance of faculty as part of the following courses: Summer Residency, Fall Simulation Experience, and Spring Residency.

Drexel’s post-MSN certificate program in pediatric primary care is comprised of 24 to 34 credits, 640 clinical hours and three on-campus intensives, which students complete over the course of 7 terms, or 21 months of part-time study.

After graduating from Drexel’s online PPCNP program, students are eligible to complete the PNCB or ANCC examination for national certification as a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner.

Drexel’s Online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs

Drexel’s online BSN to MSN program in psychiatric mental health consists of 52 credits and 640 clinical hours. Students complete this program over 33 months of part-time study. Classes for this program include Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan, Advanced Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Theoretical Foundations and Psychopathology I, Advanced Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Theoretical Foundations and Psychopathology II, and Advanced Clinical Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning Across the Lifespan. Students also attend four on-campus intensives that involve simulated learning experiences as part of four separate courses: Summer Residency, Fall Simulation Experience, Winter Simulation Experience, and Spring Residency.

Drexel’s post-MSN certificate program psychiatric mental health nursing is comprised of 24 to 34 credits, 640 clinical hours and four on-campus intensives, which students complete over the course of 7 terms, or 21 months.

After graduating from Drexel’s online PMHNP program, students are eligible to complete the ANCC examination for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification.

Drexel’s Online Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Programs

Drexel’s online BSN to MSN program in women’s health consists of 55 credits and 640 clinical hours. Students complete this program over 33 months of part-time study, or 11 terms. Classes for this program include Primary Care for Women’s Health, Pharmacology for the Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Management & Care of the Low Risk Obstetrical and Post Partum Needs of Women and Families, and Management & Care of the High Risk Obstetrical and Post Partum Needs of Women and Families. Students must also attend four on-campus intensives, during which students participate in simulated clinical learning experiences under the guidance of faculty as part of four courses: Summer Residency, Fall Simulation Experience, Winter Simulation Experience, and Spring Residency.

Drexel’s post-MSN WHNP certificate requires the completion of 27 to 37 credits, 640 clinical hours and four on-campus intensives, which students complete over the course of 7 terms, or 21 months.

After graduating from Drexel’s online PMHNP program, students are eligible to complete the NCC examination for Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner certification.

Overview: Drexel University: College of Nursing and Health Professions

Drexel University Online MSN Programs