According to nurse.org, nursing is the nation’s largest health care profession. If you have already earned a baccalaureate degree in nursing, PennWest’s online Master’s in Nursing programs can take your career to the next level, providing opportunities for professional advancement in a variety of roles as well as additional financial compensation.
You’ll learn from faculty who are skilled clinicians and educators. They are committed to providing you with a strong foundation in evidence-based practice, so you have the confidence to perform your duties at the highest possible level.
Choose from two tracks that lead to high-demand jobs – Nurse Administrator and Family Nurse Practitioner. Courses are delivered online with both synchronous and asynchronous instruction except for clinical practice. You’ll be prepared to sit for certification exams that allow you to use your specialized skills in the delivery of health care.
CCNE information
The RN-BSN, MSN-Administration and Leadership, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at PennWest are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
PennWest University, including Clarion, California, and Edinboro campuses, will submit a self-study and host a site visit for our accrediting body, CCNE. The site visit will be on March 29-31, 2023. This serves as formal notification of the upcoming visit and provides an opportunity for third-party comments concerning the program’s qualifications for accreditation.
CCNE must receive written third-party comments regarding programs by no later than 21 days prior (March 1, 2023) to the first day of the scheduled on-site evaluation. CCNE accepts only signed comments. CCNE shares third-party comments with members of the evaluation team before the visit, but these comments are not shared with the program at any time during the review process. During its program review, the evaluation team considers third-party comments related to the accreditation standards. All third-party comments submitted to CCNE must be written in English, consistent with CCNE's policy on the Conduct of Business.
If you would like to submit a third-party comment for a program under review, please submit to thirdpartycomments@ccneaccreditation.org.
Or, if you prefer, mail comments to:
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
ATTN: Third-Party Comments
655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
ACEN information
The BSN, RN-BSN, MSN- Nurse Practitioner programs at PennWest are accredited by ACEN:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that in 2020, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) earned a median income of $117,670 per year.
In 2019 U.S. News & World Report ranked our online MSN program 35th in the country for Best Online Master’s in Nursing and Nursejournal.org ranked us among America’s Best Nursing Programs in the East.
PennWest’s M.S. in Nursing is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Number of clinical practice hours required for the Family Nurse Practitioner program.
Varies by concentration
100% online
Varies by concentration
Graduate Admissions
gradadmissions@pennwest.edu
724-938-4187
Are you a nurse leader who wants to expand your career options even further? Are you ready to play a dynamic role in the health care environment of the future? You can do it with PennWest’s online Master’s in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Administration and Leadership.
This 100% online program will give you greater insight into health policy, financial management and the legal aspects of health care administration. It will build your leadership skills so you can help your nursing staff provide high-quality, safe patient care, and design and administer nursing programs in a variety of settings. You will graduate with a solid foundation so you can contribute to the health care team’s response to today’s demanding challenges.
Upon completion of the MSN in Nursing Administration and Leadership program, you will be eligible to take one of the national certification exams for nurse administration offered by the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Credits: 30
Start Terms: Fall, Summer
Admission Requirements: 2.0 Transcript BSN, RN License, Resume, Essay - Statistics, Conditional possible less than 3.0 GPA
Nurse practitioners are a major solution to the primary care shortage our country faces. PennWest’s online Master of Science in Nursing with the Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) concentration can put you at the forefront of this growing industry. It prepares you to provide family-focused primary health care to individuals in diverse and often underserved communities.
You will learn under the guidance of expert faculty. They will help you hone your critical thinking and communication skills as you delve deeper into the family, women’s, and community health issues. You will learn how to apply the scientific practice to advance the health of your patients. Your expertise will prepare you to work in community health centers, clinics, and private practice.
Upon graduation, you will be eligible to sit for professional certification exams through either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) and become a family nurse practitioner.
Credits: 49
Start Terms: Fall
Admission Requirements: 3.0 Transcript BSN, RN License, Resume, Essay, 2 LOR - Statistics min C last 10 years, Recommended Pathophysiology last 5 years
What Can I Do with a Master’s in Nursing?
When you earn a master’s degree in nursing, a world of opportunities opens to you. Check out these median incomes posted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2021:
Administration and Leadership Admission Requirements
Conditional Admission Requirements
Family Nurse Practitioner Admission Requirements
Gen Ed/Co-requisites:
PennWest’s three campuses, California, Clarion and Edinboro universities, have been delivering award-winning online programs for more than 20 years. You’ll graduate with a degree from Pennsylvania Western University, completely supported by the expertise and community of learners on our brick-and-mortar campuses.