A GREATER PURSUIT
School of Nursing and Health Sciences Graduate Nursing Programs
COLLABORATIVE. SKILLFUL. PASSIONATE. ETHICAL. KNOWLEDGEABLE. In the ever-evolving world of healthcare, these qualities will stand the test of time—and they guide everything we do. At NPU’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences (SNHS), you will be equipped to excel as an ethical, compassionate, patient-centered healthcare professional for the rest of your career. This is more than a degree.
IT’S A GREATER PURSUIT. COLLABORATIVE
ETHICAL
Through group projects, community initiatives, and cross-program coursework, we take an inter-professional approach to education. We believe learning broadly—and learning from each other—promotes enhanced understanding, better decision-making, and improved efficiency to create better health outcomes.
We are committed to upholding a decision model grounded in Christian principles to support delivery of compassionate, patient-centered care.
SKILLFUL Our experienced faculty, best-practice instruction methods, meaningful assessment and evaluation, and extensive hands-on experiences will develop your leadership skills and enhance your clinical expertise.
PASSIONATE Providing excellent healthcare requires more than classroom knowledge. Volunteer opportunities, mission trips, and committed professors will help you become a more supportive, dedicated, and caring healthcare practitioner.
KNOWLEDGEABLE Inside the classroom and within practice settings, we work to gather, analyze, and synthesize information and utilize evidence-based strategies to serve patients well and to advance our professions.
THE RIGHT PLACE FOR YOU Whether you are working full time or looking to immerse yourself in full-time graduate study, the SNHS offers program flexibility to address your needs. We are ready to invest deeply in your success from your first class to your dream job.
Personal Attention With caring, experienced faculty, small class sizes, a flexible in-person learning environment, dedicated advisors, and a commitment to one-on-one interaction, you will know that you belong here—and that we will do whatever it takes to get you where you want to be.
Ethical Approach A decision-making model grounded in Christian principles sets us apart—and will equip you to provide exceptional patient-centered care even under the most challenging circumstances.
Holistic Education The SNHS offers a one-of-a-kind curriculum, integrating dynamic classroom learning with best-practice clinical expertise—and thanks to strong partnerships with leading Chicagoland healthcare systems and clinics, you will have limitless opportunities to hone your skills and put your knowledge into practice.
“I enjoy teaching at a smaller university located in the heart of the city, where I have the opportunity to get to know my students individually. North Park’s School of Nursing offers a dynamic, personalized program…[and] a unique blend of highly educated faculty who have clinical connections with various hospitals in the wider Chicagoland area, thus allowing them to guide students through meaningful clinical experiences in a complex and fast-paced clinical world.”
— DR. DIMITRA LOUKISSA
Professor of Nursing
Whatever your passion, the SNHS has the degree or program to help you take the next step in your healthcare career.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Master of Science in Nursing or Post-Master’s Certificate
Earn your master of science in nursing (MSN) degree or post-master’s certificate and gain the knowledge and advanced practice experience you will need to become an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGNP). As our population ages, the demand for AGNPs continues to grow, with positions available in healthcare systems, clinics, community centers, and organizations of many kinds. As an AGNP, you will be qualified to provide primary care to a range of adults, from the healthy, community-living population to those in need of palliative and end-of-life care. Upon successful program completion, you will be eligible to sit for certification as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner. Master of Science in Nursing 48 Semester hours 585 Practicum hours Post-Master’s Certificate 34 Semester hours 585 Practicum Hours
Family Nurse Practitioner Master of Science in Nursing or Post-Master’s Certificate
Earn your master of science in nursing (MSN) degree or post-master’s certificate while gaining the knowledge and advanced practice experience you will need to become a family nurse practitioner (FNP). As an FNP, you will be prepared to offer primary care to individuals of all ages. FNPs work in schools, community centers, healthcare systems, clinics, and other organizations. Upon successful program completion, you will be eligible to sit for certification as a family nurse practitioner. Master of Science in Nursing 54 Semester Hours 675 Clinical Hours Post-Master’s Certificate 40 Semester Hours 675 Clinical Hours
Leadership Management Master of Science in Nursing
Respond to the needs of our 21st-century healthcare system and prepare to assume an ever-widening range of leadership and management responsibilities. By earning a master of science in nursing degree (MSN) with a concentration in leadership and management, you will build on your direct care and team experience to develop skills in communication, human resource management, strategic assessment, quality improvement, budgeting, safety, risk management, and more. Prepare to advance your career within a healthcare system, clinic, or other organization. 34 Semester Hours 330 Clinical Hours
Doctor of Nursing Practice The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program will prepare you for advanced nursing practice. Building on your current master’s degree in nursing, you will develop organization and systems leadership knowledge and skills, generate new knowledge through practice innovation, and improve health outcomes through application and translation of evidence into practice. Upon program completion, you will be equipped to advance your career in a variety of healthcare settings. 33 Total Credit Hours for Graduation 560 Practicum Hours Over 7 Semesters
“[At the SNHS], there is a genuine interest in students, not only from the academic perspective, but also in terms of their personal and spiritual well-being. There is a strong focus on developing the student, improving the health of the community, and furthering the nursing profession. In curriculum, this translates to providing students with current information while nurturing their creativity and problem-solving skills to live a life of service.” — DR. MARYANN GIERLOFF Professor of Nursing
FIND YOUR SUCCESS An advanced degree from NPU’s School
of Nursing and Health Sciences will equip you to succeed throughout your career. Our holistic, integrated, collaborative model ensures that your skills and experiences will remain relevant for decades to come. With a strong ethical decision-making foundation and a passion for service, you will be ready to face any challenge.
Our graduates are excelling in a number of clinical and management roles in the following areas: • Family practice clinics • Long-term care facilities • Palliative care settings • Urgent care centers • Federally qualified health centers • Hospitals and healthcare systems
“[My] first day on the job, the doctor said, ‘This is the chart, and there’s your patient.’ I was serving patients completely independent of him. The education and experience [I received] at North Park equipped me to do that. I was on my own, and I was able to pick up and go right away.”
— ROSHANI PATEL FNP
THE NEXT STEPS APPLICATION CHECKLIST: NURSING DEGREE Completed application form Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended Electronic copy of your current resume or curriculum vitae (CV) Personal statement or essay wo letters of recommendation (three letters for DNP program) T with at least one from a current supervisor I nterview—you may be asked to complete an interview with the graduate faculty prior to admission or DNP applicants only, documentation of practice hours F completed in MSN/MS program courses *All candidates for graduate nursing programs at North Park University must hold an active license to practice in Illinois as an RN.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS NURSING DEGREE • Candidates for the master of science in nursing (MSN) degree program must hold a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) or bachelor of science (BS) degree with a major in nursing from an accredited program. (Please note that RNs with BA/BS in non-nursing fields are considered for admission to the MSN program with a concentration in leadership and management.) • Candidates for the post-master’s certificate programs must hold a master of science in nursing (MSN) or master of science (MS) degree with a major in nursing from an accredited program.
program. Applicants are to be certified as advanced practice
•C andidates for the MSN degree program must have
nurses (APN) or to be master’s-prepared in administrative/
a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in
leadership nursing specialties, or in related master’s nursing
their undergraduate degree. The GPA will be calculated
specialties as approved by the Dean of the School of Nursing
based on all credits transferred to and earned from
and Health Sciences.
the degree-granting school.
REGISTERED NURSE (RN) LICENSE All candidates for graduate nursing programs at North Park University must hold an active license to practice
must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in their master’s degree.
in Illinois as an RN.
GPA AND COURSEWORK: DNP PROGRAM APPLICANTS
RESIDENCY STATUS
• Applicants for programs must have a minimum 3.2
All DNP candidates must be Illinois residents.
GPA AND COURSEWORK: MSN AND POST-MASTER’S PROGRAM APPLICANTS
apply.northpark.edu
• Candidates for the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program
•A pplicants for the post-master’s certificate programs
•A pplicants must have completed coursework in
must hold a master of science in nursing (MSN) or master of
statistics, nursing research, and health assessment
science (MS) degree with a major in nursing from an accredited
as part of their undergraduate nursing degree.
cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in their master’s degree.
COME SEE FOR YOURSELF
One of the best ways to learn about North Park University is to attend an information session where you will have an opportunity to learn more about admission requirements, experiential learning opportunities, and financial aid. We look forward to meeting with you soon! • Attend an informational session online or at our Chicago campus. • Schedule a personal appointment with an admissions representative. • Sit in on a class.
School of Nursing and Health Sciences Office of Graduate Admissions 3225 West Foster Ave. Box 40 Chicago, IL 60625 (773) 244-4880 www.northpark.edu
Plan your visit at northpark.edu/nursing
OUR MISSION The mission of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences is to prepare professionals for lives of significance and service through baccalaureate and graduate education within the Christian tradition.