LCHS OFFERING ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING PROGRAMS ONLINE

As the Nursing Department celebrates 40 years of excellence in nursing education in May, the department is both looking back with pride and looking forward to an exciting future by offering online graduate programs to complement our on-campus BSN and nurse anesthesia DNP programs.

Family Nurse Practitioner

The Family Nurse Practitioner program, which has been preparing successful graduates since 1995, transitioned to distance education during the 2024-25 academic year. Family nurse practitioners (FNP) are prepared to provide advanced nursing practice for individuals and families across the life span. Specifically, the FNP is educationally prepared to assess, diagnose and treat common acute and chronic disorders, and to provide health promotion and disease prevention interventions and counseling. As advanced practice nurses, graduates hold clinical and leadership positions in various health care settings such as primary care, urgent care, specialty areas including hospice and palliative care, pediatrics, women’s health, endocrinology, and cardiology.

In alignment with the Jesuit Ideals of The University of Scranton, all courses meet synchronously so that the students feel connected to faculty, other students and the University. This model enhances student engagement in a supported learning environment. Courses emphasize the use of clinical decision-making and diagnostic reasoning in the delivery of care to clients across the lifespan. There are two faculty-facilitated on-campus intensives that provide hands-on practice, simulations and skillbased training that the FNP will use in clinical practice. Additionally, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are utilized to assess student competencies. Throughout the program, students complete 750 direct patient care hours with experienced preceptors caring for clients across the lifespan.

Graduates are eligible for licensure in Pennsylvania and many other states. In addition, graduates will be eligible to take the national certification examination for the FNP role offered by both the American Nurses Credentialing Center and American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Recognizing an urgent need for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), the Department of Nursing has developed and implemented a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, set to welcome its first group of students in the fall of 2025.

PMHNPs play a vital role in meeting the growing demand for mental health services across the United States. With increasing rates of mental health disorders and a severe shortage of qualified providers, the need for highly trained professionals in this field has never been more urgent. This specialized track within the graduate nursing program offers three distinct pathways:

• BSN to MSN (42 credits) 

• BSN to DNP (67 credits) 

• Post-Master’s Certificate (33 credits) designed for nurses who currently have a master’s degree but are seeking a degree within this specialization. 

Classes will be delivered online with both synchronous and asynchronous class time. To enhance clinical learning, students will participate in two on-campus intensive sessions, where they will refine their therapeutic communication skills, diagnostic reasoning, and development of a treatment plan, including therapeutic interventions and medication management with a standardized patient. 

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), The University of Scranton’s graduate nursing program ensures that PMHNP graduates are fully prepared to take the certification examination required for licensure. Courses are led by full-time faculty specializing in psychiatric mental health nursing who provide continuous support through regular online interactions. 

Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) 

The demand for doctorally prepared nurse clinicians is growing as the health care system increasingly relies on highly educated advanced practice nurses to lead innovation, improve patient outcomes and bridge gaps in care. The Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at The University of Scranton is designed to prepare experienced advanced practice nurses for the highest level of clinical leadership. 

This 30-credit program, completed over 21 months, is structured to support full-time clinical practice while maintaining a rigorous academic commitment. The curriculum includes a combination of coursework, clinical practice hours and an evidence-based scholarly project designed to drive health care transformation. 

Program Highlights Interdisciplinary Learning—Core courses are taken alongside students in both the Psychiatric Mental Health DNP and Nurse Anesthesia programs, fostering collaboration and a broad understanding of advanced nursing practice. 

• Synchronous Online Learning— Every course includes live, interactive components to facilitate engagement and mentorship.

• Flexible Yet Rigorous Structure—Courses are taken sequentially, allowing for a focused and immersive experience while balancing professional responsibilities. 

• Scholarly Project & Capstone—Students complete an evidence-based project aimed at improving patient outcomes and advancing health care innovation. 

• Credit for Prior Clinical Hours—Clinical hours completed in a master’s Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) program are recognized toward DNP requirements. 

• Jesuit Values Integration—Rooted in the Jesuit tradition, the program emphasizes ethical leadership, social responsibility and service to others. 

As the complexity of health care continues to evolve, DNP-prepared nurses are essential in shaping policy, implementing evidence-based practice and leading interdisciplinary teams. The Post-Master’s DNP at The University of Scranton provides the knowledge, skills and leadership training needed to drive meaningful change in patient care and health care systems. 

For more information, search “Health Sciences” on the Graduate Admissions website https://gradadmissions. scranton.edu/ or contact us at nursing@scranton.edu. 

At top: FNP students meet for on-campus intensive. Left to right: Shannon Springer, Haley Marcinkevich, Isabella Vinskofski, Cassidy Bartkowski, Gracie Dombroski, Dr Wendy Manetti, Cameron Read, Richard Morgan and Dr Joshua Braddell.