Nurse Practitioner Distance Learning Program

Dual focus on rural and underserved primary care and substance abuse

The College of Nursing is now offering the opportunity to become a Nurse Practitioner through distance learning. This program admits students from Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. Residents of these states may qualify for tuition at Utah resident rate.

The goals in this distance learning program are:

• To provide education to future Nurse Practitioner who will provide primary care in rural and underserved areas
• To provide an education program for nurses who prefer to remain in their communities while attending a Master's Program
• To provide a program with an additional focus on substance abuse and addiction across the life span.

Program Application Deadline June 1, 2008

Applications are now being accepted. Completed applications will be reviewed as they are received. Interviews will be scheduled for qualified applicants.

Program Begins - January 2009

Programs of study are available in Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner programs.

Admission Requirements

Admission to this program is very competitive. All applicants must have practiced as a registered nurse for a minimum of one year full time equivalent prior to application to the program. Greater consideration will be given to those who have practiced as registered nurses for longer periods of time.

Graduates will also complete the didactic portion of required learning to sit for certification examination as a Certified Addiction Specialist or Certified Addictions Registered Nurse-Advanced Practice.

Applicants will be accepted into the program tracks as Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner or Geriatric Nurse Practitioner. This new program offers a full time study track that is completed through internet courses, on campus visits and clinical experiences. The program requires three years for completion.

To apply click here for
Spring 2009 Application

Required on Campus Visits

Although this program is a distance learning program, students will be required to attend some course time on the University of Utah campus each semester. Campus visits will include an initial orientation prior to beginning the program and an additional minimum of one to two weeks on campus each semester. These visits will provide hands-on experiences, clinical experiences, standardized patient examinations and lectures. During the first summer session several visits will be scheduled on campus to attend intensive courses in physical assessment and diagnostic reasoning. This course content is required before starting your clinical experiences in your home communities. During the second summer session attendance at the one week course of the University of Utah School on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies is required. The majority of the clinical experiences will be arranged in your home communities, however travel to other areas for clinical rotations may be required if adequate patient sites are not available locally.

Distance Learning Fee

There will be an additional one time $200 distance learning fee assessed for each student admitted into this program.