American Sentinel University

In the late 1990's, American Sentinel University was established. In 2004, it was moved to Denver Colorado, and in 2005, its president founded Sentinel University. In 2005, the school combined the acquired American College for Computer Information Sciences in Birmingham, Alabama, creating American Sentinel University. It is a private, for-profit institution.

American Sentinel University offers 12 online degree programs from undergraduate associate degree through graduate doctoral degrees.

Undergraduate

Registered Nurse to BS Nursing (RN to BSN)

This was designed for Registered Nurses with a diploma or associate's degree in nursing.

Admission Requirements (not all inclusive)

• RNs from diploma program or hospital school of nursing, ASN, or ADN from a nationally accredited college
• Active, unrestricted RN license
• Resume along with a list of professional accomplishments
• Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education

Registered Nurse to BS Nursing/MS Nursing (RN to BSN/MSN)

This is a fast-track program that offers the RN an opportunity to earn their BSN and MSN degrees (5 MSN specializations).

Two Degrees – Less Time

Earning your BSN requires seven baccalaureate-level nursing courses, transfer in or complete 30 hours of gen ED, and then three graduate nursing courses. This makes it a shorter track to the MSN with only nine graduate courses left.

Admission Requirements (not all inclusive)

• Active, unrestricted RN License
• Diploma from a hospital school of nursing program or an ASN or ADN from a nationally accredited college
• Nurses with Foreign education, equivalent recognized by NACES evaluator

The program can be completed in three years or less, with an option to go at your own pace with no limitations.

Practice Experiences

Practice experiences are different than hands on clinical experiences. The practice experiences have specific goals and outcomes within them. This gives the nurse the opportunity to apply knowledge and concepts learned in the nursing courses. The practice experience consists of interviews or shadowing someone in the desired future role of the student.

Graduate

MS Nursing (MSN)

Specialty Tracks

Case Management

The focus is on the improvement of patient care through understanding patient referrals, planning and delivery of care, evaluating patient results, and evaluating overall program effectiveness.

Infection Prevention and Control

Teaching the student to create infection control programs and monitor critical infection control indicators in healthcare delivery systems.

Nursing Education

This prepares the student to be part of the nursing faculty helping the nurse develop curriculum and utilize distance education technology.

Nursing Informatics

In this specialty, the student will learn to translate health care data into meaningful information, identify opportunities and implement new technologies that improve patient outcomes and reduce risk.

Nursing Management and Organizational Leadership

Guides the nurse to be prepared for managerial roles as well as implement human resource principles.

Requirements (not all inclusive)

• Resume w/list of professional accomplishments
• Active/unrestricted U.S. RN license
• Official transcripts from each postsecondary institution attended; previous bachelor's degree program must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education
• Minimum 2.0 GPA

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Specialty Areas

Educational Leadership

Prepares faculty, program directors and/or deans to lead nursing education programs

Executive Leadership

This will prepare nurses who hold master's degrees in nursing or other disciplines for leadership roles in today's health care environment

Informatics Leadership

Prepares master's-educated nurses for informatics roles within health systems

Doctoral Requirements (not all inclusive)

• Resume w/list of professional accomplishments
• Proof of employment; not employed must submit area to access for classroom assignment
• Educational Leadership: Full-time work experience of one year in a leadership or faculty role in nursing education at a 2-4 year college/university, hospital or healthcare organization within the past 5 years
• Executive Leadership: Full-time work experience of a minimum of one year in a managerial or executive nursing leadership role during the last 5 years
• Informatics Leadership: Full-time work experience of a minimum of one year in an informatics or technology-based nursing leadership role within the last 5 years
• Active/unrestricted U.S. RN license

Online Certificate Program - Infection Prevention and Control Certificate

Requirements include a bachelor's degree in a health care-related field (public health, nursing, dietetics, Microbiology etc.) with a minimum GPA of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale), received via the official transcript.

Accreditation

American Sentinel's bachelor's and master's nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) has awarded accreditation to American Sentinel University's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program with specialty tracks in Educational Leadership, Executive Leadership and Informatics Leadership.

American Sentinel University is a candidate for accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).