Case Western Reserve University

Nursing Programs

• $330,240 In-State Undergraduate Tuition*
• $90,330 In-State Graduate Tuition*

• Program
  Format
  Tuition
  Score
• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner AGACNP - BSN to MSN
  Hybrid Program
  $90,012 In-State Tuition
  4.5 Program Score
• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner AGPCNP - BSN to MSN
  Hybrid Program
  $94,628 In-State Tuition
  4.4 Program Score
• Clinical Nurse Leader CNL - BSN to MSN
  Hybrid Program
  $71,548 In-State Tuition
  4.4 Program Score
• Family Nurse Practitioner FNP - BSN to MSN
  Hybrid Program
  $92,320 In-State Tuition
  4.4 Program Score
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner NNP - BSN to MSN
  Hybrid Program
  $92,320 In-State Tuition
  4.5 Program Score
• Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner PACNP - BSN to MSN
  Hybrid Program
  $103,860 In-State Tuition
  4.5 Program Score
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner PPCNP - BSN to MSN
  Hybrid Program
  $92,320 In-State Tuition
  4.5 Program Score
• Traditional BSN
  On-Campus Program
  $330,240 In-State Tuition
  4.2 Program Score
• Womens Health Nurse Practitioner WHNP - BSN to MSN
  Hybrid Program
  $87,704 In-State Tuition
  4.6 Program Score

Western Reserve College was founded in 1826. The college assumed the name Western Reserve University in 1882. It is a private, non-profit entity.

The Frances Payne Bolton (FPB) School of Nursing was endowed in 1923 and is named after Frances Payne, the first woman to be elected from Ohio to Congress and represent the United States in the United Nations General Assembly.

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Students are directly admitted to the nursing program; clinical placement starts the first month of the first year with over 1,300 clinical hours. BSN students complete a 10-week Senior Capstone project. Although students have their choice of Senior Capstone sites in the Cleveland area, they may also choose sites across the country.

Graduate

Graduate Entry Nursing - Master of Nursing (MN)

The Master of Nursing degree allows students to pursue an MSN, DNP, PhD, or DNP/PhD degree.

Two Stage Program

The Pre-Licensure students earn their MN and can sit for RN licensure exams to become advanced generalist registered nurses. The Advanced specialty students earn their MSN and can sit for board certification exams to become Nurse Practitioners, Midwives or Nurse Anesthetists. All students are encouraged to complete both phases of the program, however, they may choose to exit (temporarily or permanently) after each phase. Following completion of the MN program, students may apply for the DNP, PhD or DNP/PhD programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am not a nurse, but my career goal is to become an Advanced Practice Nurse. Can I start directly at the MSN level of the program?

No, in order to study advanced practice nursing, the student must be a licensed registered nurse. You can start most MSN programs after successfully completing of the Graduate Entry Nursing Program where you earn your MN and qualifies you to sit for your licensure exam (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse.

I am not a nurse, but my career goal is to earn my DNP.  Can I just enroll in the DNP Program?

The DNP degree is a post-MSN degree. Students must hold an MSN in order to earn the DNP degree. To hold an MSN, you must be a licensed registered nurse.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Majors/Specialty Tracks

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Education with Population Focus
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Family Systems Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
• Nurse Anesthesia
• Nurse Midwifery
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Acute Care
• Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

Nurse Anesthesia

Plan to Transition to the Doctoral Degree  

NOTE: The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) requires that all students matriculating into a nurse anesthesia educational program on January 1, 2022 or thereafter be enrolled in a program approved by the COA to award a practice doctoral degree.

The program plans to submit its application to the COA for approval to award the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in October 2018. Pending approval by the COA, the program plans to enroll its first doctoral cohort of students in June 2020. (update 6/27/19)

Requirements (not all inclusive)

• MSN application/statement answers
• Credentials, Transcripts
• GRE/MAT/TOEFL scores
• Names of References
• Physical presence for academic interview
• Bachelor's degree or MSN/MN
• Active RN license
• 2 years critical care experience in any ICU (ER, PACU not accepted)
• 1 year experience with CCRN or other advanced certification
• 3.9 GPA
• Graduate Testing:  MAT - 400/45; GRE - 500/153 Verbal, 500/144 Quantitative, 3.0 A. Writ.
• Should include reference from Nurse Manager/direct Supervisor
• Shadowing experience: 16 hours
• Valid Ohio Nursing License
• BLS/ACLS/PALS
• Background Check less than 180 days old
• Required Statistics

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Requirements (not all inclusive)

• Active RN license
• Graduate of accredited college/university with MSN
• Faculty/in person phone interview
• APRN certification or eligibility for the certification
• Statement about practice/research issues of interest
• Three recommendations
• Resume or CV
• Official transcripts
• Doctor of Nursing Practice students - cumulative 3.0 GPA or above in all courses taken for credit as a DNP student at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing

The DNP program culminates in successful completion of a scholarly project and must focus on an issue related to improving patient outcomes. It can take the form of a thesis or a manuscript suitable for publication. Students must successfully defend the completed scholarly project in an oral examination and with their committee members who are responsible for certifying that it meets acceptable scholarly standards.

ND to DNP Conversion

In 2005, the Nursing Doctorate (ND) degree was changed to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. As the DNP is a post-master's degree, this option will be available for either: (1) those who have completed the three-year ND curriculum and attained a Masters in Nursing, or (2) those who have completed the four-year ND curriculum.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Traditional PhD Entry Option

Students who hold an MSN can enter the PhD program directly and complete the PhD core coursework during the fall and Spring semesters. A minimum of 3 credits of proposal development is required. Concurrent enrollment in proposal development credits and dissertation credits is not permitted.

Full-time status is defined as 9 credits per semester ONLY while students are enrolled in their coursework prior to proposal development. However, enrollment in even a single credit of NURS 671 (proposal development) or NURS 701 (dissertation) constitutes full time study. Total required credit hours for the nursing PhD (post MSN) = 57 credits

Fast Track Option

This post-baccalaureate program allows nurses with a BSN, MN or MSN generalist degree to pursue a PhD.

Before starting the core requirements, candidates must complete transition courses to gain clinical knowledge and be able to develop a research focus pertinent to nursing. Total required credit hours for the nursing PhD (post-BSN or equivalent) is 63 credits.

Dual Doctoral Program

The dual doctoral program prepares students for a career as a clinical researcher, faculty member, or healthcare administrator and can be completed in five years.

Dual Degree MSN/PhD

This program is designed for students who currently hold a BSN or equivalent degree and would like to pursue an MSN degree in a specialized area and continue on to a PhD in nursing. With up to 8 credits of overlapping courses between the programs (depending on the MSN major), the path to a PhD can be shortened.

Post-Master's Certificates

MSN Majors

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Education with Population Focus
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Family Systems Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
• Nurse Anesthesia
• Nurse Midwifery
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Acute Care
• Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

These courses are offered as hybrid classes: online content and/or short week-long or weekend in class experiences:

Palliative Care - specialty can be added to any MSN major

Flight Nursing - specialty can be added to Acute Care majors

Flight Nursing

ACNP flight nurse specialists use air medical transport services to provide hospital quality acute care to patients in unstructured environments. Students in the ACNP flight nursing specialty participate in a community outreach program that includes an annual Summer Camp. They also are involved in research to help develop the evidence base for advanced nursing practice in air medical services. At the completion of this program, students are prepared to sit for certification as a flight nurse specialist and as an ACNP. One year of acute care nursing experience is required before beginning the program.

Dual Doctorate DNP/PhD

The dual doctorate DNP/PhD program is designed for students who seek to combine leadership in advanced practice with the development of nursing science through research. Students with a BSN degree can be admitted directly. Applicants with a BSN degree from an AACN or ACEN accredited nursing program are admitted directly into the Master of Science in Nursing program.

Students currently working as a nurse will find courses offered in nontraditional formats, including intensive, web-based, and weekend courses. Several programs can be completed in a semi-distance format with limited trips to campus.

Registered Nurse with National Certification in Advanced Practice Nursing

Registered nurse applicants must have a BSN from an accredited nursing program. Applicants must have certification(s) from a national accrediting organization as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist.

ADN with a Portfolio

Diploma/associate degree RNs who also have a non-nursing baccalaureate degree (but do not have a BSN degree) need to submit a professional portfolio.

Rankings

US News & World Report (2020)

• #42 (tie) in National Universities
• #42 in Best Value Schools
• #32 (tie) in Most Innovative Schools
• #16 in Best Nursing Schools: Master's
• #13 (tie) in Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice
• #10 (tie) in Nurse Practitioner: Adult / Gerontology, Acute Care
• #43 (tie) in Nursing-Anesthesia
• #36 (tie) in Nursing-Anesthesia
• #15 (tie) in Nursing-Midwifery
• #152 in Best Global Universities 

NICHE (2019)

Forbes (2019)

• #95 Top Colleges
• #74 in Private Colleges
• #50 in Research Universities
• #13 in the Midwest
• #245 America's Best Value Colleges

The Princeton Review (2018-2019)

College Factual (2018-2019)

• #27 Best Colleges for the Money in Ohio
• #549 Overall Best Colleges for the Money nationally

MONEY Magazine ranked Case Western Reserve University #177 Best Colleges For Your Money (2018-2019).

The Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing is ranked #14 in National Institutes of Health funding for Schools of Nursing.

Accreditation

The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) accredited the Nurse Anesthesia program.

The Accreditation Council for Midwifery Education (ACME) accredited the Nurse-Midwifery program.

The BSN, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master in Nursing (MN), post-graduate APRN certificates, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Case Western Reserve University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.