Online Programs at the College of Nursing

Rush University College of Nursing now offers several fully on-line programs with a minimum of on-campus visits. Faculty who teach these courses are the same qualified faculty that teach on campus. They are experts in their area and have made their knowledge come alive in the on-line format. Rush currently offers the following on-line programs:

Advanced Generalist with a Focus in Clinical Leadership

A carefully crafted part-time (8 quarter) program of study combines web-based courses with a clinical practica/project at sites conveniently located for the student. Comprehensive clinical leadership content includes evidence-based practice, quality improvement, clinical outcomes management, team building and delegation, inter-professional communication, informatics and fiscal accountability. Upon program completion, graduates are eligible to sit for the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) certification.

Online Doctoral Programs

Doctor of Nursing (DNP)

The focus of the post-Master's DNP program is Leadership and the Business of Health Care. The DNP degree is designed to enhance the nursing leader's ability to affect change through system redesign and evidenced-based decision-making in a variety of clinical, organizational or educational systems. Students complete a leadership project with a mentor in their area of interest. Students only need to come to campus for two, 2-3 day periods during the program.

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) graduate is prepared as a nurse scientist with the investigative skills of a researcher and the clinical and leadership skills necessary to influence the health care system.
The PhD program has been developed so that students maintain continuous online progress throughout the year and focus on discourse, debate and integration of ideas through yearly campus visits. Students benefit from innovative teaching and mentoring strategies, multiple methods of curriculum delivery matched to course objectives and a faculty comittment to prepare students for a career in clinical research and academia.

Online Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The MSN in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing prepares the student as a nurse practitioner capable of the assessment, diagnosis, psychotherapeutic treatment and medication management of individuals with psychiatric disorders. A unique aspect of this distance program is the "virtual clinical supervision" that students participate in while in their clinical practicum. Students are prepared to sit for ANCC certification as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner upon graduation.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program is now accessible to students throughout the country in its completely on-line format. NNP specialty course content includes developmental physiology, neonatal pharmacology, advanced neonatal assessment, and three management courses covering the spectrum of neonatal pathophysiology, wellness promotion, and disease management. Classes are designed using a case study format to encourage critical thinking and application of didactic material. Small class sizes foster frequent personal feedback from faculty who remain active in the clinical setting. Distance students are welcome to complete any part of the clinical practicum at one of several outstanding neonatal intensive care units in Chicago, or may utilize a site closer to home, as long as program requirements are met. Our graduates have attained a 100% pass rate on the NNP national certification exam over the past 5 years.

Public Health Nursing Clinical Nurse Specialist

The Public Health Nursing Clinical Nurse Specialist program is now available nationwide through the online format with two week-end Rush campus visits. The specialty courses in public health nursing include population focused assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of health promotion and disease prevention programs. A range of supporting courses includes epidemiology, health promotion, and advanced practice role development. The online format is highly interactive with faculty and students.

Clinical experiences are planned with local preceptors supervising distance students. Rush faculty experts work with students and guide preceptors through interactive communication. Rush public health nursing expertise includes nursing in a variety of settings such as public health, community agencies, schools, work place, home healthcare and hospice agencies and facilities serving populations with disabilities.