Online Master's Degree in Nursing

Master of Science in Nursing Overview

Nursing is undergoing a radical transformation, with advanced practice registered nurses taking on greater responsibilities across the health care industry. At Purdue Global, you can earn a valuable nursing credential online to help advance your career.*

Purdue Global's master's degree in nursing builds on your nursing education and practical experience, offering you leadership and independent practice opportunities. The degree plan includes specialized courses in organizational theory, health care finance, health policy, human resources, information technology, and health care systems.

Degree Pathways

Each option includes a guided practicum or clinical experience.

• Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner: Provide direct care for acutely and critically ill patients. This population focus area also includes a 2.5-day in-person skills intensive.
• Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner: Promote holistic health care to members of the adult and older adult population through assessment, diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment of chronic health problems.
• Executive leader: Focus on the principles of personnel management, policy development and implementation, budgeting, and the use of information technology. 
• Family nurse practitioner, primary care: Promote holistic health care to adults and children in a family systems context through the assessment, diagnosis, and management of chronic health problems.
• Nurse educator: Focus on developing courses and programs that integrate nursing and educational philosophy.

See the University Catalog for policy and degree plan information specific to this program.

Note: Residents of TN may not enroll in this program. Residents of the following states may not enroll in the nurse practitioner population focus areas: AR, HI, LA, NJ, NY, ND, OR, TN, UT, WV. In addition, residents of KY may not enroll in the family nurse practitioner population focus area and residents of DC, GA, or WA may not enroll in the acute care adult-gerontology nurse practitioner population focus area. Residents of IL, IN, or WI may not enroll in the executive leader or nurse educator concentration.

Some pathways are not available to international students.

Prepare for Industry Certifications

Upon completion of the master’s degree in nursing program, you may be eligible to pursue industry-recognized certifications in your selected specialty area^†:

• Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner
• American Nurses Credentialing Center: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner
• American Nurses Credentialing Center: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Executive leader
• American Nurses Credentialing Center: Nurse Executive or Nurse Executive, Advanced (if you meet the organization’s eligibility requirements)
• Family nurse practitioner, primary care
• American Nurses Credentialing Center: Family Nurse Practitioner
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners: Family Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse educator
• National League for Nursing: Certified Nurse Educator (if you meet the organization’s eligibility requirements)

Benefits of Certification

Nursing credentials demonstrate your adherence to a higher standard and may be a condition for employment in nursing.

As of July 2019, 92% is the average licensure rate for nurse practitioner students who graduated in 2018 and are known to have attempted the AANP or ANCC exam.^‡