Master’s in Nursing Schools in Washington

As a working nurse who’s experienced with the health care needs of the Pacific Northwest, are you looking for a way to further your career? For many nurses, a Master’s degree in nursing may be a good choice. This degree can be the next step for people that want to pursue careers in nurse leadership, nurse education, or advanced nursing practice. To help you earn your MSN, Washington nursing schools have a variety of programs, including online and RN to MSN routes. Request information from the schools on this page to learn more about program specifics, which can help you select the right graduate nursing program to meet your needs.

Featured Programs:

Washington Nursing Programs

When you peruse your program’s curriculum, you may note that it includes courses from several different nursing specialties. The overall goal is to get a well-rounded nursing education. Courses commonly required for nursing students included Nursing Inquiry to Support Evidence-Based Practice, Health Politics, and Policy, Perspectives on Advanced Nursing Practice, & Clinical Reasoning and Assessment.

If you go into nursing leadership, you can often expect to take leadership and financial management courses on top of conventional nursing courses. Your clinical experience in this field often requires you to tackle the business and nursing sides of this specialty.

There are a variety of statewide and nationwide scholarships that can help you pay for school. The Washington State Nurses Foundation has awarded over $125,000 in scholarships to students. The Washington State Department of Health offers scholarships and loan repayment assistance to advanced nursing students.

Working With Your MSN in Washington

If you’re considering a career in advanced nursing practice, have you ever looked into primary care? Washington has a rapidly growing primary care shortage that has left many people and entire counties with little or no access to primary care physicians. The shortage is so significant that the state recently began a Primary Care Service Corps program that forgives student loans for nurse practitioners and other professionals that serve a shortage area for two years.

Until 2014, nurse practitioners in Washington were required to have a collaborative agreement with a physician. However, as of January 2015, nurse practitioners have been allowed to work independently with just a casual physician agreement. Many believe that nurse practitioners are a viable answer to the shortage.

The state of Washington is a beautiful state for nurses to work and live in. Nurses who have obtained their MSN degrees have many career options here, such as a nurse anesthetists or a pediatric nurse practitioner.

To find out more about either of these careers or how to get started on your MSN degree, simply contact one of the schools listed on this page.

Nursing Schools in Washington

University of Washington WMEP
Seattle, WA

What You Can Expect From Your MSN Program

There are many specialties within the profession of nursing, and the health care industry needs professionals in every single field if it’s to run smoothly. Whether you’ve used your nursing degree to work in an emergency room, a specialty clinic, or another setting, earning an MSN may be a great way for you to further your career. In Washington, there are many benefits to earning a master’s degree and becoming a graduate-level nurse. To learn more about your options, contact the nursing schools that offer MSN programs in Washington directly from our site.

The job outlook for Washington nursing professionals is extremely positive. The Washington State Employment Security Department maintains a list of in-demand professions throughout the state. Across Washington, they expect demand to grow for nurse practitioners, nursing instructors, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and health care managers. This may give you much more freedom in your choice of an MSN program, since virtually any program can lead to a promising career path.

In addition, Washington is home to many professional advocacy groups for advanced nursing professionals. The Midwives’ Association of Washington State provides multiple services to aspiring nurse midwives, including information on the midwifery model of care, research into midwifery, scholarships, and loan repayment programs. The Washington Association of Nurse Anesthetists hosts educational events and networking events for members. Advanced practice nurses in Washington may join Advanced Registered Practice Nurses United of Washington State, a group that focuses on legislative activity, networking, and continuing education.

Washington has a growing need for those who are willing to work in primary care. The Bellingham Herald reports on Washington’s rural doctor shortage, which has left many Washington residents without care. Since nurse practitioners have full practice rights in WA, they can be a powerful tool in helping to solve the primary care shortage.

Nurse education is another promising area of graduate nursing study. As more schools expand their nursing programs and nursing centers offer emergency training to nurses, experienced nurse educators are a huge asset to the field.

Choosing an MSN program is one of the most important steps in this process, since it determines the type of education you get, how quickly you graduate, and what specialty options are available to you. Most MSN programs in Washington only take two years of full-time study, since you must have a BSN prior to starting. Programs that are designed for full-time working nurses may be completed on a part-time basis in three to four years. Specialties differ between schools; commonly-offered choices include nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nursing leadership and education.

Lower-level courses in your curriculum can give you an overview of each specialty area, allowing you to understand what other advanced nurses do and how they fit into the nursing field. These early courses may include Advanced Pharmacology for Nursing Care, Critical Nursing Inquiry, Epidemiological Analysis of Populations at Risk, and Organizational & Systems Leadership in Nursing.

From there, curricula split off into different areas of concentration. In a clinical concentration, you may take courses that focus on the population you serve and the skills you’ll use. In an administrative specialty, you may take courses in leadership theory, educational techniques, and health care policy.

Washington has a large selection of scholarship and grant options that can be used for advanced nursing degrees. The Washington State Nurses Association offers scholarships that start out at $1,000. Loan repayment programs and scholarships are available through the Washington State Department of Health. Other scholarships may include the Firland Foundation Graduate Pulmonary Nursing Fellowship, the Jean & Robert Reid Scholarship, and the Geraldine Allen Term Scholarship.

Beginning a nursing career often involves an extensive licensing process. The Washington State Department of Health requires all nursing professionals to keep a valid RN license. Advanced specialties that require further licensure include: nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, and clinical specialist.

Contact the Washington schools that offer Master’s in Nursing programs directly from our site to learn more about how you can advance your career by advancing your education.

Washington RN to MSN Bridge Programs

It’s clear that doctors are a crucial part of patient care, but nursing is often considered the backbone of the health care industry. As a registered nurse, you have likely held patient’s hands, provided them with the support they need during difficult procedures, and acted as an advocate for their needs. If you want to take your nursing career to the next level in Washington, consider furthering your education with an RN-to-MSN bridge program. These degree programs are specifically designed for working registered nurses that want to explore a career in nursing research, advanced nursing practice, nursing leadership, or nursing education.

In Washington, each RN-to-MSN bridge program is divided into two parts. Once you are accepted, you complete a short set of courses that bring you up to the educational level of a BSN. Once you complete the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree, you can complete master’s degree courses in your chosen specialty.

Choosing a specialty is often one of the first steps you complete after you get accepted to the program of your choice. Any specialty typically requires quite a bit of work experience; you’ll likely need at least one full year of full-time nursing experience. Specialties in clinical settings include nurse midwifery, nurse anesthesia, and nurse practitioner. There may be options in administrative care, like nurse leadership and clinical nurse administration. For those who want to educate nurses, nurse education may be the specialty of choice.

It’s important to become familiar with the curriculum of your RN-to-MSN program so that you can adequately prepare for your coursework. Early courses in your curriculum may include Vulnerability, Culture, & Nursing, Concepts and Theories for Advanced Practice Nursing, and Critical Inquiry in Nursing. Courses in nurse practitioner programs include Advanced Pharmacological Applications for Primary Care and Primary Care Management. Nurse midwifery courses may include Care Skills for Childbearing Women and Newborns, Management of Gynecologic and Reproductive Health, and Primary Care of Women.

As a nursing student in Washington, it’s likely that you’ll be able to apply for a wide selection of nursing scholarships and grants. Take advantage of these opportunities early and often, since scholarships tend to close early and you don’t want to miss out on your chance! The Washington State Nurses Foundation awards several thousand dollars of grants and scholarships each year. Nursing Students of Washington State is a statewide organization that offers financial support to nursing students at different levels of education. At the statewide level, the Washington Student Achievement Council funds grants and scholarships for students that are willing to work in Washington after graduation.

Upon completion of your MSN, you may have to expand your nursing license in Washington. The Washington State Department of Health has advanced licensing requirements for nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists. If you are working in another specialty, you may just need a registered nursing license in Washington.

With the prestige and education offered by an MSN, you may have lots of career opportunities in Washington. You may also find that you become a leader in your community, as your knowledge of nursing research, leadership skills, and patient care may be excellent. This career path can have long-reaching effects for you and others!

Washington Direct Entry MSN

The nursing shortage in Washington has prompted the state’s leaders to step up efforts to bolster the Washington’s health care workforce. One idea that is gaining traction across the country is the direct entry master’s program, which allows college graduates in non-nursing fields to train for a graduate nursing degree. In Washington, you can find these innovative programs at several universities.

Take some time to review your options for Direct Entry MSN programs in Washington that can be found on our site. Once you have narrowed your search, request information directly from the schools to learn about program specifics.

A study funded by the Washington Center for Nursing projects that the demand for registered nurses (RN) in the state could exceed the supply by as many as 21,000 nurses by the year 2031. Those dramatic estimates are due, in part, to three main factors: today’s nurses will be reaching retirement age soon; once-uninsured residents now have access to care; and the state’s population is growing and aging.

If you earned a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field, consider these educational alternatives to entering the profession of nursing at the graduate level.

Pacific Lutheran University

Pacific Lutheran offers a 27-month program leading to RN licensure and to a graduate nursing degree. In the Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, you spend about 15 months preparing for the nursing licensure exam and getting ready for specialty classes. These early months also include about 900 hours of clinical and lab work. During the last 12 months, you will complete your studies in the school’s Care and Outcomes Manager nursing concentration.

To apply, you should have earned an undergraduate degree in a non-nursing subject with a grade-point average (GPA) over 3.0. Certain prerequisites also are required, including classes in statistics, human anatomy, microbiology, and developmental psychology.

Once enrolled, you can expect to enroll in a full-time class schedule for the early part of the program. After you earn your RN license, you will likely be following a part-time schedule designed to accommodate working nurses. Classes are held on the Tacoma campus.

Seattle University

The Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion track at Seattle is a full-time program for college graduates whose undergraduate work was not in nursing. After completing the first four quarters in the program, you should be prepared to take the RN licensing exam. The remaining classes typically can be finished in five to eight quarters, depending on the specialty.

As a qualified applicant, you should have earned a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA and taken several prerequisite classes. These include courses in math, psychology, anatomy, microbiology, statistics, and high school or college chemistry.

Two master’s programs are available to you — primary care nurse practitioner and advanced community public health nurse. Within the nurse practitioner field, you can concentrate on adult gerontological nursing, family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nursing, and midwifery. Students should not plan to work during the intensive, early phase of the program.

University of Washington

The University’s nursing school has been ranked first in the nation for many years by U.S. News and World Report. Its Master of Science nursing program is open to qualified applicants with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline even if they do not have a RN license. However, you must be a licensed RN if you plan to take clinical courses through the program.

If you pursue this master’s degree, you will major in clinical informatics and patient-centered technologies. The program teaches students how to use informatics in the advanced care of patients. You can expect to take classes in nursing science, professional foundations, theory development, and modes of inquiry. A thesis or scholarly project also is required for graduation.

The program’s required classes are offered online, but several mandatory weekend sessions are held on campus. If you enroll as a full-time student, you can finish the program in 15 months. As a part-time student, you should finish in two to six years.

Financing Your Master’s in Nursing Education

As a nursing graduate student in Washington, several federal financial aid options are available to you. In addition, the schools offer some limited institutional aid to students. Pacific Lutheran University offers scholarships ranging from $5000 to $20,000 to some candidates in the master’s program. Seattle University provides Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion Scholarships to selected enrollees with demonstrated financial need. The University of Washington also has some scholarships and traineeships available to help with financing. Check each school’s financial aid website for more information.

The best way to find direct entry nursing programs in Washington is to review those on our site, then submit your requests directly to schools to get detailed program information.

Washington CRNA Programs

One of the benefits of beginning a career in nursing is the fact that you can often advance in your education when you feel ready. If you have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and you would like to take on more responsibility in a clinical setting, you may be interested in pursuing a nurse anesthesia degree in Washington. Nurse anesthetists are an important part of practice in many different hospital wards, including surgery, critical care, and labor and delivery.

Contact the CRNA schools in Washington to learn more about this exciting degree program.

Nurse anesthetists are highly respected advanced nursing professionals that have a range of experience and training. Because of the professional demands of this job, you must have an advanced nursing degree to begin working as a nurse anesthetist. As you complete your education and get established in your career, you may work with many different health care professionals, including anesthesiologists, surgeons, general practitioners, and nurse practitioners. In addition, you may take on a leadership role in your field of specialty, particularly with other nursing professionals. Because of these expectations, you should be cool under pressure, able to respond quickly to intense situations, and ready to jump into a leadership role.

Learning more about the field of nurse anesthesia can help you decide whether or not this is the right career for you. Keep reading to find out more about CRNA programs in Washington, then request program information from the schools you are interested in.

Admissions and Curriculum for CRNA Programs in Washington

If you are considering becoming a nurse anesthetist, it is important to choose the right type of degree for your professional goals. Some students choose to earn a master’s degree, which takes between two and three years. This type of degree typically includes about 50 credits. If you want more experience, you may opt for a doctoral degree. You should plan on spending about five years in school to earn this degree, since you may earn close to 90 credits.

Whichever degree you decide is right for you, you must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Furthermore, you must have a valid nursing license in the state of Washington.

When you first get into your nurse anesthesia courses, you may start by taking core courses that give you experience in different advanced nursing roles. Courses in this category include Basic Principles of Anesthesia, Advanced Health Assessment, Chemistry & Physics for Anesthesia, and Advanced Pathophysiology. As you progress through your degree program and gain experience, you may take classes like Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, Advanced Principles of Anesthesia, Epidemiology for Health Professions, and Clinical Practice in Nurse Anesthesia. The further you get in your degree program, the more time you may spend in a clinical setting. At minimum, you must complete 550 hours of clinical experience. However, quite a few schools exceed this requirement.

Applying for financial aid can be a good way to save money on your educational expenses and avoid taking out additional student loans, which may be particularly helpful if you are carrying student debt from your first degree. If you currently work as a registered nurse, you may wish to find out if your employer offers scholarships or tuition assistance for returning students. Washington offers quite a bit of financial support to its nursing students. The Washington Center for Nursing awards multiple scholarships each year to deserving students. If you join the Nursing Students of Washington State, you may be able to apply for several scholarships that they offer. The Washington State Nurses Foundation is also a popular local scholarship resource.

Working as a Nurse Anesthetist in Washington

Once you’ve completed the impressive task of earning your nurse anesthesia degree, it is time to become licensed to work in this new setting. The first step is getting national certification, which lays the groundwork for you to become licensed in all 50 states. You must apply to take the national certification exam through the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. After you provide proof of your degree from an accredited school and pass your certification exam, you may then earn the title of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. From there, you can submit an application and proof of your certification status to the Washington State Department of Health, which oversees nurse licensing. After they send you your advanced practice license, you may officially begin practicing as a nurse anesthetist in the state of Washington.

As noted earlier, Washington offers quite a bit of support to its nursing professionals, including nurse anesthetists. The Washington Association of Nurse Anesthetists is one of the largest professional organizations for nurse anesthetists in the entire country. Joining this group may give you access to numerous career benefits, including continuing education courses, networking events, seminars, legislative advocacy, and legislative updates.

Nurse anesthesia may be the right field for you if you’re ready to take charge in Washington’s health care industry. Learn more by contacting CRNA schools today.

Forensic Nursing in Washington

The fields of criminal justice and nursing have quite a bit in common. Both have been significantly influenced by changes in technology in recent decades, leading to higher standards for practitioners.

Within the field of forensic nursing, professionals with advanced training in criminal justice and healthcare can serve patients and the legal system at the same time. As this field has become more established in the United States, a growing community of forensic nursing professionals has emerged.

If you’re considering this career in the state of Washington, you may be interested in joining the Washington State Chapter of the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

Ready to take your nursing career down a new path? Get started now and contact the local nursing programs listed below to find out how to become a forensic nurse.

Featured Programs:

Master’s Degree Programs in Forensic Nursing in Washington

In general, the field of forensic nursing deals with the healthcare needs of crime victims, forensic evidence, and collaboration with criminal justice professionals. However, within this broad definition, there are several types of areas to work as a forensic nurse. Washington nursing degrees and careers you may pursue are listed below.

If you wish to work in a legal setting and make full use of your nursing education, you may attend a legal nurse consulting program.

Legal Nurse Consulting Graduate Courses

Foundations of Legal Nurse Consulting
Legal Research for Legal Nurse Consultants
Civil Litigation for Legal Nurse Consultants
Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice

If your primary concern is crime victims and their unique healthcare needs, you could be an excellent Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE Nurse). These professionals often work around-the-clock to provide victims with instant access to physical exams and evidence-based medical care. In this training program, you should spend a considerable amount of time working with patients. The standards of a sexual assault exam are different from general healthcare standards, since crime victims may be under an extreme amount of stress and trauma when being examined.

Make sure you check out the forensic nursing requirements for each credential before selecting a school. To become a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, you need 40 hours of specialized training and 300 hours of work experience.

To become an Advanced Forensic Nurse, you need a nursing license, a Master’s degree in nursing, and 2000 hours of forensic work experience. Both of these credentials are regulated by the Commission for Forensic Nursing Certification. The American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants runs a certification program for LNCs.

The Role of Forensic Nurses in Washington

With your degree and certification, you may be ready to get active in forensic nursing in WA. If you become a forensic nurse or SANE, you may qualify for openings at many of the same institutions and facilities you have already worked at as a registered nurse.

Many Washington hospitals and clinics have SANEs on staff. Groups like the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs run crisis centers that offer a variety of services to victims, including SANE access.

As a legal nurse consultant, you may look for employment at law firms, legal nurse consultation firms, or government agencies. Self-employment is a popular option in this specialty.

With the list of forensic nurse programs below, you can find a degree that is well-suited to your career goals.

Request information from Washington graduate nursing schools to learn more.

Washington Clinical Nurse Leader Programs

Over the years you spend in the nursing industry, your role as a nurse may change considerably. This allows you to explore different passions and areas of interest in the nursing industry, which can benefit you and the nursing industry in general. As Washington facilities strive to meet federal regulations and follow new policies, nurses may start to play an even more essential role in the health care industry.

Advocacy is a growing focus in Washington nursing, and you may be in a better position to advocate for your patients if you study nurse leadership. In particular, advocacy on the part of caregivers and care providers may protect elderly and disabled patients from neglect (Union Bulletin).

Experts in nursing note that the nursing community has been constantly evolving and adapting to industrywide change, making it stronger and equipping nurses with more varied skills through higher education (EurekAlert).

Are you ready to encourage nurses in your community to follow high care standards and do as much as they can for patients? Get started now and check out graduate nurse leadership programs in Washington listed below.

How Can I Become a Clinical Nurse Leader in Washington?

Nursing leadership programs in Washington aim to meet a variety of goals and achieve specific learning outcomes. Not only do they offer leadership training and management techniques, they enhance your clinical skills to allow you to work more independently with patients.

To graduate with a Master’s degree in nurse leadership, you must earn between 30 and 39 credits at an AACN-approved program. Your credits may be comprised of classroom time, research activities, and clinical work. Clinical requirements in Washington range from 100 hours to over 1000 hours, so you can choose the program that fits your schedule and clinical needs.

Some of the classes that may be required in this type of program include:

Concepts in Population Health
Nursing Leadership
Leadership Capstone Practicum
Health Economics and Finance
Health Care Quality Processes
Health Information and Technology
Evidence-Based Practice for Health Care Professionals
Health Care Enterprise

To become licensed as a Clinical Nurse Leader, you must first have a nursing license that is valid in your state. The Washington Nursing Commission requires you to renew your nursing license every year by your birthday, making it one of the only states to require annual renewal.

Once you have finished your Master’s degree and you feel confident about your knowledge of nurse leadership concepts, you can register to take the Clinical Nurse Leadership exam through AACN. Passing this exam allows you to become certified for five years.

What Does a Clinical Nurse Leader Do?

The leadership needs of Washington healthcare institutions vary from employer to employer, and even within different departments. Flexibility is key as you begin your career in nursing leadership, since your assigned tasks and priorities may change on a daily basis.

However, there are certain areas of nursing practice that you should prioritize as a Clinical Nurse Leader. The first is clinical work. Rather than focusing solely on administration or management, you are expected to maintain an active role in patient care.

When you are not providing hands-on care to patients on your caseload, you may provide guidance to registered nurses on specific procedures or care instructions. You may also be the expert in nursing research at your facility, so you must stay up-to-date on nursing studies and figure out how to apply them to the policies of your institution. If a policy or procedure is not evidence-based, you may work with administrators to change it.

Nurse management and leadership is a challenging aspect of the healthcare industry, and you may benefit from connections with other nurses who hold leadership positions. The Northwest Organization of Nurse Executives encompasses the state of Washington and other states in the Pacific Northwest. You may find that joining a professional organization makes it easier for you to establish yourself as a leader, act as a mentor in the community, and stay on top of nursing research and evidence.

The health care industry will likely change quite a bit in coming years as federal and state regulations are implemented. Help the nursing field of Washington acclimate and thrive—contact Master’s in nurse leadership programs in Washington for more information.

Washington Research Nursing Graduate Programs

With the increased focus on quality healthcare for individuals, families, and the community comes a greater need for highly educated nurses who are able to research medical policies and provide evidence-based care at medical facilities throughout Washington. As an effective leader, you will need to be able to shape healthcare policy within the organization and at local, state, and federal levels.

If you wish to advance your nursing career and enter into a research role, you will need to earn your Master of Science in Nursing at an accredited college. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ensures the nursing program’s integrity and quality for effective educational practices. To learn more about graduate degree programs in nursing research, click on a college near you today to request more information.

As a nurse with a master’s degree, you will develop the knowledge to enhance palliative and end-of-life care, control and eliminate illness’ symptoms, prevent disability and disease, and build a scientific foundation for nursing practice (NIH).

Washington Graduate Degree Programs in Nursing Research

Taking two to three years to complete, research nursing graduate programs will prepare you for conducting and implementing research in practices as well as teaching about research. As a student in a master’s degree program, you will develop advanced nursing skills and cover topics in advanced nursing practice, microbiology, and pathophysiology. You will gain the necessary hands-on experience for direct and indirect patient care, including working with other nursing staff, research teams, and patients’ families.

Many healthcare facilities in Washington prefer nurse research coordinators to hold a doctorate in nursing, which can take an additional two years of educational training. During your course of study, you will learn about nursing management and policy research. With a focus on extending knowledge in the medical field, doctorate programs encourage you to:

Plan and conduct independent research
Seek support in the research’s initial phase
Involve clinicians, students, and other researchers

Before you can qualify for your credentialing exam, you will need to complete 500 hours of clinical practicum, which will teach you to form and lead teams, develop and implement evidence-based guidelines, identify system and practice problems, and collaborate with other scientists for research purposes (AACN). You will also need to sit for the qualifying exam, which is issued through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. You can check out nursing degree programs today to get started and learn what it takes to get into your research field.

Depending on your financial situation, you may qualify for financial aid through the federal government or a healthcare organization. The Health Resources and Services Administration offers various programs, such as the National Health Service Corps’ loan repayment program and Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students, that you may be eligible for. You may also take advantage of various graduate or post-graduate nursing scholarships and fellowships, such as the Council of Graduate Schools and American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

The Role of Clinical Nurse Researchers in Washington

As a clinical nurse coordinator, you will be able to assist with enhancing medical care for the community in diverse settings, including acute, chronic, and end-of-life care. Furthering your nursing career can provide other employment opportunities in clinical research, health systems and outcomes research, and nursing education research
(AACN).

Washington Certified Nurse Midwife

The health care system in Washington relies on a strong network of skilled health care providers who work together, who have their patients’ best interests at heart, and who are ready to do whatever it takes to get the job done. As a registered nurse, you’re already part of the health care system and you’re already making a difference. If you’re interested in expanding your scope of practice and using your nursing skills in a new way, you may be a great fit for a certified nurse midwife program in Washington.

Contact the schools you see below with nurse midwife programs in Washington to learn more.

When you decide to become a nurse midwife, you may use your nursing knowledge in many different ways. This is particularly important in Washington, where there are many rural communities that are underserved by medical doctors and native communities who believe in the practice of midwifery. On top of delivering babies, providing prenatal care, and prescribing contraceptives, nurse midwives may be primary care providers and educate patients. In some cases, nurse midwives teach women about stress and other healthy lifestyle choices.

Becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife in Washington

Becoming a nurse midwife is a process that generally takes two to three year of full-time study. This assumes that you have a bachelor’s degree in nursing; if you attend an accelerated program that leads to an MSN, you may spend four to five years in your nurse midwifery program. Over the course of your Master’s degree program, you should complete 40 to 50 credits. You may build on your existing nursing knowledge and skills to learn how to specifically work with women in various stages of life.

You can plan on completing a rigorous curriculum of high-level nursing courses. These courses may focus on theory, clinical work, or blend the two together. After completing core classes like Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Nursing Research, you may move forward in your education with women’s health courses. In this part of your education, required classes include Contraception for Women, Family Theory, Antepartum Complications, Antepartum Health Care, Disparities in Women’s Health Care, and Clinical Experience in Labor & Delivery.

Nursing scholarships come from many different sources in Washington, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and apply for any scholarships that you may qualify for. Through the Washington Center for Nursing, you may apply for scholarships that are specifically intended for nurse midwives. The Washington State Nurses Foundation is another popular resource for Washington nursing students. Scholarships are offered by Nursing Students of Washington State as well.

Working as a Certified Nurse Midwife in Washington

There are two steps to getting your nursing certification in Washington. First, you can take an in-depth nurse midwifery exam through the American Midwifery Certification Board and get your national certification. With your national certification, you can apply for a Washington advanced practice license via the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. They look at the status of your registered nursing license, examine your school transcript, and check out your exam scores to ensure that you are fit for advanced licensure.

With nursing care changing all the time, it’s important for Washington residents to have access to caring, skilled providers. Expand your scope of practice by contacting certified nurse midwife programs in Washington.

Washington Clinical Nurse Specialist Programs

The one constant in the field of health care is change. No matter what nursing specialties you’ve worked in before or what work environments you’ve had, you have the freedom to change many more times before your career is over. This is particularly true if you have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. If you’re willing to earn a graduate degree in nursing and expand your scope of practice, you may be able to better serve the people of Washington by becoming a clinical nurse specialist.

Contact the Washington nursing schools with CNS programs listed below to request program details. Once you’ve review the schools and options, you can make a well informed decision about where to attend.

Clinical nurse specialists may enjoy the freedom of working in different settings and specialties. You may work in a research lab, spend most of your time seeing patients, create care policies and procedures, or lead other nursing professionals. Advanced nursing professionals may even help patients and organizations save money through telehealth operations and other health care operations. Keep reading to find out more about clinical nurse specialist programs in Washington.

Becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Washington

Your journey to an advanced nursing career begins with your specialty selection. You may choose from fields like gerontology, mental health and psychiatry, pediatrics, community health, and adult health. If you know which field you want to work in, you may want to factor this into your school decision.

The amount of time you spend in school and the courses you take may depend on which specialty you pursue. Generally, these programs involve two to three years of full-time study. You may earn between 30 and 40 graduate nursing credits. Clinical work should be part of your curriculum from start to finish, and most of your time may be spent with the population you’ve chosen to work with in your career.

The classes you take as a clinical nurse specialist are designed to make you a competent, skilled, and knowledgeable health care provider. Many classes form the base of your high-level nursing education, including Epidemiology, Advanced Nursing Concepts and Theories, and Research for Health Professionals. Other classes you may be expected to take prior to graduation include Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Pathophysiology, Role Socialization, Health Care Financing, Health Policy Issues, and Advanced Practice Concepts in Community Health. At the end of your program, you may complete a practicum or internship.

The state of Washington has a variety of scholarship programs that are intended to help graduate nursing students pursue their goals. The Washington Center for Nursing awards scholarships that cover tuition, books, and living expenses. Another resource for nursing scholarships is the Washington State Nurses Foundation. Several types of financial aid are awarded by Nursing Students of Washington State. By applying for grants and scholarships through several different organizations, you may be able to minimize your student debt and out-of-pocket expenses.

Working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Washington

The final step to becoming a working clinical nurse specialist in Washington is obtaining your certification. This permits you to fully use your education in your practice and work more independently as a nursing professional. You must register to take the exam that’s appropriate for your specialty through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Upon passing this exam, you can apply for statewide licensure via the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission of Washington.

The future may be bright for clinical nurse specialists, according to CNN Money. Job openings may swell by 26% by the year 2022, reflecting the nation’s growing need for advanced nurses.

Your expertise can be put to good use in an advanced nursing career. Make your move now by contacting clinical nurse specialist programs in Washington.

Washington Public Health Nursing Grad Programs

If you are a registered nurse who wishes to have an impact on public health in Washington, becoming a licensed public health nurse allows you to advance your career and enter into a leadership role in the medical industry. As an aspiring public health nurse, you can design and implement medical programs and healthcare policies to help vulnerable populations.

You may find employment opportunities in a variety of settings, such as:

Worksites
Correctional facilities
Clinics
Community health centers
Homes
Schools
Health departments
Mobile vans (APHN)

No matter the leadership position, you will likely need to earn a Master of Science in Nursing as well as have a focus in public health. In order to be properly prepared for the required licensing examination, you should enroll in a public health graduate program that has gained accreditation through a main regulatory institute like the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Check out accredited colleges in Washington today from the list below.

Featured Programs:

Master’s Degree Programs in Public Health Nursing in Washington

Like most graduate programs, public health nursing schools insist that certain prerequisites be fulfilled before you are approved for enrollment. You will need to submit previous nursing school transcripts, a copy of your RN certification, and proof of completion for the following courses:

Applied sciences
Pathophysiology
Undergraduate statistics
Health assessment

If you are planning on attending college full time, then you can expect to earn your MSN degree within two to three years. As a graduate nursing student, you will need to attend both educational and clinical training. Instructors will teach you how to design and implement new policies, research potential health risks, take on leadership positions, and educate the masses. Hands-on training typically consists of 500 hours in a clinical practicum, allowing you to focus on helping patients directly and indirectly. Before you can graduate, you will need to complete all applicable core, specialty, and elective courses, such as:

Context of healthcare for advanced practice nursing
Public health nursing theory and practice
Program development and evaluation in healthcare
Applications of research to practice

Financial assistance can help provide the funds you need to focus solely on college without having to worry about work or high-interest loans. You may qualify for a variety of scholarships through the National Health Service CORPS or the NURSE Corps. If you meet the program’s requirements, you may also apply for a fellowship or a student loan through your college or a healthcare organization. Click on a master’s degree program to review available nursing scholarships today.

The Role of Public Health Nurses in Washington

You will need to provide your final degree transcripts, professional development activities’ records, exemplar, and performance evaluations. Once you have earned your certification, you will need to renew it every five years.

Learn more about public health nursing programs in Washington today by contacting the schools below for more information.

Graduate Nursing Programs in Healthcare Policy in Washington

The challenges in the Washington healthcare system are numerous and complex, which you have undoubtedly discovered as a registered nurse. By working with patients every day, you do your part to strengthen the healthcare system of your community. If you would like to affect change on a bigger scale, however, you may have other options to consider.

There are many ways in which healthcare policy can positively influence this industry. Current efforts in state legislature focus on a price transparency system (Puget Sound Business Journal). By completing a graduate degree in this area of study, you can be a voice for the nursing industry.

If you want to utilize your time in the nursing industry to create long-lasting change, health policy is the specialty for you. Learn more by reaching out to graduate healthcare policy programs in Washington.

Master’s Degree Programs in Healthcare Policy in Washington

The skills that have made you an excellent nurse in Washington are the same skills that may prepare you for the rigorous requirements of a healthcare policy program.

Healthcare policy is a graduate-level degree that generally requires between two and three years of study. During this time frame, you may earn between 39 and 45 credits. At most schools, this includes a three-credit internship and a three-credit capstone course.

One major goal of a healthcare policy program is to reshape how you think about healthcare problems, patient concerns, and healthcare access. The role of the registered nurse is to take each patient as they come and focus on the tasks at hand. However, in the world of policy, you have to look at each incident and problem on a grander scale. This involves looking for trends, understanding how policies may improve or worsen the problem, and developing innovative solutions.

These outcomes should be clearly outlined by your program. You may accomplish the learning goals of your healthcare policy program by taking courses like:

Biological Concepts in Public Health
Principles and Practice of Epidemiology
Management and Policy Approaches to Public Health
Fundamentals for Health Policy
Statistical Analysis in Health Policy
Advanced Health Policy Analysis
Design of Health Studies
Benefit-Cost Analysis

It is important to maintain your nursing license, particularly if your academic program requires healthcare experience or nursing licensure. The Washington Nursing Commission requires you to renew your license every year by your date of birth.

How Do Nurses Impact Healthcare Policy in Washington?

Getting established in this specialty takes time, dedication, and plenty of work. You may need to align with different healthcare interest groups to support your stance on policies and get behind proposed policies that have a high chance of success.

This is where your nursing career can be advantageous. The connections you have in the world of nursing may allow you to get involved in legislation fairly quickly. The Washington State Nurses Association has devoted time to causes like the Patient Safety Package, guaranteeing overtime pay and rest breaks for nurses, funding for a health professions scholarship, and global signature approval for advanced nurse practitioners.

You may also want to get involved in local groups and associations that advocate for the people of Washington. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy aspires to create and support policies that strengthen the field of public health, therefore making it easier for the people of Washington to lead long, healthy lives.

Are you ready to put your critical thinking skills to work in a new and exciting part of nursing? Getting involved in this specialty can help you create policies that improve life for nurses and patients.

Check out your options now and request information from Master’s in healthcare policy programs in Washington.

Hospice Nursing in Washington

While many people think of geriatric patients when they think about hospice care, the sad truth is that patients may need hospice and palliative care at any age. In many ways, a terminal diagnosis at a young age is more challenging for patients and their families.

When you become a hospice nurse, you promise to provide thoughtful and evidence-based care to patients of all ages. In Washington, this may involve traveling to patients located in more rural parts of the state.

As a hospice student or professional, you can learn from those with more experience by joining the Washington State Hospice and Palliative Organization.

Master’s Degree Programs in Hospice/Palliative Care Nursing in Washington

While comparing hospice nurse education requirements across state schools, make sure to explore each school’s learning outcomes and course requirements. While there are similarities across all schools in this area of study, you need to select a program that is uniquely adapted to your specific career goals. For example, you may wish to work in the highly specialized field of pediatric hospice, in which case you must choose a school that offers a pediatric hospice rotation.

Learning outcomes outline the expectations you must meet to graduate. At this level of study, outcomes often focus on your knowledge of health care systems, your ability to follow health care standards within your scope of practice, and your knowledge of hospice protocols and procedures.

Hospice Certification Courses

Person-Centered Palliative Care
Interprofessional Hospice Care
Advanced Topics in Palliative Care
Palliative Care Quality Metrics
System Integration in Hospice Care

The demand for graduate-educated nurses is increasing all over the country, so pursuing palliative care nursing certification may allow you to apply for additional scholarships and grants. The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation awards $2,000 scholarships to selected graduate students, and the Washington State Nurses Foundation has a variety of graduate-level scholarships.

After graduating with 40 to 50 credits and over 500 clinical hours, you should be ready to apply for your license. This goes through the Washington State Nursing Commission.

You can work toward national certification while working as a CNS or NP in a hospice setting. To apply for certification, you must have 500 hours of relevant experience in the past one year or 1,000 hours of experience in the past two years (Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center).

The Role of Hospice/Palliative Care Nurses in Washington

Throughout your hospice career, you may fill many roles and offer many services. A major priority for many clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners is leadership. You may supervise LPNs, CNAs, and RNs. You may also be responsible for creating care plans and ensuring that they are followed throughout each shift. As an advanced practice nurse, you may be responsible for advocating for your patient with other care providers.

At the center of all of your work is the patient’s needs. A patient may have requests relating to pain management, resuscitation, and care that extends their lifespan. Preferences may change throughout the process, and you should be ready to adapt to these changes. You may become close to family members and help them deal with the gravity of their grief, but your patient’s requests always come first.

In Washington State, you may seek employment in large healthcare institutions with hospice departments or standalone hospice facilities. Local employers include Evergreen Hospice, Providence Hospice of Seattle, and Franciscan Hospice House.
Are you ready to start working toward hospice nursing certification? Washington schools can help you get there.

Request information from the schools listed below to learn more.