York College of Pennsylvania Nursing Program Review

York College of Pennsylvania (YCP), which dates back to 1787, has a long history of academic success. The university offers over fifty undergraduate majors, as well as programs in nursing, business administration, and education at the graduate level. As part of the university’s Department of Nursing, York College of Pennsylvania offers training for prospective nurses, and continuing education for nurses of all different levels.  All the nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Bachelor of Science

Students in the Bachelor of Science (BS) with a major in nursing program spend the first three semesters completing general education classes, and the next five semesters studying nursing. They complete clinical rotations, mostly at the nearby York Hospital. The program takes four years to complete, starting each fall, and consists of 132 credits total. A graduate of the BS program is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX_RN). If successful, he can begin his career as a Registered Nurse (RN).

Bachelor of Science – LPN to BS in Nursing

A graduate of a practical nursing program who is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) may complete a bachelor’s degree and work toward certification as an RN through the LPN to BS in Nursing program. The incoming LPN will receive eleven advanced placement credits, which allow him to skip the sophomore-level nursing courses. Besides these credits, he must complete the remainder of the nursing courses as well as all the general education courses in order to finish the program. He has the option of studying on a full-time or part-time basis. He may be able to take some general education courses in the evening, if he wishes, but he will need to complete the nursing courses during the day. All classes are offered on campus.

Bachelor of Science – RN to BS

A graduate of an associate-degree program or a diploma program can earn a full bachelor’s degree through the RN to BS bridge program. The incoming RN can transfer in up to thirty-five credits toward the lower-level nursing courses. In addition to these, an RN can transfer up to forty credits from her associate degree program toward general education requirements. (She can transfer an unlimited amount of credits from a four-year school toward the general education requirements). In total, she must earn 124 credits to graduate with a BS with a major in nursing. She may study either full-time or part-time. The length of the program will vary, then, depending on how many courses she chooses to take each semester and how many courses she needs to complete in total. Courses are offered on campus only.

RN to MS in Nursing

An RN who is a graduate of an associate-degree program or a diploma program who already knows that he wishes to pursue graduate-level education can transition smoothly from the BS portion of his degree into the MS portion his degree. When he has reached the senior-level BS coursework, he can apply for admission to the MS program, and take several courses that cover both BS and MS core requirements. He can then transition into the MS program, choosing among the four available areas of specialization.

Bachelor of Science – Second Degree Option

The York University of Pennsylvania BS in Nursing program also welcomes students who already hold a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing. These students are exempt from the general education requirements; they only need to complete the nursing classes in order to graduate and prepare for the NCLEX_RN. Students in this track can choose to study on a full-time or part-time basis, so the length of the program can vary.

Master of Science in Nursing

York College of Pennsylvania offers a Master of Science (MS) in Nursing program for nurses who have already earned a bachelor’s degree. This MS program trains advanced practice nurses in four different areas. Depending on the area of specialization chosen, the program length and the number of credits required vary. The following are the available areas of specializations:

Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

On the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner track of the MS in Nursing program, a student must earn forty-four credits total and complete at least 768 clinical hours. Classes are offered in the evenings, and on a part-time basis, to accommodate working students. Following the suggested course sequence, a student can finish in three years. Classes are offered on campus only, and the program begins each fall. A graduate is eligible to take the credentialing exam offered by American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

To prepare for certification as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, a student must earn forty-one credits total and complete at least 504 clinical hours. Classes are offered in the evenings, and on a part-time basis. Following the suggested course sequence, a student can finish in three years. Classes are offered on campus only. A student on the Clinical Nurse Specialist track can choose to focus on administration or nursing education. A graduate is eligible to take the credentialing exam offered by American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Nurse Anesthetist

In cooperation with Wellspan Health System, York College of Pennsylvania offers a Nurse Anesthetist track. This intense program takes thirty-two months to complete, and is not available on a part-time basis. Students must commit to studying full-time and taking classes during the day. Over the course of the program, students will earn ninety-four credits and complete 2000 clinical hours. Classes are available on campus only, and the program begins each fall. In addition to accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Nurse Anesthetist program has accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.

Nurse Educator

A nurse who wishes to train future nurses can enroll in the Nurse Educator track of the MS in Nursing program. This requires thirty-nine credits total and includes at least 224 clinical hours. Classes are offered in the evenings, and on a part-time basis, to accommodate working students. Following the suggested course sequence, a student can finish in three years. Classes are offered on campus only. A graduate of the Nurse Educator track of the MS in Nursing program is eligible to take the credentialing exam offered by the National League for Nursing.

Post-master’s Certification

A nurse who has already earned a master’s degree in one area of focus can prepare for certification in an additional area of focus, without retaking core graduate nursing classes. York University of Pennsylvania offers post-master’s certification in four areas: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (seventeen credits), Clinical Nurse Specialist with Administrative Focus (eighteen credits), Clinical Nurse Specialist with Educator Focus (eighteen credits), and Nurse Educator (thirteen credits).

Doctor of Nursing Practice

After completing a master’s degree and earning advanced practice certification as a clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist, a nurse can reach the highest level in his field by completing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. The DNP program offered by York College of Pennsylvania requires at least thirty-five credits, and includes over 100 hours of clinical practice. The courses are designed to accommodate working nurses; each semester students spend a whole week on campus, and return for five or six additional days of classes throughout the remainder of the semester.  Following the suggested course sequence, a student can complete the DNP program in six semesters.

Contact:
York College of Pennsylvania
441 Country Club Road,
York, PA. 17403