Stony Brook University Nursing School Review

The State University of New York at Stony Brook, also known as Stony Brook University (SBU), is located about 50 miles east of Manhattan on the North Shore of Long Island. It is a public research university that is part of the State University of New York (SUNY). Over 24,500 students are enrolled at the college. It is best known as an internationally recognized research university. Stony Brook also has many activities for students, including a month-long series of events at the beginning of the Fall and spring semesters, an annual regatta, a concert series with popular recording artists, and a film festival.

Nursing Programs

Basic Baccalaureate Program

The nursing program at The State University of New York at Stony Brook leads to a Bachelor of Science with a major in Nursing. Students must first complete the first two years of their bachelor’s degree at Stony Brook or at another college before transferring to the nursing program for the final two years. Students often begin their college studies at one of SUNY’s community colleges and then apply to the nursing program at Stony Brook. Students must have at least 57 credits before beginning the nursing program, and a grade point average of at least 2.5 is required in these courses. Once students are accepted into the nursing program at Stony Brook, they must complete 71 credits in nursing courses and clinical experience. Much of the clinical experience takes place at the Stony Brook University Hospital on campus.

Admission to the Stony Brook nursing program is very competitive and not every applicant is accepted into the program. Applicants must have the physical and emotional ability that is needed for a nursing career, such as the ability to use visual, auditory, olfactory, and somatic senses. They must also have the behavioral and social attributes needed in nursing that are required while caring for patients. At the completion of the nursing program, students are qualified to take the national exam, The NCLEX-RN that leads to licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN).

12-Month Accelerated Bachelor of Science Program for College Graduates

This program is designed for those who have a bachelor’s degree. At the completion of the program, these students have a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing. They also qualify to take the NCLEX-RN to obtain their license to work as Licensed Nurses. Admission to the 12 Month Accelerated Nursing Program is very competitive. Applicants are required to have at least a 2.8 or C average in their previous undergraduate studies. Students must earn 69 credits and complete 820 hours of clinical experience to qualify for graduation. This program is very intense and requires full-time attendance without working outside of clinical experience in most cases.

Registered Nurse Baccalaureate Program

RNs that have either an associate degree or a diploma in nursing may pursue their bachelor’s degree in nursing by completing this program. The credits from the student’s previous studies for the associate degree or diploma are transferred to Stony Brook and go towards to bachelor’s degree. Up to 57 credits may be transferred with a grade point average of 2.5 or better. Applicants to the program must have three letters of recommendation and must complete three prerequisite science courses by the application deadline. They must also have clinical experience for at least one year as an RN.

Registered Nurse Baccalaureate to Master’s Program

This program is designed for students who are RNs who have either an associate degree or diploma in nursing. Students complete the remaining liberal arts and science courses needed for their bachelor’s degree plus upper-level nursing courses and additional clinical experience. A grade point average of 3.0 is required in the associate degree courses or nursing school courses. When the bachelor’s degree is completed, the students may continue to study for their master’s degree if they have maintained a minimum grade point average.

Master of Science Programs in Advanced Practice Nursing

Nurse Practitioner

Adult Health Nurse Practitioner Program

The Master of Science in Advanced Practice Nursing as a Nurse Practitioner offers many choices for RNs with a bachelor’s degree. A Nurse Practitioner may focus on Adult Health, Perinatal/Women’s Health, Neonatal Health, Pediatric, or Psychiatric/Mental Health. There are core courses that are taken for all of these specialties with specific courses geared to the specialty required as well. The Adult Health Nurse Practitioner Program prepares nurses to provide primary healthcare service to adults and older adults and their families. Applicants to the program must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 and be licensed as an RN. Three letters of recommendation are also required. Applicants must also complete a course in Health Assessment and one in Statistics. Upon completion, the graduate is qualified to take the national exam to gain certification as an Adult Health Nurse Practitioner.

Advanced Practice Nursing Program in Perinatal Women’s Health

This masters-level program involves distance education with additional on-site requirements. It prepares RNs to care for women and their families in many different healthcare settings. Applicants to the program are required to have at least a 3.0-grade point average in their undergraduate studies. They must also have three recommendation letters, and complete a course in Health Assessment and one in Statistics. Only RNs who are currently licensed are considered. It is preferred that applicants have at least one year of clinical experience. After completing the program, the graduate will take the national exam leading to certification as a Perinatal/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

This program is for RNs with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. It prepares nurses to provide primary care to neonates and their families. It is preferred that applicants have at least one year’s clinical experience and a grade point average in undergraduate work of 3.0 or greater is required. Applicants must also have their RN license and submit three letters of recommendation. Two classes are required before beginning the program, which is Health Assessment and Statistics. When the program is completed, graduates take the national exam that provides certification as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care

Graduates of this program are qualified to take the national exam that leads to certification as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. These specialized nurses provide primary healthcare to children. Applicants must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 in their undergraduate studies and must submit three letters of recommendation. They must also take Health Assessment and Statistics courses before entering the program.

Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Stony Brook University offers this program for RNs with a bachelor’s degree that wants to become primary caregivers as Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. The program offers distance education, but some on-site requirements are also required. Applicants with at least one year’s clinical experience are preferred, and they must have at least a 3.0-grade point average in their bachelor’s degree studies. The courses Health Assessment and Statistics are required before beginning the program. Upon graduation, students take the national exam leading to certification as a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist

This master’s degree program is offered either on-site or by distance education with some on-site requirements. An Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist works with adults of all ages and their families in a variety of healthcare settings. Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 in undergraduate work. Three recommendation letters are required plus the completion of Health Assessment and Statistics courses. It is preferred that applicants have at least one year’s clinical experience as well.

Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist

RNs with bachelor’s degrees who want to work specifically with children may want to pursue this degree. Many of the courses are available through distance education with some on-site requirements. An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 is required plus three recommendation letters. In addition, the courses of Health Assessment and Statistics must be completed before admission to the program. It is preferred that applicants have worked as a clinical nurse for at least one year before beginning the program.

Certified Nurse-Midwifery

This master’s degree program is offered with distance education that requires some on-site hours. The Nurse-Midwifery Program prepares nurses to care for women of all ages with a focus on normal birth and care of a healthy newborn. Admission to the program requires that the applicant had a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Applicants must be currently licensed RNs and submit three letters of recommendation. They must also take Health Assessment and Statistics courses before entering the program. At graduation, they take a national exam to be certified in Nurse-Midwifery.

Advanced Certificate Programs

RNs who already have their master’s degree may earn an Advanced Certificate as a Nurse Practitioner. They may specialize in Adult Health, Women’s Health, Neonatal Health, Pediatric, or Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. At the completion of the program, students take a national exam to become certified as Nurse Practitioners in their particular area.

It is also possible to complete an Advanced Certificate Program to become a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Health or Pediatrics. Another specialty area is Nurse Midwifery. These areas lead to certification after graduation when a national exam is passed.

Master’s Completion Programs

Nurse Practitioner

On-Site or distance education with on-site requirements in Nurse Practitioner specialties are offered at Stony Brook University for Nurse Practitioners who want to continue their education. Specialty areas are in Adult Health, Neonatal Health, and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Midwifery

This program is designed for Midwives who want to continue their education beyond the master’s degree level. It is a distance education program with on-site requirements.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

This doctoral program prepares RNs who have a master’s degree through computer-mediated distributive learning and on-site residencies. The program uses the cohort model and takes 18 months of full-time study and 42 credits.

Contact:
The State University of New York at Stony Brook
100 Nicolls Road,
Stony Brook, New York 11794
(631) 632-6000