Augusta University’s online pediatric nurse practitioner program has been ranked as the nation’s top online nurse practitioner course for 2023.
First started in 2005, the program has graduated hundreds of students through a hybrid course of online learning, with a minimum of 750 hours in-person instruction and clinicals.
“We truly take the direct clinicals very seriously, and we really want our students to have those experiences,” said Interim Chair of the Department of Doctorate of Nursing Practice Program Michelle Cox-Henley. “So we can make sure that their physical assessment skills and their clinical reasoning skills are very sound.”
In addition to diligent tutors, Cox-Henley said she attributed the program’s high ranking to small, cohort classes which allow students, professors and other working professionals to truly connect.
“There is a lot of one-on-one instruction from the faculty with the students,” said Cox-Henley. “It’s a small admission and a three-year, full-time program.”
Currently partnered with the university’s medical center, children’s hospital and the University System of Georgia, the pediatric concentration program only allows 10 students a year; however, Cox-Henley said the faculty hope to expand by adding on an acute pediatric practitioner care program to meet exceeding needs.
“These are younger generation students, so it’s much more appealing to them to do a lot of the work online, but they still get the clinical experience and instructor supervised simulations,” she said. “Our goal is to serve the public, and provide parents and children with the best opportunity for healthcare – particularly in the rural areas right now.”
“We truly take the direct clinicals very seriously, and we really want our students to have those experiences,” she said. “So we can make sure that their physical assessment skills and their clinical reasoning skills are very sound.”
With limited availability and scholarships, Cox-Henley explained that the directors heavily prioritize inclusivity and diversity when selecting applicants. For them, students are more than just a number and a GPA.
“One of the things that also makes us a strong program is the support we have for our students,” she said. “We have a holistic admission process – we look at the whole student.”
Although the program has a minimum GPA, Cox-Henley said oftentimes students have extremely similar grade point averages, which forces them to look beyond outward circumstances.
“We might end up with students who might not have had the same advantages in school prior to college,” she said. “And when we have students that are lagging behind or they need some special assistance, with it being a small cohort, we have the opportunity to give students a chance to get caught up with different means if they’re stuck.”
Cox-Henley said programs should hold inclusivity and diversity in high regards, because it reflects the field’s patients
“The public we serve as nurses is very diverse, and a lot of research shows that patients respond better to healthcare providers from their same culture,” she said. “We want to make sure that we’re training and educating representatives of the community they serve.”
She said staff also believe in the importance for the program to consider the diverse needs of its students, so all are presented with the opportunity to be successful. In pursuit of these goals, Cox-Henley said the program is broadening applicant criteria and support in order to create great nurses.
“It’s exciting. Every school wants to be recognized,” said Cox-Henley. “It’s an honor, and we really appreciate that as we continue to strive in making the program what it needs to be to produce quality, competent pediatric nurse practitioners … we take that very seriously.”
For more information on the online program, visit: https://www.nursepractitioneronline.com
