Nurse Practitioner

The School of Nursing Graduate Program offers the Nurse Practitioner Degree (NP) with a choice of four concentrations. The concentration area chosen defines the population and role you are academically preparing for.  There is not a generic Nurse Practitioner designation, you must identify both population and advanced practice role. After you have taken and passed your national board certification exam you will use the official title designated by both the state BON where you practice and the certifying body for your accreditation. The NP degree allows you to sit for the specific concentration advanced practice board certification exam. Upon passing the exam you are then eligible to apply to the state BON where you practice for advanced practice status. The MSN NP Degree is issued by UTEP and the specific NP Certification is issued by the specific certificating agency. 

Karim Singh DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

Clinical Assistant Professor
Coordinator Nurse Practitioner Programs
915-747-5315, Rm. 376
kcsingh2@utep.edu

Program Features:

• Flexibility for working professionals
  
  • Didactic courses in seven week format
    
• 46-49 credit hour online program over two calendar years
• 675-775 clinical clock hours
• Innovative simulation lab experiences incorporated
• Two admission cycle per year (Fall and Spring)
• Curriculum aligned with the Essentials of Master's Education in Nursing (AACN, 2011)
• Curriculum aligned with the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification & Education (2008)
  
• Curriculum aligned with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) (2016)
  

  Program Information:

• There is a Nurse Practitioner major fee
  • Tuition/Fees
    
• During specialty courses, usually the last three semesters, NP students:
  • May be asked to come to campus a maximum of three times per semester
  • Will participate in formative evaluations using innovative simulation lab experiences
    
• May be required to travel 200 miles or more to fulfill appropriate clinical requirements

The UTEP School of Nursing prepares advanced practice registered nurses in the role of the nurse practitioner for either primary or secondary (acute) care. Program concentration choices are:

Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with Acute Care Focus (Adult/Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or AGACNP)

• The Adult-Gerontologic Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) is the principal provider of care for adults with episodic and chronic health problems across the continuum of acute care services. The ACNP is prepared to assume responsibility for promoting, maintaining, and restoring health to adults who are acutely and critically ill.
• Graduates are eligible to sit for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).

Kathleen Cox. DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, CCNS

Clinical Assistant Professor
Director/Advisor: Acute Care/Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
915-747-6491, Rm.381
kmcox@utep.edu

  Family with Primary Care Focus (Family Nurse Practitioner or FNP)

• The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) assumes responsibility for promoting, maintaining, and restoring health to individuals and families across the life span. FNPs also identify health risks, promote wellness, and diagnose and manage acute and chronic illness.
• Graduates are eligible to site for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

Guillermina Solis PhD, APRN, FNP-C, GNP-C

Assistant Professor
Director/Advisor: Family Nurse Practitioner
915-747-7254 , Rm. 379
gsolis2@utep.edu

Pediatrics with Acute Care Focus (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner or PNP-AC)

• The focus for the PNP-AC is providing family-centered care for hospitalized pediatric patients up to the age of 21 years with chronic, acute, or critical illnesses. The focus of care includes complex monitoring and ongoing management of intensive therapies.

Roberta Durk DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC

Clinical Assistant Professor
Director/Advisor: Pediatric NP-Acute Care/Pediatric NP-Primary Care
915-747-7285, Rm. 316
radurk@utep.edu

Alejandra Valenzuela. DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC

Clinical Assistant Professor
Coordinator/Advisor: Pediatric NP-Acute Care
915-747-7293, Rm. 340
abvalenzuela@utep.edu

Pediatrics with Primary Care Focus (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner or PNP-PC)

• The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) is the primary care provider of health care to children and adolescents. PNPs conduct health promotion and child development, perform developmental and health assessment, and manage well, acutely ill, and chronically ill children and adolescents in ambulatory and sub-specialty settings.
• Graduates are eligible to sit for certification through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PCNB).

Roberta Durk DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC

Clinical Assistant Professor
Director/Advisor: Pediatric NP-Acute Care/Pediatric NP-Primary Care
915-747-7285, Rm. 316
radurk@utep.edu

  Psychiatric Mental Health (Across the Lifespan) Concentration

• The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric conditions for children, adolescents, and adults. Treatments include both prescribing medications and providing appropriate therapeutic interventions including psychotherapy.
• Graduates are eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner examination for the Psychiatric-Mental Health NP (Across the Lifespan) national certification.

Amy Mclaughlin-Field
Instructor in Clinical Nursing
amfield@utep.edu