The Department of Health Sciences offers advanced nursing degrees at the masters and doctoral levels.
CMU's Graduate Nursing Program invites community members and healthcare leaders to serve on the Graduate Advisory Board (GAB). The GAB meets twice yearly over lunch to discuss issues related to the education of nurses for advanced practice in local, regional, national, and international communities. If you would like to participate on the GAB, please contact the Department of Health Sciences at 970-248-1235.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree programs, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Colorado Mesa University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. https://www.ccneaccreditation.org.
The graduate nursing program follows multiple professional standards and national guidelines. These are listed below along with other related resources.
- Colorado State Board of Nursing (CSBON)
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
- MSN education
- DNP education
- Standards for accreditation of baccalaureate and graduate degree nursing programs (2018)
- Quality and safety education for advanced nursing practice (QSEN) (2012)
- Essentials series: The essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice (2006)
- Position statement on the practice doctorate in nursing
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- American Nurses’ Association (ANA) (2010). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice.
- American Nurses' Credentialing Center
- National League for Nursing (NLN) nurse educator competencies (2205)
- Institute of Medicine (IOM) (2010). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health.
- National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) (2017).
- Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Practitioner Clinical Scholar
- Nurse practitioner core competencies
- Criteria for evaluation of nurse practitioner programs (2012)
- Healthy People
Stakeholder Notification/Public Notice
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is applying for renewal of accreditation. An accreditation site visit is planned for November 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2021. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) provides the opportunity for the program constituents and interested parties to submit, in writing, comments concerning CMU MSN program’s qualifications for accreditation renewal.
CCNE is an accrediting agency that supports the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports continuing self-assessment by collegiate nursing programs. Public comments relating to the quality and expertise of CMU’s MSN program, including its tracks, faculty, and graduates, are necessary to inform CCNE’s evaluation. Comments will be accepted by CCNE until October 19th, 2021. If you have questions about the certification process, please contact CCNE at 202-887-6791 x268.
If you would like to submit a comment to CCNE about CMU’s MSN program, please submit to
Attn: Third-Party Comments
655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
We know that pursuing a graduate education is expensive. Tuition and fees for the Graduate Nursing Program can be accessed at graduate-in-state-spring.pdf (coloradomesa.edu). Note that currently, in-state and out-of-state costs are the same for students in the Graduate Nursing Program. CMU is listed as the 8th most affordable accredited (by AACN) online FNP program in the US.
In an effort to help students with educational costs, scholarships may be available through the CMU Foundation. Please see CMU and Donor Scholarships | Colorado Mesa University to review and apply for these opportunities. Note that some of the listings are limited to undergraduate students.
Students may also seek scholarship opportunities from outside resources. American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) lists scholarships for nurses pursuing graduate study. To review and apply for these opportunities, please see Financial Aid & Scholarships (aacnnursing.org).
For nurses already enrolled in the Graduate Nursing Program, Western Colorado Area Health Education Center (AHEC) may have funds available for reduced housing fees for clinical rotations (e.g., rural health rotations). Please see Home (wcahec.org) for more information and to enquire about AHEC funding.
For students interested in working in rural settings, scholarship information can be found at For Providers | Colorado Rural Health Center (coruralhealth.org).
Mission. The CMU graduate nursing program provides learners with an advanced understanding of the concepts, issues, and practices of the domain of nursing. This requires the ability to think independently and generate new knowledge with a respect for the diversity among ideas, programs, and people. Graduates develop expertise in a defined body of knowledge and are prepared to provide ethical leadership in the delivery of health services and education. Graduates, as nursing leaders, serve society while promoting and protecting the health of the individual, family, and public through clinical practice, administration, education, and research.
Philosophy. The graduate nursing programs support the overall mission of CMU. Furthermore, we believe the focus of nursing is defined by connecting science to the experience of human health and caring (Newman, 1991). Recognized ways of knowing in nursing include empirics, esthetics, ethics, and personal knowledge (Carper, 1978). CMU’s graduate nursing programs honor scientific, theoretical, and nursing knowledge to advance the discipline.
Vision. Faculty, students, and alumni value the expansion of nursing science, knowledge, and practice. This entails nursing leadership in the delivery of care for individuals across the life span, communities, and populations.
Each session is hosted by a Graduate Nursing Clinical Coordinator and they are available to answer questions you may have regarding CMU's Graduate Nursing programs. Please plan to attend a session of your choice.
Dr. Kathleen Hall PhD, APRN, GNP-BC, AGPCNP-BC
Wednesday 2/15/2023
5-6 pm
Topic: Open Q&A Zoom for NP Applicants
Time: Feb 15, 2023 05:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://coloradomesa.zoom.us/j/99782676736
Dr. Stacie Schreiner DNP MSN-Ed FNP-BC
Wednesday 3/1/2023
12-1 pm
Topic: Open Q&A Zoom for NP Applicants
Time: Mar 1, 2023 12:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)Join Zoom Meeting
https://coloradomesa.zoom.us/j/91382530397
Dr. Bridget Marshall DNP APRN CPNP-PC PMHS
Saturday 3/11/2023
12-1pm
Topic: Open Q&A Zoom for NP Applicants
Time: Mar 11, 2023 12:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://coloradomesa.zoom.us/j/93783059560