February 2, 2023

Wheeling University Family Nurse Practitioner Program Ranked Among the Nation’s Best

WHEELING, W.Va., Feb. 2 – Wheeling University’s Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program has earned the distinction of being one of the 10 best in the country by Nurse Practitioner Online.com.  

After compiling all the data, the ranking service selected the best online programs and found Wheeling’s FNP program, including its Post-Master’s Nursing Certificates, as the sixth best nationwide and the only institution in the region to be ranked among the country’s best. Nurse Practitioner Online said both online programs “give students the necessary skills to become prolific FNPs.” 

President Ginny R. Favede said once again ranking services are recognizing Wheeling University’s academic programs for providing students an affordable pathway to receive a quality education. 

“To have our University’s FNP programs, as well as our Post Master’s FNP and Nursing Administration Certificates chosen as the sixth best in the country is a tribute to our faculty, who teach the concepts necessary to prepare graduates for advanced practice roles in nursing. Rankings like Nurse Practitioner Online.com also provide valuable information to individuals who are trying to find the best program to fit their needs,” President Favede said. 

Nurse Practitioner Online.com studies and analyzes data from various sources to find which online nurses practitioner programs stand out from the rest. The ranking service examines seven factors and grades each program on the following: diversity of nurse practitioner programs offered; accreditation status; years of experience/tenure of faculty; annual tuition/fees in relation to the local cost of living; size of the institution’s nursing department; acceptance rate & competitiveness of the institution; and graduation/completion rate. 

“As the demand for well-educated nurses increases, nurses seeking advanced degrees are looking for access to online programs that are affordable,” said Jill Emery, director of Wheeling’s Nursing Program. 

“We are honored to have the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Wheeling University named as the sixth best in the nation. Our program strives to provide a quality education grounded in Catholic values, while offering students a comprehensive education utilizing online courses paired with simulation and a rigorous clinical experience.  The goal is to produce graduates who provide exceptional care to their patients, while making a difference in the work force,” Emery added.  

Wheeling University’s Master’s of Science in Nursing program offers students an affordable, online pathway to professional leadership and advanced practice roles in nursing. The curriculum is designed to accommodate the registered nurse graduate student who desires to remain employed, with all courses offered online and with clinical and practicum requirements completed in the student’s home community. The curriculum emphasizes the concepts of system, critical thinking, and advanced practice so that graduates possess the necessary skills to enhance the quality of health care for the betterment of patients and the overall health care system.