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Take Your Career to the Next Level with KCON's Nursing Graduate Programs
The Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) at Grand Valley State University offers a variety of graduate-level options for professional nurses looking to advance their skills, knowledge, and career. The need for nurses with advanced degrees is in high demand. Propel your career forward with one of KCON's graduate program offerings.
Program Options to Meet Your Needs
KCON offers different degrees and tracks to best meet your needs. Offerings available for students interested in pursuing graduate-level training include:
- Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
- Certificates and Badges
Helping You Get Where You Want To Go
The Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) offers advanced nursing degrees designed for registered nurses seeking to become Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) or to expand their leadership and specialty expertise. Our graduate programs include both Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) pathways.
M.S.N. Program (B.S.N. ‑to‑ M.S.N.)
KCON provides a B.S.N. ‑to‑ M.S.N. track for nurses preparing for APRN roles as Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS).
D.N.P. Programs
We offer multiple pathways to the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, including:
- B.S.N. ‑to‑ D.N.P. tracks preparing APRNs in both CNS and NP specialties.
- Post‑ M.S.N. ‑to‑ D.N.P. options with areas of focus in Leadership, Informatics or Palliative & Hospice Care.
Learn more about these specific pathways below, or by visiting the M.S.N. or D.N.P. webpages.
Graduate Program Options
KCON offers a variety of graduate-level program options to best meet your needs. Explore the graduate program offerings below and see how KCON graduate studies can further your education and career.
Master of Science In Nursing (M.S.N.)
KCON's Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program prepares professional nurses as advanced specialist to serve specific patient populations across a health system's continuum of care. Graduates of the MSN program are eligible to take the CNS certification exam.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) program is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice. As the only program of its type in West Michigan, the D.N.P. coursework is designed around the national agenda to transform American health care through interprofessional collaboration, health care policy advocacy, patient-centered care, quality/safety initiatives, and the use of informatics. The D.N.P program offers multiple emphasis areas, including:
- Child/Adolescent Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Dual Child/Adolescent Primary Care/Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Child/Adolescent Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult/Older Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Post-MSN to DNP Program
Post-Graduate Certificate
These post-graduate certificates are designed for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) who have a master's degree in nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and who wish to expand their practice. KCON currently offers the following speciality area certificates:
- Child/Adolescent Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate
- Interprofessional Health Informatics Certificate
- Interprofessional Palliative and Hospice Care Certificate
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate
Badges
KCON offers nursing badges across a variety of nursing specialties. A badge is a digital record of achievement that recognizes the completion of a coherent and meaningful academic experience. You can link your digital badges to online résumés and portfolios, career websites, or social media. This gives you a way to share experiences, competencies, and knowledge with current and future employers, professional and community organizations, recruiters, and graduate program advisors.
Career Outcomes
Looking to advance your career by becoming an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)? Wanting to explore a specialization that will help set you apart? You've come to the right place! KCON offers degree tracks designed (and proven) to get you where you want to go!
KCON provides coursework and learning experiences for those interested in pursuing the following advanced nursing practices:
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
A Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who combines expert clinical practice with systems‑level leadership to elevate care across units, service lines, and entire organizations. CNSs diagnose and manage complex clinical issues, lead evidence‑based practice initiatives, and empower interprofessional teams to improve outcomes and transform healthcare delivery.
Graduates of KCON’s M.S.N. and D.N.P. CNS programs are fully prepared and eligible to pursue CNS certification with the following patient populations:
- Adult/Gerontology
- Pediatric
To meet the needs of current nursing professionals, KCON's CNS track is offered fully online with no on-campus portion required.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
An NP is an advanced practice registered nurse who provides comprehensive, patient-centered healthcare, including diagnosing conditions, prescribing medications, and managing treatment plans. They blend clinical expertise with a holistic approach to support patients’ long-term health and wellness, through the following program tracks:
- Adult/Older Adult (A/OA) Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Child/Adolescent (C/A) Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Child/Adolescent (C/A) Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Child/Adolescent (C/A) Dual Care (Primary Care and Acute Care) Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Post-MSN to DNP
- Post-MSN with MSN Overlap
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Single-Focus Child/Adolescent (C/A) Nurse Practitioner
Learn more about becoming an NP, and the different tracks and options that will help you realize this goal, on the DNP webpage.
Learn More and Apply
Ready to take your nursing degree to the next level? See if a KCON graduate program is right for you! Use the options below to take your next steps!
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