Colorado is an active, forward-thinking state that's long recognized the potential of nurse practitioners. In 2008, the state of Colorado expanded nurse practitioners' scope of practice while simultaneously increasing the educational requirements for entry into practice. Since 2008, new nurse practitioners in Colorado have had to have a master's degree; in 2010, the state began requiring national certification.
Nurse practitioners in Colorado function as independent providers of primary care; they do not need physician supervision or collaborative agreements to guide their treatment decisions. Colorado NPs can prescribe medication without physician collaboration after completing 1800 hours of a physician-supervised preceptorship; if they complete another 1800 hours over the next five years, they're eligible for full prescriptive power.
The average annual salary for a nurse practitioner in Colorado depends on her area of practice and geographical location. According to salary.com, NP salaries in Colorado range from $84,000 to $92,000 per year.
Top NP programs in Colorado include:
- University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs offers a master's level NP track that can lead to a career as an adult nurse practitioner or a family nurse practitioner. The school also offers a DNP (Doctor of Nursing practice) degree with a Provider of Care focus. DNP classes are 100 percent online.
- University of Colorado at Denver. The pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) program at the University of Colorado - Denver was ranked the 5th best PNP program in the United States in 2011 by U.S. News & World Report. Other master's level NP programs include family nurse practitioner, adult health nurse practitioner, family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and women's health nurse practitioner. Interested NP students can also select an MS-DNP degree option.
- University of North Colorado. The University of North Colorado will begin offering a BSN to DNP program with a family nurse practitioner (FNP) focus in the fall of 2012. According to the college, "this hybrid (online and on campus classes) program will prepare FNPs at the highest clinical level."
Accredited schools with NP programs in Colorado:
