JOHNSON CITY — The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) recently granted full accreditation to East Tennessee State University College of Nursing’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program and the joint Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program between ETSU and Tennessee Tech University (TTU).

“We were extremely pleased that both of our programs received accreditation with no recommendations,” said Dr. Wendy Nehring, dean of ETSU College of Nursing.

The College of Nursing began both of these new programs in 2017 in order to better meet the health care needs of the region and the state.

The ETSU-TTU joint doctor of nursing practice program consists of six concentrations: family nurse practitioner, psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner, executive leadership, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner-primary care and women’s health care nurse practitioner.

The joint program allows both universities to offer a wide array of concentrations and expand their students’ choices and opportunities to specialize in their areas of interest and need. The blended/online program grants the conveniences of online study with face-to-face support, networking, and sharing.

“The joint DNP program has been good for our students because it provides an opportunity for increased numbers of nurse practitioners and nursing administrators to meet the health care demands of the region,” Nehring said. “Our graduates are going to be able to provide support to their communities in the specific areas of need.”

The MSN program underwent the accreditation process because ETSU reestablished its own MSN program in 2017. Up until that time, ETSU offered the MSN jointly with other Tennessee Board of Regents’ schools through Tennessee eCampus. However, following the passage of the FOCUS Act, the university decided to bring the program back to ETSU.

The MSN program is fully online and offers specialty concentrations in Nursing Administration, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education and the Family Nurse Practitioner.

To learn more about ETSU College of Nursing programs, visit www.etsu.edu/nursing.