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At Carlow University, the next generation of ethical leaders is already in the making.
Here, our students gain more than just a degree – they build connections, find purpose, and thrive – working in ways big and small to reshape the future. With your support, we can continue to invest in these future leaders and expand their ability to transform our world.
How You Can Support
At Carlow University, the next generation of ethical leaders is already in the making.
Here, our students gain more than just a degree – they build connections, find purpose, and thrive – working in ways big and small to reshape the future. With your support, we can continue to invest in these future leaders and expand their ability to transform our world.
How You Can SupportCarlow University’s Master of Science in Nursing Executive Organizational Leadership program and its accompanying Post-Master’s Certificate prepare nurses to become the kind of healers the world needs; leaders who combine strategic expertise with compassion and a deep commitment to improving patient care. Designed in collaboration with healthcare executives, the curriculum equips graduates with high-level business and organizational skills, from fiscal management concepts drawn from Carlow’s MBA program to system-level project leadership, health policy, and ethics. Through 100% online coursework paired with a 150-hour mentored internship, you’ll learn from faculty with real-world executive nursing experience and graduate ready to lead at the highest levels, driving compassionate care, shaping ethical policy, and helping to create a more just and merciful world.
Credits required:
30 credits for MSN; 12 credits for Post Masters Certificate
Cost per credit:
$876
Time to degree:
16 months with 150 hr. internship for MSN;
8 months with 150 hr. internship for Certificate
Delivery:
100% online remote.
No campus requirements
Quick facts
Nursing executive preparedness with concentration in high-level business management
- System Level Project Management
- Fiscal Management concepts from the Carlow MBA program
- Human Resource strategic management
- Health Policy, Ethics & mentored leadership development at the VP level and above
Career opportunities for Masters
in Nursing Executive Organizational Leadership & Post-Masters Certificate
Chief Nursing Officer
Vice-President level positions within healthcare organizations
(example: VP Perioperative Services, VP Nursing Operations,
VP Patient Experience)
Admission requirements and application process
- Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
- Personal essay that describes your academic objectives
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work
Apply
anytime
Start term:
Fall, Spring and Summer
Full-time Faculty
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Matthews-Hayes, Tina
As a Carlow student, Tina received the education and self confidence to excel in the role of a nurse practitioner. She hopes to share her knowledge and experience of 15 … Continued
Discover the advantages of Carlow University’s Nursing Programs
As a graduate nursing department, we prepare exceptionally skilled providers, leaders and educators in doctoral, masters, and certificate tracks to meet the healthcare and health promotion needs of populations. Nursing graduate students have experiences with people nationally and internationally via didactic, clinical and study abroad opportunities. The School of Nursing educates practitioners of tomorrow and encourages a passion for evidenced-based practice, innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in the spirit of social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion.
We offer study in a hybrid face-to-face modality that incorporates twice monthly evening classes with online coursework to fit the needs of today’s full-time working nurse, while affording opportunities for 1:1 faculty engagement, and peer group networking and support.
A fully online program is also available, for students out of the Pittsburgh region, and/or for those desiring a non-synchronous education program.
View the School of Nursing’s program outcomes and accreditation information.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The high demand for qualified psychiatric nurse practitioners stems in large part from the increased normalization of mental health issues.
$2.6M
in scholarships awarded every year to IMPACT FNP graduate students
4
competitive scholarships available to support the inaugural cohort of PMHNP MSN students.
200+
medical practices and clinics students can practice at facilitated by the Director of Clinical Education
Faculty & staff
Nursing, like all other health care professions, does not exist in isolation. Advanced practice nursing education must integrate other aspects of our humanity if the profession is going to truly do what it pledges to do from the outset of a nurse’s oath. A commitment to justice and mercy requires critical thinking and self-reflection. Carlow University has a rich tradition of service and a mission that flows from the Mercy Core Values. These values: Hospitality, Service, Discovery, and Sacredness of Creation, are embraced within a framework of reflective practice. We recognize that no single discipline can fully educate today’s advanced practice providers who care for families across the lifespan. We are a uniquely positioned university with the ability to fully utilize our colleagues in theology, art, pharmacology, biology, creative writing, and communications to guide discovery within our students. We are not only these disciplines, but more, together, each contributing to the development of a critically thinking, ethical, and merciful human being who will go into the community transformed, and ready to lead.
Margaret Smith DNP MSN CRNP FNP-BC Associate Professor, Family Nurse Practitioner Program Director
Zachary Walker, DNP, CRNP, FNP-C Assistant Professor
Michelle Vitale, MSN, CRNP, WHNP-BC Coordinator, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Program
Jean Dean, DNP, MSN, RN Director of Clinical Education
Marissa Cullen PharmD, BCPP Adjunct Faculty
Carl A. Ross, PhD, FNP-BC, CNE, FAANP Adjunct Faculty
Dawn Ball DNP FNP-BC, FNP-C Adjunct Faculty
Nicholas Pertile, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C Adjunct Faculty
Megan Rodriguez, DNP, MSN, FNP-C Adjunct Faculty
Miranda E. Jones DNP, FNP-BC, MSN, IBCLC Adjunct Faculty – Pediatrics
Department Points of Pride
- On June 26th, 2023, Carlow University received over $2.6 million to increase the number of Family Nurse Practitioner graduates educated to provide primary care services, with advanced education in mental health, substance use disorders, and women’s and maternal health care. The Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) grant – funded through the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is aimed at increasing access to primary care providers for those living in medically underserved communities. The goal of the grant is to make a BIG IMPACT on students, preceptors, and the underserved population through “Impacting Diversity and Education of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses for Healthy Communities”. Current full time FNP students are eligible to apply for up to $23,000 in tuition reimbursement.
- HRSA Nursing Faculty Loan Program to repay 85% of tuition costs with post-graduate employment in the role of nursing educator.
- 97% AANP & 100% ANCC certification exam pass rate for FNPs
- “Very Strong” NCC certification exam pass rate for WHNPs
- In 2023, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers Carlow University established a one-year pilot program, funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), to develop clinically sound evidence-based practicing NPs. FNP graduates have a year of residency (transition to primary care) after completion of an educational program at Carlow University.
- Carlow Graduate Nursing Department is a CEU provider through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) for professional development training for preceptors, clinical faculty, and students.
Myers, Maggie
Maggie is a member of the nursing faculty. She teaches the sophomore level courses and clinical for the juniors. She has been at Carlow since 2023. She serves as a … Continued
Devoted to Caring for the Mental and Emotional Needs of All Patients
Rooted in the mission of the Sisters of Mercy, Carlow University’s Hybrid Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program prepares bold, compassionate nurse leaders ready to transform mental health care.
Right now, millions of adults and children in the United States are living with mental health conditions but are not receiving the care they need. Nearly half of individuals with mental illness go untreated. The need for highly prepared, justice-centered providers has never been greater.1
Carlow prepares you to be more than a clinician — you become an advocate, a leader, and a force for change in communities that need you most.
Our PMHNP program equips working nurses with advanced skills in comprehensive psychiatric assessment, accurate diagnosis, psychotherapy, and medication management across the lifespan. Students are prepared to deliver trauma-informed, culturally responsive care grounded in current evidence-based practice that is holistic and patient-centered. Graduates learn to build strong therapeutic alliances, manage complex psychiatric conditions, monitor treatment safety, and support individuals and families through some of life’s most vulnerable moments.
Designed for working professionals, our flexible online format allows you to grow your impact without stepping away from your community. Graduates emerge ready to provide high-quality, compassionate care while strengthening systems and expanding access to mental health services.
At Carlow, you don’t just earn a degree — you answer a call to lead with mercy, act with courage, and change lives.
Be Part of the Solution. Apply Today.
Credits Required:
- 9 courses for the Post MSN NP
- 19 courses for the MSN
- 14 courses for the Post MSN
Cost Per Credit:
$946
Time to Degree:
As few as 28 months (Only applies to Post-Master’s NP Certificate)
Delivery Format
Hybrid learning designed to support working nurses while maintaining academic rigor and clinical excellence.
Coursework is delivered primarily online with required synchronous TEAMS sessions to foster engagement, case-based learning, and clinical integration.
Traditional MSN and MSN (without previous NP completion) students participate in a required two-day on-campus immersive experience — an opportunity for advanced skills development, collaborative learning, professional formation, and connection within the Carlow community.
PMHNP Curriculum
The greater demand for PMHNPs coincides with a dramatic increase in reported cases of depression and anxiety, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring that get the treatment they need remains a key concern. With such an unmet need for service providers in this specialty to care for existing patients and help new ones, the demand for more nurses to pursue this specialty will likely only grow.
Quick Facts
- Purpose-Driven Professionals: The ideal Carlow PMHNP student is a nurse called to advanced practice — compassionate, perceptive, and skilled in building meaningful therapeutic relationships. Our students understand that individuals are never defined by a diagnosis and approach care with dignity, respect, and clinical insight. Graduates are prepared to challenge stigma, promote understanding, and advocate for mental health as an essential component of whole-person wellness.
- Interdisciplinary Learning Advantage: Carlow’s collaborative academic environment provides opportunities to learn alongside psychology and social work peers — strengthening interprofessional communication and preparing graduates for integrated behavioral health practice.” Please convert this bullet to a paragraph.
- Prepared to Succeed: Our nurse practitioner graduates have achieved a 100% board certification pass rate over the past two years, reflecting the strength of our curriculum, faculty mentorship, and clinical preparation.” Please convert this bullet to a paragraph.
- Flexible Pathways for Advanced Practice: For nurses who already hold an MSN in another specialty, Carlow offers a post-master’s certification option designed to expand your scope of practice and deepen your impact in psychiatric mental health care.” Please redesign this program benefit as a paragraph rather than a bullet point.
Prepared for Certification and Licensure: Graduates are eligible to sit for national PMHNP board certification. In the final semester, students complete a comprehensive board review course designed to reinforce clinical reasoning, strengthen exam readiness, and support a confident transition into advanced practice. Graduates leave Carlow confident, prepared, and ready to expand their practice — grounded in a solid foundation of clinical excellence, holistic care, and Mercy-centered formation.
Over 70 Years of Nursing Excellence
or 76 years, Carlow University’s School of Nursing has shaped nurses who lead with skill, serve with compassion, and strengthen the health of communities. Our graduates influence healthcare as clinicians, educators, researchers, innovators, and leaders — advancing practice while honoring the dignity of every person they serve.
As we look ahead, Carlow continues to prepare nurses not only for today’s healthcare challenges, but for the evolving future of care delivery. Grounded in the Mercy tradition, we form professionals who advance research, translate evidence into practice, challenge inequities, expand access, and build systems rooted in justice and human dignity.
Admission Requirements and Application Process
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 cumulative GPA required for admissions
- Application Timeline: Applications are accepted year-round. Program start term: Fall semester.
- Transfer Credits: Up to 18 post-master’s credits may be eligible for transfer, pending review
- International Applicants: This program welcomes qualified international students
- Required Application Materials:
>Current curriculum vitae (CV)
>Official graduate transcript(s)
>Personal statement/essay
>Three professional letters of recommendation - Scholarship Opportunity: Applicants accepted and enrolled in this program are eligible to be considered for the Anne Kisak Endowed Scholarship.
Apply:
Any time
Start Terms:
Fall
Applicants for this program are eligible for the Anne Kisak endowed scholarship, upon acceptance and enrollment.
Investing in the Future of Youth Mental Health
Carlow University is proud to support the next generation of mental health leaders through the CURE Grant, an award of up to $25,000 for students who demonstrate a commitment to serving pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients in underserved communities.
This grant reflects Carlow’s mission to expand access to care where it is needed most. Recipients are prepared not only to deliver high-quality, evidence-based treatment, but to address disparities in mental health access and outcomes among vulnerable populations.
Through initiatives like the CURE Grant, Carlow advances its commitment to justice, advocacy, and the formation of clinicians who lead with both skill and mercy.
Contact Admissions
If you would like to learn more about the program, schedule an on-campus visit or attend an upcoming event.
Faculty & staff
Be the first to earn a Practical Nurse Certificate from Carlow University
You can become a part of the change needed in healthcare with a Practical Nurse Certificate from Carlow University. In just 16 months, you will be immersed in a nursing education that includes clinical experience in a variety of healthcare settings. Direct patient care, community engagement and cultural experiences are integral to the program, as students will have the opportunity to explore intellectual endeavors, responding ethically and compassionately to diverse communities.
Upon graduation, you will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX) PN in Pennsylvania.
Credits required:
48
Cost per credit:
$559
Time to Completion:
As few as 16 months
Delivery:
On campus
Practical Nurse Certificate Program Curriculum
The Practical Nurse Certificate Program serves as the ideal foundational model for a career-building pathway in the healthcare field. The Practical Nurse Curriculum provides an environment that enhances the creativity of the learner who contributes freely as a valued team member. Various clinical and non-clinical-based projects and learning modalities will be incorporated into the educational model.
Quick Facts
- After completing the program, students will be able to provide competent, holistic care by applying relevant knowledge and skills needed to meet the needs of the patient.
- The Pittsburgh metropolitan region is the state’s second largest employer of LPN’s accounting for 5,700 employed LPN’s.
- On-campus facilities include classroom settings, biology labs, nursing skills lab, and nursing simulation lab
Career Opportunities for Practical Nurse Certificate Program
Students who graduate from the program will be career ready and prepared to practice in healthcare settings that include long-term care, home care, rehabilitation facilities, physician offices, and community agencies.
By the year 2030 PA is expected to have a deficit of 18 ,700 FTE LPN’s.
75 Years of Nursing Excellence
75 Years, Carlow University’s School of Nursing has been dedicated to educating and empowering nurses who make a significant impact on healthcare as clinicians, educators, leaders, and researchers. As we look to the future, Carlow University remains devoted to creating ethical leaders who strive to build a more just and merciful world.
Admission Requirements and Application Process
- Submit an application for admission. It is free to apply.
- Request that official transcripts from all current and previous institutions you’ve attended are sent directly to the Carlow University Office of Admissions.
Apply:
Anytime
Start Term:
Fall
Nursing faculty
Diana Kozlina-Peretic, DNP, CRNP, MSN, RN Interim Dean, College of Health & Wellness
Angela Simmons DNP, MSN-NCEL, RN Founding Director Practical Nurse Program
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this certificate program, our Admissions team is available to assist you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit.
Simmons, Angela
Angela Simmons is the Founding Director of the Practical Nurse Program and an Assistant Professor at Carlow University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With extensive experience in community health, utilization management, and … Continued
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Carlow University prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator, Jackie smith at jmsmith@carlow.edu or 412-578-6050.