August 9, 2023 – Optum, a diversified health services company, and Capella University, an accredited online university, announced a new educational program designed to address the growing need for skilled, advanced practice nurses. The collaboration will pair Capella’s unique educational capabilities with Optum’s clinical expertise and sites of care.
This program will provide students with the skills and knowledge to help prepare them for licensure and to lead in their field. In addition, many students will have the option to access Optum’s national network of care locations to develop real-world skills, as well as the benefit of dedicated Optum recruitment resources and the opportunity to apply for available positions at Optum.
There will be additional benefits to current Optum nurse practitioners seeking to advance their careers, including the opportunity for reduced tuition and leadership development.
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, there will be more than 200,000 openings for nurses annually through 2031. At the same time, faculty shortages at nursing schools are not keeping up with the demand, with more than 91,000 qualified students being turned away from nursing programs due to the shortage of educators, clinical and classroom space and preceptors.
The program’s first offering is a Master of Science in Nursing – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN AG-PCNP). Enrollment is now open, with courses beginning Oct. 9, 2023. A Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program is expected to launch at a later date.