MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner

This MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner program prepares registered nurses for leadership in providing primary care for children and adults alike in any number of clinical settings. With a focus on delivering high-quality, patient-centered primary care, we offer didactic and clinical experiences to prepare you to care for the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual health of patients, families and communities.

Who Should Apply

If you’re already working as a nurse and are interested in advancing your education to provide care for children and adults of all ages, you should consider our MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner program.

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Costs & Aid

Application Deadlines

Application Open: 11/01/23
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Priority: 01/09/24
Release Date: Rolling
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Final: 05/01/24
Release Date: Rolling

Application Open: 07/06/23
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Priority: 08/16/23
Release Date: Rolling
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Final: 11/15/23
Release Date: Rolling

Requirements

Overview

The MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner program consists of 48 (54 for RN to MSN) credit hours and 600 clinical hours. Questions about program requirements should be directed to the program director, Carol Braungart.

Programs of Study

MSN options

RN to MSN options

*Please note, the RN to MSN Option is being sunsetted and is no longer accepting students. If you are a current RN to BSN student admitted before Spring 2020 and would like to pursue the RN to MSN Option please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest.

Courses

For full listing of courses and descriptions, please visit the University Bulletin.

On-Campus Requirements

You must complete two on-campus components, for which you will be responsible for all travel-related expenses.

Campus Learning and Skills Intensive (CLASI)
- Students come to campus before they start their first clinical course to participate in CLASI. Students participate in simulation-based learning and workshops to progress toward clinical competency
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
- While enrolled in NURS 6231 and NURS 6232 you are required to attend a series of simulation-based learning events designed to augment the FNP curriculum. These events also allow faculty the opportunity to objectively evaluate student clinical skills in taking patient history, physical examination, critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, formulation of differential diagnoses, patient management and interpersonal communication while working with standardized patients (SPs). OSCEs also provide opportunities for professional development, networking, mentorship and one-on-one coaching from course faculty in preparation for program completion.

Technology Requirements

Each student admitted to the MSN program is expected to own and have ready access to a laptop or tablet with basic productivity software for classroom use. View Policy.

Complete applications that are submitted by the priority deadline will be reviewed first. Applications do not have to be verified by the priority deadline, only completed and submitted. Questions? Contact the Office of Admissions at [email protected].

A completed application includes the following components:

Bachelor's degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university
Preferred scholastic GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from a regionally accredited college or university
Official transcripts (from all post-secondary schools)
Two letters of recommendation
Current resume
Statement of Purpose
Active and unencumbered nursing licensure

Note:

GW Nursing is subject to state authorization requirements in order to offer an approved nursing curriculum. View available states.

No Prerequisites

At the conclusion of this MSN program, you will be able to:

Demonstrate leadership based upon advanced knowledge.
Promote and improve quality in the workplace through quality improvement practices.
Synthesize knowledge of nursing practice, theory and research as a foundation for advanced nursing practice.
Demonstrate continued professional development through ongoing education.
Build an interdisciplinary professional network that includes collaboration and teamwork.
Promote positive changes in health care delivery and nursing practice.
Engage in caring and collaborative relationships with patients/clients for shared decision-making.

You must record a minimum of 600 hours of clinical experience with an approved preceptor. You are encouraged to find your own preceptor, but we can provide information on local clinical sites if needed. A clinical site visit will be conducted, usually during your second or final clinical course, by a faculty member.

The following clinical courses are required

FNP I (120 clinical hours) – Adult (Internal Medicine or Primary Care Clinics; Family Practice site is recommended)
FNP II (240* clinical hours) – Pediatric (Outpatient Pediatric Clinics) & Women’s Health (Women’s Health Clinic; Students MUST be able to deliver routine prenatal and postpartum care to women)
FNP III (240 clinical hours) – Family Practice Outpatient Clinical Setting *Pediatrics (120 hours) & Women’s Health (120 hours)

*Pediatrics (120 hours) & Women’s Health (120 hours)

Required Documentation

Current CPR certificate
Immunization records including vaccination or immunity to hepatitis B, MMR, varicella, diphtheria, polio and tetanus
Documentation of negative test results for tuberculosis (PPD and/or chest x-ray)

Questions about clinical placement requirements should be directed to [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions