MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
Frequently Asked Questions
On-campus requirements vary by program and specialty. Students enrolled in our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program spend the duration of the program on our Virginia Science and Technology Campus (VSTC) in Ashburn, Virginia.
Most graduate programs are delivered in a distance format with online courses and some on-campus experiences for testing and training, which typically take place in our state-of-the-art simulation facilities at VSTC. For example, nurse practitioner students are required to come to campus for Campus Learning and Skills Intensive (CLASI) when enrolled in NURS 6222 and for Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) during their second clinical course. For specific on-campus requirements for graduate programs, please visit the webpage for your respective specialty area of interest.
All nurse practitioner students are also required to complete an end of program skills assessment. During this final on-campus simulation-based learning event, students have an opportunity to showcase their assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and patient management skills.
Students enrolled in our Accelerated or Veteran Bachelor of Science in Nursing program may only attend the program on a full-time basis due to its accelerated format.
Students enrolled in our RN to BSN or RN to MSN programs may only enroll on a part-time basis.
Students enrolled in a graduate program have the ability to enroll in most tracks on a part-time basis. To review your program of study options, visit the MSN, DNP or certificate webpage in the specialty area of your choice. PhD applicants should contact the program director directly.
Our clinical placement model provides students with faculty and staff support to ensure clinical sites align with clinical course objectives and nurse practitioner (NP) competencies. Our approach includes a clinical placement team dedicated to processing legal documentation required to clear students for clinical placement. Although we offer as much support as possible to students who are unable to locate a preceptor, our process is driven by student submission of a request for placement. We are dedicated to ensuring adequate and robust clinical experiences, however, GW Nursing is not required to locate clinical sites and preceptors for our NP students.
Applicants with a direct-entry MSN and/or Clinical Nurse Leader degree are ineligible to apply to our Post-Master's DNP and our Post-Master's Certificate programs. However, you may submit an application to one of our MSN tracks, which are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us at [email protected] if you need additional information.
We are currently unable to accept applicants OR offer clinical assignments for online programs for individuals who reside in Alabama, Louisiana and North Dakota. Applicants from New York and Tennessee should contact [email protected] for additional information, as clinical placements in those states are extremely limited. View our state authorizations.
Prospective students from these states are welcome to apply to our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program located on our Virginia Science and Technology Campus.
At this time, the only program available to students needing an F-1 visa (student) is our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program taught in person in Ashburn, Virginia. International students who have permanent residence or are currently on a visa that allows them to study, in addition to holding a valid U.S. RN license, are eligible for any graduate program.