M.S.N.—Family Nurse Practitioner Degree

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Provide Primary Health Care to Families  

University of Saint Joseph’s Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)—Family Nurse Practitioner program prepares registered nurses for advanced practice and board certification. Focusing on evidence-based practice and hands-on clinical training, the F.N.P. program increases your competencies in delivering primary health care to families across the lifespan and empowers you to make a positive impact in your community.

Providing late afternoon and evening courses, USJ’s M.S.N.—Family Nurse Practitioner degree program enables you to balance your work schedule and your school commitments.

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Program Facts

  • Flexible Program Length of 2.5 – 6 Years
  • Part-time or Full-time Study
  • Advanced Clinical Learning Experience
  • CCNE Accreditation

Master of Science in Nursing—F.N.P. Program Outcomes

Upon completion of USJ’s Master of Science in Nursing—Family Nurse Practitioner degree, you gain the confidence and ability to:

  • Apply knowledge from the sciences to advance nursing practice across diverse settings, populations, and cultures
  • Demonstrate leadership to promote optimal health outcomes in health care systems
  • Appraise practice environments for quality improvement and safety in contemporary healthcare delivery systems
  • Integrate evidence-based research, clinical expertise, and individual preferences to promote health and prevent disease
  • Use patient care and communication technologies to enhance, integrate, and coordinate care
  • Influence health policy at the systems level by employing advocacy strategies
  • Participate as an integral member and leader of inter-professional teams to influence the management and coordination of care
  • Assume responsibility and accountability for advanced nursing practice

M.S.N.—Family Nurse Practitioner Program Advantages

Flexible Course Schedule

The University of Saint Joseph’s M.S.N.—Family Nurse Practitioner program offers a flexible course schedule and pace. According to your availability, you may choose to study full-time and complete the M.S.N.-F.N.P. program in as little as 2.5 years, or study on a part-time basis and earn the degree within 6 years.

At USJ, we understand that many of our students are working nurses who have a busy work schedule. To accommodate your need for flexibility, our M.S.N.—Family Nurse Practitioner program offers courses in the late afternoon and evening. 

Clinical Practice

During the M.S.N.-F.N.P. program, you can acquire hands-on clinical experience and practice assessing, diagnosing, and treating in various health care settings. Through the clinical practicum, you also strengthen your skills in health promotion and illness prevention. Working alongside other experienced health care professionals, you learn to work as an integral part of the health care team and develop your leadership potential.

Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner Program Curriculum

The robust M.S.N.—Family Nurse Practitioner program provides a comprehensive curriculum that covers a wide range of key areas in nursing such as population health, person-centered care, and informatics and healthcare technologies.

With 28 credits of core courses and 18 credits of F.N.P. concentration courses, the M.S.N.-F.N.P. program curriculum enables you to administer, consult, educate, and research as part of the advanced practice role in nursing. You are also prepared for leadership and change-agent roles in health promotion and therapeutic clinical practice.

Emphasizing hands-on clinical training, the M.S.N.-F.N.P. program curriculum encompasses a 175-hour Advanced Clinical Practicum with a variety of health care agencies. A comprehensive exam is required in the final year of the Master of Science in Nursing—Family Nurse Practitioner program.

Learn more about the Master of Science in Nursing—Family Nurse Practitioner program curriculum

Family Nurse Practitioner Career Outlook

By completing a Master of Science in Nursing—Family Nurse Practitioner degree, you are well-equipped with the advanced nursing knowledge to elevate your career and increase your earning potential. 

You are ready to provide high-quality primary and specialty health care to patients of all ages with confidence in various health care settings, including primary care practices, long-term care facilities, and community health care clinics.

Graduates of the F.N.P. program are entering a fast-growing field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Family Nurse Practitioners are highly in-demand. Advanced practice registered nurse roles including family nurse practitioners are projected to grow by 45% through 2030. As an APRN/Family Nurse Practitioner, you can expect a median annual salary of $117,670, which is 56% higher than RNs with a bachelor’s degree.

M.S.N.—Family Nurse Practitioner Admission Requirements

The acceptance to the M.S.N.—Family Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Saint Joseph is highly selective. Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and a registered nurse license. 

If you intend to apply to the program, please submit the following materials with your application and admission fee:

  • A current resume
  • A sealed, official transcript showing a bachelor’s degree in Nursing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher from a regionally and nationally accredited Nursing institution, as well as transcripts from all undergraduate coursework
  • A current Registered Nurse license from the state in which clinical work will be completed
  • Essay: Discuss a practice problem in your field that, in your experience has a broad impact on patient care and outcomes; state professional goals for the next 5-10 years and explain how this degree will help you reach your goals
  • Two letters from clinical supervisors or managers, and academic faculty attesting to the candidate’s intellectual, clinical, and leadership abilities.

You are also required to attend an interview with the graduate faculty prior to acceptance into the M.S.N.-F.N.P. program.

Review the detailed admission requirements.

Application Deadlines

Applications to the M.S.N.-F.N.P. program are viewed twice a year. Please submit your application and required documents to the Graduate Admissions Office by: 

  • October 1st for the following Spring term
  • March 1st for the following Fall term 

Apply to USJ’s Family Nurse Practitioner Program!

The University of Saint Joseph’s Master of Science in Nursing—Family Nurse Practitioner program is designed for working nurses who are ready to take leadership nursing roles and achieve career advancement. Apply to the M.S.N.-F.N.P. program today to increase your competencies in diagnosing, assessing, and treating patients across the lifespan. 

Have more questions about the Master of Science in Nursing—Family Nurse Practitioner degree? 

Contact:
Yvonne Joy, DNP, APRN
Associate Professor of Nursing and Director of DNP and FNP programs
Phone: 860.231.5258

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