MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
The family nurse practitioner specialty track prepares the RN to care for individuals and families in a wide variety of health care settings, including clinics, community-based settings, long-term care facilities and hospitals. Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP's) are trained to provide a wide range of care to a diverse group of patients. They focus on health promotion and disease prevention beginning in childhood and continuing throughout the aging process, and are trained to diagnose and develop treatment plans for acute and chronic diseases.
The student’s area of study incorporates a blend of theory and research with an emphasis on guided practice in clinical areas. The required 660 hours of practicum work may be completed in the student’s own community (anywhere in the U.S., Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico). During the practicum, the student’s hands-on experiences are directly supervised by an approved local preceptor as well as a member of Graceland’s nursing faculty.
Program Delivery
The student’s area of study incorporates a blend of theory and research with an emphasis on guided practice in clinical areas. Practicums may be completed in the student’s own community (anywhere in the U.S.). In addition to working with a member of Graceland’s nursing faculty during the practicum, the student’s hands-on experience is monitored by a local preceptor.
Completion Time
The School of Nursing offers the following recommendations for completion plan schedule options:
- Accelerated Option (FNP 28 months; NE 24 months): work, personal and family obligations minimal to none
- Full-time Option (FNP 36 months; NE 28 months): flexible part-time or full-time employment with minimal to moderate personal and family obligations
- Part-time Option (FNP 52 months; NE 48 months): demanding part-time or full-time employment with moderate to high personal and family obligations
Course of Study
| M.S.N. Core Courses (required for all career options): | |
| NURS5110 Evidence-Based Practice | 3 s.h. |
| NURS5121 Theory in Nursing | 3 s.h. |
| NURS5141 Advanced Health Assessment | 3 s.h. |
| NURS5142 Advanced Health Assessment Lab | 1 s.h. |
| NURS5180 Scientific Inquiry in Nursing | 3 s.h. |
| NURS5440 Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 s.h. |
| NURS6320 Professional Roles for Advanced Practice Nurses | 2 s.h. |
| NURS6330 Professional Issues for Advanced Practice Nurses | 3 s.h. |
| NURS6930 Scholarly Project | 3.s.h. |
| Total Core Courses | 24 s.h. |
| M.S.N. Family Nurse Practitioner Courses: | |
| NURS5100 Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 s.h. |
| NURS5190 Advanced Practice Procedures | 3 s.h. |
| NURS5200 Primary Care of Families: Pediatrics | 3 s.h. |
| NURS6200 Primary Care of Families: Adults | 3 s.h. |
| NURS6740 FNP Practicum: Pediatrics | 4 s.h. |
| NURS6760 FNP Practicum: Adults | 4 s.h. |
| NURS6830 Advanced Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum | 3 s.h. |
| Total FNP Courses | 23 s.h. |
| Total Program (Core and FNP courses): | 47 s.h. |
