Patients and doctors often seek family nurse practitioners for their comionate, long-term healthcare insights. They can work in various healthcare settings, including clinics, home healthcare agencies, and school clinics.
An MSN FNP program teaches ed nurses (RNs) how to provide comprehensive healthcare to families and individuals of all ages and genders. The programs generally take 1-2 years to complete.
Cost
A multitude of educational opportunities are provided via online FNP programs. Certification preparation and clinical are features of many of these courses. Depending on the program, degree level, and expertise, these programs cost different amounts. However, students can expect to pay at least $12,000 per semester for these courses.
Online MSN FNP programs are available from universities like Youngstown State University. Many of these programs also offer RN-to-MSN pathways, which can save students money and time by combining undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees into one comprehensive degree.
WGU’s MSN FNP online degree program teaches nurses how to diagnose and treat health conditions in children, women, and adults. The curriculum includes advanced nursing courses in pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment. These classes prepare nurses to take national certification exams for the FNP and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) roles.
Requirements
Students enrolled in an MSN FNP program typically need a BSN degree, a minimum GPA, and letters of recommendation. A criminal background check is also required. Online programs are increasingly popular with nursing students, who may be able to avoid commuting and housing costs.
Many MSN FNP programs offer flexible online scheduling and are designed for busy nurses. Some even offer accelerated tracks for RNs with an associate degree who can complete coursework in less than two years.
Some programs include clinicals, which give students hands-on practical experience in different healthcare settings. Clinicals prepare nurses to make critical judgments about all levels of preventive care, including health promotion and disease prevention, diagnosis, and management for individuals, families, and communities. This is a vital component of any nurse practitioner training.
Timeline
The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner specialization is an excellent option for those interested in providing primary care to individuals of all ages. This nursing specialty offers the opportunity to provide holistic health care, promote disease prevention, and assess and diagnose acute and chronic medical conditions.
Many FNP programs require clinical, allowing students to work in healthcare settings and gain practical experience. These on-ground experiences can include skills check-off and practice with standardized patients, as well as oral boards and poster presentations.
Those who enroll in an MSN-FNP program full-time can expect to complete their degree in about two and a half years. However, this may vary depending on the student’s starting education level and whether they take bridge classes.
Specializations
MSN FNP nurses can work in various settings, including private practices, schools, and community health agencies. In addition to treating patients of different ages, genders, and demographics, they also work in nursing research and education.
The graduation requirements for an MSN FNP program include a master’s degree and an APRN license. The latter is granted at the state level and may require a criminal background check and a statement of professional goals. Students also need two letters of recommendation.
The RN to MSN nurse practitioner program typically takes 1-2 years to complete full-time and 2-5 years part-time. Graduates must also complete supervised hands-on clinical training specific to their specialty, which can take up to 1000 hours. Some schools will coordinate these clinical placements for students.
Graduation
Graduates of MSN FNP programs are highly sought after by physicians for their expertise in treating patients throughout the lifespan. They often specialize in a particular patient population, such as adult gerontology, children’s, women’s, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners.
During clinical rotations, students get hands-on experience caring for patients in various healthcare settings. They typically spend between 500 and 600 hours on these rotations, which gives them a taste of what it’s like to be a nurse practitioner.
Working RNs can use the flexible curriculum emphasizing professionalism, critical thinking, teamwork, and lifelong learning. Coursework covers nursing research strategies, population health, advanced pathophysiology and pharmacology, and physical assessment. Students also learn to promote health and prevent disease through evidence-based practice.
