Provide Primary Care for All Ages
Sacred Heart University’s Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner program prepares nurses with a bachelor’s degree to excel in providing health care throughout a patient’s lifespan. Recent changes to health care policies, expectations, and coverage has placed a greater demand on the industry to offer quality care at a reasonable cost to an increased patient base. FNP nurses play a critical role in fulfilling these needs, delivering the utmost level of patient care allowed with a nursing credential.
As primary care providers, family nurse practitioners can conduct physical examinations, diagnose diseases and injuries, and treat common illness. FNPs help their patients take charge of their health, implementing care plans and offering the motivation patients need to make long-term changes that benefit their health. The online MSN FNP program focuses specifically on the advanced nursing skills needed to provide clinical care to families, from infants to the elderly, in a primary care context.
CCNE Accredited Nursing School
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the master’s degree program in nursing, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Sacred Heart University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. http://www.ccneaccreditation.org
Our MSN graduates are qualified to sit for the national certification exams offered through the ANA and the AANP.
Online MSN FNP Curriculum
Given the responsibilities of primary care providers, the preparation to become an FNP is rigorous and exacting. You’ll learn to provide complex levels of care to patients and participate in distinctive coursework that differs entirely from the online MSN in Nursing Education, Nursing Management and Executive Leadership, or Clinical Nurse Leader specializations. There are separate admission requirements for the online FNP program, and a larger time commitment from you to complete the degree.
To qualify to sit for exams and become a certified or board-certified FNP (FNP-C or FNP-BC), your coursework focuses heavily on primary care topics as well as advanced health assessment, pharmacology and health care research.
You’ll learn to:
- Think critically using evidence-based practice
- Offer education and counseling to patients
- Provide a wide range of primary care for patients of various ages
- Communicate effectively with patients from diverse cultures and backgrounds
- Analyze data from physical examinations and health assessments
- Interpret medical information
- Develop diagnoses and order diagnostic testing
Learn more about the individual courses in the FNP program.
Out-of-State
Sacred Heart University College of Nursing is required to meet state higher education requirements and state board of nursing regulations for students who reside outside the state of Connecticut.
New York
Due to requirements of the New York Office of the Professions, Sacred Heart University College of Nursing is restricted from offering clinical placements for APRN licensure programs in the state of New York. Therefore, students from the state of New York or any other state may enroll in the MSN/FNP or FNP/DNP but MAY NOT complete any clinical preceptorships in the state of New York. If students from the state of New York or any other state enroll in these programs, it is with the understanding that all clinical hours MUST be accrued a state other than New York.
However, students from the state of New York or any other state enrolled in non-licensure programs offered by Sacred Heart University College of Nursing (RN-BSN, non-FNP/MSN, and Post Master’s DNP Programs) MAY complete the required clinical preceptorships in agencies within the state of New York as these programs do not lead to advanced practiced licensure.
Clinical Placements
Sacred Heart University College of Nursing understands the complexity of clinical placements and the limited availability of appropriate primary care clinical sites to meet the educational needs of our students. We are committed to providing sites that meet both the learning objectives and the student needs. Also, we understand the personal logistics and planning that are required to complete portions of your clinical education.
With that in mind, we acknowledge there are limited opportunities in primary care for students residing in the state of Connecticut. Students from Connecticut wishing to enroll in the Online MNS/FNP program MUST seek clinical placements outside the states of Connecticut and New York (see New York above). Once a student has identified a placement site and preceptor outside of Connecticut, our Clinical Placement Coordinator will work with the student to secure the placement. Students will be asked to accept the limitations of placement at the time of enrollment.
Faculty
In the online FNP program, you’ll learn from experienced faculty who have extensive clinical experience, scholarly credentials, and cutting-edge knowledge. Most importantly, they place a high value on creating a personal atmosphere in their online classrooms, encouraging heavy interaction between peers and with faculty. Click here to meet them now.
Careers
Demand for nurse practitioners is estimated to grow quickly — 31 percent between 2014 and 2024.1 A greater number of Americans with health insurance, a focus on preventative health care, and an aging population place increased pressure on the health care industry to provide quality services at a reasonable cost. With their advanced degrees and additional certifications, FNP-BCs and FNP-Cs step into a primary care role for their patients, taking care of their basic health needs for their lifespan. Learn more.
Rankings
- U.S. News & World Report
- Top 40 Master's Level Colleges and Universities in the North
- Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs
- Value Colleges
- Top 50 Best Value Online MSN Programs of 2015
To learn more about the online MSN FNP degree, call us at 877-791-7181 to speak to an admissions team member or request more information now.
Source
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/health care/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm (visited 03/28/17).