The Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner degree is an advanced practice degree that prepares experienced professional nurses for advanced practice as primary care providers. The family nurse practitioner (FNP) makes independent critical judgments in all levels of prevention, including health promotion; illness prevention; and diagnosis and management of health conditions for individuals, families, communities, and populations. The FNP, as an advanced practice nurse, may be prepared to provide primary health care to individuals of all ages from infants through adulthood. Historically, the FNP has significantly contributed to the health care of the underserved populations in both urban and rural areas.
The family nurse practitioner performs comprehensive health assessments, diagnoses illness, and prescribes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments to manage acute and chronic health problems to achieve quality cost-effective outcomes in a culturally sensitive context. The role of the nurse practitioner includes educating, consulting and collaborating, using research to make practice decisions, and influencing professional and public policies. Within various practice settings, the family nurse practitioner provides health care for clients across the lifespan. This family nurse practitioner degree program includes an exploration of the following topics: nursing and health care research; ethics, policy and finance in the health care system; advanced physiology and pathophysiology; advanced pharmacology; advanced health assessment and diagnostic reasoning; health promotion; management of adult health care problems; management of pediatric and adolescent health care problems; management of women's health care issues; and the management of geriatric issues in primary care.
This program also includes a 650-hour practicum experience, in which students collaborate with faculty members to select a community-based primary or family health-focused clinical site. This clinical practicum affords students the opportunity to apply clinical-decision management of primary health problems for diverse clients across the life span. Students analyze case studies in accordance with the guidelines of evidence-based practice and current standards of care.The family nurse practitioner degree program culminates in a capstone course which provides an opportunity for students to develop an evidence-based practice project proposal that addresses a problem, issue, or concern in professional practice.
The baccalaureate degree in nursing and master‛s degree in nursing at Grand Canyon University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation).
| Course # | Course Title | Course Description | Credits |
| NUR-502 | Theoretical Foundations for Nursing Roles And Practice | This course examines nursing as a profession and a discipline and the individual nurse‛s role as a member of the profession. The theoretical foundations for nursing practice and roles are explored and applied. Emphasis is placed on developing scholarly writing and presentation skills. Critical thinking skills are refined as students discuss and synthesize the literature that guides nursing practice with a special emphasis on caring, diversity, and spirituality. | 4 |
| NUR-504 | Health Care Research Analysis and Utilization | This course focuses on the critical analysis of nursing and health care research and its application to nursing education, nursing practice, and the delivery of health care services. Emphasis is placed on strategies to access current and relevant data, synthesize the information, and translate new knowledge to practice. Ethical issues in the design and conduct of research are addressed. Prerequisite: NUR-502. | 4 |
| NUR-508 | Ethics, Policy, and Finance in the Health Care System | This course utilizes health care policy as a framework to analyze how health is defined and health care is designed and delivered in the United States and around the world. Emphasis is placed on issues of cost, quality, access, disparities, and finance. The various roles of the master‛s prepared nurse in the health care system are explored. Prerequisite: NUR-504. | 4 |
| NUR-654 | Diverse Applications of Advanced Practice Concepts | This course presents practice concepts that blend the function of the clinical nurse specialist with the family nurse practitioner (FNP) role for a futuristic vision for integration of these roles to include assessing and addressing the needs of client populations and nursing personnel across the continuum of care. Management concepts include case management, teaching of professionals, program planning, evaluation, peer review, broad-based consultation, marketing, business management, resource management, cost-effective use of formularies, and payment for services, including processing insurance claims. Prerequisite: One of the following: 1) NUR 652, 2) NUR 662, 3) NUR 675 and NUR 675C, or 4) NUR 643. | 3 |
| NUR-631 | Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology | This course focuses on advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles. This course is used to guide the advanced nursing practice student in understanding normal function and interpreting changes in normal function that result in symptoms and diagnostic markers indicative of illness. Emphasis is placed on the following systems: cellular environment and inflammatory changes; fluids, electrolytes and acid-base balance; genetics, genetic diseases, and the role of the environment; stress, disease, and the development of neoplasms; hematology and alterations in immunity. In addition, the physiology and pathophysiology of the endocrine, pulmonary, renal, digestive and integumentary, cardiovascular and lymphatic, musculoskeletal, reproductive, and neurological systems, including mood disorders, are addressed. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate nursing program or college approval. NUR-502, NUR-504, NUR-508. | 4 |
| NUR-632 | Advanced Pharmacology for Primary Care | This course focuses on the basic concepts and principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and their practical implication in clinical practice. This course also places an emphasis on the strong influence of physiological variables (age, ethnicity, or pregnancy) and pathological conditions (hepatic or renal insufficiency, cardiac dysfunction) on drugs‛ pharmacological response. An in-depth understanding of the relationship between patient‛s physiological/pathological variables and pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics can provide additional insight for practitioners in predicting potential drug interactions, and thus will provide additional guidance in prescribing strategies. This course also includes clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; principles of pediatric and geriatric pharmacotherapy; clinical toxicology; and pathology and pharmacotherapy of cardiovascular, psychiatric, endocrine, respiratory, gastrointestinal, bone and joint, infectious, reproductive, and dermatological disorders. Prerequisite: NUR-631. | 4 |
| NUR-634 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning With Skills Lab | This course builds upon the student's undergraduate and clinical assessment skills, offering advanced health assessment content to provide the foundation for the advanced practice nursing role. This course addresses the completion and interpretation of a head-to-toe assessment in addition to focused assessments for chief complaints that include physical, psychosocial, spiritual, risk, and functional assessments in diverse populations and across age groups. Students learn a systematic method of diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision making to establish a differential diagnosis. An overview of appropriate protocols for performing health screenings and interpreting lab and other diagnostic data is included based on best practice consistent with resource allocations. Topics from effective communication and client teaching/counseling to eliciting clients' interpretation of their health status and perceived barriers are incorporated throughout the course. This course includes components of a SOAP note and effective interview techniques. Body systems covered include HEENT, Chest, Cardiovascular, Blood Vessels and Lymphatic, Pulmonary, Abdomen, Skin, Neurological, Musculoskeletal, Male and Female Genitalia, Psychological, and Lab and Diagnostic Findings. Corresponding assessment skills are practiced in the skills lab. This course includes a mandatory residency at the Grand Canyon University Phoenix campus. Prerequisites: NUR-631, and either NUR 632 or NUR-633. | 4 |
| NUR-675 | Advance Practice Management of Adult Health Care Problems in Primary Care | This course focuses on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of adult health care problems of individuals and their families within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment. Advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, spirituality, and advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles are integrated with advanced nursing theory. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care for adult health care problems. Care will include health promotion counseling, screening, and client education to optimize the client's health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of client illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Prerequisites: NUR-631, NUR-634 and either NUR-632 or NUR-633. Co-requisite: NUR-675C. | 3 |
| NUR-675C | Advance Practice Management of Adult Health Care Problems in Primary Care Clinical | The student will collaborate with faculty members to select a community-based, adult or primary care clinical site for completion of 150 clinical hours. The clinical component for NUR 675 allows the student an opportunity to provide comprehensive health care to diverse clients across the lifespan. Clinical hours are completed in person with a qualified preceptor (NP, DO, MD, DNM) and serve as the opportunity to demonstrate clinical skills, learn clinical decision-making skills, and learn the role of the advanced practice nurse in collaboration with experienced preceptors who serve as mentors. The clinical component of each course is accomplished during the same semester as the corresponding didactic course and is graded as Pass/Fail. Failure of a clinical course constitutes failure of the corresponding didactic course. Prerequisites: NUR-631, NUR-634 and either NUR-632 or NUR-633. Co-Requisite: NUR-675. | 3 |
| NUR-668 | Advanced Practice Management of Pediatric & Adolescent Health Care Problems in Primary Care | This course focuses on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of pediatric and adolescent health care problems of individuals and their families within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment. Advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles are integrated with spirituality concepts and advanced nursing theory. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care for pediatric and adolescent health care problems. Care includes health promotion counseling, client education, and appropriate screening to optimize the client‛s health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of client illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Prerequisite: NUR 675. Co-requisite NUR 668C. | 3 |
| NUR-668C | Advanced Practice Management of Pediatric & Adolescent Health Care Problems in Primary Care Clinical | Students collaborate with faculty members to select a community-based pediatric or adolescent clinical site for completion of 150 clinical hours. The clinical component for NUR 668 allows the student an opportunity to provide comprehensive health care to diverse clients across the lifespan. Clinical hours are completed in person with a qualified preceptor (NP, DO, MD, DNM) and serve as the opportunity to demonstrate clinical skills, learn clinical decision-making skills, and learn the role of the advanced practice nurse in collaboration with experienced preceptors who serve as mentors. The clinical component of each course is accomplished during the same semester as the corresponding didactic course and is graded as Pass/Fail. Failure of a clinical course constitutes failure of the corresponding didactic course. Co-requisite NUR 668. | 3 |
| NUR-667 | Advance Practice Management of Women's Health Care Issues in Primary Care | This course focuses on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of women‛s health care issues (including care of the pregnant patient) for individuals and their families within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment, contextually within the health care delivery system. Advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, spirituality, and advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles are integrated with advanced nursing theory. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care for women. Care includes health promotion counseling, screening, and client education to optimize the client‛s health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of client illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Prerequisite: NUR 675. Co-requisite: NUR 667C. | 1.5 |
| NUR-667C | Advance Practice Management of Women's Health Care Issues in Primary Care Clinical | Students collaborate with faculty members to select a community-based, women‛s health-focused, clinical site for completion of 75 clinical hours. The clinical component for NUR 667 allows the student an opportunity to provide comprehensive health care to diverse clients across the lifespan. Clinical hours are completed in person with a qualified preceptor (NP, DO, MD, DNM) and serve as the opportunity to demonstrate clinical skills, learn clinical decision-making skills, and learn the role of the advanced practice nurse in collaboration with experienced preceptors who serve as mentors. The clinical component of each course is accomplished during the same semester as the corresponding didactic course and is graded as Pass/Fail. Failure of a clinical course constitutes failure of the corresponding didactic course. Co-requisite NUR 667. | 1.5 |
| NUR-669 | Advance Practice Management of Geriatric Issues in Primary Care | This course focuses on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of geriatric health care problems of individuals and their families within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment. Advanced health assessment, health promotion and disease prevention counseling, advanced pharmacology, and advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles are integrated with spirituality concepts and advanced nursing theory. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care for geriatric clients. Care includes health promotion and disease prevention counseling, client education, and appropriate screening to optimize the client?s health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of client illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Prerequisite: NUR-675. Co-requisite: NUR-669C. | 1.5 |
| NUR-669C | Advance Practice Management of Geriatric Issues in Primary Care Clinical | Students collaborate with faculty members to select a community-based, geriatric health-focused, clinical site for completion of 75 clinical hours. The clinical component for NUR-669 allows the student an opportunity to provide comprehensive health care to diverse clients in late age. Clinical hours are completed in collaboration with a qualified preceptor (NP, DO, MD, DNM) and serve as the opportunity to demonstrate clinical skills, institute health promotion and disease prevention interventions, learn clinical decision-making skills, and learn the role of the advanced practice nurse in collaboration with experienced preceptors who serve as mentors. Clinical hours: 75. Prerequisite: NUR-675. Co-requisite: NUR-669. | 1.5 |
| NUR-682C | Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum | In this 16-week culminating practicum experience, students collaborate with faculty members to select a community-based primary or family health-focused clinical site for completion of 200 clinical hours. This clinical practice affords students the opportunity to refine their clinical-decision management of primary health problems for diverse clients across the life span. Students use the SOAP method to analyze case studies in accordance with the guidelines of evidence-based practice and current standards of care. | 4 |
| NUR-699 | Evidence-Based Practice Project | This capstone course provides an opportunity for students to develop an evidence-based practice project proposal that addresses a problem, issue, or concern in professional practice. Students identify a problem amenable to research-based intervention; search literature; propose a solution; and develop a plan to implement the solution, evaluate its outcome(s), and disseminate the findings. Problems identified are those that are appropriate to students‛ specialty tracks: nursing leadership, nursing education, clinical nurse specialist, and family nurse practitioner. This course must be taken after completion of specialty courses. Prerequisite: One of the following: 1) NUR-508 or 2) NUR-508 and NUR-649E. | 4 |
| Required Course Total Credit: | 53 | ||
| Courses: | 53 credits |
This program is offered in the following formats or locations:
The dynamic capabilities of GCU’s online curriculum offer considerable flexibility and convenience for career oriented professionals who are pursuing their educational goals. Full time faculty members, equipped with strong academic backgrounds and practical experience in their fields, support you every step of the way. Our small class sizes provide an intimate environment that stimulates engaging and challenging discussions. Classes begin frequently.
The convenience of GCU’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals. Evening classes meet once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom, filled with career minded individuals. Evening class sizes are kept small, providing a warm nurturing environment that supports an engaging experience. Classes begin frequently at various locations.
Program Disclosure
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Online/Evening program disclosures
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.
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