Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN FNP)
Program available in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada and New Mexico
Provide Care for Your Community as a Family Nurse Practitioner
The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program can prepare experienced professional nurses for advanced practice as primary care providers. The family nurse practitioner makes independent critical judgments in all levels of prevention, including health promotion, illness prevention, and diagnosis and management for individuals, families, communities and populations.
The FNP performs comprehensive health assessments, diagnoses illnesses and prescribes pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments to manage acute and chronic health problems to achieve quality, cost-effective outcomes in a culturally sensitive context.
Benefits of the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Program
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Study Advanced FNP Concepts and Nursing Case Studies to Elevate Your Standard of Care
Your preparation in the family nurse practitioner program includes a comprehensive curriculum that can help you provide primary healthcare to individuals of all ages and locales, including underserved urban and rural areas. You will also analyze case studies in accordance with the guidelines of evidence-based practice and current standards of care. Your MSN family nurse practitioner education can prepare you for professional roles including patient care, education, consulting and collaborating with other healthcare providers, and using research to make practice decisions and influencing professional and public policies.
MSN FNP classroom instruction includes radiologic interpretation, chronic disease management, coding and billing, public health and case study analysis. A two-day experience in the FNP-690 course provide family nurse practitioner students an in-depth certification exam practice with individual exam review and remediation planning, systems and topic reviews. This program is designed to support collaboration, discussion and hands-on skills.
The MSN FNP program includes 675 hours of directly supervised clinical practice with qualified preceptors and two separate on-campus experiences. A Post-Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program is also available to nurses who already have an MSN degree.
Primary Subjects Taught in MSN FNP Program
The family nurse practitioner program online curriculum focuses on teaching students to become well-rounded primary care providers through in-depth study of the following subject areas:1
- Performing comprehensive health assessments, including documentation and diagnosis
- Understanding the individual as the client, functional health patterns, community resources and the teaching-learning process
- Reviewing the research process and applying evidence-based research to the practice setting
- Advancing physiology and pathophysiology principles, understanding normal function, and interpreting changes in normal function that result in symptoms and diagnostic markers indicative of illness
- Utilizing pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and their practical implication in clinical practice
- Recognizing and applying ethical, moral leadership
- Integrating knowledge of population health into culturally relevant health promotion and intervention
- Evaluating the implications of and healthcare informatics in strategies for managing care resources and systems
Study Transferrable Skills and Experience
The clinical practicum experience at GCU’s nursing school allows you to collaborate with faculty members to select a local primary care or family care site. This portion of the family nurse practitioner program can provide you the opportunity to apply clinical decision-making skills and health management of primary problems for diverse clients across the human life span. In addition, you can interact with patients in the role of care provider and educator.
During your MSN family nurse practitioner program with GCU, you will participate in two on-campus experiences designed to provide collaboration with peers, hands-on skill development with patient actors and interdisciplinary faculty. The first on-campus experience is a three-day requirement in the FNP-630 course that provides opportunities to perform health assessments, suturing and wound care, casting and splinting, EKG, radiology, male and female exams, and newborn and obstetrics assessments.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Career Opportunities
MSN FNP graduates may choose to pursue a career in a variety of healthcare settings. Some of these options may include:
- Hospitals
- Physicians’ offices
- School clinics
- Outpatient care centers
Additional opportunities for graduates may include education-based careers where they can apply their experience. This may include working in a college or classroom setting.
MSN FNP Professional Standards
The Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner program is built to meet standards set by recognized, reputable nursing organizations, including:
- National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty (NONPF)
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN): The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing
- Inter-Professional Collaborative Practice (IPEC) Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice
- American Nursing Association (ANA) Scope and Standards of Practice
For more information on the accreditation of nursing programs and other university approvals, please visit our University Accreditation and Regulations page.
Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner Program FAQs
If you strive to have a positive effect on the healthcare in your community by serving as an FNP, read some frequently asked questions below to learn more about earning your MSN.
GCU’s FNP program online or in the evening can be completed by taking one course at a time via on-campus or online classes with in-person clinicals.1 Most online courses are eight weeks in length, but several core classes span 16 weeks.
A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is a specific career within healthcare. Alternatively, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a doctoral degree. To become an FNP, at a minimum, a master’s degree is required. FNPs may choose to extend their skill set and career opportunities by pursuing a DNP degree.
To enroll in an MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program, you must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a CCNE/NLNAC or ACEN accredited program reflecting a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale). If you have a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field, consider enrolling in the MSN nurse practitioner bridge pathway first. This can provide you with the necessary knowledge and prerequisites to later pursue the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner degree. For information regarding GCU’s admissions process, visit our Graduate Admissions Requirements page.
The program is rigorous in order to prepare graduates for the challenging nature of this advanced nursing career. A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is categorized as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who has the education and credentials to specialize in a specific patient population or set of skills. Therefore, the MSN FNP program includes intensive curricula spanning all major areas of family nursing, hands-on skills labs and hundreds of hours of supervised clinicals. Graduates of this program will be eligible to sit for the certification exam in their specialty.
A Master of Science in Nursing family nurse practitioner degree is designed for individuals who want to provide in-depth, ongoing medical care for individuals and/or families. Family nurse practitioners often build strong relationships with their patients by offering treatment plans, prevention education and advocacy services. If you have a specific passion for pediatrics, adolescence or gerontology, earning an MSN FNP degree can provide you with the necessary education to then acquire certification within your desired patient population.
The most notable difference between a family nurse practitioner (FNP) and registered nurse (RN) is that an FNP can prescribe medications and treatments, order tests and diagnose patients, whereas an RN usually works under the supervision of a physician who will determine patient treatment and diagnoses.
An FNP holds at least a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and is certified and licensed to practice with patient population across the life span. This advanced education and work experience often provides more autonomy and responsibility for nurse practitioners. An RN must hold either an associate degree in nursing or BSN. They must also pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and apply for state licensure in order to practice.
If your goal is to become a family nurse practitioner, GCU can help you get there. Fill out the form on this page to learn more about our program and get in touch with a university counselor.
1 Online courses exclude programs with residencies and practicums
Core Courses
Course Description
This course examines nursing theory and the role of ethics for advanced registered nurses within the Christian worldview and through a leadership perspective focused on improving health care outcomes. Learners explore the moral/ethical responsibilities and legal and regulatory obligations of advanced registered nurses in health promotion and disease prevention. Learners also review evidence-based practice (EBP) literature and the research process with application to their program of study and learn to navigate scholarly EBP literature, resources, and guidelines.
Course Description
This course examines the role of leadership, organizational science, policy, and informatics in supporting safe, high-quality, cost-effective patient care within interprofessional, dynamic health care environments. Learners explore various organizational relationships within health care systems and prepare to participate in the design of cost-effective, innovative models of care delivery and practice change proposals. Professional leadership theories and how they shape the nurse leader in such things as collaboration, conflict resolution, decision-making, and negotiation are introduced. Learners discuss change management theories and evaluate the ethical, social, legal, economic, and political implications of practice change and health care informatics along with strategies for managing human, fiscal, and health care resources in a variety of organizational systems. Learners also examine the uses of patient-care, information systems, and communication technologies and discuss the design, implementation, and evaluation of electronic health record systems and clinical decision support systems.
Course Description
In this course learners examine the process of scientific inquiry, knowledge generation, utilization, and dissemination of evidence into advanced nursing practice in order to propose quality-improvement initiatives that advance the delivery of safe, high-quality care for patient populations. Learners critically evaluate evidence, including scientific findings from the biopsychosocial fields, epidemiology, biostatistics, genetics, and genomics, and apply levels of evidence and theoretical frameworks to design culturally appropriate clinical prevention interventions and population-based care that reduces risks, prevents disease, and promotes health and well-being. Learners also consider strategies to evaluate health policy and advocacy issues, the state of health care delivery, patient-centered care, and ethical principles related to health beliefs, health promotion, and risk reduction for diverse populations. Learners apply these strategies to work towards recognizing gaps in nursing and health care knowledge, identifying potential solutions or innovations for those gaps, planning and implementing practice changes, and evaluating the outcomes in order to improve practice. Prerequisite: NUR-513.
Course Description
This course provides an opportunity for learners to complete their evidence-based practice (EBP) project proposal that addresses a problem, issue, or concern in their specialty area of professional practice. Learners previously identified a problem amenable to a research-based intervention, searched the literature, and proposed a solution. Now learners will explore implementation considerations and various evaluation methodologies, complete the project proposal by developing a plan to implement the solution into the intended practice area, and design an evaluation plan that will assess the EBP project proposal's intended outcome(s). Prerequisite: NUR-550.
Course Description
This course focuses on advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles across the life span. This course is used to guide the advanced nursing practice learner 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: NUR-590.
Course Description
This course focuses on the basic concepts and principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and their practical implication in clinical practice across the life span. 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; clinical toxicology; and pathology and pharmacotherapy of cardiovascular, psychiatric, endocrine, respiratory, gastrointestinal, bone and joint, infectious, reproductive, and dermatological disorders. Prerequisite: NUR-631.
Course Description
This course builds upon the learner's undergraduate and clinical assessment skills, offering advanced health assessment content to provide the foundation for the advanced practice nursing role across the life span. 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. Learners learn a systematic method of diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision-making to establish differential diagnoses. Prerequisites: NUR-631, and either NUR-632, NUR-633, or NUR-635.
Course Description
This course covers preventive health care practices and integrates cultural and spiritual considerations, environmental factors, genetic influences, and national public health objectives. Emphasis is placed on development of the advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship to enhance the effectiveness of patient education, counseling, and promotion of healthy lifestyle changes. Learners explore concepts relevant to primary care, including family systems theory and developmental theory. Learners are also introduced to well visits across the life span and build upon advanced health assessment skills in assessing the well child, adolescent, woman, and man. Specific emphasis is placed on clinical diagnostic reasoning and interpretation and the development of differential diagnoses based on clinical practice guidelines. Learners examine professional and patient community resources and evaluate the use of integrative healing strategies in assisting patients to achieve health goals using evidence-based research. This course includes a required 3-day, on-campus experience. Prerequisite: NUR-634.
Course Description
This course covers preventive health care practices and integrates cultural and spiritual considerations, environmental factors, genetic influences, and national public health objectives. Emphasis is placed on development of the advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship to enhance the effectiveness of patient education, counseling, and promotion of healthy lifestyle changes. Learners explore concepts relevant to primary care, including family systems theory and developmental theory. Learners are also introduced to well visits across the life span and build upon advanced health assessment skills in assessing the well child, adolescent, woman, and man. Specific emphasis is placed on clinical diagnostic reasoning and interpretation and the development of differential diagnoses based on clinical practice guidelines. Learners examine professional and patient community resources and evaluate the use of integrative healing strategies in assisting patients to achieve health goals using evidence-based research. This course includes a required 3-day, on-campus experience. Prerequisite: NUR-634.
Course Description
This course focuses on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of individuals with common, acute, and chronic conditions across the life span within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care. Care includes health promotion counseling, screening, and patient education to optimize patient and family health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of patient illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacological and nonpharmacological integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: FNP-630.
Course Description
This course deepens its focus on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of individuals with common, acute, and chronic conditions across the life span within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment. Learners integrate evidence-based research in the development of comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care. Care includes health promotion counseling, screening, and patient education to optimize patient and family health. Learners further advance their critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills to guide clinical decision making in the management of patient illness. Learners also further develop their competence in ordering appropriate diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacological and nonpharmacological integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: FNP-652.
Course Description
This practicum course is the final synthesis of the theoretical and clinical foundation of advanced practice nursing in the primary care management of individuals and families across the life span. Emphasis is placed on scope of practice, roles, contract negotiation, prescriptive authority, licensure, certification, and credentialing. Updates on legislation and health policy are incorporated utilizing multidimensional clinical case studies. Learners also examine ethical issues that arise in clinical practice. This course includes a required 2-day, on-campus experience. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: FNP-654.
Course Description
This practicum course is the final synthesis of the theoretical and clinical foundation of advanced practice nursing in the primary care management of individuals and families across the life span. Emphasis is placed on scope of practice, roles, contract negotiation, prescriptive authority, licensure, certification, and credentialing. Updates on legislation and health policy are incorporated utilizing multidimensional clinical case studies. Learners also examine ethical issues that arise in clinical practice. This course includes a required 2-day, on-campus experience. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: FNP-654.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.