Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration – Master of Science in Nursing

The family nurse practitioner (FNP) concentration prepares registered nurses (RNs) to provide independent general care for family groups and individuals in the context of family living. The curriculum includes instruction in family theory and intervention, evidence-based practice, epidemiology, advanced technologies, health care environment management, role synthesis, family primary care, nursing practice and health care policy, pediatric practice, gerontological practice, health assessment, advanced pathophysiology, clinical pharmacotherapeutics and clinical practice techniques.

Admission Criteria

Applicants will be admitted in the fall and spring semester with a formal review on the last Friday in March and October. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

To be admitted to the MSN program, the following is required:

Admission Requirements

1. General admission to graduate study (for criteria, refer to "Admission to Graduate Study").
2. Cover letter/goal statement (1-2 pages in length, typed, double-spaced) for the MSN/FNP program to include: your background description, reasons for wanting to attend the nursing graduate program and a description of post-graduation goals.
3. Current copy of resume or curriculum vita to include minimum information of: RN licensure (state(s) and number, educational preparation and experience background).
4. Official transcript with bachelor's or master's degree in nursing from an accredited program (CCNE, ACEN, CNEA).
5. GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale of undergraduate or graduate degree.
6. ESL/international students will have a minimum TOEFL score of 550, computer-based test score of 173 and internet-based score of 70.

Additional Admission Requirements (completed through the Department of Nursing)

1. Complete a criminal background check.
2. Meet departmental immunization requirements.
3. Three professional references from persons in a position to evaluate the applicant's success in a graduate nursing program; at least one to be completed by immediate or up-line supervisor; others to be completed by a professional colleague or university faculty who are familiar with the candidate's work.
4. Minimum one-year clinical experience as a registered nurse (RN) - 2080 hours.
5. Current, unencumbered Kentucky RN license.
6. Completion of a three credit-hour descriptive statistics course at the graduate or undergraduate level.

Program Competencies

1. Promote the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes in graduates necessary to function in the advanced practice role as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).
2. Provide graduates with a foundation for transition to successful doctoral study.
3. Provide an environment that embraces persons from diverse cultures, varying philosophies, ethnicity and gender.
4. Foster an environment of clinical scholarship to advance patient care practices.
5. Serve the citizens of eastern Kentucky, the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the global citizenry through the application of clinical prevention and population health.

Maintaining Enrollment

To progress and be retained in the MSN program, the following will be achieved:

1. Completed courses as per program schedule.
2. Follow curriculum map progression plan.
3. Achieve a grade of "B" (80%; GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better in all nursing courses. A GPA of ≥ 3.0 is needed to graduate.
4. A student will be dismissed if he or she receives a second failing grade (<80%; GPA <3.0).

Requirements for the Degree

Completion Standards

The following standards must be met:

1. Satisfy all degree requirements.
2. Completion of the program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
3. Successfully complete a portfolio project in the last semester of the program.

Program Requirements

MSN Core Requirements

NURG 618	Advanced Evidence-Based Practice	3
NURG 620 or NURG 621	Roles and Issues for Advanced Practice/Roles and Issues for Advanced Practice (Post-MSN)	1-2
NURG 640	Population Health and Epidemiology	3
NURG 642	Health Policy and Economics	2
NURG 650	Professional Practice	3
Total Credit Hours:		12-13

FNP Concentration Requirements

NURG 610	Health Assessment for Advanced Practice	3
NURG 612	Pharmacology for Advanced Practice	3
NURG 613	Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice	3
NURG 630	Health Promotion and Disease Prevention	3
NURG 631	Pediatrics for Advanced Practice	3
NURG 632	Childbearing and Women's Health for Advanced Practice	2
NURG 633	Care of the Aging Population	3
NURG 634	Common Alterations in Primary Care	3
NURG 635	Practicum I	3
NURG 636	Advanced Procedures	1
NURG 641	Complex Alterations in Primary Care	3
NURG 645	Practicum II	3
NURG 655	Practicum III	3
Total Credit Hours:		36

Total Credit Hours: 48-49