Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN
Program Overview
Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN Program Overview
The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program prepares graduates to integrate competencies in health assessment, disease management, and health education. The program focuses on the development of clinical expertise, collaboration, leadership, and critical thinking to secure quality care of communities and supporting healthcare systems.
Program Description
The FNP online program prepares advanced practice nursing professionals to implement established nursing theory and evidence-based practice in primary care settings across the lifespan. Upon successful completion of the FNP Program, a Master of Science in Nursing will be awarded.
Nursing Programs Goals
The goals of the Nursing Programs in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences are:
- To develop within the student the knowledge and skills necessary for beginning professional and advanced nursing practice
- To promote the concept of nursing as caring and facilitate attainment of a care delivery system sensitive to multicultural communities and their health values
- To offer individuals the opportunity to increase the breadth and depth of the theoretical base for nursing practice
- To provide an educational environment of respect within which students may evolve as broadly educated, technology-competent, responsible, and accountable professionals
- To build a foundation for lifelong learning and systematic practice
- To serve the community as nursing experts, leaders, and consultants in professional organizations
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- Critically analyze, interpret, and integrate appropriate knowledge, research, and theories to meet healthcare needs
- Apply competent leadership and collaborative skills as members of a multi-professional healthcare workforce
- Design evidence-based plans to sustain quality initiatives
- Integrate research into professional practice
- Demonstrate competence and accountability as clinicians, educators, and leaders
- Model caring, sensitivity, and respect in healthcare delivery
- Operationalize principles of ethical, legal, financial, and economic theories
- Guide the adoption and use of information, communication technologies, and resources
Admission Requirements
For admission to the graduate programs, applicants must:
- Complete an application to the University for admission to the MSN Program
- Submit a copy of a valid, unencumbered Texas nursing license or compact RN license
- Have earned a satisfactory grade point average (4.0 scale): 3.00 GPA on the last 60 semester hours
- Submit two letters of recommendation
- Provide a current resume
- Demonstrate compliance with Texas Administrative Code immunization regulations
Program Requirements
Students must:
- Submit a copy of a valid unencumbered Texas nursing license or compact RN License
- Complete a criminal background check
- Complete a ten-panel non-chain of custody urine drug screen
- Purchase professional liability coverage
- Meet Texas Department of State Health Services immunization requirements
- Complete a tuberculosis screening annually
- Hold a current American Heart Association or Red Cross Healthcare Provider CPR certification
Graduation Requirements
To earn an MSN FNP, students must:
- Complete 49.0 graduate semester credit hours
- Achieve a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Complete 630 clinical hours
- Complete MSN FNP degree requirements within 7 years of beginning coursework
Course List
Core Nursing Courses
- NURS 5310: Science in Nursing
- NURS 5314: Research Methods in Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 5315: Health Policy and Cultural Diversity
- NURS 5316: Introduction to Advanced Practice Role Development
Role Specialization
- NURS 5322: Advanced Pharmacological Concepts
- NURS 5323: Finance for the Nurse Practitioner
- NURS 5341: Wellness and Health Promotion
- NURS 5326: Advanced Physiology with Pathophysiological Applications
- NURS 5624: Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnosis
- NURS 5644: Management of Acute and Chronic Illness I
- NURS 5645: Management of Acute and Chronic Illness II
- NURS 5746: Integrated Clinical Practice: FNP
Field Experiences
Students are expected to complete a minimum of 630 clinical hours related to their courses and focus of study. Field experiences will be completed in the following FNP Courses:
- NURS 5624: 90 hours
- NURS 5644: 135 hours
- NURS 5645: 135 hours
- NURS 5746: 270 hours