Program Overview

---

Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN Program

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, including the pathophysiology and pharmacology of the acute and stable chronically ill for management in primary care.

Program Description

The FNP online program prepares for advanced practice nursing to implement established nursing theory and evidenced-based practice to provide healthcare in a variety of primary care settings across the life span. Upon successful completion of the FNP Program, a Master of Science in Nursing will be awarded. The Texas A&M; University-Corpus Christi, Family Nurse Practitioner program focuses on the development of clinical expertise, collaboration, leadership, and critical thinking to secure quality care of our community family and supporting healthcare systems.

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, cultivating basic and specialized abilities needed to successfully pursue a career.
• 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, enhance and expand competence, prepare for role specialization, and contribute to the discovery of new nursing knowledge.
• To provide an educational environment of respect within which students may evolve as broadly educated, technology competent, responsible, and accountable professionals dedicated to the principles of lifelong learning.
• To build a foundation for life-long learning & systematic practice.
• To serve the community as nursing experts, leaders, and consultants in professional organizations, health promoters, providers of health care policy information, and advocates of ethical distribution and usage of resources.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Critically analyze, interpret, and integrate appropriate knowledge, research, and theories to meet the health care needs of diverse populations.
• Apply competent leadership and collaborative skills as members of a multi-professional health care workforce to promote high-quality and safe patient care.
• Design evidence-based plans to sustain quality initiatives that promote a transparent professional environment and contribute to the delivery of safe high-quality care.
• Integrate research into professional practice through the implementation of translational processes.
• Demonstrate competence and accountability as clinicians, educators, and leaders in advanced healthcare roles.
• Model caring, sensitivity, and respect in the delivery of health care to culturally diverse populations.
• Operationalize principles of ethical, legal, financial, and economic theories as applied to health care delivery systems.
• Guide the adoption and use of information, communication technologies, and resources to document patient care and improve patient outcomes.
• Evaluate the effect of legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice, healthcare delivery, and outcomes using critical analysis of policies that influence health services.

Admission Requirements

Registered nurses have three entry options to the Master of Science in Nursing program. Individuals who have earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree but would like to acquire a new specialty area of practice may apply to the College post-master's certification programs. For admission to any graduate programs, applicants must:

• Complete an application to the University for admission to the MSN Program for degree student status.
• Provide evidence of a current valid unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse with authorization to practice in Texas.
• Write an original essay describing professional goals associated with graduate nursing education.
• Submit three letters of recommendation from individuals who can address their potential for graduate study.
• Provide a current resume that delineates an applicant's professional contributions and work experiences.

Program Requirements

The following program requirements apply to all nursing graduate students upon admission and throughout the program of study. Students must:

• Hold current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse with authorization to practice in Texas.
• Complete a criminal background check upon admission to the College.
• Complete a ten-panel non-chain of custody urine drug screen.
• Purchase professional liability coverage through the University.
• Meet Texas Department of State Health Services immunization requirements for students in health professions programs.
• 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 from the Texas A&M; University-Corpus Christi, College of Nursing, the following must be accomplished:

• Successful completion of 49.0 graduate semester credit hours.
• A minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Successful completion of 630 clinical hours.
• Completion of 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: 60 hours
• NURS 5644: 110 hours
• NURS 5645: 110 hours
• NURS 5746: 220 hours