Program Overview

The Family Nurse Practitioner program at the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) level is designed for students wishing to practice as advanced practice nurses in primary care across the lifespan. Graduates of master’s degree programs in nursing are prepared with additional knowledge and clinical expertise building on baccalaureate nursing practice. The MSN program at Colorado Mesa University is based on the “Essentials of Masters Education for Advanced Nursing Practice” identified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

MSN graduates will be prepared to advance to higher levels of nursing education including Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) programs. The program is an online format, providing flexibility for students to remain in their current work positions and home communities. Opportunities for personal interaction are included with faculty and peers in focused intensive sessions at selected points during the program. Students are expected to participate in objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) each semester. OSCEs are held both in person and virtually and are used to assess students' attainment of clinical competencies.

Graduates of the Family Nurse Practitioner cognate are prepared for an advance practice role as a Family Nurse Practitioner will demonstrate practice expertise, specialized knowledge, and expanded responsibility and accountability in the care and management of individuals and families.

Important information for this program:

All CMU masters-level graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, information literacy, and ethical reasoning. In addition to these campus-wide student learning outcomes, a graduate of this program will be able to: