Program Overview

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Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN FNP)

The Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN FNP) program at Drexel University is designed for nurses who want to take the next step in their professional journey into advanced practice nursing. This program focuses on wellness care, acute and chronic illnesses management, and clinical strategies/interventions in health promotion, health maintenance, disease prevention, and contemporary healthcare issues seen in family medicine.

Program Overview

• The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• It covers both family and individual primary care across the lifespan, from birth to death.
• Upon graduation, students become immediately eligible to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
• Drexel alumni boast a 100 percent board pass rate on these FNP certification exams.

Program Features

• Ranked #5 in Best Online Family Nurse Practitioner Master's Programs by U.S. News & World Report.
• Ranked #12 in Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report.
• The program is taught by industry-experienced and board-certified faculty from Drexel's acclaimed College of Nursing and Health Professions.
• Synchronous online lectures offer a highly interactive learning format.

On-Campus Requirements

• The program requires multiple on-campus visits, which are essential for transitioning into the NP role.
• Mandatory on-campus and/or virtual intensives are held during clinical courses.
• Students attend an in-person on-campus intensive for 4 days during week one of the summer quarter.

Clinicals

• The program provides flexibility in finding and coordinating clinical sites and preceptors.
• Resources are available to assist students in this process.
• Accessibility to clinical sites and preceptors varies by state, and students may need to travel to access these sites.

What is Advanced Practice Nursing?

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) can practice as certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA), certified nurse-midwives (CNM), clinical nurse specialists (CNS), or certified nurse practitioners (CNP).

What is a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)?

• FNPs work with patients at every stage of their lives.
• They can practice autonomously in approximately 25 states.
• FNPs focus on being primary healthcare providers and have the option of managing their own private practices.
• Responsibilities include diagnosing illnesses, treating patients across the lifespan, and analyzing and developing clinical strategies and interventions.

Career Opportunities

• The demand for qualified nurse practitioners is growing, with a job outlook expected to increase by 35% by 2034.
• FNPs can work in various settings, including physician's offices, primary care clinics, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, and private practices.

Salary Expectations

• The average annual wage for nurse practitioners was $132,050, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2024 report.
• Top 10 percent in the FNP profession can potentially earn more than $217,720 annually.

Curriculum

The program is organized into four 10-week quarters per year, allowing students to take more courses in a shorter time period. One semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits.

Core Courses

Course	Title	Credits
NURS 500	Confronting Issues in Contemporary Health Care Environments	3.0
NURS 502	Advanced Ethical Decision Making in Health Care	3.0
NURS 544	Quality and Safety in Healthcare	3.0
RSCH 503	Research Methods and Biostatistics	3.0
RSCH 504	Evaluation and Translation of Health Research	3.0

Support Courses

• NUPR 520: Nurse Practitioner Clinical Orientation Seminar (0.0 credits)
• NURS 548: Advanced Pathophysiology (3.0 credits)
• NURS 549: Advanced Pharmacology (3.0 credits)
• NURS 550: Advanced Clinical Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning (4.0 credits)
• NURS 556: Pharmacology for Family Nurse Practitioners (3.0 credits)
• NURS 664: Professional Issues for Nurse Practitioners (1.0 credit)

Clinical Courses

• NURS 534: FNP I: Primary Care of the Emerging Family (5.0 credits)
• NURS 535: FNP II: Primary and Episodic Care of Infants, Children, and Adolescents (5.0 credits)
• NURS 536: FNP III: Primary Care of Adults and Older Adults Across the Adult Age Spectrum I (5.0 credits)
• NURS 537: FNP IV: Primary Care of Adults and Older Adults Across the Adult Age Spectrum II (5.0 credits)
• NURS 538: FNP V: Integrative Practicum in Family Practice Across the Lifespan (4.0 credits)

Elective

• Nursing Electives can be any course with the prefix Nursing (NURS, NUPR), Interprofessional Studies (IPS), or Complementary and Integrative Health (CIT), with course numbers ranging from 500-699.

Admissions Criteria

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an institution accredited by CCNE, ACEN, or NLN CNEA.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above from the BSN.
• 1-2 years of medical/surgical nursing experience preferred.
• A current, unrestricted United States RN license.

Required Documents

• A completed application.
• Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions attended.
• Two professional letters of recommendation.
• Personal statement (under 1,000 words).
• Resume including specific details of responsibilities and job experiences.
• A copy of the United States RN license.

Tuition

• The tuition rate for the academic year is $1169 per credit.
• A graduate online program fee of $125 per year applies to students enrolled in an online graduate academic program.
• Special tuition rates are available for Drexel University Alumni, Military members, and members of Partner Organizations.

Academic Calendar

The academic calendar includes four quarters: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer, with specific start and end dates for each term.