Online Family Nurse Practitioner Program - RN to MSN
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RN to Master of Science in Nursing in Family Nurse Practitioner
Improve your nursing skills with the right degree. South University’s RN to Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Family Nurse Practitioner online program can prepare you to deliver community-based care for patients across their lifespan. Earning an MSN provides the opportunity to develop skills such as your clinical judgment, critical thinking, communication, and leadership abilities. The RN to MSN program also helps you learn best practices for providing preventive care, promoting positive health behaviors, and diagnosing and managing common health problems at all developmental stages.
South University’s RN to MSN with a Specialization in Family Nurse Practitioner program meets the Core Competencies for Family Nurse Practitioners outlined by the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and includes key attributes from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Master’s Essentials. After successfully completing the program, you may be eligible to sit for the certification* examinations available through national certifying bodies (ANCC; AANP).
* It is up to each student to review the national and their state requirements for licensure, as well as the eligibility requirements to sit for licensure and certification exams. South University does not guarantee third-party certification/licensure. Outside agencies control the requirements for taking and passing certification/licensing exams and are subject to change without notice to South University.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the Master of Science in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Clinical Hours
750 hrs
Required clinical hours to complete this degree program.
Per credit hour
$660
for the MSN degree program.
Career Outlook
Upon completing your degree, you’ll be able to work* as a Family Nurse Practitioner and utilize the skills you learned in your program.*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.
Graduates are required to sit for and pass the national certification exam and obtain a state license in order to work in the field. (Exam names vary by program) Please refer to the State Professional Licensure Determination and National Certification/Licensure section of the University catalog for program and state specific information. South University cannot guarantee each graduate will pass the required licensure examinations. Outside agencies control the requirements for taking and passing certification/licensing exams and are subject to change without notice to South University. Students must pass the required licensure to work in their respective field.
Admission Requirements
Procedure for Admission to the RN to Master of Science in Nursing Degree Program
Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information. The criteria to determine admission to the Master of Science in Nursing degree program include:
- Completion of the application for admission.
- Satisfy one of the following:
- Earned an associate's degree in nursing from an accredited institution,
- have an equivalent accredited associate's degree in nursing from a foreign institution, or
- hold a nursing diploma AND a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- A cumulative CGPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale.
- Submission of official transcripts from every college or university attended within 5 weeks of the class start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance).
- A valid and unencumbered license as a registered nurse in all US states or territory in which the student is licensed, including the state in which the student completes all assignments for the program. (Note that military, federal, and foreign educated nurses must meet this state requirement for nursing licensure).
Note: In order to progress into Graduate level nursing courses, a student must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Students with a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 may transition to the RN to BSN program to complete their BSN and then apply for the MSN program.
For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here.
Course Requirements
A block transfer will apply per the General Education Course Transfer Credit RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN and RN to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) policy.
General Education Requirement: 78 general education credits transferred from transfer of credit policy.
Included in Transfer of Credit from Associate of Nursing Degree or Bachelor’s Degree
Note(s):
**Students enrolled in Nurse Administrator and Nursing Informatics specializations wishing to further develop their advanced practice skills should take NSG5003 Advanced Pathophysiology, NSG6001 Advanced Nursing Practice I, and NSG6005 Advanced Pharmacology. Students wishing to further develop their management, administration, and technology skills may take LEA5100 Leadership, Organization Theory and Change, LEA5130 Team Building and Group Dynamics, MIS5010 Information Technology Infrastructure and/or PMC6601 Foundations of Project Management in place of NSG5003, NSG6001, and/or NSG6005. In all cases students should work closely with their Academic Advisors or Academic Counselors to select appropriate coursework that meets their career needs and course prerequisites.
Offered at Online Programs.
Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.
Specialization Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Formulate and document for various differential and presumptive diagnoses in the adult or gerontological patient with meticulous detail, so coders and billers can apply the correct codes for appropriate reimbursement.
- Develop plans of care based on theories of ageing, assessment findings, and best-practices to provide holistic, patient-centered care for the adult gerontological populations.
- Collaborate with interprofessional associates to provide culturally competent, and sensitive patient-centered care for the adult gerontological client.
*If the student receives a failing grade in NSG6021, the student must enroll in and pass the following four (4)-credit hour course: NSG6023 Nurse Practitioner Enhancement.
*If the student is unsuccessful in NSG6998 please refer to Program Progression Policy for Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Students
Offered at Online Programs and Tampa.
Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.
Specialization Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Formulate and document for various differential and presumptive diagnoses in patients across the lifespan with meticulous detail, so coders and billers can apply the correct codes for appropriate reimbursement.
- Develop plans of care based on theories of development, assessment findings, and best-practices to provide holistic, patient-centered care across the lifespan.
- Collaborate with interprofessional associates to provide culturally competent, and sensitive patient-centered care for individuals and families across the lifespan.
*If the student receives a failing grade in NSG6021, the student must enroll in and successfully pass the following four (4)-credit course NSG6023 Nurse Practitioner Enhancement
*If the student is unsuccessful in NSG6998 please refer to Program Progression Policy for Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Students
Offered at Online Programs.
Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.
Specialization Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Develop strategic plans and systems which guides practices that support patient centered care for culturally diverse populations.
- Organize inclusive interprofessional relationships which assist in the development of innovative and effective care for diverse communities and settings.
- Construct quality improvement plans which integrate concepts of economics and fiscal stewardship in the leadership and management of a variety of healthcare settings.
Offered at Online Programs.
Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.
Specialization Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Contribute too all phases of the curriculum development for a variety of educational and healthcare settings.
- Develop quality healthcare contributions through the development of evidence-based policies for creating change and advancing the profession.
- Develop educational quality improvement plans which contribute to the creation of evidence that underlies best practices in teaching and learning.
Offered at Online Programs.
Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.
Specialization Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Formulate principles and concepts of project management for the implementation of information systems in the provision of patient-centered care for various healthcare settings.
- Extract data from clinical data sets to provide evidenced-based support for identification of potential problems and trends.
- Evaluate documentation within healthcare information systems to provide insight for quality improvement and strategic planning.
Outcomes
Offered at Online Programs and Tampa
Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.
*Note: Students interested in a BSN should confer with their Academic Counselor or Program Director.
The RN to Master of Science in Nursing program allows students with strong academic backgrounds to reduce the number of courses required in the undergraduate component of the program. Students substitute certain graduate courses for undergraduate nursing courses. The program includes integrated practica experience, didactic instruction, and a summative project to assess individual student learning outcomes.
Graduates will be required to sit for the national certification exam and obtain professional licensure in the state where the graduate plans to seek employment. Please see the Professional Licensure Disclosure in the South University Academic Catalog for the determinations if our program meets the professional licensure requirements in your state of residence.
Students who successfully complete all requirements of RN to Master of Science in Nursing program will be awarded the Master of Science in Nursing degree.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Synthesize current scientific research, theories, and concepts from nursing and other disciplines in the practice of professional nursing practice.
- Collaborates directly with other healthcare professionals using various resources and technologies in various aspects of the advanced nursing leadership role.
- Apply critical thinking skills in establishing priorities, delegating responsibility, formulating decisions, and maintaining accountability in the practice of professional nursing through the application of nursing standards.
- Demonstrate proficiency using the nursing process and systematic inquiry to deliver evidenced based, comprehensive, and holistic nursing care which promotes health and quality of life for diverse populations.
- Model a professional leadership role to formulate comprehensive plans of action for ongoing contributions to healthcare systems improvements.
- Formulate a plan for ongoing contributions to improvement of healthcare delivery and development of health policy in a cost-effective manner.
- Demonstrate ethical and legal standards of practice in the decision-making process to assist with the delivery of quality care associated with a specialty area of advanced nursing practice.
Online Classroom
Haven’t experienced online learning before or wondering what it’s like to earn your degree online at South University? While the mode of learning is different from the traditional classroom experience with added convenience and flexibility, we hold the same high standards of academic excellence in the online classroom.
South University’s online programs combine a curriculum designed for student outcomes and a classroom designed for flexibility and engagement. Our online classroom learning platform, Brightspace, provides you with a host of features to enhance your learning experience, including:
- Advanced media content
- Personalized navigation
- Simplified online learning atmosphere
- Access to digital books
- Emailing and instant messaging options
We provide more than just an online classroom, bringing a range of campus experiences and services online. In addition, the online classroom is accessible on the go via mobile devices and with tools like the Pulse App. Pulse helps you stay connected and on track with your course by providing a number of features such as course calendars, readings and assignments, feedback and grades, and announcements.
Read more about online requirements here.
Comments and Concerns
All Fields Are Required
The purpose of this form is to provide a process for the general public to submit comments, concerns, or complaints regarding their interaction with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Post Graduate Certificate, or Doctor of Nursing Practice program. A record of all complaints will be maintained and secured by campus administration. If you are a South University student, please submit your comments, concerns, or complaints according to the process outlined in the University Catalog or programmatic handbook. Please contact your Program Director or Academic Counselor if you need additional guidance.
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Campuses offer flexible learning formats* including: on-campus, virtual instructions, and online courses.
*Clinical, practicum, and externship requirements exist in certain programs and require field experiences. Learning formats may not be flexible.
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