Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner, Master of Science

In addition to University Requirements:

Minimum Units for Completion	48
Additional Admission Requirements	Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Fieldwork Experience/Internship	Fieldwork Experience/Internship is required.
Arizona Endorsement	Prepares student for Arizona Endorsement.
Thesis	Thesis may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Research	Individualized research may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Additional Fees/Program Fees	Required
Progression Plan Link	View Program of Study
Licensure	This program may lead to licensure.

Purpose Statement

The philosophy of the School of Nursing at Northern Arizona University is based on an ethic of caring that embraces students, faculty and staff, and the university community and the global community within which we live and work. We also believe that caring is a conscious, intentional discipline that is part of nursing’s unique body of knowledge and is practiced in interdisciplinary contexts. Caring includes the creation and nurturing of an environment that recognizes that students, staff and faculty have unique ways of viewing the world. This philosophy promotes excellence for nursing education and practice in an environment of constant change and emerging healthcare trends.

The faculty believes the transition to the role of competent professional nurse is a major developmental achievement. We believe that nursing is an art and science that is an integral component of health care. Applying the discipline of nursing to practice depends on a foundation of natural and human sciences, humanities and arts, the application of research, and the diverse backgrounds of learners. Societal influences in the evolving healthcare system challenge all involved in nursing education.

Education is a dynamic, life-long collaborative process by which an individual pursues life goals, broadens human potential, develops thinking and clarifies values. The faculty believes that learning is the intentional acquisition, application, and integration of knowledge, skills and attitudes. Learning is shaped by the environment and developmental level of the learner, and is ultimately the responsibility of the learner. Faculty plan, guide, and facilitate learning while supporting the learning needs of a diverse community of students. We believe that learning-centered experiences with rigorous expectations and actively-engaged students result in higher-level thinkers and graduates prepared for real world practice. We value incorporating rural and global healthcare into a variety of educational experiences. Thus education not only expands the thinking of the learner, but increases opportunities for application.

The faculty has developed a philosophy that values diverse persons, environment, health, and nursing, and their inter-relatedness. The following meta-paradigm concepts guide the implementation of the organizing framework for the curriculum.

The Family Nurse Practitioner track was designed for nurses with a BSN degree and a broad base of experience who want to expand their skills to provide family primary care in rural settings.  The advanced practice nursing role as a primary care family nurse practitioner includes the components of knowledge and management of client and family care, professional relationships, and health care delivery systems. Upon completion of the MS-FNP track or the Post-Master’s FNP Certificate, the graduate qualifies for seeking both national and state certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.


Student Learning Outcomes

Outcomes align with Standards from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
 
All Students in M. S. Nursing Degrees will be able to

• Clinical Practice and Prevention:

• Communication:
  • Develop and collaborate within interprofessional teams and partnerships by using effective communication strategies.
  • Advance patient education, enhance accessibility of care, analyze practice patterns, and improve health care and nurse sensitive outcomes by using information and communication technologies.

• Critical reasoning:

• Leadership:
  • Analyze how policies influence the structure and financing of health care, practice, and health outcomes.
  • Examine the effect of legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice, healthcare delivery, and outcomes.

• Professionalism and Professional Values:
  • Advocate for patients, families, caregivers, communities and members of the healthcare team.
  • Incorporate core scientific and ethical principles in identifying potential and actual ethical issues arising from practice, and assisting patients and other healthcare providers to address such issues.

• Global Health:

• Assume leadership and/or research roles in developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally reinforcing nursing and other health care services from local to global perspectives.
• Prioritize the social and cultural factors that affect health in designed and delivering care across multiple contexts.

• Create partnerships that promote sustainable environmental health policies and conditions.
• Analyze and promote social, political, and economic policies that influence sustainable environments and reduce human health exposures in a global society.

M.S.- Generalist Track
This emphasis is designed for the registered nurse (RN) who desires to build a professional foundation of practice exploring a selected emphasis relevant to his or her advancement goals. While not a specialty focus, this plan allows the RN with a prior baccalaureate degree to continue to develop expertise within a desired emphasis. 
 
M.S.- Family Nurse Practitioner Track
This emphasis is designed for the registered nurse (RN) who has a broad base of experience who wants to expand his or her skills to provide family primary care in rural settings. The advanced practice nursing role as a primary care family nurse practitioner includes the components of knowledge and management of client and family care, professional relationships, and health care delivery systems. Upon completion of the MS-FNP track or the Post-Master’s FNP Certificate, the graduate qualifies for seeking both national and state certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

 

Additional Admission Requirements

• Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

• The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.
  
  Admission requirements include the following:

  • Transcripts.
  • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.

  
  Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.
  
  Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

  International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

• • Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program or an associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited program with a bachelor’s degree in another field.
  • 3.0 GPA in all nursing coursework
  • Current RN license in good standing to practice as a registered nurse in Arizona, or eligibility to obtain an Arizona license, or meet the Arizona Board of Nursing regulations regarding multistate licensure.

• • Three Letters of Recommendation

• • Prerequisites (completed prior to enrolling in the program)

• • • Completion of an undergraduate introduction to statistics course from a college or university with a grade of “C” or better, or a Pass. 
    • Another option is completion of a graduate course in statistics, passed with a “B” grade or higher, and completed prior to enrollment in NUR 530. 
    • Completion of undergraduate courses in nursing research (didactic) and public health nursing (didactic and clinical) with grades of “B” or better.

• • Responses to Specific Essay Questions

• • IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card

• • Clinical Health Requirements

Master's Requirements

• This Master’s degree requires 48 units distributed as follows:

  • Nursing Content Coursework:  48 units

  
  Take the following 48 units:

  • NUR 510, NUR 520, NUR 530, NUR 540, NUR 550, NUR 560, NUR 650, NUR 660, NUR 661, NUR 662, NUR 663, NUR 664, NUR 665, NUR 675, NUR 676 

• Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

• All students will complete clinical experiences in NUR 661, NUR 663, and NUR 665. Clinical experience in NUR 665: Family Primary Health Care Practicum III will include completion and dissemination of the student's Evidence-Based Practice Capstone. 

• PROGRAM FEE INFORMATION

• Program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee of $60 per credit hour has been approved for this program.

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