Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) Programs
The MSN programs prepare students as advanced practice registered nurses in the role of nurse practitioner. All population-specific options are designed to enable students to meet the educational requirements for population-specific national certification examinations. Students can follow full-time or part-time plans of study (online).
Graduate students wishing to academically qualify for the National League of Nursing (NLN) Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) certification may do so within any MSN population program, provided they obtain 9 or more credit hours in selected graduate education courses. Students interested in teaching nursing may wish to consider this academic preparation which, together with teaching experience, will meet the qualifications for the certification examination.
Nurse Practitioner Population Options
The nurse practitioner population options meet the most recent nurse practitioner program and curricular guidelines endorsed by the National Task Force (NTF) on Quality for Nurse Practitioner Education, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), and the Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs (AFPNP). Graduates are eligible to sit for respective national certification examinations given by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). Individual program content is congruent with nurse practitioner primary care competencies in Adult-Gerontology, Family, and Pediatrics as well as Pediatric Acute Care Competencies. The course sequences provide the theoretical context and the clinical experiences required to practice as a nurse practitioner and to sit for certification in the selected field of advanced practice registered nursing.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP-PC) Program
The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program prepares students for advanced practice and leadership roles in the primary care of individuals from adolescence through old age. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, illness prevention, and management of acute and chronic illnesses. Clinical and didactic coursework prepare the graduate to practice independently and collaboratively with other health care professionals as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse practitioner.
The curriculum includes 750+ hours of supervised clinical practice in a variety of settings. Graduates are prepared to provide comprehensive care in settings that include but are not limited to private practices, clinics, community health centers, hospitals, businesses, managed care organizations and governmental agencies. The program meets the most recent nurse practitioner curriculum guidelines endorsed by the NTF, AACN, and NONPF. Upon completion of course requirements, graduates of the master's and post-master's programs are eligible to sit for both the ANCC and the AANPCB Primary Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner certification exams. (49-52 credits)
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program
The Family Nurse Practitioner Program prepares students for advanced practice and leadership roles in the primary care of children and adults. Students are prepared in a variety of clinical settings, including private practices, clinics, community health centers, hospital clinics and businesses, managed care organizations and governmental agencies. Upon completion of the program, graduates can offer comprehensive, age-appropriate and age-specific quality health care that addresses the multiple needs of individuals and families across the lifespan. The curriculum includes 750+ hours of supervised clinical practice in a variety of clinical settings. The program meets the most recent nurse practitioner curriculum guidelines endorsed by NTF, AACN, and NONPF. Upon completion of course requirements, graduates of the master's and post-master's programs are eligible to sit for both the ANCC and the AANPCB Family Nurse Practitioner certification exams. (48-51 Credits).
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care (PNP-PC) Program
The Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program prepares students for advanced practice and leadership roles in the primary care of children and adolescents. Students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to practice traditional pediatric primary care as well as school-based health care, child behavioral/mental healthcare, and interdisciplinary community-based healthcare. The program meets national nurse practitioner program and curricular guidelines endorsed by NTF, AACN, NONPF, and AFPNP. The curriculum includes 750+ hours of supervised clinical practice in a variety of settings. Graduates of the master's and post-master's programs are eligible to sit for certification by the PCNB. (46-49 Credits)
Pediatric Primary and Acute Care (Combined/Dual) Nurse Practitioner Program
The Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner courses prepare students to provide care to acutely ill children and adolescents with unstable health conditions in a variety of settings. Students can choose to enroll in a combined or “Dual” Acute and Primary Care PNP program (900+ clinical hours). Graduates of this additional track are eligible for certification as Primary Care (PC) and Acute Care (AC) Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNP). (51-54 credits).
MSN Curriculum Requirements
Overview
The MSN program is structured as a tiered curriculum. The tiered approach provides quality educational experiences while ensuring adherence to certification requirements for the different population-specific programs. First tier coursework is mandatory for all MSN students. Second tier coursework consists of support/cognate and clinical courses which vary by nurse practitioner population focus.
NB: Given the changing nature of certification requirements, the curriculum and associated plans are subject to modification by the School of Nursing as determined within the academic year.
First Tier Core Courses
| Number |
Title |
Credits |
| NURS 610D |
Pharmacology for Adv Nurse Practitioners |
3 |
| NURS 657D |
Advanced Health Assessment & Clinical Reasoning |
3 |
| NURS 663D |
Health Care Policy |
3 |
| NURS 671D |
Healthcare Biostatistics* |
(3) |
| NURS 691D |
Advanced Pathophysiology |
3 |
| NURS 700D |
Advanced Population Health & Health Promotion |
3 |
| NURS 709D |
Research and Theoretical Foundations for Adv Practice |
3 |
| NURS 740D |
Introduction to Clinical Concepts |
1 |
| NURS 789D |
Advanced Practice Role Seminar |
1 |
| NURS 800D |
Capstone Research Project** |
3 |
| NURS 802D |
Biomedical Ethics |
3 |
| NURS 810D |
Primary Care Milestone 1 |
1 |
| NURS 811D |
Primary Care Milestone 2 |
1 |
|
Total |
28-31 |
*A graduate level statistics course can be transferred in if it has been completed in the previous two years with a grade of B or higher.
**MSN students enroll in NURS 800D Capstone Research Project during the last semester of their program. This course is identified as a program outcome indicator and serves as a benchmark of student achievement of MSN Program objectives.
Second Tier Population-Specific Program Nurse Practitioner Courses
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Courses
| Number |
Title |
Credits |
| NURS 603D |
Inter Professional Concepts to Geriatric Care |
3 |
| NURS 604D |
Geriatric Considerations in Pharmacology |
1 |
| NURS 605D |
Non-Pharm Approaches to Geriatric Behavior Concerns |
2 |
| NURS 735D |
Women’s Health |
1 |
| NURS 750D |
Primary Care of Adults Clinical Practicum |
7 |
| NURS 751D |
Primary Care of Adults I |
3 |
| NURS 752D |
Primary Care of Adults II |
3 |
| NURS 781D |
Primary Care of the Adolescent |
1 |
|
Total |
21 |
Family Nurse Practitioner Courses
| Number |
Title |
Credits |
| NURS 733D |
The Well Child |
2 |
| NURS 735D |
Women's Health |
1 |
| NURS 750D |
Primary Care of Adults Clinical Practicum |
3 |
| NURS 751D |
Primary Care of Adults I |
3 |
| NURS 752D |
Primary Care of Adults II |
3 |
| NURS 760D |
Primary Care of the Family Clinical Practicum |
2 |
| NURS 770D |
Primary Care of Children Clinical Practicum |
2 |
| NURS 772D |
Primary Care of the Young Child |
3 |
| NURS 781D |
Primary Care of the Adolescent |
1 |
|
Total |
20 |
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Courses
| Number |
Title |
Credits |
| NURS 658D |
Complex, Acute, and Critical Problems in Pediatrics |
3 |
| NURS 733D |
The Well Child |
2 |
| NURS 770D |
Primary Care of Children Clinical Practicum |
7 |
| NURS 772D |
Primary Care of the Young Child |
3 |
| NURS 778D |
Children and Adolescents with Special Needs |
2 |
| NURS 781D |
Primary Care of the Adolescent |
1 |
|
Total |
18 |
Pediatric Dual (Acute and Primary Care) Nurse Practitioner Courses
| Number |
Title |
Credits |
| NURS 658D |
Complex, Acute, and Critical Problems in Pediatrics |
3 |
| NURS 733D |
The Well Child |
2 |
| NURS 770D |
Primary Care of Children Clinical Practicum |
5 |
| NURS 772D |
Primary Care of the Young Child |
3 |
| NURS 773D |
Pediatric Acute Care and Advanced Diagnostics and Procedures |
2 |
| NURS 778D |
Children and Adolescents with Special Needs |
2 |
| NURS 781D |
Primary Care of the Adolescent |
1 |
| NURS 771D |
Acute Care of Children Clinical Practicum |
4 |
| NURS 812D |
Acute Care Milestone |
1 |
|
Total |
23 |
Postgraduate Certificate Nurse Practitioner School of Nursing Options
The Conway School of Nursing's Postgraduate Certificate Nurse Practitioner options are nationally accredited by CCNE and offered in all population-specific areas. They allow nurses with a graduate degree to complete additional coursework and clinical experiences necessary to be eligible for population-specific nurse practitioner national certification exams. These postgraduate certificate programs meet the most recent nurse practitioner program and curricular guidelines endorsed by NTF, AACN, NONPF, and AFPNP.
Program plans are designed based on GAP analyses conducted for each student. The plans vary in length based upon the student's past academic and clinical portfolio and the most recent requirements of the nurse practitioner population. Recipients receive a Postgraduate Certificate from the Conway School of Nursing, and their University transcript documents completion of all certificate requirements. Students in a School of Nursing Postgraduate Certificate Option are bound by all the policies and regulations for students in the MSN degree. program, including those for admission, progression, graduation, and clinical practice.
The following Postgraduate Nurse Practitioner Certificate programs are offered: Postgraduate Certificate for Family Nurse Practitioner; Postgraduate Certificate for Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner; Postgraduate Certificate for Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner; and Postgraduate Certificate for Primary and Acute Care (Dual) Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.