Sacred Heart University offers an online MSN program with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner for registered nurses who are interested in working with families in primary care settings. Family nurse practitioners provide medical care to children, adolescents, and adults of all ages, with a particular focus on health promotion, disease prevention and medical treatment within the context of the family unit. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and prepares students to take the Family Nurse Practitioner certification examinations administered by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
The online FNP program is comprised of 42 course credits and requires the completion of 550 clinical practicum hours. Students have the option of pursuing the program either full-time or part-time. The full-time option takes 2 years to complete, while the part-time program varies in length depending on how many courses a student takes per semester (students have up to six years to complete the program). Courses are delivered mainly through asynchronous instruction with lectures and other course materials accessible to students 24-7. Students interact with instructors and peers through online discussion forums and group projects.
Coursework for Sacred Heart University’s Online FNP Program
As part of the curriculum, students take classes in Advanced Primary Care of Families in Complex Systems, Comprehensive Primary Care of the Adult, Advanced Pathophysiology for the Nurse Practitioner, Principles of Health Care Research for Contemporary Nursing Practice, Health Care Policy & Ethics for Contemporary Nursing Practice, and Advanced Health Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner. Students should expect to spend at least 12-15 hours a week for each three-credit course in which they are enrolled.
Clinical Practicums and Campus Visits
To reinforce the clinical concepts they learn in their classes, students must complete 550 hours of clinical practicum at a local medical facility. These practicum hours are divided into several clinical rotations that students fulfill across several terms. Sacred Heart University’s online FNP program requires students to attend one on-campus orientation session at the beginning of the program, and two on-site competency evaluations.
Admission Requirements for the Online FNP Program
Applicants to this program must hold an active and unrestricted registered nurse license in their state of residence. The online FNP program accepts RNs with either a BSN or an ADN/Diploma in nursing who have also earned a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. The program accepts new students in the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. The GRE is not required for admission.
Sacred Heart University’s Online FNP program currently accepts students from the following states: Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington State, Washington, DC, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Overview: Sacred Heart University: College of Nursing
Programs Offered: FNP
Degree Types: MSN (BSN or Non-Nursing Bachelors accepted)
Accreditation: CCNE
Instruction Methods: Classes mainly use asynchronous instruction. Students interact with classmates and instructors through discussion forums and some group work.
Phone Number: (877) 791-7181
Social Media: Facebook and Twitter
Sacred Heart University Online FNP Program
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization
Program Overview
Program Specialty: Family Nurse Practitioner
Degree Type: MSN (BSN or Non-Nursing Bachelors accepted)
Program Structure: Online with on-campus visits required (one orientation and two evaluation visits) with clinical hours requirements
Website: onlineprograms.sacredheart.edu
Program Requirements
Clinical Hours Requirements: 550 clinical hours required
Number of Credits Required: 42 credits needed to graduate
Number of Campus Visits Required: 3 (throughout entire program)
Program Options
Curriculum Options: Full-time and Part-time
Program Length: Full-time program can be completed in approximately 2 years; Part-time program length depends on how many classes a student takes per semester (maximum of 6 years to complete the program)
Program Start Date: Fall, Spring and Summer start dates
Number of Terms: Full-Time: 12 sessions (school has 6 sessions per year); Part-Time: depends on how long students take to complete the program
Requirements and Tuition
Application Requirements: BSN or ADN/Diploma plus Bachelor’s degree required; current RN license
GPA: Minimum GPA 3.0
Standardized Testing: No
Tuition: ~$28,140 + fees
Cost Per Credit Hour: $670 per credit hour
Eligibility Restrictions: Program does not currently accept students from Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Wisconsin
