Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) - MS

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A Plan of Study is available on the Master of Science in Nursing website.

Nursing Program Description

Grounded in an environment of scholarship, the mission of the WSU Department of Nursing is to educate knowledgeable caring, ethical, creative, and accountable nurse leaders who provide person- and relationship-centered care for individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in a diverse society. This mission is based on the beliefs that:

a caring, diverse and respectful community provides the best environment for students to learn how to care for themselves and others
optimal learning to care for self and others occurs in a caring, diverse and respectful community
faculty and students are accountable for maintaining and modeling professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct
recognizing and valuing human diversity is essential to person- and relationship-centered care
individuals have different ways of knowing and learning about the world
creativity and innovation contribute to continuous quality improvement and sustainability
an enriched learning environment is the responsibility of faculty, staff and students
effective nurse leaders engage in continuous professional development and lifelong learning

Graduates of the MS programs are prepared for a variety of advanced nursing roles (e.g. nurse educators, nurse leaders, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists). These graduates also have the foundation for continued graduate studies (i.e. DNP or PhD). Graduates of the DNP program are prepared for the highest level of clinical nursing practice.

Nursing science core courses, taken by all graduate students, build on students’ baccalaureate nursing knowledge to integrate scientific underpinnings for practice, understand nursing information management and decision making, and advocate for health promotion. Students develop evidence-based knowledge and skills to enhance the quality and safety of health care while demonstrating leadership and professionalism. Courses within the selected programs of Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, or Nursing Leadership provide specialized knowledge and practice opportunities in each advanced nursing role. A unique feature of this program is the targeted emphasis on the nurse’s use of advanced knowledge and skills of health promotion with individuals and families in diverse populations to address health care needs within complex environments.

Family Nurse Practitioner (56 S.H.)

Students who elect the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program are prepared to perform an expanded nursing role as primary health care providers. In addition to the nursing science core courses and the direct care core courses, content includes comprehensive assessment of the health status of adults, children and families; diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic health problems; provision of counseling and teaching in areas of health promotion and disease prevention; and collaboration with other health professionals. Clinical practicums are under the supervision of qualified nurse practitioners or other primary care provider preceptors and focus on primary health care in a variety of settings. Graduates with the M.S. award are prepared for eligibility for the American Nursing Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) exam or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner Certification Program’s (AANPCP) national board certification FNP exams.

In 2007, WSU was selected for the “Outstanding Faculty Practice Award” from the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF).

Nursing Science Core Courses (MS)

NURS 600 - Scientific and Ethical Foundations (4 S.H.)
STAT 601 - Statistical Methods for Health Care Research (3 S.H.)
NURS 604 - Health Policy and Quality Health Care Delivery (3 S.H.)
NURS 606 - Nursing Information Management & Decision Making (3 S.H.)
NURS 608 - Organizational and Systems Leadership (3 S.H.)
NURS 612 - Advanced Health Promotion for Families (3 S.H.)
NURS 613 - Advanced Health Promotion for Families Clinical (1 S.H.)
NURS 614 - Evidence-Based Practice (3 S.H.)
NURS 615 - Scholarly Inquiry Paper/Thesis (1-2 S.H.)

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

NURS 616 - Molecular, Genetic and Immune Mechanisms in Disease (3 S.H.)
NURS 617 - Advanced Clinical Pharmacology (3 S.H.)
NURS 618 - Advanced Pathophysiology (2 S.H.)
NURS 619 - Advanced Health Assessment (3 S.H.)
NURS 640 - Primary Care of Adult and Gerontology Clients (3 S.H.)
NURS 641 - Primary Health Care Clinical I (4 S.H. A/GNP) (5 S.H. FNP)
NURS 642 - Primary Care of Children I (2 S.H.)
NURS 643 - Primary Care Clinical II (5 S.H.)
NURS 644 - Primary Care of Adult and Gerontology Clients II (3 S.H.)
NURS 646 - Primary Care of Children II (2 S.H.)

Total Credits: 56 S.H.

Clinical hours: (1 clinical credit = 60 hours of contact time)

Family Nurse Practitioner: 720 Clinical Hours