MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner Program
Overview | Admission Requirements | MSN/FNP Applicants | Curriculum Plan Overview
Course Description | Course Sequencing | Course Prerequisites | Post-Master's Certification
Millersville University offers a family nurse practitioner program leading to a Master of Science in Nursing and qualifies the graduate to apply for state and national certification by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The program is designed for the part-time student. All class sessions are offered during week-day evenings in three-hour blocks of time. Primary care core courses require 12 hours per week in clinical practice.
Graduates of the program are prepared to function as Family Nurse Practitioners in a variety of settings, including home care, clinics, and primary care settings that focus on family health. A Master of Science in Nursing degree will be awarded upon completion of the program.
Applicants for MSN degrees who have previously completed appropriate graduate courses may transfer a maximum of 12 credits.
For additional information on courses, please see our Graduate Catalog (PDF).
Admission Requirements:
Applicants for the Master of Science in Nursing program are referred to the Millersville University Graduate Catalog for general criteria and guidelines to the university.
Specific criteria required by the Nursing Department include:
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing (NLNAC or CCNE);
- Undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. When GPA is below this, provisional acceptance may be considered if the candidate demonstrates graduate study potential by other means;
- Satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT);
- Satisfactory completion of an undergraduate statistics course (equivalent to Math 130) and a research course in nursing;
- Satisfactory completion of an undergraduate health assessment course; if the course is more than 5 years old the student may be required to complete a refresher course;
- Computer literacy and access to a computer and Internet service;
- Three current academic and/or professional references;
- Licensure as a registered nurse in Pennsylvania or in the state where clinical practice or internship is to be arranged;
- Minimum of one year of clinical experience in nursing;
- Current resume;
- Successful completion of a personal interview with the Nursing Admissions Committee.
Please Note: Applications that do not include the above data and information may be considered incomplete which may affect the status of the application.
MSN/FNP Applicants
Please provide the additional documents listed below with your completed application:
- Current resume or C.V.: Please include all clinical experience to date;
- State where Professional Licensure is currently held: Please include RN number as well as expiration date. May send a copy of your license;
Please verify completion of the following courses including Year, Institution, and Name of Course.
- Undergraduate or graduate Statistics course.
- Undergraduate or graduate Research course in Nursing.
- Undergraduate or graduate Physical Assessment course.
Curriculum Plan Overview
Course Number |
Course Title |
Student Credits |
Theory Hours |
Total Theory Hours |
Clinical Hours Per Week |
Total Clinical Hours |
N 501 |
Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Practice |
3 |
3 |
45 |
0 |
0 |
N 502 |
Research Methodology |
3 |
3 |
45 |
0 |
0 |
N 503 |
Issues and Roles in Advanced Nursing Practice |
3 |
3 |
45 |
0 |
0 |
N 511 |
Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice |
3 |
3 |
45 |
0 |
0 |
N 512 |
Health Assessment & Diagnostic Evaluation for Advanced Practice |
3 |
2 |
30 |
3 |
42 |
N 513 |
Pharmacology & Alternative Therapeutics in Nursing Practice |
3 |
3 |
45 |
0 |
0 |
N 514 |
Family Health Nursing |
2 |
2 |
30 |
0 |
0 |
N 521 |
Clinical Management of the Young Family |
7 |
3 |
45 |
12 |
168 |
N 522 |
Clinical Management of the Mature and Aging Families |
7 |
3 |
45 |
12 |
168 |
N 523 |
Family Nurse Practitioner Internship |
5 |
1 |
15 |
12 |
168 |
N 524 |
Scholarly Project |
3 |
3 |
45 |
0 |
0 |
Total |
42 |
435 |
546 |
Course Descriptions
Clinical Management of the Young Family
NURS 521: 7 Credits (3 theory hours; 12 clinical hours/week)
This course provides the family nurse practitioner student with the necessary knowledge and clinical experience to assist young families with health promotion and chronic and acute health problems. The biophysical, cognitive, and psychosocial development of members of the young family is explored. A focus on women's health issues is incorporated in the course content. The role of the family nurse practitioner in caring for the young family is identified.
Prereq: N501, N503, N511, N512, N513; Prereq/Coreq: N514
Clinical Management of the Mature and Aging Families
NURS 522: 7 Credits (3 theory hours; 12 clinical hours/week)
This course provides the family nurse practitioner student with the necessary knowledge and clinical experience to assist mature and aging families with health promotion and chronic and acute health problems. The biophysical, cognitive, and psychosocial development of members of the mature and aging families is explored. A focus on women's health issues is incorporated in the course content. The role of the family nurse practitioner in caring for the mature and aging families is identified.
Prereq: N501, N503, N511, N 512, N513; Prereq/Coreq: N 514
Family Nurse Practitioner Internship
NURS 523: 5 Credits (1 theory hour; 12 clinical hours/week)
This course provides an opportunity to integrate theory and practice through an intensive internship experience. Focus is on the domains and competencies of the nurse practitioner as direct provider of primary health care. Biweekly seminars will be conducted to discuss current topics. The student will be guided in the practicum by nurse practitioner and physician preceptors in a variety of settings.
Prereq: N521, N522
Course Sequencing
FALL |
SPRING |
SUMMER |
|
Year 1 |
N 501: Theories (3) N 503: Issues (3) |
N 502: Research (3) N 511: Patho. (3) |
N 514: Family (2) |
Year 2 |
N 512: Health Assess. (3) N 513: Pharmacology (3) |
N 521: Clinical (7) |
|
Year 3 |
N 522: Clinical (7) |
N 523: Internship (5) N 524: Scholarly (3) |
Course Prequisites
N521 Clinical Management of the Young Family
N501, 503,511,512,513 Preq/Coreq: 514
N522 Clinical Management of the Mature and Aging Families
N501, 503,511,512,513 Preq/Coreq: 514
N523 Family Nurse Practitioner Internship
N512, 522
Post-Master's Certificate Option
The Post-Master's Certificate Option is designed to provide individuals who already hold a Master of Science in Nursing degree with the core courses and clinical experiences necessary for eligibility for family nurse practitioner certification. Selected courses from a previous MSN program may meet requirements for the post-master's FNP program.
