MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner

Are you interested in becoming a family nurse practitioner, working to develop your skills in taking patient history, physical examination, diagnostic testing, diagnosis, and treatment?

Employment of advanced practice nurses, including nurse practitioners, is projected to grow 45 percent from 2019 to 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).¹ These opportunities for NPs are expected to help bridge the gap of the primary care shortage facing America by offering high-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered health care.²

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CTU’s Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) program is designed to help you advance your skills in this fast-paced field.

The program integrates a foundation of evidence-based practice, population health, policy, informatics and nursing theory with concentration courses in pathophysiology, pharmacology, and assessment. Students will receive hands-on instruction during weekend labs in Colorado at the start and end of the program.

The MSN-FNP prepares nurses for advanced licensure and to sit for the national certification exam. Certification exam applicants may be denied exam eligibility based on a past criminal record.

Highlights of the CTU’s MSN-FNP program:

Can be completed in as little as 24 months
Tuition starting at $36,720
Complete your 630 direct-care clinical hours in your community (if available)
Aligned to nursing industry standards and competencies
Programmatically Accredited³

Ranked Among the Best Online Nursing Programs

CTU’s online Master of Science in Nursing degree programs are ranked among the Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs by U.S. News & World Report for the fifth consecutive year.*

* CTU programs are ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Online Programs.

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm (visited February 08, 2021). This data represents national figures and is not based on school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.
² https://www.aanp.org/all-about-nps/what-is-an-np#why-nps-are-important
³ The Master of Science in Nursing degree program at Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Relevant Institutional/Programmatic Accreditation
CTU is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission www.hlcommission.org
The Master of Science in Nursing degree program at Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org)

Nursing Program FAQs

What can I expect as a nursing student?

At CTU, the College of Nursing & Health Studies recognizes the varying degrees of nursing knowledge our licensed practicing nurses possess when returning to school. As a CTU nursing student, you can expect to:

Skip the content you know to focus on new knowledge development using CTU’s intellipath^® adaptive learning technology, like the computerized adaptive testing nurses use to enter the profession.
Experience faculty-led nursing courses infused with intellipath^® assignments, writing assignments, discussion boards, virtual simulation, clinical experiences and journaling, among others.
Bypass group project assignments due to interdisciplinary collaboration in clinical courses.
Complete clinical experiences along with additional traditional assignments.

Where do the clinical/practicum experiences take place?

Nursing students receive support from the Clinical Coordinator to identify practicum sites within their community. NRSG660: FNPI takes place at a clinical site that serves the adult, geriatrics and women populations. NRSG661: FNPII takes place at a practicum site that serves the pediatric population. NRSG662: FNPIII takes place at a practicum site that serves patients across the lifespan.

Where can I find information about the practicum requirements?

Information about the practicum can be found in the Nursing Learning Center where the Family Nurse Practitioner Handbook (MSN & PGC) is located. The Clinical Coordinator also partners with nursing students to assist with practicum placements.

To speak with an advisor, request information here.

How much time will the clinical/practicum experiences take in my schedule?

The FNP nursing student is required to complete 630 direct-care clinical hours. Since the FNP nursing student is preparing to care for patients from birth to death, it is essential they have enough time to learn how to care for the varied populations.

NRSG660: FNPI Adult, Geriatrics, and Women’s Health requires 240 total clinical hours.

NRSG661: FNPII Pediatrics requires 180 total clinical hours.

NRSG662: FNPIII Care across the Lifespan requires 210 total clinical hours.

Can I complete the clinical/practicum in my current workplace?

Nursing students must disclose if they are requesting to do their practicum with their employer.

Nursing students may not complete practicum hours in their current department or with in-line supervisors.

Can I work full time and go to school?

The structure of the FNP nursing program is designed to allow the working nurse to advance in his/her MSN degree while continuing to work within the community With an asynchronous (any time of day) classroom format, this allows nursing students to formulate a study schedule that can be incorporated into their professional life. Instructors also provide synchronous chats to support varied adult learning needs. The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration requires rigorous study and strong time management skills with dedicated daily reading and study time.

Are campus visits required?

FNP nursing students are required to visit our Colorado campus in Denver, Colorado for two intensives or labs. The first intensive weekend is required before the practicum courses to ensure students are prepared for safe patient interactions. Hands-on instruction is also provided during the intensive. The second intensive weekend is required before completion of the FNP program to help ensure students are prepared to act as independent practitioners before sitting for certification exams.

What resources does the CTU MSN-FNP concentration provide students to help prepare for the certification exam?

The College of Nursing has resources built into the program that assist students in preparing for the Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam. The 3P exam which students take in NRSG653 Advanced Physical Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner Lab, is used to assess students’ synthesis of learning from the advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology and advanced physical assessment courses. CTU also provides APEA (Advanced Practice Education Associates) resources such as MyQBank with hundreds of review questions, a pre and post-predictor exam, along with a certification review course during the final practicum. Students also receive access to the UpToDate database to retrieve the latest clinical evidence to support their practice.

CLASSES START

April 04, 2023
May 09, 2023
June 13, 2023

TOTAL CREDITS

PROGRAM AVAILABILITY

Online

Program Details

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Degree Requirements

Courses - Core

Credits

Course Title	Course Description	Credit Hours
NRSG612 This course provides an overview of the development and relationship of nursing theory, research, and practice. Students will explore the process by which theory and research is critically appraised and translated into evidence-based practice in the development of clinical outcomes. An appreciation for diverse research methods and research appraisal is integrated into the course. Course assignments focus on evidence-based practice applications. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Integrating Theory and Research for Evidence-Based Practice	4
NRSG615 This course is designed to establish the foundational knowledge for understanding and practicing nursing informatics in healthcare settings. This course will also examine other technologies to deliver and enhance care. Consideration is given to the use of information technology to support decisions that promote safety and quality in patient-centered care, and concerns about protecting information and system integrity are addressed. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Healthcare Informatics and Technologies	4
NRSG617 This course provides a critical analysis of socioeconomic, political, legal, ethical, and global factors that affect nursing and healthcare delivery. Issues of cost, quality, and access are considered with emphasis on healthcare reform, including financing and payment systems, delivery models, health information management, and the integration of healthcare services to affect safety and quality. The means of influencing policy making will be discussed. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Policy and Politics in Nursing and Healthcare	4
NRSG625 This course is based on a multifaceted definition of community. The promotion of healthy societies worldwide, through health improvement and disease management/prevention activities, is explored through an interprofessional approach. Additionally, the impact of genomics and genetics relative to health promotion/disease mitigation is studied. The effects of social, political, and environmental conditions are examined in relation to healthcare access, quality of care, patient values and preferences, and cultural relevance. The contributions of advanced nursing providers to improving patient and population health outcomes are analyzed. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Promoting and Preserving Health in a Diverse Society	4
	Total Credit Hours:	16

Courses - Concentration

Credits

Course Title	Course Description	Credit Hours
NRSG650 This course builds upon prior undergraduate pathophysiology competencies to assist the student in preparation for the advanced practice registered nurse role. This course will examine normal physiology, pathology, clinical manifestations, and disease states as it relates to the care of individuals across the lifespan.Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Advanced Pathophysiology for the Nurse Practitioner	4
NRSG651 This course builds upon prior undergraduate pharmacology competencies to assist the student in preparation for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse role. The course will examine pharmacotherapetics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics related to the care of individuals across the lifespan. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Advanced Pharmacology for the Nurse Practitioner	6
NRSG652 This course builds upon prior undergraduate physical assessment competencies to assist the student in preparation for the advanced practice registered nurse role. This course will provide the student an opportunity to develop advanced physical assessment skills for patients across the lifespan. This course has a 2 credit lab component. Students must successfully complete both the lab component, NRSG653 Advanced Physical Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner Lab, and didactic component, NRSG652 Advanced Physical Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner, to pass this course. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Advanced Physical Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner	4
NRSG653 This course provides students with an opportunity to apply skills and competency instruction delivered during NRSG652 Advanced Physical Assessment in a lab setting. This course requires the student to attend a face-to-face clinical competency verification with College of Nursing faculty. This course is taken in conjunction with NRSG652 Advanced Physical Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner. Failure to successfully complete this lab course will result in a failing grade in both NRSG652 Advanced Physical Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner and NRSG653 Advanced Physical Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner Lab. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Advanced Physical Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner Lab	2
NRSG654 This course will evaluate the advanced practice roles in nursing. Students explore concepts related to the Nurse Practitioner role, scope of practice and regulatory requirements. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	Role of the Nurse Practitioner	3
NRSG655 This course allows students the opportunity to synthesize knowledge from advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology and physical assessment into the development of holistic patient-centered plans of care for adult, geriatric and frail elderly patients. Students will be required to utilize evidence-based practice in the treatment and evaluation of healthcare outcomes of the patient across the adult life continuum. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	FNPI Advanced Nursing Practice: Care of the adult, geriatric and frail elderly	6
NRSG656 This course allows students the opportunity to synthesize knowledge from advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology and physical assessment into the development of holistic patient-centered plans of care for women across the lifespan. Students will be required to utilize evidence-based practice in the assessment, treatment and evaluation of healthcare outcomes of women across the life continuum. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	FNPII Advanced Nursing Practice: Women’s Health	2
NRSG657 This course allows students the opportunity to synthesize knowledge from advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology and physical assessment into the development of holistic pediatric patient-centered plan of care. Students will be required to utilize evidence-based practice in the assessment, treatment and evaluation of healthcare outcomes of the pediatric patient. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	FNPIII Advanced Nursing Practice: Pediatrics	2
NRSG660 This course allows the Family Nurse Practitioner student the opportunity to apply newly learned theory from advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology and physical assessment into the development of holistic patient-centered care for adult, women, geriatric and frail elderly patients. Students will be required to demonstrate the use of evidence-based practice in the treatment and evaluation of healthcare outcomes of the patient across the adult life continuum, including pregnancy. This course is taken as a series of NRSG660A (3 credits), NRSG660B (3 credits), NRSG660C (2 credits), which must be completed sequentially in separate sessions. This series requires completion of 240 supervised direct care practicum hours (80 of which are in women’s health) with the adult population. The entire series must be completed in order for a grade to be granted. The preceptor must be approved by the College of Nursing prior to enrollment in this course. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	FNPI Practicum: Advanced nursing care of the adult, geriatric and women patients	8
NRSG661 This course allows the Family Nurse Practitioner student the opportunity to apply newly learned theory from advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology and physical assessment into the development of holistic pediatric patient-centered care. Students will be required to demonstrate evidence-based practice in the assessment, treatment and evaluation of healthcare outcomes of the pediatric patient. This course is taken as a series of NRSG661A (3 credits) and NRSG661B (3 credits), which must be completed sequentially in separate sessions. This course requires completion of 180 supervised direct care practicum hours with a pediatric population. The entire series must be completed in order for a grade to be granted. The preceptor must be approved by the College of Nursing prior to enrollment in this course. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	FNPII Practicum: Advanced nursing care of the pediatric patient	6
NRSG662 This course allows the Family Nurse Practitioner student to integrate core nursing concepts such as evidence-based practice, population health, policy, informatics, nursing theory, and Family Nurse Practitioner competencies in preparation for an independent advanced practice registered nurse role. This course is taken as a series of NRSG662A (3 credits) and NRSG662B (2 credits) and NRSG662C (2 credits), which must be completed sequentially in separate sessions. This course requires completion of 210 supervised direct care practicum hours with patients across the lifespan. The entire series must be completed in order for a grade to be granted. The preceptor must be approved by the College of Nursing prior to enrollment in this course. This course has a 2 credit lab component and NRSG662B and NRSG662C are taken in conjunction with NRSG663A (1 credit) and NRSG663B (1 credit), respectively. Students must successfully complete both NRSG662 FNPIII Practicum: Advanced nursing care across the lifespan and NRSG663 FNPIII Advanced nursing care across the lifespan, Lab to pass this course. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	FNPIII Practicum: Advanced nursing care across the lifespan	7
NRSG663 This course provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate skills and competencies delivered throughout the program of study. This course requires the student to attend a face-to-face Family Nurse Practitioner competency verification with College of Nursing faculty. This course is taken sequentially as NRSG663A (1 credit) and NRSG663B (1 credit), in separate sessions in conjunction with NRSG662B and NRSG662C, FNPIII Practicum: Advanced nursing care across the lifespan, respectively. Failure to successfully complete this lab course will result in a failing grade in both NRSG662 FNPIII Practicum: Advanced nursing care across the lifespan and NRSG663 FNPIII Advanced nursing care across the lifespan, Lab. Students must earn a grade of B- (80%) or higher in all core and concentration courses to pass the course in the program.	FNPIII Advanced nursing care across the lifespan, Lab	2
	Total Credit Hours:	52

Total Credit Hours: 68

Compare Related Areas of Study
- MSN in Nursing Administration
- MSN in Nursing Education
Compare up to three additional degrees
Ways to Save
Cost of this degree may be reduced based on one or more of the following:
- Active duty military status (see the tuition tab for details)
- Number of credits transferred and accepted from other institutions
- Eligibility for a Corporate Alliances Grant (check with your CTU Admissions Advisor)
- Tuition Reimbursement (talk to your HR Manager)
- Grants or scholarships at CTU
Outcomes
MSN Program Outcomes
1. Synthesize knowledge from nursing and a variety of sciences in diverse settings for the purpose of improving nursing care.
2. Apply organizational and systems leadership concepts to promote quality patient care.
3. Evaluate performance improvement processes designed for the purpose of providing quality patient care.
4. Apply research outcomes and evidence-based practice to recommendations for improved patient care.
5. Synthesize health policy processes established for the advocacy of quality healthcare.
6. Integrate interprofessional collaboration to the management of patient and population health outcomes.
7. Apply organizational, client-centered, and culturally appropriate concepts to clinical prevention and population care to identified populations.
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner concentration outcomes:
1. Integrate technology in patient care management to improve health outcomes.
2. Operate as an independent practitioner in the management of healthcare for patients across the lifespan.
3. Formulate ethical plans of care which incorporate knowledge from current research, clinical guidelines, practice and assessment to improve health outcomes.
4. Employ complex and advanced leadership skills in guiding change to improve health outcomes.
Admission Requirements
- Admission to this program requires an unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the United States. All students must maintain this licensure throughout the program of study.
- Students must have graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a regionally accredited institution. A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 for the last 90 quarter (60 semester) hours of study undertaken for full acceptance into the program.
- Prior to starting the nursing program all applicants must submit an unofficial or official copy of a college transcript from their BSN degree for review. Applicants to the Master of Science in Nursing degree program who meet all general admission requirements, but who have a CGPA for the BSN degree between 2.75 to 2.99 for the last 90 quarter (60 semester) hours of study, may be granted provisional admission. Students must successfully complete their first two MSN courses with a minimum of 3.0 GPA to be granted full admission to the nursing program or be administratively withdrawn.
- Students in the MSN-FNP concentration must successfully complete NRSG612 first before advancing to other courses in the MSN program. No other program courses may be taken prior to NRSG612.
- Students must have a minimum of one year of recent direct care nursing experience prior to admission to the program.
- Provide a current résumé.
At this time, Colorado Technical University cannot accept inquiries for the Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner program from residents of the states of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming.
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Learn more below

Download the Family Nurse Practitioner Handbook (MSN & PGC)

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Download the MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner Lab
Schedule

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MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner

Nursing Program FAQs

CLASSES START

TOTAL CREDITS

PROGRAM AVAILABILITY

Program Details

Estimate Tuition and Grad Date

Degree Requirements

Courses - Core

Courses - Concentration

Compare Related Areas of Study

Ways to Save

Outcomes

MSN Program Outcomes

MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner concentration outcomes:

Admission Requirements

Next Steps

Where do I go from here?

Classes start April 4, 2023 *

Request Information

Download the Family Nurse Practitioner Handbook (MSN & PGC)

Download the MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner Lab Schedule

Download the MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner Lab
Schedule