Program Requirements
Learning Outcomes
The Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track prepares nurses to fulfill the role of a competent healthcare provider responsible for managing the care of families across the life span in the primary care setting. The focus of the FNP track is to provide the knowledge and clinical skills necessary for health promotion, disease prevention, assessment, and management of common acute and chronic illnesses.
Full-time and part-time options are available.
Graduates of the MSN program will be able to:
- Use best evidence to make patient-centered care decisions
- Employ information technology to improve population health
- Apply reflective practice to grow professionally
- Promote quality and safety within a health system
Program Course Requirements
Full-Time Curriculum Plan
The FNP full-time curriculum plan consists of four consecutive semesters of study in which the student enters in the fall semester.
Semester One – Fall
- NUR 602 Advanced Health Assessment, 3 hours
- NUR 603 Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, 3 hours
- NUR 607 Advanced Pharmacology, 3 hours
- NUR 631 Care of Adults in the Primary Care Setting I, 4 hours
- NUR 649 Role and Scope of the APRN, 1 hour
Total semester credit hours: 14
Semester Two – Spring
- NUR 617 Evidence-based Practice and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 hours
- NUR 622 Primary Care Practicum I, 4 hours/240 clinical hours
- NUR 639 Population Health & Policy for the APRN, 2 hours
- NUR 641 Care of Children/Adolescents in the Primary Care Setting, 3 hours
- NUR 653 Women’s Health, 2 hours
Total semester credit hours: 14
Semester Three – Summer Semester
- NUR 629 Primary Care Practicum II, 4 hours/240 clinical hours
- NUR 634 Care of Adults in the Primary Care Setting II, 3 hours
- NUR 635 Healthcare Information, Quality, and Safety, 2 hours
- NUR 675 Statistics for the Behavioral and Clinical Sciences, 3 hours
Total semester credit hours: 12
Semester Four – Fall
- NUR 628 Synthesis of Advanced Nursing Practice, 1 hour
- NUR 636 Primary Care Practicum III, 5 hours/300 clinical hours
- NUR 650 Interprofessional Leadership & Practice Excellence for the APRN, 2 hours
Total semester credit hours: 8
Total course hours: 48
Total clinical practice hours: 780
This program of study includes a minimum of 780 clinical practice hours; for practicum courses, the ratio of credit hours to clinical practice is 1:4. A student completing this track will be prepared to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner certification examination offered by both the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).
Part-Time Curriculum Plan
A part-time plan is illustrated with a fall semester start date and completed over seven semesters. A student could be admitted in another semester, resulting in adjustments to this curriculum plan.
Year One
Semester One – Fall
- NUR 602 Advanced Health Assessment, 3 hours
- NUR 603 Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, 3 hours
- NUR 649 Role and Scope of the APRN, 1 hour
Total semester credit hours: 7
Semester Two – Spring
- NUR 617 Evidence-based Practice and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 hours
- NUR 639 Population Health & Policy for the APRN, 2 hours
Total semester credit hours: 5
Semester Three – Summer
- NUR 635 Healthcare Information, Quality, and Safety, 2 hours
- NUR 675 Statistics for the Behavioral and Clinical Sciences, 3 hours
Total semester credit hours: 5
Year Two
Semester Four – Fall
- NUR 607 Advanced Pharmacology, 3 hours
- NUR 631 Care of Adults in the Primary Care Setting, 4 hours
Total semester credit hours: 7
Semester Five – Spring
- NUR 622 Primary Care Practicum, 4 hours/240 clinical hours
- NUR 641 Care of Children/Adolescents in the Primary Care Setting, 3 hours
- NUR 653 Women’s Health, 2 hours
Total semester credit hours: 9
Semester Six – Summer
- NUR 629 Primary Care Practicum II, 4 hours/240 clinical hours
- NUR 634 Care of Adults in the Primary Care Setting II, 3 hours
Total semester credit hours: 7
Year Three
Semester Seven – Fall
- NUR 628 Synthesis of Advanced Nursing Practice, 1 hour
- NUR 636 Primary Care Practicum III, 5 hours/300 clinical hours
- NUR 650 Interprofessional Leadership & Practice Excellence for the APRN, 2 hours
Total semester credit hours: 8
Total course hours: 48
Total clinical practice hours: 780
This program of study includes a minimum of 780 clinical practice hours; for practicum courses, the ratio of credit hours to clinical practice is 1:4. A student completing this track will be prepared to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner certification examination offered by both the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).
Learn more about our MSN FNP track
Ready to take the next step?
Apply to Mercer’s MSN program today, or contact the Office of Admissions at 678.547.6700 or nursingadmissions@mercer.edu for more information.