MSN, Family Nursing Practitioner

Nursing, Master of Science Degree

Family Nursing Practitioner (FNP) Program

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Graduate Nursing Program is designed for students who have already earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from an accredited program and who wish to continue their education in order to earn their Master of Science in Nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse to provide comprehensive family-focused healthcare with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention.

The application process for this program is as follows: Students should apply to the Graduate School for admission for the Summer semester, designating Nursing as their preferred major. Students should simultaneously apply for the FNP program itself via the "Nursing Application" section, being mindful of the application period. Please note that while the deadlines for Graduate School applications and documentation are later than those of the graduate program, students intending to begin the FNP program in the Fall should submit their application to and documentation for the Graduate School by NO LATER THAN February 28/29. While we will honor the Graduate School's deadlines, submission prior to this deadline will ensure that students receive ample time to schedule their required interviews with our program director(s) before their Summer courses begin. Beginning in April, students who have completed both application processes detailed previously will be eligible to arrange an interview with the Graduate Nursing Programs Director and the Family Nurse Practitioner Program Director, during which their application will be reviewed and their admission status determined.

In whole, the MSN-FNP track offers both full-time and part-time plans of study. The full-time track is designed to be completed in five (5) consecutive semesters (comprising 44 credit hours), while the part-time track is designed to be completed in six (6) to eight (8) consecutive semesters, depending on the student's semester of entry and plan of study. This program culminates with the student earning a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization as a Family Nurse Practitioner, which grants students the eligibility to take either the American Association of Nursing Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Corporation (ANCC) National Certification Examination.

Admission Criteria

1. FIRST, submit an application to Albany State University's Graduate School and be admitted in good standing.
   1. To enter the program leading to the Master of Science in Nursing Degree, the student must meet the requirements established for all graduate degree programs at Albany State University, as established by its Graduate School.
2. AFTER being accepted as a graduate student at Albany State University, submit the completed program application and application fee by the application deadline.
3. Possess a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program.
   1. Students applying to the Family Nursing Practitioner (FNP) graduate program must also possess 1 year of clinical experience within a healthcare setting, preferably specialized in an adult medical-surgical area.
4. Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or 2.0 (on a 3.0 scale).
5. Complete the following undergraduate courses: Assessment in Health Care/Health Assessment; Pathophysiology/Pathophysiology for RN's; Research/Research in Nursing; and Introduction to Statistics.
6. Have documentation of current Professional Nursing Licensure in their state of practice prior to entering the functional track.
   1. Students intending to practice or satisfy clinical requirements within the state of Georgia must also provide documentation of current Professional Nursing Licensure in Georgia.
7. Arrange for a personal interview with the Graduate Nursing Programs Director.
8. Submit three (3) references regarding professional accomplishments and academic potential (if the references submitted to the Graduate School are not professional references).
9. Following admission to the nursing program, students must submit the following documentation prior to the course’s established pre-clinical deadline: certificate of immunization, current basic life support (BLS) for healthcare providers, malpractice insurance, proof of active health insurance (or enrollment into the student health insurance plan), a complete criminal background check, a drug test, and an annual health physical at the expense of the student. The criminal background check will be completed utilizing PreCheck.com.
   1. Certificate of Immunization: Must be on file in Student Health Services indicating that all immunizations are current based on his/her age. Immunizations include Hepatitis B (or waiver), MMR, tetanus, varicella, tuberculosis, and any other immunization(s) deemed necessary by the University and/or the clinical site.
   2. BLS Card: A current CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) basic life support (BLS) for healthcare providers card . All students must be certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) in child and adult BLS for health care providers. This certification must be maintained throughout the program (renewed every 2 years). An outdated CPR certification will prohibit the student from attending clinical practice experiences.
   3. Students are subjected to compulsory background checks per clinical agency requirements and may also be required to submit to random tests for illegal use of controlled substance as a provided by the law or regulations of the contracting agency. If the site refuses to allow a student to attend clinical experiences, the nursing program is not obligated to find another clinical site. The student may not be able to complete the nursing program at ASU. Therefore, it is important to conduct personal record checks prior to admission to the nursing program.
10. A student who has failed (C, D, F, or WF) two (2) graduate nursing courses—whether at ASU or another graduate-level program—will be ineligible for admission (or continuation) in the nursing program at ASU. Students who have been dismissed for two (2) nursing failures or for cause may request readmission after two (2) years of receiving notice of dismissal. For readmission policies, please refer to the appropriate section in the Graduate Nursing Student Handbook.

Family Nursing Practitioner (44 Hours)

Comprehensive Examination Policy

Degree Requirements

To earn the Master of Science in Nursing degree, a student must meet the criteria identified below:

1. Earn a 3.00 grade point average calculated on all graduate work attempted, including transfer credit approved in advance of enrollment.
2. Complete a minimum of a 35 semester hours (Nurse Educator program), 44 hours (Family Nurse Practitioner program), or 33 hours (Nursing Informatics) of prescribed curriculum with an overall grade point average of 3.00 or better.
3. Earn a 3.0 grade point average calculated on all graduate work attempted, including transfer credit approved in advance of enrollment in the program.
4. Earn a minimum of 26 semester hours (Nurse Educator program), 35 (Family Nurse Practitioner program),  24 (Nursing Informatics) in residence.
5. Complete all course work within 6 years of the date of admission or beginning of the first clinical nursing course, whichever is later.
6. Pass all departmental comprehensive examinations and complete a thesis or major research project.

Family Nurse Practitioner, Program Maps

Full-Time Plan of Study, Fall Entry

Part-Time Plan of Study, Fall Entry

Part-Time Plan of Study, Spring Entry

Part-Time Plan of Study, Summer Entry

Post-Master Certification, Spring Entry