Description
The Master of Science program in nursing, prepares practicing registered nurses for advanced practice roles as family nurse practitioners (FNP) who are able to meet the increasingly complex health needs of diverse populations within the Rochester area and beyond. This two-year, full-time program has approximately 42 post bachelor’s credits and 600 direct care patient hours included in the approximately 750 total post-bachelor’s clinical hours. These hours exceed the minimum recommended hours from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) due to the scope of practice of an FNP. It is anticipated that the program will be accredited by the AACN.
Graduates of the FNP program are eligible to take the national FNP certification exam (ANCC or AANP) and earn New York State Certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Applicants who are Nurse Practitioner and have earned a master's degree in nursing, from a program that did not prepare them as a Family Nurse Practitioner may wish to apply for admission for Certificate of Advanced Standing Program.
Admission to the Masters of Science FNP Nursing Program
Admission requirements for the graduate program have been developed after benchmarking with other graduate nursing programs and considering both the academic requirements in the program as well as the professional demands in the role. All graduate students will be required to apply to the College, providing transcripts from all previous coursework. A bachelor's degree from an accredited nursing program or an international equivalent is required. Transcripts from foreign institutions must be evaluated for transfer equivalency credits by an accredited evaluation service, such as the World Education Services (WES) https://www.wes.org. An overall GPA of 3.00 in all previous graduate/undergraduate work is required. Applicants must have an unencumbered New York state license and current registration as a registered professional nurse. Recent work experience as a registered nurse is preferred and required before graduation. Curriculum Vitae and supporting documents are required. Two letters of recommendation addressing both academic and professional ability must be submitted for consideration. A written personal statement about professional goals is required. All applicants must submit official scores from the GRE general test taken within the last five years. An interview may be required of applicants to assess professional demeanor, motivation and capacity for graduate education. All health/technical standards must be met (see below which will appear in all advertising materials).
Health Standards
All graduate nursing students are required to provide an annual health update and PPD.
Required Courses:
- NUR 545 Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nursing
- NUR 510 Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nursing
- NUR 566 Health Policy & Advocacy
- NUR 518 Using Information Systems and Analytical Methods
- NUR 521 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing
- NUR 699 Advanced Diagnostics and Procedures
- NUR 520 Evaluating Research
- NUR 500 FNP Clinical Practicum I*
- NUR 550 FNP Clinical Practicum II*
- NUR 600 FNP Clinical Practicum III*
- NUR 771 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Diverse Populations
- NUR 655 Ethical and Legal Issues for Advanced Practice Nursing
- NUR 651 Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Practice Nursing and Leadership
* Each FNP Clinical Practicum course includes 200 in person clinical hours at an appropriate primary care site.
Student Learning Outcomes
The Student Learning Outcomes associated with the graduate program are consistent with the AACN/NONPF Masters level competencies and are as follows:
- Demonstrates expertise in the evaluation and implementation of clinical practice guidelines and specialized knowledge as it applies to advance practice nursing.
- Analyzes current data, information, and knowledge from humanities and sciences that contribute to the science of advanced practice nursing to address access to, cost of, quality, and safety of care.
- Applies research outcomes in the practice arena to improve patient care.
- Collaborates with appropriate stakeholders to promote quality, safety, and improved outcomes of individuals and populations within an organization.
- Employs the use of information systems to capture data to deliver and enhance coordinated patient care.
- Demonstrates understanding of the role of the advanced practice nurse to influence policy at the system level to enhance the health of the public.
- Applies and evaluates the impact of ethical principles in complex decision-making processes of caring for patients in the advanced practice role.
- Incorporates inclusion of concepts of psychosocial dimensions, cultural diversity, and global health into advanced practice nursing.
- Develops the skills of an independent, accountable prescriber and full scope of the masters prepared advanced practice nurse.