Family Nurse Practitioner

Program Description

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program is designed to prepare nurses to deliver primary health care to families in a variety of settings. Students follow patients through the life cycle utilizing obstetric, pediatric, gynecologic, as well as adult and geriatric primary care diagnostic and management skills.

The scope of practice of the family nurse practitioner is based on a team approach. An interdependent member of the health team, the FNP provides primary care through the following means:

Documentation of individual and family health history
Physical assessment
Diagnostic, therapeutic, and educational care plans
Collaboration with physicians and other health care professionals
Referral to appropriate health care providers
Coordination of health care

Graduates are eligible to take the certifying examination offered by the American Nurses Association and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Graduates find positions in a variety of settings such as outpatient clinics, community health centers, private practice offices, health departments, homeless shelters, chronic care facilities, schools, day care programs, hospices, homes, and acute care settings.

The Program Director for the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty is Elizabeth Hall, DNP, MSN, CFNP/CGNP.

Clinical Sites

Clinical sites are available in the tri-state area and beyond, and can be permanent or rotating. Clinical sites vary in setting and you can be assigned location at hospitals, out-patient clinics, home care, or schools to name a few.

Admission

Please contact the Office of Admissions for details regarding admission and financial aid packages. Please note, applications for the Family NP Program can only be submitted online.

Admission criteria include:

Current New York State nursing license or eligibility
Minimum of one year experience in relevant area preferred
Satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
An undergraduate course in statistics
A physical assessment course
Three references attesting to applicant's academic ability and potential
Personal goal statement that is congruent with program goals (two pages, double-spaced, 12 pt. font)
Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Bachelor's degree in nursing from an NLN or CCNE accredited program or a non-nursing bachelor's degree

*RN's with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree are required to complete 5 credits in community health in addition to the course requirement listed. The courses that fulfill the community health requirement are N6703, The Science of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in the Community (3 didactic credits) and N5292, Nursing Practice in the Community (2 clinical credits).

Curriculum

For Applicants Who Hold an Undergraduate Degree in Nursing
A sample program plan is provided below to make you aware of the academic requirements of the program. Please be advised that this program plan is a sample, and individual plans of study are reviewed and approved upon acceptance to the program. Progression in the program is contingent upon meeting academic policies. The School of Nursing reserves the right to change the course offering schedule as stated in the student bulletin.

Sample Program Plan

Course Number	Course Name	Credits	Type
Summer I: 7 Credits
N6920	Health and Social Policy: The Context for Practice and Research	3	Core
N8102	Advanced Pharmacology	3	Core
N8548	Normal Antepartum for Family Primary Care	1	Specialty
Fall I: 13 Credits
N6100	Advanced Physiology	3	Core
N6826	Evaluation and Application of Research	3	Core
N8557	Family Primary Care I	2	Specialty
N8568	Practicum in Advanced Clinical Assessment for Family Nurse Practitioners	2	Specialty
N8786	Advanced Clinical Assessment Across the Lifespan	3	Specialty
Spring I: 14 Credits
N6121	Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan	3	Core
N8545	Diagnosis and Management of Illness in Families I	4	Specialty
N8558	Family Primary Care II	2	Specialty
N8560 (Family)	Family Theory in Context	3	Specialty
N8693	Family Primary Care: Practicum IIA	2	Specialty
Summer II: 6 Credits
N6930	Interpersonal Violence and Abuse: Prevention, Assessment and Intervention for Health Care Professionals	1	Core
N6940	Management and Advanced Practice Nursing	1	Core
N8566	Family Primary Care: Practicum IIIA	2	Specialty
N8795	Family Primary Care: Practicum IIB	2	Specialty
Fall II: 10 Credits
N8290	Incorporating Genetics into Advanced Nursing Practice	3	Core
N8546	Diagnosis and Management of Illness in Families II	3	Specialty
N8559	Family Primary Care III	2	Specialty
N8567	Family Primary Care: Practicum IIIB	2	Specialty
Total Credits		50

This page was last updated on 03/29/2012 and is subject to change at any time.

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