Family Nurse Practitioner Overview
Complete MSN-FNP specialty track in as few as 8 semesters of year-round, full-time study
MSN-FNP Overview
Chamberlain University College of Nursing gives you the opportunity to advance your nursing education in a setting that emphasizes student success and academic excellence. The MSN-FNP specialty track prepares graduates for FNP National Certification examinations.
In as few as eight (8) semesters, Chamberlain’s Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner specialty track is designed to prepare students to expand their nursing practice. Through 100% online coursework, the FNP curriculum integrates theory and practical application through online discussion threads, simulation and clinical experiences.
- 100% online coursework
- No mandatory login times
- Learn from FNPs
- No group work
Our Family Nurse Practitioner specialty track is designed to help prepare graduates to sit for national certification as an FNP and enhance their role and opportunity for advancement in a wide range of healthcare settings.
Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty Track At a Glance:
- Licensed for all ages (family)
- Independently diagnose and manage patients
- Care for their own panel of patients
- Prescribe medications independently, including controlled substances*
- Co-manage patients with specialists
*An FNP’s scope of practice is determined by individual State Boards of Nursing.
Classes Begin January 6
Family Nurse Practitioner Curriculum
What will I learn?
Chamberlain's FNP curriculum provides the foundation and faculty support working nurses need as they prepare to expand their nursing practice and skill set. View the MSN curriculum (PDF) to learn about the MSN core courses and nurse practitioner school requirements.
MSN FNP Track Courses
This course introduces students to advanced practice competencies related to population health, epidemiology, and statistical principles. Students explore, analyze, apply, and evaluate biostatistics for evidence-based practice and population-based care. Topics include the use and application of epidemiology and statistics for the delivery and monitoring of aggregate populations.
This course provides students with advanced content in pathophysiology and human physiologic responses. The student explores, analyzes, applies, and evaluates the normal and abnormal human responses to selected pathophysiologic mechanisms and conditions.
This course expands knowledge of pharmacological principles specific to the role of the APN. Students explore, analyze, apply, and evaluate commonly used drugs for the treatment of chronic diseases and self-limiting acute conditions.
Students build expanded knowledge of pharmacology across the lifespan, applying foundational principles from previous courses. Specific issues will be addressed including the effects of culture, ethnicity, age, pregnancy, gender and funding on pharmacologic management. Legal and ethical aspects of prescribing will be addressed.
This course expands the knowledge and skills of health assessment principles necessary to perform a thorough health assessment. The student will develop assessment techniques related to history and physical examination of clients across the lifespan, including psychiatric-mental health and related supportive assessments. Students will explore, analyze, apply, and evaluate these principles in the classroom and laboratory.
A Health Assessment Performance Evaluation will occur in the laboratory setting, requiring the student to visit the Chamberlain campus offering this evaluation.
This course introduces students to the role development of today’s advanced practice nurse (APN) leader in society and healthcare organization systems from the perspective of primary and acute care. Students will explore, analyze, apply, and evaluate diverse aspects of ethical and legal decision-making standards specific to APN scope of practice. Topics include the standards and regulations governing the practice of APNs in diverse settings. The course emphasizes strategies and processes that foster implementation of visionary leadership, diffusion of innovation, and change within an organization and explores social, political, legal, legislative, regulatory, and organizational factors that influence healthcare. Principles of leadership are emphasized including ethics, negotiation, motivating others, acting as an advocate, problem-solving, managing diversity, interprofessional collaboration and multi-agency partnerships, quality improvement and safety, and organizational behavior.
Practicum
How do practicum work?
Preceptors & Practicum Sites
Once you complete the application process, your admission representative will provide you with information on how to identify a potential practicum site and preceptor. You are responsible for identifying an appropriate practicum site and preceptor. Before starting the MSN FNP program, you do not need to identify a preceptor. However, we require you to identify a potential practicum site before you can enroll in your first class.
- Your practicum site must be an outpatient, primary care setting such as a family practice clinic
- Your practicum site cannot be in a hospital or inpatient setting. If your preceptor sees patients in a clinic, but also does rounds in a hospital, you can accompany them on rounds but your site must be the clinic location
- You must spend the first two practicum courses in outpatient, primary care but you may participate in specialty rotations in your final three courses (pending approval)
- Your practicum site may be the institution where you are currently employed but you must function outside of the RN role and work as a student with your preceptor
You may use a board certified nurse practitioner, medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy or a physician's assistant as your preceptor. You will be asked to provide a copy of their CV, medical license and board certification (for NPs only).
Nurse Practitioner Preceptor Guidelines
- Master’s degree in nursing at a minimum
- Nationally board-certified as a nurse practitioner
- Hold an active advanced practice license in the state in which you will conduct your practicum
- Have at least one year of practice as a nurse practitioner
- Is not your current supervisor
Tip: It is recommended to have a secondary preceptor and practicum site selected in the event that your initial selection does not meet the requirements or your practicum cannot be completed in time.
FNP Practicum Resources
Practicum Questions
Call an admission representative at 877-751-5783.
Practicum Courses
This course will provide students with content regarding formulating differential diagnoses of individuals within the primary care setting, along with an introduction to critical diagnostic skills to cultivate evidence-based behaviors. An emphasis will be placed on processing client information in a logical, progressive manner and formulating differential diagnoses for individuals across the lifespan. The course will include 125 hours of supervised clinical practicum in primary care.
This course continues to expand the knowledge of health-assessment principles specific to the role of the FNP, with a focus on the common health problems and healthcare needs of the middle-aged and older adult and family. The student will explore, analyze, apply, and evaluate chronic health conditions frequently encountered in the primary care of older adults. Students will further develop their skills related to patient education, protocol development, follow-up, and referral through a clinical practicum experience in a precepted primary-care setting.
This course continues to expand the knowledge of health assessment principles specific to the role of the FNP, with a focus on the healthcare needs of women and families throughout reproductive and childrearing years. Students will further develop their skills related to health promotion, prevention of illness, diagnosis, and management of health problems commonly experienced. Care strategies will include patient education, protocol development, follow-up, and referral through a clinical practicum experience in a precepted primary care setting.
This course continues to expand the theoretical and practical knowledge of diagnostic principles specific to the role of the FNP, for the healthcare needs of individuals of all ages. Students will further develop their skills related to health promotion, prevention of illness, diagnosis, and management of complex acute and chronic conditions, including behavioral health. Care strategies will include patient education, protocol development, follow-up, and referral through a clinical practicum experience in a precepted advanced practice setting.
Students synthesize all elements of clinical management skills and knowledge and continue to analyze, apply, and evaluate diverse aspects of patient assessment and care. This precepted clinical practicum is with an approved provider in an advanced practice setting. Focus topics include clinical management skills, case studies, chart reviews, and practice critique, with a capstone project evidencing increasing complex clinical management skills. An on-ground intensive review session occurs during this course.
Immersion Weekend
What happens during Immersion Weekend?
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Friday
You willl arrive leading into the weekend. This allows you time to check in to your hotel and get situated.
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Saturday
The immersion experience formally begins on Saturday morning. The Dean will welcome everyone with an opening keynote address before students break out for skills sessions with a variety of professors.
During the first day, you will spend time with your professors and go through five skill stations, learning to gather patient history and physical exam data pertinent to health complaints commonly observed in a primary care setting. The following are the complaints you will learn about:- Generalized abdominal pain
- Cough
- Non-specific headache
- Sore throat
- Sinus pain
- Ear pain
- Skin rash
The day ends with dinner and leaves ample time for you to prepare for your demonstration the next day.
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Sunday
On Sunday, you have the opportunity to perform a full head to toe assessment of a partner in order to advance to practicum courses.
As part of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) curriculum, you will attend an immersion weekend during week 7 of the NR-509 course, Advanced Physical Assessment. The purpose of the immersion weekend is to provide you the opportunity to interact with your professors and fellow students, observe, participate and be evaluated on clinical assessment skills. This experiential learning ensures your preparation for advanced knowledge for your nursing skill set.
The immersion weekend allows faculty and staff to work with you and assess your clinical competency before entering clinical rotations. The weekend also allows you to further experience Chamberlain Care®. A portion of time will be devoted to an overview of what you can expect to learn in your first clinical course, NR-511: Differential Diagnosis and Primary Care. The overview will set a foundation for your continued success.
Location
Q Center Training Facility
1405 North Fifth Avenue
St. Charles, IL 60174
*Students are responsible for their travel costs while participating in the immersion weekend. Typical costs include travel to/from Illinois, lodging and meals for 1-2 nights.
Immersion Weekend Questions?
Call an admission representative at 877-751-5783.
Admissions
How do I get in?
Tuition & Expenses
What types of financial assistance are available?
Accreditation
Accreditation, State Authorizations & Approvals
Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
The baccalaureate degree in nursing program, master's degree in nursing program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Chamberlain University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
For the most updated accreditation information, visit chamberlain.edu/accreditation.
See accreditation and state authorization information or view a full list of program approvals by state.
