Nursing, AGPCNP and WHNP Full-Time, MSN

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The FAMU School of Nursing offers the Master of Science degree with emphasis in (1) Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) and (2) Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) preparation as both on-site and on-line programs. The master’s program prepares nurses with the knowledge base and practice experiences necessary for advanced practice in primary health care with adults across the life span. The program can be completed in five semesters of full time study.

Program Learning Outcomes

Synthesize knowledge from the sciences, humanities, best evidence and nursing to support advanced practice nursing.
Utilize leadership skills to foster collaboration, change, and advocacy to influence advanced practice nursing and improve health care.
Use best available evidence to implement initiatives to continuously improve quality and safety in health care.
Integrate evidence, clinical guidelines, and clinical investigative skills to guide advanced practice nursing and improve health outcomes.
Utilize appropriate technologies and information literacy skills to optimize health outcomes in advanced practice nursing.
Demonstrate an understanding of the development, analysis, and evaluation of health policies and health care affecting advanced practice nursing and health outcomes.
Analyze complex health systems to improve the delivery of care and patient outcomes.
Apply ethical principles in decision-making to achieve sound solutions to issues related to individuals, populations and systems of care.
Demonstrate accountability and responsibility for patient-centered care and professional development.
Provide competent evidence-based advance practice nursing care within a primary care setting to diverse individuals, families and groups and manage heath and illness for adults across the life span.

Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Program

The Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Program prepares nurses for advanced practice with young adults, adults, and older adults in primary care. The focus of the AGPCNP is to provide patient-centered care by employing evidence-based practice designed to improve quality of care and health outcomes. The AGPCNP program builds upon the base of the FAMU School of Nursing’s Baccalaureate Program and the following graduate core courses:

Note:

The graduates of this program are eligible to sit for either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) National Certification Examination or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner Certification Program’s (AANPCP) Certification Examination for AGPCNP and apply for licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). FAMU School of Nursing Graduate Program AGPCNP competencies are consistent with the NP competencies of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF[2022]) and the AGPCNP Competencies of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN [2021]), which can be found at the following websites:

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

The Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) program prepares graduates to provide primary care services to women throughout their lifespan. The program focuses on health care to women across the life cycle with emphasis on conditions unique to women from menarche through the remainder of their life cycle within the context of socio-cultural environments: interpersonal, family and community. In providing care, the WHNP considers the inter-relationship of gender, social class, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, economic status and socio-political power differentials.

The WHNP program builds upon the base of the FAMU School of Nursing’s Baccalaureate Program and the following graduate core courses:

Note:

The graduates of this program are eligible to sit for either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) National Certification Examination or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner Certification Program’s (AANPCP) Certification Examination for AGPCNP and apply for licensure as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner. FAMU School of Nursing Graduate Program AGPCNP competencies are consistent with the NP competencies of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF[2022]) and the AGPCNP Competencies of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN [2021]), which can be found at the following websites:

Admission Requirements: Master’s Program

Graduate School

To be eligible for admission to the School of Nursing, the applicant must first meet the School of Graduate Studies and Research (SGSR) admission requirements that are listed in the graduate section of this catalog. Admission requirements for the on-line program are identical to the on-ground program.

School of Nursing

To be eligible for admission to the program, applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

Baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing from a nationally accredited program ( ACEN, CCNE, CNEA).
Current, valid, unrestricted and unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license in the State of Florida or current RN license from the state which the applicant is practicing.
Grade point average of 3.0 or above in all work attempted in the last 60 hours of the baccalaureate degree (If a student has a graduate degree, the GPA requirement can apply to the graduate school GPA).
Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Minimum score of 300 on the quantitative-verbal sections of the Graduate Record Examination, if the undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0.
Identification of a qualified available clinical preceptor (s), i.e. nationally certified nurse practitioners in adult, gerontology,women’s health or a licensed physician (on-line program students only).
Documentation of current physical examination with labs (CBC and urinalysis) and tuberculosis test and/or chest x-ray. A state or military certificate of immunization status documenting immunity for measles, mumps-rubella (MMR), hepatitis B (HBV), varicella (Var.) and diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP) or tetanus and diphtheria (Td) is required. If certification of immunization is not available, a titer is required.
Proficiency in use of computers.
A statement of professional goals (please indicate your specialty track of interest).
Foreign applicants (TOEFL>550).

Requirements After Admission:

The following requirements must be kept current annually (mandated by clinical agencies):

The state RN License and personal health insurance must be kept current during the entire matriculation.
Evidence of nurse practitioner student professional liability insurance (annual requirement).
CPR certification (annual or bi-annual requirement).
To be admitted with documentation of a current physical examination. The tuberculosis skin test or chest X-ray is an annual requirement.
Level II background check and a lab-controlled drug screen (Local background check may be required by an agency).
Maintain a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, in order to maintain regular graduate status.
Locate a clinical preceptor. Note: Students may have to travel to work with a preceptor.

Curriculum: MSN

The graduate program offers a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree in clinical specialties of Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners (AGPCNP) and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNP). The master’s program prepares nurses with the knowledge base and practice experiences necessary for advanced practice in primary health care with young adults, adults, and older adults as well as women throughout their life span. The curriculum leading to the master of science in nursing (MSN) degree can be completed through full-time or part-time study. The program can be completed in five semesters of fulltime study. Full-time requires a minimum of nine (9) hours during the regular academic semesters and six (6) hours during the summer. Based upon the FAMU graduate school policy, a maximum of five (5) consecutive calendar years, from date of first enrollment, is allowed for completion of all degree requirements. Students are admitted 3 times a year. Upon admission to the program, the student is assigned a faculty advisor who collaboratively develops an individualized degree plan of study, based on full or part-time status. The graduate curriculum is based on a three core structure: graduate core; advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) core; and population foci/role core (See Graduate Curriculum Core Structure).

Graduate Curriculum Core Structure

Total: 18

APRN Core

Total: 10

Population Foci/Role Core

NGR 6201 Primary Care For Adults Across The Life Span I (3)
NGR 6201L Primary Care For Adults Across The Life Span Practicum I (3)
NGR 6202 Primary Care For Adults Across The Life Span II (3) (AGPCNP)
OR
NGR 6347 Advanced Women’s Health Theory (3) (WHNP)
NGR 6202L Primary Care For Adults Across The Life Span Practicum II (4) (AGPCNP)
OR
NGR 6347L Advanced Women’s Health Practicum (3) (WHNP)
NGR 6700 APRN Synthesis Seminar (2)

Total 14

Total: 42

The credit to clock hour ratio is 1:1 for theory courses and 1:6 for clinical. The total number of semester hours is 42. The total number of clinical clock hours is 675 hours excluding the advanced health assessment lab hours. The graduate core and APRN Core courses must be completed before progression to population foci/role core courses.