MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner
School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Learners in the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner specialization are prepared to assume the role of the advanced practice nurse caring for individuals across the lifespan to promote health, reduce risks, and manage acute and chronic health conditions. The specialization curriculum emphasizes ethical clinical judgment to deliver person-centered care and improve healthcare outcomes. Throughout the specialization, learners will integrate scientific foundations, leadership, quality improvement and safety, practice inquiry, informatics and health care technologies, health policy and advocacy, and interprofessional collaboration to prepare for advanced nursing practice. Upon successful completion of this specialization, graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
Practicum Requirement(s)
Minimum of 750 practicum hours. See the Practicum section, below, for more information.
Additional Program Requirements
Core courses
| NHS6004 | Healthcare Law and Policy | 4 |
| NHS6008 | Economics and Decision Making in Healthcare | 4 |
| NURS6011 | Evidence-Based Practice for Patient-Centered Care and Population Health | 4 |
| NURS6016 | Quality Improvement of Interprofessional Care | 4 |
| NURS6201 | Advanced Practice Nursing Role Development | 4 |
| NURS6202 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 4 |
| NURS6203 | Advanced Pharmacology | 4 |
| NURS6204 | Advanced Health Assessment | 4 |
| NURS6205 | Advanced Health Assessment Skills Immersion | 2 |
| NURS6206 | Advanced Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan | 4 |
| NURS6207 | Introduction to Practicum | 2 |
Specialization courses
| NURS6301 | Adult-Gerontology Primary Care 1 | 4 |
| NURS6302 | Adult-Gerontology Primary Care 1 Practicum | 2 |
| NURS6303 | Adult-Gerontology Primary Care 2 | 4 |
| NURS6304 | Adult-Gerontology Primary Care 2 Practicum | 2 |
| NURS6401 | Pediatric Primary Care | 4 |
| NURS6402 | Pediatric Primary Care Practicum | 2 |
| NURS6403 | Reproductive Health Primary Care | 4 |
| NURS6404 | Reproductive Health Primary Care Practicum | 2 |
| NURS6405 | Family Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice | 2 |
| NURS6406 | Family Nurse Practitioner: Transition to Practice Practicum | 2 |
Total
At least 68 quarter credits
One or more courses in this program may require a prerequisite(s). Refer to the course descriptions for details.
Learners who do not complete all program requirements within quarter credit/program point minimums will be required to accrue such additional quarter credits/program points as are associated with any additional or repeat coursework necessary for successful completion of program requirements.
Learners enrolled in the MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner specialization are required to maintain a current, unrestricted RN license throughout their program.
Capella University is not currently accepting applications for the MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner specialization from California, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, or District of Columbia residents.
Learners enrolled in a Capella nursing program in the FlexPath learning format will become ineligible to enroll in the MSN – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN-AGPCNP) or MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) specializations if they progress through certain coursework in any of the following courses: NHS-FP6004, NHS-FPX6004, NHS-FP6008, NHS-FPX6008, MSN-FP6011, NURS-FP6011, NURS-FPX6011, MSN-FP6016, NURS-FP6016 or NURS-FPX6016. FlexPath courses cannot be transferred into the MSN-AGPCNP or MSN-FNP specializations. To learn more, contact a Capella coach or call enrollment services at 1.866.736.1751.
Capella University cannot guarantee eligibility for licensure, endorsement, other professional credential, or salary advancement. State licensing regulations and professional standards vary; learners are responsible for understanding and complying with the requirements of the state in which they intend to work. For more information, see the professional licensure disclosures for this program on Capella’s website.
Practicum
Learners enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program with a specialization in Care Coordination; RN-to-MSN Care Coordination; Care Coordination, FlexPath option; RN-to-MSN Care Coordination, FlexPath option; Nursing Education; RN-to-MSN Nursing Education; Nursing Education, FlexPath option; RN-to-MSN Nursing Education, FlexPath option; Nursing Leadership and Administration; RN-to-MSN Nursing Leadership and Administration; Nursing Leadership and Administration, FlexPath option; or RN-to-MSN Nursing Leadership and Administration, FlexPath option are required to complete 100 documented hours of hands-on practicum experience. Learners enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program with a specialization in Nursing Informatics; RN-to-MSN Nursing Informatics; Nursing Informatics, FlexPath option; or RN-to-MSN Nursing Informatics, FlexPath option are required to complete 200 documented hours of hands-on practicum experience. Learners enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program with a specialization in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner or the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate are required to complete 750 documented hours of hands-on practicum experience.
The practicum experience requires learners to synthesize and expand the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program by applying evidence-based methods to practice. Learners are responsible for finding an appropriate preceptor to oversee the practicum experience. With their preceptors, learners engage in in-depth work within a practice environment that reflects course outcomes. The practicum experiences offer learners an environment in which to apply their knowledge and skills. Practicum takes place at a professional site at which learners, with the support of program faculty and their on-site preceptors, participate in advanced practice initiatives. These could include program evaluation, quality improvement, and advanced practice techniques. Learners use the practicum experience to help them achieve the MSN program outcomes and competencies and the learning objectives related to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing.
Additionally, learners are required to document their practice practicum experience in associated online coursework. The associated practicum courses provide systematic opportunities for feedback and reflection. Practicum hours are considered complete once all program required practicum hours have been successfully achieved. Partial completion of practicum hours requirements cannot be verified for licensure or transfer of credits.