Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) major prepares the advanced practice nurse to provide primary health care services across the lifespan to individuals, families and aggregates in the community. Besides primary care services, critical foci include practice models which emphasize the family as unit, health promotion and disease prevention and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The goal of the FNP program is to prepare highly skilled and culturally sensitive advanced practice nurses who are committed to providing quality and cost effective primary care services to individuals, families and communities. The program places special emphasis on providing services to the medically underserved. The MSON is committed to flexibility in the program and therefore offers both full-time and part-time options for degree completion.
The post-BSN to DNP with MSN exit with a major in FNP requires a total of 71 credits. A total of 47 credit hours and 720 clinical hours must be completed for the MSN exit where the Master of Science in Nursing is conferred. An additional 24 credits and additional clinical hours are required for the completion of the DNP.
FNP Program Certification Examinations
Successful completion of the McAuley School of Nursing (MSON) graduate APRN nursing program qualifies the graduate to take the appropriate national certification examination (FNP: AANPCB or AANC) for their specialty. Graduates who plan to practice in Michigan may find more information on licensure at Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, phone 517-241-0199, or email BPLHelp@michigan.gov.
The University of Detroit Mercy has not made a determination of whether the nursing curriculum meets the educational requirements in any State other than Michigan. Students are urged to contact the specific board of nursing in the state in which they intend to practice in order to ensure they are in full compliance with the education, practice and certification requirements. It is the responsibility of all applicants applying for admission in an online graduate nursing program to confirm if the program meets specific licensure requirements.
The MSN degree with the FNP major requires 47 credit hours and 720 clinical hours. The MSON is committed to flexibility in the program and therefore offers both full- and part-time options for degree completion.
Meet with Program Faculty
Detroit Mercy FNP faculty would be glad to meet with you. Please attend an upcoming FNP session listed on our Nursing information sessions page.
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Admission Requirements
Admission criteria for the post BSN to DNP with Master's exit program include:
- A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program.
- RNs with a baccalaureate degree in another field could qualify for the MSN bridge program. The baccalaureate degree must be from an accredited program. Each application will be individually assessed to determine courses needed to bridge into the MSN program. This gap analysis will determine what additional courses will be required at the baccalaureate level to ensure they have met the prerequisites necessary for graduate education in nursing.
- A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
- Official transcripts from each institution of higher education attended.
- A minimum of 2,000 hours as a registered nurse.*
- A current unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of Michigan, or in the state of home residence.
- Three letters of professional recommendation with at least one from someone in supervisory capacity.
- Professional CV or current resume.
- An autobiographical statement of personal goals and objectives.
- An interview with graduate faculty (selective, by invitation).
Attention FNP Applicants: A cohort is admitted annually, in the fall. All of the above-mentioned application materials must be submitted and received by the June 30, 2022 deadline to be considered for regular admission to the program; however, prospective applicants are encouraged to submit and complete their application files early (December 1). Admission is selective as a limited number of seats are available annually. The application process for fall 2022 is a rolling process. Once the class has been filled, no further applications may be considered. We are currently considering candidates for entry fall 2022.
- A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program.
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Sample Program Plan
Full-time study can be completed in two years with some courses offered during the summer semester. A program of part-time study can be completed in three years.
Family Nurse Practitioner Full-Time Sample Program Plan
Family Nurse Practitioner Part-Time Sample Program Plan
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Required Courses
MSN Integrated Core Course # and Name credits HLH 7100 Health Care Policy, Economics and the Law in Clinical Practice 3.0 credits NUR 5030 Analytic Methods for Clinical Practice 3.0 credits NUR 7000 Advanced Theory and Knowledge Development for Clinical Nursing Practice 3.0 credits NUR 7300 Transformational Leadership and Innovation in Advanced Clinical Practice 3.0 credits NUR 7400 Information Management and Decision Support 3.0 credits NUR 7500 Evidence-Based Practice: Theory, Design and Methods 3.0 credits Advanced Practice Core Course # and Name credits HLH 5900 Advanced Pathophysiology 3.0 credits NUR 5160 Advanced Health Assessment 3.0 credits NUR 5800 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses 3.0 credits NUR 6030 Professional Role Development and Business Practices 2.0 credits FNP Concentration Courses Course # and Name credits NUR 5150 Health Promotion Across the Lifespan 2.0 credits NUR 5250 Common and Episodic Problems 3.0 credits NUR 5260 Clinical Practicum II 2.0 credits NUR 6130 Procedures and Diagnostics Workshop for the APN 1.0 credits NUR 6150 Chronic and Complex Problems Across the Lifespan 3.0 credits NUR 6160 Clinical Practicum III 2.0 credits NUR 6250 Psychosocial Issues and health Integration 3.0 credits NUR 6260 Clinical Practicum IV 2.0 credits DNP Integrated Core Course # and Name credits ETH 7010 Ethical Issues in Advanced Nursing Practice 3.0 credits NUR 7200 Epidemiology and Population Health 3.0 credits NUR 7350 Business Management to Ensure Quality in Health Care 3.0 credits NUR 7450 Analytics for Evidence-Based Practice 3.0 credits NUR 7700 DNP Transition 3.0 credits NUR 7800 Project Proposal Development 3.0 credits NUR 7900 DNP Practicum and Project Implementation 3.0 credits NUR 7920 DNP Doctoral Project 3.0 credits Total credits: 71 credits (47 for MSN conferral and 24 for completion of DNP)
For more information on courses descriptions, please click here for the catalog.
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Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate
The Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate option is available to applicants that have already earned a master of science in Nursing degree with a major in Nursing from an accredited program. This certificate program does not lead to an academic degree from the University of Detroit Mercy.
The graduate Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate Program requires 29 credit hours of coursework and 720 clinical hours (500 clinical hours for certified nurse practitioners in a specialty outside of FNP who are active). An individualized program of study will be designed based on an applicant’s prior academic coursework and professional and clinical experiences.
Transcripts from prior academic institutions will be reviewed by the FNP program coordinator/advisor to determine an applicant’s specific program of study and a gap analysis will be completed. The FNP program does not accept any clinical courses (theory or didactic) or advanced health assessment as transfer courses. If courses in professional role, pathophysiology and pharmacology have been completed prior to admission to the certificate program and are equivalent to the course content in approved MSON courses, they may be transferred to the program.
Certification
Full-time and part-time options are available for program completion. Graduates of the FNP Post-Master's Certificate program are eligible to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP).
Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate Sample Program Plan