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MSN FNP Courses

Curriculum Details

The MSN courses you’ll take in the Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner program will prepare you to provide acute and primary care across the lifespan. You’ll learn through hands-on experiences and in-depth family nurse practitioner online seven- or 14-week courses.

As part of the online MSN FNP program, you’ll visit the North Park campus one time for on-site skills immersion in the state-of-the-art simulation lab. We’ll also help you complete your practicum hours at one of our diverse Chicagoland partner sites.

Graduate in 32 months prepared to sit for the family nurse practitioner exam through the ANCC or AANPCB national boards. You’ll also be qualified to sit for your Illinois APN advanced practice RN license.

Core Courses

Credits

This course focuses on the evaluation and development of evidence-based approaches to improve practice, health outcomes, and the care environment. Emphasis is placed on utilizing theories in nursing research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement; analyzing evidence; identifying knowledge gaps; developing strategies to generate and disseminate new evidence; and planning approaches for translating evidence into practice. Cultural and lifespan considerations of evidence-based practice approaches are addressed. Ethical considerations of evidence appraisal, development, and implementation are identified. This course serves as the foundation for synthesis and development of nursing knowledge in clinical (capstone) projects. Students must have completed an undergraduate statistics or equivalent course and an undergraduate nursing research course.
This course examines how health care delivery systems are organized and financed and the economic, political, and regulatory factors that influence the planning and delivery of healthcare services across the continuum of care. Emphasis is placed on utilizing health system data sets, quality improvement tools, and evidence-based practice to optimize patient safety and health outcomes. Students apply economic, systems, and organizational principles in evaluating the structure, function, and delivery of health care in the U.S. and participate in the development of policies to improve health care. The utilization of information technology to support the coordination, improvement, and delivery of care is explored.
This course examines epidemiologic and public health principles to analyze needs and plan for care of populations across the lifespan. Social, cultural, environmental, and genetic determinants of health are explored; risk assessment and root causes of illness are examined. Health promotion and educational methods are critiqued, and levels of prevention applied in developing programs for at-risk populations. Building on local context, the urban, multicultural, national, and global influences on population health are explored.
This course focuses on the identification, analysis, and implementation of communication strategies to facilitate formation of successful teams and partnerships. Students will develop a comprehensive knowledge of principles of adult learning and will examine clinical reasoning, judgment, and decision making in addressing the needs of diverse patients and populations across the life span. Emphasis will be placed on developing group leadership skills, building teams through communication and partnership, and conflict management in the light of change.
This course addresses theories of adult growth and development, principles of health promotion and disease prevention, and introduces related national practice guidelines. Students acquire skills in conducting risk assessments, developing health promotion and risk reduction strategies, and evaluating health promotion activities.
This course is designed to facilitate student transition into the role of advanced practice nurse. It builds on concepts of role socialization and organizational structure. Professional issues such as credentialing and reimbursement for advanced practice nurses are explored. Health care policy and its impact on advanced practice nursing and primary care are examined.
This course expands on foundational concepts of pathophysiology, focusing on altered cell, organ, and system function. Recognition, evaluation, and management of common health deviations of individuals across the lifespan are also addressed.
This course expands on foundational concepts of pharmacology and provides a framework for understanding pharmacotherapeutics. The overall purpose of the course is to prepare advanced practice nurses for safe therapeutic drug selection and prescription for individuals across the lifespan.
This course examines the process of health history taking, physical assessment, diagnostic data interpretation, and health assessment recording for individuals across the lifespan. It consists of a 3 hour didactic portion and a 1 hour laboratory component. Students must have completed an undergraduate health assessment course or equivalent prior to registering for this course.
This course builds on the fundamental principles of advanced health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and patient care management across the lifespan. It includes various skill development workshops and lectures to prepare students for entrance into practicum experiences, including Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE). FNP students will demonstrate and apply advanced physical exams and clinical skills to individuals across the lifespan in primary care settings.
The course examines the health care needs of adults across the lifespan as addressed by the advanced practice nurse in primary care settings. It builds on the concepts of health promotion and disease prevention and emphasizes assessment, diagnosis and treatment of common acute episodic illnesses, chronic stable illnesses and medical emergencies
The course, a continuation of NURS 5531, examines the health care needs of adults across the lifespan as addressed by the advanced practice nurse in primary care settings. It builds on the concepts of health promotion and disease prevention and emphasizes assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of common acute episodic illnesses, chronic stable illnesses, and medical emergencies.
The student engages in primary care clinical experiences that builds upon the synthesis and application of knowledge gained in previous courses for health promotion, assessment, diagnosis and management of common acute episodic illnesses, chronic stable illnesses and medical emergencies for adults across the lifespan. Supervised clinical experiences (255 clock hours) are provided in the clinical setting.
This course addresses primary care of the pediatric patient in the context of family- centered care. It examines family theories and builds upon principles of growth and development, health promotion, disease prevention, diagnostic screening and anticipatory guidance related to the assessment and management during the well-child visit and diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic health care problems in children from infancy to adolescence.
The student engages in primary care clinical experiences that build upon the synthesis and application of knowledge gained in previous courses for the application of health promotion, disease prevention, diagnostic screening and anticipatory guidance related to assessment and management of infants to adolescence during the well child visit and diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic health care problems. Supervised clinical experiences (85 clock hours)
The course examines health care needs of women from adolescence through older adulthood. It builds on the concepts of health promotion and disease prevention and emphasizes assessment, diagnosis and treatment of common acute and chronic health alterations. At-ention is given to preconception care, family planning, pregnancy and post-partum care.
The student engages in primary care clinical experiences that builds upon the synthesis and application of knowledge gained in previous courses for health promotion, assessment, diagnosis and management of common acute episodic illnesses, chronic stable illnesses and medical emergencies for women across the lifespan from adolescence through older adulthood.  Supervised clinical experiences (85 clock hours) are provided in the clinical setting.  
This course addresses the principles of health and aging and strategies for advanced assessment of older adults across cultural groups. Common geriatric issues and syndromes are discussed, with emphasis on wellness, prevention, maintenance, and early health care interventions in primary and long term care settings.
This is part 1 of a 2-part culminating course for the nurse practitioner student in the family nurse practitioner track. It is a residency. Students engage in clinical experiences to synthesize knowledge and skills gained in previous practicum courses. They assume responsibility for management of individual clients across the lifespan in the context of the family. Opportunities are also provided for advanced skill building with application to the clinical setting. Supervised clinical experiences (170 clock hours).
This is part 2 of a 2-part culminating course for the nurse practitioner student in the family nurse practitioner track. It is a residency. Students engage in clinical experiences to synthesize knowledge and skills gained in previous practicum courses. They assume responsibility for management of individual clients across the lifespan in the context of the family. Opportunities are also provided for advanced skill building with application to the clinical setting. Supervised clinical experiences (170 clock hours).
This course provides students with the opportunity to develop an evidence based practice project with potential for dissemination. The project will be presented in both written and oral formats.

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