Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner Track – Hybrid

Become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) with Marian University’s MSN Degree

Primary care providers are in demand.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) nurse practitioner careers will grow 31% by 2026, much faster than the average job growth of 7%. Get the education you need to work in this growing field through the Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track at Marian University.

The Family Nurse Practitioner program is a 46-credit track offered in a full-time or part-time plan of study with students learning through a combination of face-to-face and online nursing coursework. This hybrid program increases flexibility and reduces on-campus time for busy students. Full-time FNP students can expect to spend about 40 hours per week on their education, so the flexibility is important.

As a graduate of Marian’s FNP track you will be poised to succeed in a growing field. FNP graduates are prepared to practice as Family Nurse Practitioners in primary care settings through didactic coursework and preceptor-supervised, faculty-guided clinical practicum experiences. A combination of online and on-campus courses gives you both flexibility and the ability to connect with other nursing students and faculty. Earn your MSN degree, Family Nurse Practitioner track, and advance your career allowing you to provide the best possible care for all ages.

Prepare to make a positive impact as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

An FNP Can Positively Impact Your Future

Increase Your Pay

Median Annual Wage

$0

Work In Any Facility

Clinics

Hospitals

Urgent Care

Pediatrics

Long Term Care

Schools

Source: BLS 4/27/2020

The Program

A student may start the Family Nurse Practitioner program in fall or spring. As this is a hybrid program, students will experience a variety of learning formats. Each course will be offered in one modality including fully online, on-campus, or a combination. Our on-campus classes meet every other week at our state-of-the-art Center for Health Professions in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner Track Benefits

  • Combination of face-to-face and online learning (hybrid format)
  • Reduce travel to campus while continuing to engage in professor/student classroom interaction
  • Theory and practicum courses are offered every other week on-campus allowing you to plan your schedule for the entire program
  • Full-time students can finish in 2.5 years and part-time in 3 years
  • Fifteen-week courses
  • Seven-week summer courses so students have some time off
  • On-campus classes are offered at the state-of-the-art Center for Health Professionals. Learn new skills in technology-enhanced classrooms, primary care exam rooms and the skills lab.

MPath logo

MPath Program Schedule: 15-Week Semester

Marian’s Master of Science in Nursing, FNP track is designed to prepare busy adult learners for a career providing care for families and individuals of all ages. MPath’s 15-week semester provides a more traditional semester experience in a format built for the modern student. Students like the shorter, 7-week, summer courses so they have some time off.  Our hybrid program helps adult learners move forward on their path to reaching their goals with small class sizes, faculty feedback, and in-depth topic discussion. The 15-week traditional semester helps students:

  • Complete their degree in a convenient format
  • Learn to expand your critical thinking and expand with new topics
  • Absorb and reflect on lessons
  • Learn through robust online and on-campus course content
  • Take time for scholarly inquiry
  • Integrate learning with their other adult responsibilities

MSN FNP Curriculum

Academic Catalog
FACULTY DIRECTORY

The FNP Track

New FNP students may choose to start in fall or spring. Courses are offered in either online or on-campus formats. Our on-campus (face to face) classes are offered at our state of the art Center for Health Professions in Fond du Lac and meet every other week.

Core Courses

Master’s in Nursing in Family Nurse Practitioner majors will take courses covering topics such as:

  • Practice management for the APRN
  • Advance diagnostic skills and reasoning
  • Advanced pathophysiology
  • Healthcare systems leadership and quality improvement
  • Health promotion and disease prevention in populations

Learning Outcomes

Master of Science in Nursing Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Marian University Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, graduates will demonstrate the processes of acquiring/generating knowledge, critical thinking, valuing, decision-making, and communicating to:

  • Integrate advanced theoretical and scientific knowledge to guide advanced nursing leadership in diverse practice settings.
  • Integrate outcome data, evidence-based practice recommendations and professional standards of care to improve population health outcomes.
  • Apply leadership and inter-professional skills in healthcare delivery systems to ensure safe and quality care.
  • Apply principles of information systems and population health to deliver evidence-based, culturally relevant strategies for individuals, families and aggregate populations.
  • Employ collaborative strategies to advance the profession of nursing through the integration of theory, research, policy, and practice excellence.
  • Advocate for social justice and healthcare policy that promotes safe, cost-effective, and equitable outcomes.
  • Demonstrate critical and self-reflective thinking that promotes advanced role competency and professional accountability.

Mission

Nursing department mission statement

The Nursing Department is an integral, dynamic, and innovative entity committed to the education and preparation of diverse health care professionals in a faith-based academic institution while improving the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities through the application of evidence-based practice in a global environment.

Nursing department program philosophy

Provide state of the art undergraduate and graduate nursing education that endows nursing graduates with the knowledge, values, and skills to work within collaborative interdisciplinary teams to provide safe patient-centered care in any setting. Through the use of research evidence, health informatics, and knowledge of quality improvement, graduates will have the skill set to lead change in individual patient care settings, the community, and the nursing profession.

The undergraduate and graduate programs will provide a curriculum which fosters personal growth, professional development, and a commitment of service to the profession, lifelong learning, a community of respect, a commitment to social justice, and the freedom to explore spiritual traditions.

Master of Science in Nursing Program Goals

The mission and philosophy of the Nursing Department serve as a foundation for the development of graduate program goals. The nursing graduate program goals are to:

  • Provide nursing programs grounded in Judeo-Christian tradition.
  • Prepare learners for life-long learning in formal and informal settings.
  • Provide nursing education that prepares students to practice nursing in various settings with diverse populations.

Professional Standards

The Marian University MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner track uses the following professional standards and guidelines in the development, delivery, and assessment of the program:

  • Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs [Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 2018]
  • The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing [American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), 2011]
  • Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs [National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (NTF), 2016]

2020:

For 2020, we had 88.24% pass rate (overall and 1st time), our 2020 graduates had 100% pass rate! We were above the national average and also above average in 3 of the 4 domains of testing. For the AANP exam we had 87% pass rate in 2020 and surpassed the national average in all domains and overall testing.

Applications to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program are open and reviewed on a rolling basis for both fall and spring semester cohorts. Deadlines for applicant submission is July 15 for fall semester start and December 15 for spring semester start.

Admission to the graduate program is competitive with selection of students based on academic acumen, congruent professional goals with program track, work experience (if applicable) and professional references.

Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program are required to submit a completed admission packet to the Admissions Office by the deadline specific to the starting term.

Application Requirements

  • Earned Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from a NLNAC or CCNE accredited program.
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended.
  • Unencumbered Wisconsin Registered Nurse (RN) license.
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for the BSN degree.
  • Successful completion of an undergraduate physical/health assessment course within the last five (5) years.
  • Successful completion of an undergraduate course in statistics within the last five (5) years. Statistics course must include content on descriptive and inferential statistics.
  • Resume/curriculum vitae.
  • Professional goal statement.

Professional Goal Statement

All applicants will submit a 4 page, double-spaced maximum length goal statement that addresses the following (please use these as headings):

  • Reasons for choosing Marian University
  • Reasons for choosing the program track (Family Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Educator)
  • Personal and professional attributes that will contribute to your success in graduate school
  • Preparations for the rigors of graduate education
  • Short and long-term professional goals