College of Nursing - Graduate Nursing Brochure

Master of Science in Nursing—A.P.R.N. (Clinical) 14 | Nova Southeastern University Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Gero-Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (GAACNP) The Master of Science in Nursing—Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (M.S.N.—A.P.R.N.) program at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) offers the opportunity for a registered nurse with a baccalaureate degree to prepare for advanced nursing practice related to the primary care of families and individuals throughout the life cycle, or the care of adults experiencing an acute exacerbation of a complex illness. The program may be completed in eight terms of full-time study. Coursework includes 15 credits of core classes that are consistent for all M.S.N. graduates plus an additional 37 credits for FNP, or 36 credits for GAACNP, focused on advanced clinical content (28 credits of theory and 9 cred- its of clinical practice). A total of 52 credits is required for the FNP program or 51 credits for the GAACNP program. Beginning in the fourth term of the program, students engage in population-specific, direct patient care under the direction of a program-approved preceptor. A total of 540 hours of directed clinical practice in primary care is required wherein the student is expected to apply and synthesize knowledge gained from all courses. Students completing the program are eligible to apply for certification as a family nurse practitioner (FNP) or a gero-adult acute care nurse practitioner (GAACNP). All M.S.N. courses are taught by faculty members with advanced preparation and extensive experience in the area of specialization. An assigned adviser is available for individualized program guidance. The program is based at NSU’s Palm Beach Campus. The core courses are totally online, while other courses are presented as a mix of online and on-site. The amount of time spent on-site is dependent on each specific course. The FNP courses are offered in a hybrid format at both the Palm Beach and Tampa campuses. The GAACNP courses are offered in an executive format on NSU’s Palm Beach Campus, meeting face to face one weekend per month.