Graduation Requirements (A Minimum of 36 Credits)

The MSN graduate program is designed to build upon the student’s baccalaureate nursing education and professional experience this program prepares professional nurses with a wide range of educational experiences to acquire essential evidence-based knowledge and the necessary skills to provide patient services at an advanced level. A total of thirty-six (36) credit hours are required for graduation. FNU awards a Master of Science Degree in Nursing upon completion of the program.

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Program Requirements (36 Credits)

Courses (36 Credits)
Credit Hours
  • NGR 5035
    Advanced Health Assessment
    3
  • NGR 5101
    Nursing Theory
    3
  • NGR 5141
    Advanced Pathophysiology
    3
  • NGR 5674
    Population Health, Epidemiology, & Statistical Principles
    3
  • NGR 5700
    Decision Making
    3
  • NGR 5891
    Health Care Policy
    3
  • NGR 6110
    Nurse Leadership & Management
    3
  • NGR 6172
    Advanced Pharmacology
    3
  • NGR 6636
    Health Promotion and Role Development in Advanced Nursing Practice
    3
  • NGR 6812
    Nursing Research & Evidence Based
    3
  • NGR 6871
    Health Care Informatics
    3
  • NGR 6970
    MSN Capstone Project
    3
The Nurse Educator Post-Graduate Certificate is designed for nurses to leverage their clinical expertise into an educator role. This Post-Graduate Certificate will enable nurses to take on a leadership role in curriculum development and to assume an educator role in clinical and classroom settings. This Post-Graduate Certificate can be completed fully online and 18 credit hours and 120 practicum hours for successful completion. FNU awards a Post-Graduate certificate in Nurse Educator upon completion of this program. (18 Credits)
Credit Hours
  • NGR 6713
    Nursing Curriculum Development
    3
  • NGR 6710
    Teaching and Learning Strategies (clinical / classroom)
    3
  • NGR 6712
    Introduction to Educational Concepts
    3
  • NGR 6715
    Instructional Technology
    3
  • NGR 6718
    Assessment and Evaluation Strategies
    3
  • NGR 6940
    Nurse Educator Practicum (Capstone Project)
    3
  • Total
    Nurse Educator Post-Graduate Certificate
    18
The Nurse Leadership and Management Post-Graduate Certificate is designed to prepare nurses to apply transformational leadership and decision-making skills necessary to manage nursing units and other departments. In addition, this Post-Graduate Certificate will equip the nurse leader with the essential knowledge base to participate in the design and implementation of new models of care delivery and coordination. This Post-Graduate Certificate can be completed fully online and 12 credit hours and 120 practicum hours for successful completion. FNU awards a Post-Graduate certificate in Nurse Leadership and Management upon completion of this program. (12 Credits)
Credit Hours
  • NGR 6120
    Nursing Decision-Making in Complex Health Systems
    3
  • NGR 6720
    Organizational Dynamics
    3
  • NGR 6722
    Financial Management and Resource Development
    3
  • NGR 6942
    Nurse Leadership and Management Practicum (Capstone Project)
    3
  • Total
    Nurse Leadership & Management Post-Graduate Certificate
    12
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Post-Graduate Certificate is designed to prepare nurses for advanced clinical practice in the delivery of acute and chronic care to individuals and families throughout the lifespan and across the health continuum. This Post-Graduate Certificate also focuses on the acquisition of evidence-based practice knowledge necessary to preside clinical care that includes health promotion, disease prevention, health education, and counseling in primary care settings. Graduates are required to take the Family Nurse Practitioner Board Certification Examination with American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in order to be licensed and work as a Family Nurse Practitioner. The FNP Post-Graduate Certificate can be completed in a hybrid format and requires 18 credit hours and 500 practicum hours for successful completion. FNU awards a Post-Graduate Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner upon completion of this program. (18 Credits)
Credit Hours
  • NGR 6610
    Advanced Primary Care of Family I
    3
  • NGR 6610 L
    Advanced Primary Care of Family Practicum I
    3
  • NGR 6616
    Advanced Primary Care of Family II
    3
  • NGR 6616 L
    Advanced Primary Care of Family Practicum II
    3
  • NGR 6638
    Integration Advanced Primary Care of Family
    3
  • NGR 6619 L
    Advanced Family Practicum III
    3
  • Total
    Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate
    18
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Post-Graduate Certificate focuses on advanced nursing practice and prepares Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners to provide primary mental health care to patients of all ages. The focus of clinical practice is to prepare Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners to provide comprehensive care to individuals, families, and communities in various settings, such as psychiatric clinics, hospitals, community mental health centers, correctional facilities, and outpatient offices. Graduates are required to take the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Board Certification Examination with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This Post-Graduate Certificate will be offered in a hybrid format and requires 21 credit hours and 600 practicum hours for successful completion. FNU awards a Post-Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner upon completion of this program. (21 Credits)
Credit Hours
  • NGR 6503
    Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan. Individual & Family Therapy: Psychopathology & the DSM V
    3
  • NGR 6503 L
    Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan Practicum I: Individual and Family Therapy (200 CL)
    3
  • NGR 6505 L
    Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan: Integration Practicum III (200 CL)
    3
  • NGR 6508
    Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan: Group Therapy
    3
  • NGR 6508 L
    Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan Practicum II: Group Therapy (200 CL)
    3
  • NGR 6538
    Psychopharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing
    3
  • NGR 6560
    Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Decision Making
    3
  • Total
    Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate
    21
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Post-Graduate Certificate provides care to individuals with acute, critical, and complex care in the inpatient acute care setting. AGACNPs practice in different healthcare settings, such as intensive care, trauma, acute care, and various specialty areas. The focus of practice extends from disease prevention to the stabilization of critically ill patients. This Post-Graduate Certificate will be offered as face-to-face instruction and requires 24 credit hours and 500 practicum hours for successful completion. FNU awards a Post-Graduate Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner upon completion of this program. (24 Credits)
Credit Hours
  • NGR 6210
    Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I
    3
  • NGR 6210 L
    Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical I
    3
  • NGR 6211
    Adult-Gerontology Acute Care II
    3
  • NGR 6211 L
    Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical II
    3
  • NGR 6212
    Adult-Gerontology Acute Care III
    3
  • NGR 6212 L
    Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical III
    3
  • NGR 6215
    Adult-Gerontology Acute Care IV
    3
  • NGR 6215 L
    Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Integration Practicum
    3
  • Total
    Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate
    21

Academic Requirements:

  1. Students are required to obtain a grade of B in all classes, a satisfactory “S” grade in lab, and practicum.
  2. C is a failing grade. Note that students in the RN-MSN track who are taking BSN courses will follow the BSN grading criteria. However, at least a GPA of 3.0 must be maintained to progress to the MSN courses.
  3. Students will be allowed to repeat a course only once. Two failing grades will result in termination from the program. However, students who fail the lecture or clinical component of a practicum course must repeat both lecture and clinical, which will count as one failed course.

Admission Requirements: Master of Science in Nursing Program (MSN & RN- MSN)

  1. Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an NLN or CCNE accredited institution with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Students who graduated from a non-programmatically accredited institution and meet all other admission requirements will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Admission is not guaranteed. Foreign transcripts must be evaluated and accompanied by equivalencies from an accredited Credential Evaluation Agency.
  2. If undergraduate GPA is less than 2.5, GMAT score of 400 and above or a GRE composite score of 150 (or 900) required.
  3. Current unrestricted license as a professional registered nurse in the United States. Out of state applicants must be eligible for endorsement by the Florida Board of Nursing.
  4. Applicants with a foreign degree who lack academic experience in an English language environment must demonstrate English proficiency, which can be established through one of the following:
  • Meeting Florida Board of Nursing English competency examinations’ requirements.
  • Score of 62 and above on the Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL in each section with an acceptable level (intermediate or fair and above).
  • Score of 5.5 on the IELTS, or a 44 on the PTEA.
  • Completion of a-six credit English Graduate Preparatory Course (ENG 1120 & ENG 1130) offered in one semester.
  • Completion of ENC 1101, ENC 1102 and SPC 1017.
  1. A completed program application.
  2. Two letters of recommendations from professional references who can attest to the candidate’s potential for advanced practice studies and leadership. One letter must be from a supervisor or a faculty.
    1. Current resume or curriculum vitae.
    2. Official (sealed) transcript from undergraduate nursing institution.
    3. A written essay of a minimum of 250 words depicting reason for pursuing an advanced degree in nursing.
    4. Entrance Interview (Students will be accepted based on their qualifications, merits, professional experiences, and contributions to the nursing profession).
    • Computer knowledge of Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is required for online classes.

Credit Transferability

The MSN program will accept MSN credits from another regionally accredited institution. The applicants must submit original transcripts from the previous institutions. The Vice-President of Academic Affairs and the Director of Nursing will render evaluation of submitted transcripts with the number of credits accepted.

  • FNU reserves the right to choose the credentialing institutions it recognizes
  • A maximum of 6 credits will be accepted.
  • Credits earned from a Bachelor Degree in a related field or from a Foreign Medical Doctor Degree will be transferred as a block to the RN-MSN track.
  • No additional credits will be transferred beyond the block transfer.

The master’s degree program in nursing at Florida National University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

DISCLAIMER:
Foreign online students who hold international nursing licenses can be enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nurse Leadership and Management and the Nurse Educator concentrations. Note that foreign students who graduate from an online nursing program and hold an international nursing license are unable to work in the USA, unless they sit for the NCLEX in the state of their choice. In order to sit for the NCLEX exam, students will be required to present a translation and equivalency of their academic credentials in English from an authorized evaluation agency and or any other requirements requested by the Board of Nursing.

This curriculum will be implemented in the Spring 2020 for students pursuing the MSN or the MSN Post-Graduate Certificates. Refer to the 2017 catalog for the old curriculum.

End of Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
1. Integrate nursing theory, research, and advanced knowledge into practice settings to contribute to the development of the nursing discipline as a science and to function efficiently in the roles of Nurse Educator, Leader, and Practitioner.
2. Appraise healthcare ethical issues as they affect individuals, communities, society and provide leadership in collaboration with other disciplines to improve clinical outcomes.
3. Advocate for quality and cost-effective care through comprehensive management and negotiation with various health care delivery systems.
4. Use critical thinking to provide holistic nursing care across the lifespan in a variety of complex health care settings utilizing evidence-based practice knowledge to promote health, prevent disease, and maintain well-being for individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations.
5. Apply concepts and skills of leadership, management, quality improvement, and patient safety in the delivery of high-quality care while engaging in the promotion of health, prevention of disease, and maintenance of high function across the health-illness continuum.
6. Incorporate the values of human diversity and dignity in their practice to deliver culturally and spiritually sensitive care to the community.

Student Achievement Data – Hialeah Campus

2020 FNP AANP Certification Pass Rate…………………………………….89.0%
2019 FNP AANP Certification Pass Rate…………………………………….93.0%
2018 FNP AANP Certification Pass Rate …………………………………..100.0%

2020 Job Placement……………………………………………………………100%
2019 Job Placement…………………………………………………………….87.5%
2018 Job Placement ……………………………………………………………97.0%

2020 Retention Rate…………………………………………………………….84.0%
2019 Retention Rate ……………………………………………………………74.0%