MSN Family Nurse Practitioner

The Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Seton Hall University prepares advanced practice nurses.
The major emphasis of the nurse practitioner tracks are to develop graduates with:

1.  A base for continued inquiry and contributions to the art and science of nursing and the knowledge and skills to exert a leadership role in the formulation of healthcare policy;
2. Expertise in the provision of health care;
3. Leadership ability in today’s health care environment.

Students complete courses in theory of advanced nursing practice where they develop skills in making independent clinical judgments as well as participate in experiences involving peer review, client advocacy, the development of collaborative, interdisciplinary relationships and role negotiation. Clinical instruction is carried out by nurse practitioners who actively model collaborative practice behaviors. An introductory basic physical assessment course is required within three years prior to beginning Graduate Nursing Practicum.
Throughout the course of the program, students will be assessed for cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains of learning in classes, clinical practice settings and during Immersion on-campus experiences by faculty and clinical preceptors.
The philosophy of the graduate nursing program is the basis for the development of the following outcomes. At the conclusion of the programs, the students will:

1.  Communicate in a scholarly manner;
2.  Demonstrate advanced critical thinking and decision making skills;
3.  Use best evidence to advance practice; and
4.  Act as a servant leader in a global society

Criteria for Admission

• Baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing from an N.L.N.A.C., A.C.E.N., or C.C.N.E. accredited program; 
• For recent BSN graduates, acceptance will be granted post NCLEX passing by August 15th of the year admitted to the program; proof of one year full-time employment is required prior to the start of practicum courses (year2).
• For students applying to the adult-gerontology acute care program, 1 year of professional nursing experience in an acute care setting is required at the time of application.
• Please note that there is a 3 and 4 year curriculum plan.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above (3.2 or above for Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner), plus a “B” average in all nursing courses; 
• Statement of professional goals; 
• Registered professional nurse licensure in U.S. state of practice and in New Jersey if clinical performed in New Jersey; 
• Letters of reference(one professional, one academic)(2 professional letters may be used if applicant is out of school over 5 years);
• TOEFL scores (minimum scores of 22 in reading, 22 in listening, 26 in speaking, and 24 in writing) and WES reports for all nurses educated outside of the United States and/or educated in a language other than English;
• A $75 application fee; and
• Selected students will be invited for a personal interview.

Prior to enrollment in clinical courses, accepted students must complete Joint Commission and OSHA requirements for immunization, medical history, liability insurance, criminal background check and competencies including the American Heart Association Certification course for CPR (BLS for Healthcare Professionals). Acute Care students must be certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

Nurse practitioner track applicants must have a minimum of at least one year of relevant nursing experience (two years- experience for Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner students), prior to admission to the program.

Academic Prerequisite

The following areas of undergraduate study must be completed prior to the first graduate course in nursing and are not credited toward the graduate degree: Statistics, Nursing Research and an Undergraduate Physical Assessment course. Nurse practitioner students must complete a basic physical assessment refresher course no more than three years prior to enrolling in Practicum I ( Acute Care students are required to complete a refresher regardless of when it was taken) 

Degree Requirements

For the Master of Science degree, satisfactory completion of 30-48 credits in the following areas is required:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Theoretical Basis of Nursing		3
Forces in Health Care		3
Nursing Research		3
Didactic Nursing Courses		24
Clinical Nursing Courses		15
Other Required Courses
Electives
Total Hours		48

Nine to 12 credits per semester constitute a full-time load. Students enrolled with 6 credits of which at least 3 credits are clinical are considered full-time equivalent students. Students typically take 5-8 semesters to complete the MSN degree, depending upon the program. Part-time students may take up to six years to complete the requirements. If the program is not completed in six years, students must apply for an extension. Students’ programs will be revised, as necessary, to meet current degree requirements.   

Clinical Instruction

Clinical instruction in all majors of the graduate program follows the preceptorship model. At sites serving as placements for development of students’ clinical and functional role expertise, agency personnel collaborate with the faculty in identifying master’s and doctoral prepared personnel within the agencies who serve as onsite preceptors. Under this collaborative model of instruction, students’ learning experiences are guided and enhanced by the faculty members who have primary responsibility for students’ progress. The preceptors may include nurses, physicians or members of other disciplines with whom the nurse educator, administrator or advanced practice nurse interacts. The onsite preceptors are invaluable in helping each student to identify and take advantage of the learning opportunities available within an institution.

*** Out-of-state students should check with the Director of Graduate Admissions in the College of Nursing (see website)to ensure that securing a clinical rotation will not be a problem before applying to a program.

M.S.N. Nurse Practitioner 

Students selecting the nurse practitioner tracks are prepared as Pediatric, Family Nurse, Adult-Gerontology, or Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. Students in the Pediatric track focus on the maintenance and promotion of health and the management of children with acute and/or chronic illness. Students in the Family Nurse track focus on the maintenance and promotion of health for families across the lifespan. Students in the Adult-Gerontology track focus on the primary prevention and management of adults with acute and chronic illnesses in either primary or acute care settings. Students in the Psychiatric/Mental Health track focus on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of acute and chronic mental health care needs of individuals across the lifespan.

The major emphases of the nurse practitioner tracks are to develop graduates with:

1. a base for continued inquiry and contributions to the art and science of nursing and the knowledge and skills to exert a leadership role in the formulation of healthcare policy;
2. expertise in the provision of health care; and
3. leadership ability in today’s health care environment.

Students complete courses in theory of advanced nursing practice where they develop skills in making independent clinical judgments as well as participate in experiences involving peer review, client advocacy, the development of collaborative, interdisciplinary relationships and role negotiation. Clinical instruction is carried out by nurse practitioners and/or physicians who actively model collaborative practice behaviors. An introductory basic physical assessment course is required within the three years prior to beginning Graduate Nursing Practicum I.

Degree Requirements

For the Master of Science degree, satisfactory completion of 30-48 credits in the following areas is required:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Theoretical Basis of Nursing		3
Forces in Health Care		3
Nursing Research		3
Didactic Nursing Courses		24
Clinical Nursing Courses		15
Other Required Courses
Electives
Total Hours		48

Nine to 12 credits per semester constitute a full-time load. Students enrolled with 6 credits of which at least 3 credits are clinical are considered full-time equivalent students. Students typically take 5-8 semesters to complete the MSN degree, depending upon the program. Part-time students may take up to six years to complete the requirements. If the program is not completed in six years, students must apply for an extension. Students’ programs will be revised, as necessary, to meet current degree requirements.    

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Courses
NURS 6123	Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice	3
NURS 6124	Forces in Health Care	3
NURS 6223	Health Promotion	3
NURS 6411	Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology	3
NURS 6415	Clinical Pharmacology	3
NURS 7141	Nursing Research I	3
NURS XXXX		3
NURS XXXX		3
NURS XXXX		3
NURS XXXX		4
NURS XXXX		4
NURS XXXX		3
NURS XXXX		4
NURS 7370	Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Decision Making	3
NURS 7470	Advanced Professional Role Enactment	3
Total Hours		48

MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Full-Time Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
First Semester		Hours
NURS 6123	Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice	3
NURS 6223	Health Promotion	3
NURS 6411	Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology	3
	Hours	9
Second Semester
NURS XXXX	Family Health Concepts	3
NURS 6124	Forces in Health Care	3
NURS 6415	Clinical Pharmacology	3
	Hours	9
Summer
NURS 7141	Nursing Research I	3
NURS XXXX	Adv Health Assessment and Clinical Decision Making Across the Life Span	3
NURS XXXX	Graduate Nursing Practicum	3
	Hours	9
Second Year
First Semester
NURS XXXX	Advanced Practice Nursing 1 Family	3
NURS XXXX	Graduate Nursing Practicum II - Family	4
	Hours	7
Second Semester
NURS XXXX	Advance Practice Nursing II - Family	3
NURS XXXX	Graduate Nursing Practicum III - Family	4
	Hours	7
Summer
NURS 7470	Advanced Professional Role Enactment	3
NURS XXXX	Graduate Nursing Practicum IV - Family	4
	Hours	7
	Total Hours	48

MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Part-Time Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
First Semester		Hours
NURS 6123	Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice	3
NURS 6411	Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology	3
	Hours	6
Second Semester
NURS 7141	Nursing Research I	3
NURS 6415	Clinical Pharmacology	3
	Hours	6
Summer
NURS 6124	Forces in Health Care	3
NURS 6223	Health Promotion	3
	Hours	6
Second Year
First Semester
NURS XXXX	Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Decision Making Across the Life Span	3
NURS XXXX	Graduate Nursing Practicum I - Family	3
	Hours	6
Second Semester
NURS XXXX	Advanced Practice Nursing 1 - Family	3
NURS XXXX	Graduate Nursing Practicum II - Family	4
	Hours	7
Summer
NURS XXXX	Famil Health Concepts	3
	Hours	3
Third Year
First Semester
NURS XXXX	Advanced Practice Nursing II – Family	3
NURS XXXX	Graduate Nursing Practicum III - Family	4
	Hours	7
Second Semester
NURS XXXX	Graduate Nursing Practicum IV - Family	4
NURS 7470	Advanced Professional Role Enactment	3
	Hours	7
	Total Hours	48