interprofessional
Nursing students at D'Youville learn to work as part of a collaborative healthcare team through Interprofessional Education Labs.
learn moreFor over 70 years, D'Youville has been preparing students to be leaders in the nursing profession.
Overview & Distinctions
Overview
A family nurse practitioner meets the healthcare needs of the family by providing primary and specialty care for patients of all ages.
Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the program can be completed in two-years of full-time study. Upon graduation, you are eligible to take the examination for board certification.
If you’re interested in becoming a family nurse practitioner (FNP), D’Youville’s nursing program is an ideal place to start. Established in 1942, the School of Nursing has an excellent reputation as one of the best in the region for high-quality, student-centered education.
What You'll Learn
As a student in D'Youville's master of science FNP program, you will:
- Learn to assess, diagnose and manage common acute and chronic illnesses;
- Gain skills in promoting healthy habits and educating patients about disease prevention;
- Get practical experience in women's health, pediatrics and adult settings;
- Benefit from the opportunity to work closely with faculty mentors and those from the nursing community.
Why Choose D'Youville?
- Our faculty are clinical experts in their fields and recognized for their student-centered approach that emphasizes individualized instruction and career guidance.
- Studies show that teamwork across clinical specialties improves patient outcomes. D'Youville's unique interdisciplinary education lab offers the opportunity for you to practice treating patients (played by actors) alongside a team of students from 7 other health care majors at D'Youville — all under the supervision of a skilled instructor.
- D’Youville’s nursing program reflects the institution’s mission to educate professionals who contribute to the world community through leadership and service to others.
- If you're interested in furthering your education after you complete your master's degree, D'Youville's Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP) program may be an option.
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
We recommend that applicants to D'Youville's family nurse practitioner (MS) hold at least one year of practice as a registered nurse.
Requirements
- Official transcripts from all college/universities attended
- A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited college or university program
- Evidence of capability to succeed in a graduate program based on a overall undergraduate GPA of at least a 3.0 (based on a 4.0 system)
- A current license to practice professional nursing in New York State or Ontario
- Two letters of recommendation that include comment on the applicant's clinical performance (preferably from a supervisor and colleague)
- A current certification in CPR
- Letter of intent
Prerequisites
Applicants to D'Youville's family nurse practitioner (MS) must complete the following undergraduate course prerequisites:
| Undergraduate Courses |
|---|
| Statistics |
| Health Assessment (or its equivalent) |
| Pathophysiology (or its equivalent) |
| Pharmacology (or its equivalent) |
Canadian students must submit a 'course-by-course' evaluation (or equivalent) of all Canadian college and/or university transcripts through the World Education Services (WES).
Use the Online Course Equivalency database to see whether the courses you've taken at other institutions can be counted towards a degree at D'Youville.
Curriculum
CURRICULUM
Nurse Practitioner (Family Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan)
Degree: M.S.
Clinical Component
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 631 |
Advanced Health AssessmentThis course is designed for the graduate nursing student preparing for the family
nurse practitioner role, or the community health nursing advanced clinical track.
Students learn how to competently perform and document a complete history and physical
for people of all ages. Opportunities to practice their developing health assessment
skills are provided in the on-campus lab. |
3.0 |
| NUR 631L |
Advanced Health Assessment LabThis course is designed for the graduate nursing student preparing for the family
nurse practitioner role, or the community health nursing advanced clinical track.
Students learn how to competently perform and document a complete history and physical
for people of all ages. Opportunities to practice their developing health assessment
skills are provided in the on-campus lab. |
1.0 |
| NUR 634 |
Health Promotion-Children & FamiliesThis course was developed for the family nurse practitioner student preparing to work
with children. This course provides the theoretical knowledge necessary to make sound
clinical decisions. Advanced level normal growth and development will be presented,
along with common variations from health. The role of the nurse practitioner. in the
health promotion of children within the family system will be stressed Care of children
and families from diverse ethnic backgrounds will be explored. Students must plan
to take NUR 638 the following semester. |
3.0 |
| NUR 635 |
Health Promotion-WomenThis course was developed for the family nurse practitioner student preparing to work
with women and the childbearing family. The course provides the theoretical knowledge
necessary to make sound clinical decisions when providing primary health care to women
and childbearing families. Advanced level normal growth and development will be presented,
along with common variations from health. The role of the nurse practitioner. in the
health promotion of women and pregnant women within the family system will be stressed.
Care of women and families from diverse ethnic backgrounds will be explored. Students
must plan to take NUR-639 in the following semester. |
3.0 |
| NUR 637 |
Health Promotion Adults Aging PopulationThis course was developed for the family N.P. student preparing to work with adults.
It provides the theoretical background necessary to make sound clinical decisions.
The role of the N.P. in health promotion and treatment of health problems will be
stressed Nursing care of adults from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds will be
explored. The special needs of aging clients will also be stressed. Students must
plan to take NUR 640S in the following semester. |
3.0 |
| NUR 638 |
Fnp Practicum in Pediatrics In PediatricsStudents will complete 200 hours of guided clinical experiences providing primary
health care to pediatric patients. Client assessment and management skills will be
stressed Health promotion of underserved populations through patient education and
collaboration with other health professionals will be developed. |
3.0 |
| NUR 639 |
FNP Practicum-Women Health CareStudents will complete 200 hours of guided clinical experiences providing primary
health care to women of all ages. The childbearing cycle will be included in this
practicum. Client assessment and management skills will be stressed Health promotion
of underserved populations through patient education and collaboration with other
health professionals will be developed. |
3.0 |
| NUR-640 | 1 | |
| NUR 641 |
Clinical Practicum in Adult Health IIAdvanced practice nursing students will complete a minimum of 240 hours of guided
clinical experience with adult patients. Client assessment and management skills
of patients with increasingly complex disorders will be stressed. Health promotion
for all populations will be accomplished through direct care, patient education
and collaboration with other health professionals. |
4.0 |
| Total | 24 | |
Research Component
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 600 |
Theory Development in Nursing ResearchThis course will present a critique of theories used in nursing practice and in nursing
research. Students will develop an understanding of the philosophical and historical
trends that shape theories that are applied to the discipline of nursing and impact
the delivery of health care services. Emphasis is placed on the process of concept
analysis and the application of theory to nursing practice. Prerequisite/Co-requisite:
undergraduate statistics course and student must be enrolled in a graduate program
or have the permission of the instructor. |
3.0 |
| NUR 601 |
Research Methods in NursingThis course will provide the foundational knowledge needed by masters' prepared nurses
in order to design and evaluate research methodologies used for investigating clinical
problems. The components of research design including settings, sampling frames, instrumentation,
subject selection, and validity threats will be presented. Computer programs used
for statistical analyses in nursing and health-related research will be reviewed.
Emphasis is placed on the masters prepared nurse as a producer and consumer of research.
Prerequisite/Co-requisite: undergraduate statistics course and student must be enrolled
in a graduate program or have the permission of the instructor. |
3.0 |
| Total | 6 | |
Supportive Component
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 632 |
Advanced PharmacologyDesigned for the graduate nursing student preparing for family nurse practitioner
practice, or the community health nursing clinical track, this course provides advanced
concepts of pharmacology. These include the actions, usual dosages, absorptions, distributions
and side effects of commonly prescribed drugs. Legal and ethical issues related to
prescription writing are included. This course meets the requirements of New York
state for nurse practitioner licensure. |
3.0 |
| NUR 633 |
Advanced Physiology & PathophysiologyDesigned for the graduate nursing student preparing for family nurse practitioner
practice, or the community health nursing advanced clinical track, this course utilizes
a systems approach to the study of normal human physiology. Variations of normal physiology
are explored in relation to adults and children experiencing a wide range of health
concerns. |
3.0 |
| Total | 6 | |
Choose Either Project or Thesis Option:
Project Option Requirements
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 610 |
Project Seminar Design & ProposalCritical discussion of current nursing practice,nursing education or nursing administration
challenges or other needs of the profession,as related to gaps representing project
opportunities. Students will identify and delineate a project concept,with subsequent
development of the project. |
3.0 |
| NUR 629 |
Project Advisement: Implement and EvaluationThis course provides continuing systematic development of a clinically-based project
that addresses a problem important to nursing. The problem may be related to health
policy,health education,health administration,community-based initiatives or patient-population
problems. During this course,the student will meet with their project director to
complete the design,and implement and evaluate his or her project according to School
of Nursing guidelines. |
1.0 |
| Total | 4 | |
Thesis Option Requirements:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GRA 610 |
Thesis SeminarThis course involves a discussion of current research in the profession. Students
will identify and delineate a research problem and develop a thesis proposal. |
3.0 |
| GRA 629 |
Thesis AdvisementThis course provides for a systematic investigation of a research problem selected
by the student as an independent learning situation with faculty guidance. A student
thesis will be completed according to the guidelines in the D'Youville College Thesis
Handbook. Students must register for their thesis director's section.
|
0-6 |
| Total | 6-9 | |
Total Required for M.S.: 40-42
Clinical practicum courses include:
- NUR 638 Family NP Clinical Practicum in Pediatrics
- NUR 639 Family NP Clinical Practicum in Women’s Health Care
- NUR 640 Family NP Clinical Practicum I in Adult Health and Aging Adults
- NUR 641 Family NP Clinical Practicum II
Preparation courses include:
- NUR 631 & 631L Advanced Health Assessment and Lab
- NUR 634 Health Promotion and Primary Care of Children and Families
- NUR 635 Health Promotion and Primary Care of Women and Families
- NUR 637 Health Promotion and Primary Care of Adults and Aging Populations
Continuing Practicum courses include:
- NUR 654 Continuing Practicum Peds
- NUR 655 Continuing Practicum Women's Health
- NUR 657 Continuing Practicum Adult
Students who receive grades below B in courses other than those listed above are subject to the overall policies of the graduate school. Students on probation can take other preparation or supportive courses while on probation.
Careers
Careers
D'Youville's two-year MS (Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner) program prepares graduates for the licensure examination.
A Family Nurse Practitioner's Role
Family Nurse Practitioners provide primary and specialty care. They assess, diagnose, plan and institute management of health care services for individuals and families in need of care.
With an advanced degree in nursing, more nurses are involved in research, consulting and private practice.
Career Outlook
Employment of Family Nurse Practitioners is projected to grow 31 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. For more information about the job prospects for Family Nurse Practitioners, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
For more information about careers in nursing, visit: www.DiscoverNursing.com and www.nln.org.
Graduate Nursing Degrees at D’Youville
The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that nursing profession will increase 19% per year until at least 2022. Denise Dunford, DNS, FNP-BC, APRN, an associate professor at D’Youville, explains why D’Youville’s graduate programs prepare students to meet demands and take leadership roles in healthcare.
