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Family Nurse Practioner program

Nursing, MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner

College of Nursing
Overview

Our online Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) program is designed to provide the clinical skills and academic knowledge to promote health and treatment of physiologic and psychologic health, disease prevention, advanced physical assessment and management of common acute and chronic illnesses.

In many states, including Colorado, FNPs can practice independently, including the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic illness and the ordering and interpretation of diagnostic tests across the lifespan.

FNPs also practice in a variety of clinical settings such as primary care, home health, urgent care, ambulatory care, school-based clinics, retail health clinics and community health departments and clinics.

 

Program Details

A Master of Science in Nursing — Family Nurse Practitioner degree will help you develop the knowledge and skills that are required to practice.

  • Online coursework with on-campus intensives
  • Cohort model encourages student connections and community building
  • Clinical placements provided for students who live in the Denver metro area
  • Global health opportunities and interprofessional learning activities​
  • Outstanding record of first-time pass rates on FNP national certification exam
  • Graduates find employment quickly

Successful program completion will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and eligibility to sit for national certification with ANCC or AANP, depending on which examination you choose.

Timeline

The FNP program is completed full-time in a cohort, meaning in the fall and spring, students who are admitted will enroll in the program at the same time, complete all courses in a sequence together and graduate together. The FNP master's program can be completed in less than 2.5 years (8 semesters) as a full-time student.

Most students can complete the program online but will need to be able to attend on-campus intensives. It is advised students contact student affairs to discuss their specific state requirements prior to applying to the program.

This master's degree requires:

  • 42 Didactic Credits, courses taken online
  • 14 Clinical Credits, equaling 630 Clinical Hours

Tuition and Fees

Investing in your future is a big decision. However, becoming a fully online student at the University of Colorado is a high-quality and affordable option for learners of all types. Tuition and fees are based largely on the degree program you enroll in.

The tuition amount assessed is determined based on which University of Colorado campus, school, or college is offering your degree program, as well as if it is at the undergrad or graduate level, and finally your resident status. Visit our tuition and financial aid page for more information.

Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

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Admissions

Admission requirements and deadlines vary based on the program. In addition, you will have different requirements depending on if you are a first-time student, a transfer student or an international student. 

Learn more about the admissions process by filling out the form above or contacting an Enrollment Navigator today.

Career Outlook

Graduates with a Masters of Science in Nursing — Family Nurse Practitioner degree have a very wide range of career opportunities available to them.

The University of Colorado College of Nursing (CON) is responsible for ensuring adequate and sufficient clinical experiences for students in all programs, including students enrolled in distance programs. The University of Colorado College of Nursing arranges clinical placements for students who live in the Denver Metropolitan Seven-County area (Jefferson, Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, Broomfield and Boulder counties). For those who live outside of the Denver Metropolitan area, the students are asked to take the primary role in identifying their preceptors.

The Specialty Director will assess the preceptor qualifications and student learning needs and will make the final determination regarding the student-preceptor match. This process can take several months to achieve an affiliation agreement, so we highly recommend providing information about an institution to your Specialty Director shortly after program admission. However, if a rural or out-of-state student is unable to find a clinical preceptor(s)/site, the CON will provide a clinical site, which may NOT be in the geographic location of the student but will provide the student an adequate experience to meet the program outcomes. Additionally, if there is a concern of a clinical practice, a student may be asked to complete the clinical time in the Denver Metropolitan area for more direct observation and assessment by the CU CON faculty/Specialty Director.

The average salary in the Denver area for an MSN-FNP is $76,697 – $113,832.

Courses

The FNP program is completed full-time in a cohort, and we admit students for the MS, BS-DNP, and Post-Graduate Certificate programs every year for fall and spring semester admission. Please discuss application deadlines with your Enrollment Navigator.

Example Courses

NURS 6761 — Advanced Assessment

NURS 6009 — Theory Foundations for Advanced Nursing

NURS 6859 — Advanced Professional Role

NURS 6222 — Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics

NURS 6109 — Evidence-Based Practice: Evaluating

NURS 6243 — Advanced Pathophysiology

Related Programs

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Nursing, PhD
Nursing, RN to BSN

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CU Online is a pioneer in distance education. Since offering our first online course in 1996, we have grown to provide the people of Colorado and the United States with high-quality, engaging online degrees and certificate programs. Now it is your turn to discover what you can accomplish when you earn your degree from CU Online.

Contact our Enrollment Navigators today to learn more about our programs.

Get Connected

Contact CU Online

Call us today: 303-315-3000

CU Online

Phone: 303-315-3000

Email: cuonline@cu.edu

 

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