Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Track

Yes. This online MSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the premier accrediting agency for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs.

This program is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN).

This online program is endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC). Only fifteen universities in the nation currently have this endorsement, and this endorsement permits graduates to sit for the Holistic Nurse Certification (HNC) examination.

Xavier University is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission. The Xavier University College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

No. The MSN degree is from Xavier University and is awarded on meeting coursework standards that are independent of course delivery mode. Participants will earn an MSN degree.

Yes! Xavier University and the College of Nursing have been consistently recognized at the national level for having one of the best online MSN programs for primary care nursing education. See a list of all of our awards by program on our Rankings page.

The tuition rate for the online MSN program is $687 per credit hour. The total cost of the degree program will vary, depending upon transfer credits awarded, additional fees and the cost of textbooks/materials. See the Tuition page for more information.

No, online courses charge the same rate as all other in-person courses that students complete.

Students may find that they can get to know their professor/instructor and other students better in an online course than in a traditional face-to-face course. There are many options for interacting with your instructors and classmates in your online program, including discussion boards, video or audio files from your instructor, email and video conferencing. There may be additional opportunities for interaction available based on the course and instructor.

Most MSN-FNP courses are offered in 16-week period. However some courses could be 8 weeks or shorter.

Part-time FNP students usually take 1-2 classes per semester.

Participation expectations vary by professor. Courses will be asynchronous with no set meeting times; however, professors have the option of including synchronous online sessions in their courses. Faculty in this program are very sensitive to the need for flexibility of working professionals.

Online MSN courses include components such as readings, activities, video lectures, discussion boards and other peer interaction, tests/quizzes and group projects. Most courses do not include mandatory synchronous meeting times; however, they are synchronously paced – students progress through the course together according to the scheduled course content and activities. Xavier prides itself on upholding the value of “cura personalis,” or “care of the whole person,” in its classes. MSN Faculty maintain those values in our online courses by constructing activities that build a sense of community among participants and by making themselves available for questions and instructional support.

Registered nurses (RN) hold a nursing diploma or associate degree in nursing and have met the licensing requirements mandated by their state board. It is possible for registered nurses to earn an MSN degree through an online school bridge program. Currently, Xavier does not offer such a program. However, Xavier does offer a full-time on campus 20-month MSN Direct Entry (MIDAS) program. This program is designed for individuals who have a bachelor's degree in another discipline but wish to be a licensed registered nurse (RN). Upon successful completion of the program, the student is awarded the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and is eligible to sit for the National Council Licensing Exam-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN).

The other option - the 'online school bridge' programs allow a registered nurse (RN) to earn a master's degree in nursing without having a bachelor's degree. Essentially it is a master’s program that fills the gap with the knowledge you would have received when earning a bachelor of science in nursing. People who normally study for the MSN degree are working as registered nurses with years of experience who hope to expand their career into a specialization such as a nurse practitioner, midwife, nurse anesthetist or clinical nurse specialist. MSN Programs on this timeline may take up to 30 months depending on the individual student and programs curriculum.

If you are not a registered nurse but hold a bachelor's degree in a related health or science field, and would like to earn your MSN degree, Xavier's MIDAS program right be the right fit. This full-time on campus 20-month MSN program is designed for individuals who have a bachelor's degree in another discipline but wish to be a licensed registered nurse (RN). Upon successful completion of the program, the student is awarded the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and is eligible to sit for the National Council Licensing Exam-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN).

There are also other online master’s programs available to you. These master’s programs are labeled as BSN (bachelor's degree of science in nursing ) to MSN programs, and typically focus on the BSN topics for about 18 months. Currently, Xavier does not offer such a program. Once the BSN part of the master's program is completed, you will sit for the nursing board exam. Following the exam, the remainder of the master's program will focus on obtaining the MSN degree which takes about another 18 months. The timeline for this master's program depends on the individual students and master’s program curriculum. People who normally earn an MSN degree this way hold a bachelor's degree and have work experience.

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) are a vital part of the health system of the United States. They are registered nurses educated at Masters or post Masters level and in a specific role and patient population. APRNs are prepared by education and certification to assess, diagnose, and manage patient problems, order tests, and prescribe medications. An APRN is a licensed healthcare professional who may select to work independently or partner with a doctor or physician. There are multiple specializations that an advanced nurse can have in primary care, such as adult health, family health, gerontology health, oncology, pediatric health and women's health, with sub-specializations in allergy, immunology, cardiovascular, dermatology, emergency medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, oncology, neurology, occupational health, orthopedics, sports medicine and urology.

Having a master's degree in nursing practice opens the door for many different career opportunities. Some potential career paths in the nursing practice for a nurse holding a Master’s of Science in Nursing degree may include:

• Family nurse practitioner: Family nurse practitioners are APN’s who provide family-focused care. A nurse in this MSN family nurse practitioner role is able to develop treatment plans for acute and chronic illnesses, educate patients on disease prevention, conduct exams, perform diagnostics and screening evaluations, prescribe medications, and emphasize preventative care.

• Pediatric nurse practitioner: A pediatric nurse practitioner may work independently or with a healthcare organization to provide services such as well-child exams, childhood immunizations, routine developmental screenings, diagnostic and treatment of childhood illnesses, provide counseling to families on health-related issues and interrupt lab results.

• Nursing informatics specialist: Nurses working as an informatics specialist use their collegiate nursing education combined with information technology advanced practice nursing skills and apply them to patient care.

• Geriatric nurse practitioner: Gerontological nurse practitioners focus on serving the aging population. They often diagnose and treat age-related impairments such as blindness, hearing loss, dementia, and malnutrition. Gerontological nurse practitioners are able to order diagnostic tests, interrupt results, design, coordinate and manage patient care, prescribe medications and counsel patients and their families.

• Clinical nurse researcher: Clinical nurse researchers are vital to pharmaceutical and medical research. Using their clinical nurse education, they write proposals for grants, evaluate data and analyze large amounts of information.

• Psychiatric nurse practitioner: Psychiatric nurse practitioners treat patients with organic and functional psychiatric disorders. Working alongside other mental health professionals, psychiatric nurse practitioners use their leadership qualities and nursing education to treat disorders ranging from depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In order to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you must have a minimum of two years of nursing experience, 2,000 hours of clinical practice in a mental health setting and along with the clinical practice, you will be required to complete 30 hours of continuing nursing education in mental health every three years.

• Forensic nurse consultant: Forensic nursing merges the healthcare profession with the justice system. Forensic nurses perform a variety of roles including evaluating and caring for victims of assault and abuse, neglect and sexual crimes. While they treat the victims, forensic nurses collect the evidence and information needed for court. Forensic nurses may be asked to provide medical testimony in court. Forensic nurses can work in a variety of areas. While typically found in hospitals, they may also be available to work with non-profit organizations, be on call for law enforcement, teach community education classes or work in correctional facilities.

• Nurse ethicist: Solving ethical issues that arise in the science of nursing is an art in itself. Nurses in the career path weigh in on tough ethical issues such as quality of life decisions and capital punishment. Using their nursing education, nurse ethicists work on interdisciplinary teams to solve ethical issues that require careful conversation and research.

• Nurse educator: Nurse educators shape the next generation of nurses. Educators develop lesson plans, supervise students' clinical practice, and serve as mentors to students. Many educators are able to teach nursing education classes and work in a career path, caring for patients.

• Legal nurse consultant: Nurses who specialize in law, either as a consultant or lawyer understand the ins and outs of many legal cases. A legal nurse consultant helps provide insight on evidence and medical records to law professionals.

Choosing the right online program for your MSN degree is important. When evaluating different master's programs, keep the following in mind:

• Make sure the master's programs are accredited.
• Graduating from an accredited college masters program ensures that you received the best education possible for your degree.
• Research the state licensing requirements of where you want to practice
• Make sure to research the state you plan to practice in. Knowing the state licensing requirements and if they will accept the MSN degree program you completed is critical to being able to use your degree once it's completed. 
• Determine the tuition cost and financial aid options
• Each school MSN program varies in overall tuition cost. Research the best option for you and speak with a financial aid officer about any grants, scholarships, or other ways to receive assistance with the tuition cost of the master's program. 
• Ask about in person requirements
• Most accredited master's programs require students to attend clinical and practicum parts of the program. See what the requirements are for the program you are interested in and think about how far you are willing to travel in order to complete these. 
• Take inventory of your technology
• Make sure to take inventory of your technology equipment to ensure you have the right hardware and software needed to learn online.

Accreditation is very important for an online nursing program. Employers often want to verify the legitimacy of an online nursing degree, and agencies such as the CCNE are reliable authorities on legitimate nursing programs. CCNE works to ensure that schools maintain quality nursing education and curriculum in their bachelor's and master's programs. In order for schools to be CCNE accredited, they must have a nursing program established for a minimum of one year. Next, the school program's mission, goals, and expected outcomes are evaluated. Once the BSN and master's programs have met the standards of CCNE, an onsite visit is conducted by accreditation professionals who then send a report to the council. The council will then inform the schools if they are accredited for the BSN and master of nursing programs.