Next Application Date:
08/21/22
Next Term Starts:
08/21/2023
Credit Hours
Year Program
Per Credit Hour
Accredited
The family nurse practitioner (FNP) will apply family-centered primary care including preventive care, diagnosis and treatment, as well as health maintenance and management of chronic illness to individuals across the life span in predominantly ambulatory primary care settings. The family nurse practitioner program follows an integration of the master’s of science in nursing degree program and nurse practitioner core courses and practicum experiences specific to the preparation of a family nurse practitioner.
The master’s of science in nursing – family nurse practitioner program requires 47 credit hours comprising the 19-semester hour MSN core, synthesis and application, and the 28 semester hour / 600 clinical hour nurse practitioner FNP core.
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Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Register Here
MSN-Forensic Track Objectives:
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You’ll get the personal attention and flexibility needed to reach your goals at your pace. Our invested professors and small class sizes will set you up for success.
Our Jesuit Catholic values are based on a vision of a world changed for the better, emphasizing service and community engagement in addition to academics.
We offer exceptional online programs at an affordable cost. Numerous financial aid resources are available for our online students, making education more affordable.
The MSN FNP program requires 47 credit hours comprised of the 19-semester hour MSN core, synthesis and application and the 28-semester hour / 600 clinical hour nurse practitioner FNP core.
MSN Core/Synthesis/Application variations for FNP: NURS 754, NURS 703 and NURS 705 are not required.
The MSN core courses include theoretical and practical knowledge, which serve as the foundation for advanced nursing education in a variety of roles. Core courses focus on three major themes which are consistent with the philosophy for the graduate program: Critical systematic inquiry, professional and personal development and management of information and resources in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. Courses include:
This course examines ethical frameworks, such as theories of justice, rights-based ethics and virtue ethics and their significance to the delivery of health care. Analysis of ethical dilemmas focuses on differentiating what is called traditional and modern ethical frameworks for decision-making. Application will be made within the parameters of nursing’s metaparadigm (person, nursing, caring, healing, health, environment) using personal and professional processes of valuing, unconditional acceptance and deciding in the preservation of wholeness and dignity.
Introduction to the role of theory in knowledge development and its relationship to nursing research, practice, and administration. Critical analysis of selected theoretical models within the discipline of nursing and of theories and concepts from other disciplines as used in nursing. Concepts related to the application of the theoretical concepts in providing holistic care are explored. Examination of the application models, theories and concepts in nursing practice, administration and research.
Exploration of modes of inquiry for systematic study of the application, use and evaluation of nursing innovations in clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on the identification and solution of clinical problems through scientific inquiry. Research is examined for evidence-based practices which include a critical review of research studies, nurse’s expertise and patient/family preferences. Discussion entails the importance of dissemination of research findings.
This course provides an overview of health care policy, including formulating and analyzing policy at the institutional, local, state, federal and global levels. Issues regarding the nursing work environment as well as social determinants and healthcare delivery/ regulation will be discussed. The influence of socio-cultural, economic, political, ethical, legal and historical context on nursing and health care policy will be explored. The role of the master’s prepared holistic nurse in health policy decisions in the public and private sectors will be explicated.
Principles and biostatistical methods used in the study of the distribution and determinants of injury and disease through the interaction of environment and genetics in human populations (HP2020) are presented for use in the holistic development, implementation, and evaluation of primary, secondary and tertiary preventive and acute health care services in a variety of settings. Resources for epidemiological investigations within organizations and communities are introduced. Opportunities are provided to use the epidemiological and biostatistical methods of reasoning for determining causal inferences about the distribution and determinants of injury and disease (HP2020). Evidence-based innovative and evaluative health care delivery plans for clinical prevention and population health are developed using epidemiological and biostatistical data.
Prerequisites: NURS 502
Experienced registered nurses with an MSN from a regionally-accredited college or university and CCNE or ACEN (formerly NLNAC) accreditation are eligible to apply for the post-master’s certificate program.
To be considered for admission, students must submit the following:
Get Started on Xavier University’s free online application. You can begin the process in just a few clicks.
One official transcript directly from all colleges or universities that you have attended for any undergraduate and graduate course work. Applicants must have a degree from a regionally accredited university. A strong candidate will have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Send transcripts to:
Xavier University
ATTN: Admission Processing Center
3800 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45207-5131
For electronic transcripts, send to:
xugrad@xavier.edu
Current résumé or curriculum vitae outlining nursing experience.
A 3-page goal statement that addresses the following points:
A 3-page goal statement that addresses the following points:
Three professional recommendations, (Please provide contact information for recommenders in the online application. An electronic form will be sent via email.)
A strong candidate will provide:
A personal or phone interview may be required for the MSN- FNP program.
View the complete list of approved states on the State Authorization page.
Per Credit Hour
Total Estimated Tuition
Dr. Kimberly Toole joined Xavier University in 2011 after retiring as the director of nursing for the Cincinnati Health Department, where she worked for over three decades as a pediatric nurse practitioner in public health nursing and as a pediatric nurse practitioner. She was instrumental in developing Xavier’s FNP program and has continually worked to ensure the program meets the mission and goals of the College of Nursing and the University, the criteria for accreditation and certification, as well as meeting expected student learning outcomes. Dr. Toole believes students need to prepare for a world that is “increasingly diverse, complex, interdependent and able to care for the whole person,” which aligns with holistic nursing practices. Under her leadership, FNP graduates have achieved excellent certification board pass rates—with several years being at 100%—and high employment rates, reflecting her high standards of teaching. She continually strives toward Xavier’s vision of being a person of “learning and reflection, integrity and achievement, in solidarity for and with others,” and Xavier’s mission to “educate each student intellectually, morally, and spiritually.”
Contact Dr. Kimberly Toole at Toolek@xavier.edu
Dr. Catherine Frank currently works part-time as a family nurse practitioner in one of Cincinnati’s busiest emergency departments. Her passion for patient safety and quality improvement comes from over 23+ years of nursing in various patient care settings: long-term care, skilled nursing units, public health nursing, medical-surgical and critical care (intensive care unit and emergency departments). Dr. Frank received her BSN and MSN in Occupational Health from the University of Cincinnati, then returned to obtain an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner post-master’s certificate and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree. She also has a post-master’s certificate in family practice nursing from Xavier University.
Jonathan Ruedisueli, a professor in the Family Nurse Practitioner program, received his MSN from the University of Cincinnati in 2012. He has 9 years of experience as a practitioner and manager in retail health clinics. His current research and practice interests include antibiotic stewardship, overcoming vaccine hesitancy, and the promotion of safe bicycling and other active transportation for community health and wellness.
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).
These online programs are endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC). Only seventeen schools in the nation currently have this endorsement, and this endorsement permits graduates to sit for the Holistic Nurse Certification (HNC) examination. The MSN Education Track program (and the PM certificate program in Nursing Education) prepares graduates to sit for the NCC Certified Nurse Educator exam. The MSN FNP program (and the PM Certificate Program) prepares graduates for FNP certification through either ANCC or AANP certification boards.
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.
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, practicum and scholarly project courses may include an online synchronous session (at the discretion of the instructor) at the end of the semester for student sharing/collaboration purposes. Nursing administration and 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.
APRNs are nurses who have met advanced educational and clinical practice requirements. The four types of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing roles include:
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:
Choosing the right online program for your MSN degree is important. When evaluating different master’s programs, keep the following in mind:
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.
None of the MSN programs or Post Master’s certificate programs here (Education, FNP, Forensics) provide nursing licensure in any state. Nursing licensure is a pre-requisite for admission to these programs.
If you would like to continue your collegiate nursing education beyond a master’s degree, Xavier also offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Population Health Leadership (DNP) program.
VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.