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Earn a Family Nurse Practitioner Degree Online

Take Charge of Your Career

“As a nursing-focused school, Chamberlain gave me the confidence that nurses like me can make a difference. Not just in direct patient care, but in many aspects of healthcare.”
Angelique

RN to BSN, FNP, and DNP graduate

Population Health, Epidemiology, & Statistical Principles
This course introduces students to advanced practice competencies related to population health, epidemiology, and statistical principles.

Students explore, analyze, apply, and evaluate biostatistics for evidence-based practice and population-based care. Topics include the use and application of epidemiology and statistics for the delivery and monitoring of aggregate populations.

Advanced Pathophysiology

The student explores, analyzes, applies, and evaluates the normal and abnormal human responses to selected pathophysiologic mechanisms and conditions.

Advanced Pharmacology Fundamentals
This course expands knowledge of pharmacological principles specific to the role of the APN.

Students explore, analyze, apply, and evaluate commonly used drugs for the treatment of chronic diseases and self-limiting acute conditions.

Advanced Pharmacology for Care of the Family
Students build expanded knowledge of pharmacology across the lifespan, applying foundational principles from previous courses.

Specific issues will be addressed including the effects of culture, ethnicity, age, pregnancy, gender and funding on pharmacologic management. Legal and ethical aspects of prescribing will be addressed.

Advanced Physical Assessment
This course expands the knowledge and skills of health assessment principles necessary to perform a thorough health assessment.

The student will develop assessment techniques related to history and physical examination of clients across the lifespan, including psychiatric-mental health and related supportive assessments. Students will explore, analyze, apply, and evaluate these principles in the classroom and laboratory.

Leadership and Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse
This course introduces students to the role development of today’s advanced practice nurse (APN) leader in society and healthcare organization systems from the perspective of primary and acute care.

Students will explore, analyze, apply, and evaluate diverse aspects of ethical and legal decision-making standards specific to APN scope of practice. Topics include the standards and regulations governing the practice of APNs in diverse settings. The course emphasizes strategies and processes that foster implementation of visionary leadership, diffusion of innovation, and change within an organization and explores social, political, legal, legislative, regulatory, and organizational factors that influence healthcare. Principles of leadership are emphasized including ethics, negotiation, motivating others, acting as an advocate, problem-solving, managing diversity, interprofessional collaboration and multi-agency partnerships, quality improvement and safety, and organizational behavior.

Differential Diagnosis and Primary Care
This FNP program course will provide students with content regarding formulating differential diagnoses of individuals within the primary care setting, along with an introduction to critical diagnostic skills to cultivate evidence-based behaviors.

An emphasis will be placed on processing client information in a logical, progressive manner and formulating differential diagnoses for individuals across the lifespan. The course will include 125 hours of supervised clinical practicum in primary care.

Primary Care of the Maturing and Aged Family
This course continues to expand the knowledge of health-assessment principles specific to the role of the FNP, with a focus on the common health problems and healthcare needs of the middle-aged and older adult and family.

The student will explore, analyze, apply, and evaluate chronic health conditions frequently encountered in the primary care of older adults. Students will further develop their skills related to patient education, protocol development, follow-up, and referral through a clinical practicum experience in a precepted primary-care setting.

Primary Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family Practicum
This online FNP program course continues to expand the knowledge of health assessment principles specific to the role of the FNP, with a focus on the healthcare needs of women and families throughout reproductive and childrearing years.

Students will further develop their skills related to health promotion, prevention of illness, diagnosis, and management of health problems commonly experienced. Care strategies will include patient education, protocol development, follow-up, and referral through a clinical practicum experience in a precepted primary care setting.

Advanced Clinical Diagnosis and Practice across the Lifespan Practicum
This course continues to expand the theoretical and practical knowledge of diagnostic principles specific to the role of the FNP, for the healthcare needs of individuals of all ages.

Students will further develop their skills related to health promotion, prevention of illness, diagnosis, and management of complex acute and chronic conditions, including behavioral health. Care strategies will include patient education, protocol development, follow-up, and referral through a clinical practicum experience in a precepted advanced practice setting.

FNP Capstone Practicum and Intensive

Students synthesize all elements of clinical management skills and knowledge and continue to analyze, apply, and evaluate diverse aspects of patient assessment and care.

This precepted clinical practicum is with an approved provider in an advanced practice setting. Focus topics include clinical management skills, case studies, chart reviews, and practice critique, with a capstone project evidencing increasing complex clinical management skills. An on-ground intensive review session occurs during this MSN FNP course.
Get Live Board Certification Exam Review
At the end of our Capstone course you will get an intense board review session to help prepare you to be successful on your Nurse Practitioner Board Certification Exam. During the 2.5-day intensive experience, you’ll attend a live comprehensive board review session in the Chicago area for culminating

Restituto Velarde

Ask a Student

What was your experience like with the preceptor matching service?

“The matching service is really, really helpful. It decreases the stress and anxiety, and I had a really good experience with the preceptor I matched with.”

Restituto V.
‘20 Graduate, MSN FNP

Gaelle M

Ask a Student

How would you describe your immersion experience?

“I got to put faces to names of my online classmates and get more comfortable with advanced practice skills. Can’t wait to get started with clinical rotations next year!”

Gaelle M.  

‘18 Graduate, MSN FNP

MSN FNP Admission FAQ

Can I transfer credits into the online FNP program?

Up to six semester hours may be eligible for transfer into Chamberlain’s MSN FNP program. Transfer credits may only fulfill core course requirements and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Learn more in our transfer guide.

How long is Chamberlain’s FNP program?

You can earn your MSN FNP degree in less than three years, or eight semesters, of full-time study, taking two courses per semester for three semesters each year. Some students choose to space out the program requirements and take longer to complete their studies. 

How do I find a FNP preceptor?

Once you complete the application process for FNP school, your admission representative will provide you with information on how to identify a potential practicum site and preceptor. You will also be matched with a dedicated team to support you in securing your practicum site and preceptor.

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What is an FNP?

Are you an RN and love your job, but also feel ready to expand as a medical professional? There are many reasons to consider becoming FNP. But, what is a Family Nurse Practitioner? The family nurse practitioner’s scope of practice is quite diverse, allowing for career mobility, specialization in a specific patient demographic, and practice in a variety of clinical settings.

An Accredited FNP Program

View Chamberlain’s accreditation and state authorizations

Chamberlain University accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.com  an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Chamberlain University confers online degrees from its Main Campus in Addison, IL.

For a complete list, and to learn more, check out our authorizations or view our approvals in your state

 


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Distinguished Accreditations

Chamberlain University College of Nursing was named a Center of Excellence™ in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing for promoting the pedagogical expertise of faculty. 


 

Frequently Asked Questions About FNP School

What is an FNP?

An FNP stands for family nurse practitioner. Family nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who focus on comprehensive healthcare for families across all ages, body systems and diseases. Read more.

What does a family nurse practitioner do?

Family nurse practitioners deliver a range of acute, chronic and preventive healthcare services. In addition to diagnosing and treating illness, FNPs perform routine checkups, health-risk assessments, administer immunizations and screening tests. They offer personalized counseling on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and education in the prevention of illness. Read More

What is an MSN FNP?

An MSN FNP stands for Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner. This degree program prepares you for a career as an FNP.

What can you do with an MSN FNP?

Graduates of the Chamberlain University Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialty track can sit for the FNP national certification exam from either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). After successfully passing the exam, they will then be eligible for state licensure. 

FNPs work in a leadership position in a healthcare team, though in some states they practice collaboratively with a medical doctor. They normally perform many tasks RNs cannot, including diagnosing disease, ordering tests and prescribing medications.

How do you become a FNP?

Once you complete the coursework and clinical hours required to earn an FNP degree, you will sign up for board exams through the American Association of Nursing Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Upon passing this exam and meeting all of your state’s licensing requirements, you will be a family nurse practitioner.

Can you become an FNP online?

In Chamberlain’s online FNP program, 100% of coursework is completed online. This online coursework is complemented by two in-person weekends, as well as your on-site practicum experience. 

Can an FNP become a PMHNP?

Yes. A family nurse practitioner can become a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner through a graduate certificate program like the one offered at Chamberlain University. Chamberlain’s Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program provides a pathway to career change or enhancement for nurses who already hold a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing.