Academic Programs

Program Director: Sharon Thompson, Ph.D., RN, MPH
Phone: (814) 871-5345
Email: thompson001@gannon.edu

Overview

The Family Nurse Practitioner degree offers students a focus on development and implementation of the nurse practitioner role with families in a rural setting. Ethical dilemmas and legal issues resulting from the advanced practice role are addressed. Primary care provider and leadership roles in community practice are learned from a theoretical knowledge base in the classroom and a clinical practice base in a variety of settings. Students learn needs assessment approaches for a community-wide system of health care services.

Outcomes

At the conclusion of the program leading to the degree of Master of Science in Nursing, the graduate:

1. Synthesizes theory and research from nursing, the biopsychosocial sciences, and the humanities in their advanced practice role to care for members of diverse populations.
2. Is able to conduct research, collaborate with other researchers from various disciplines, and implement research findings in practice or educational settings.
3. Is able to assume the advanced practice role of educator, administrator, researcher or practitioner.
4. Is prepared to assume a leadership role to influence change in health care practice at local, regional and national levels.
5. Articulates and differentiates the various advanced practice roles within nursing.
6. Has developed an understanding of the importance of maintaining professional development in their advanced practice role.
7. Actively engages in collaborative relationships as an advanced practice nurse with professionals from various desciplines and members of diverse populations to improve health care.
8. Has acquired a foundation for doctoral study.

Admission Requirements

Professional nurses who have a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing are eligible to apply for graduate study. Applicants must:

1. Submit an application for admission
2. Provide official transcripts of all academic work
3. Complete an introductory statistics course and research course with a grade of at least a B in both courses
4. Submit competitive scores from the Graduate Record Examination
5. Provide three letters of recommendation
6. Give evidence of the fulfillment of legal requirements for the practice of nursing in the United States

Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate

For students with an earned MSN, a Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate may be earned by taking the 33 didactic and clinical course credits indicated with an asterisk (*) above. If the student has not completed a thesis, the research component will be required. Certificate students are admitted on a space-available basis.

Note: Course offerings in this graduate nursing option are contingent on sufficient enrollment.