Family Nurse Practitioner
About
Advance your clinical nursing skills in our Master of Science in Nursing (MSN-FNP) program. Our 45-credit-hour program will prepare you for the advanced nursing practice role of a family nurse practitioner. Our program–the oldest family nurse practitioner program in the city–is deeply connected to Louisville’s thriving medical community. We provide service opportunities that make both a local and global impact: health assessments in the community at clinics, immigrant care at a local clinic, medical mission trips, physical exams for Special Olympics and more.
All of our faculty are in clinical practice on a weekly basis and they bring that expertise into the classroom. The skills you learn from them and in your own clinical training can translate to opportunities in the field of nursing. Throughout our more than 20-year history, we have consistently had a board examination pass rate of 96 percent or greater.
Post-Master’s Certificate Available
The Post-Master’s Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner is designed for nurses with a Master’s degree in Nursing who are eager to expand their expertise in family-centered care. This program equips you with the skills to provide high-quality, culturally competent care to individuals and families across the lifespan, emphasizing wellness promotion, disease management, and health equity.
Features
We find your clinical site. Our graduate clinical coordinator meets with you to determine a placement tailored to your interests and needs. You’ll complete 750 clinical hours over 3 rotations.
Enjoy a flexible schedule (classes meet on Wednesdays and Thursdays) that allows you to earn your degree while maintaining a full-time job.
Live outside the Louisville area? We offer affordable on-campus housing for the days you’ll be on campus.
Gain 750 clinical hours and 20 professional hours of learning outside the classroom. We teach you the skills you need for clinical practice, including suturing, mole removal, EKG and X-ray reading.
Apply at any time with our rolling admissions. Cohorts start every May. A second cohort may start in August, depending on enrollment.
See for Yourself
We want our program to be the right fit for you. Reach out to us if you’d like to schedule a visit or even sit in on one of our classes: pharmacology, advanced assessment, pathophysiology or reproductive health.
Facts
More than 96% of Spalding MSN graduates pass their board certification–a pass rate greater than the national average.
Employment of advanced practice nurse practitioners is predicted to grow 31 percent through 2022.
U.S. News & World Report ranks nurse practitioner #3 in The 100 Best Jobs.
- Study full time (3 classes a semester) and graduate in two years.
- Study part time (2 classes a semester) and graduate in two and a half years.
Learn in a way that matches your learning style. Our interactive health assessment training takes place both through online simulation and also face to face with real patients.
Career Options
Our graduates work in a variety of primary care settings, including:
- Self-owned practices
- National health service corps
- Public health clinics
- Emergency departments
- Pediatric practices
- Occupational health settings
Continuing Education
Spalding University School of Nursing Faculty stay on top of the latest learning and teaching strategies and research through continuing nursing education, including:
- Nurse Tim webinars
- KeithRN resources
- CCNE
- NONPF
- ANA online resources
- Spalding University Center for Teaching and Learning
Additionally, graduate Nursing Faculty hold an annual retreat, further developing the skill set for teaching in the graduate program.
Admissions
We offer rolling admissions. You can apply and enroll virtually anytime with classes starting every six to eight weeks. Learn more about our admission requirements.
Program Accreditation
The baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing at Spalding University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
See our professional licensure disclosure.
Program Outcomes
- Integrate the health and safety of the advanced practice nurse through self-reflection and self-care behaviors to preserve the well-being and wholeness of character while fostering personal and professional growth.
- Implement advanced practice principles through effective interprofessional collaboration to improve and promote equitable health outcomes for diverse populations while incorporating culturally competent care strategies for health promotion, wellness, and disease management.
- Effectively incorporate the use of healthcare technology, informatics, and a wide range of advanced communication techniques in order to achieve safe, high quality care to patients, communities, and diverse populations.
- Incorporate and build upon foundational knowledge gained from nursing and related arts and sciences in order for the advanced practice nurse to continuously develop in one’s area of practice to promote professional growth.
- Utilize evidence-based decision-making in advanced practice nursing to impact care and improve patient outcomes across the lifespan.
- Collaboratively, with professionals from multiple disciplines, provide ethical, culturally-sensitive, and holistic advanced practice care- supported by theory and research- reflecting advanced practice nursing values to enhance the health status of diverse populations.
- Utilizing a social justice framework, integrate advanced nursing leadership principles to guide effective, safe practice across multiple healthcare settings.
- Integrate a holistic team approach incorporating evidence-based advanced nursing practice to facilitate caring and respect for human dignity across the life span to diverse individuals, families, and communities.