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Family Nurse Practitioner

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program Overview

Manhattanville’s online Master of Science (MS) in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner degree program is a gateway to engage in a wide scope of practice and provide direct care as a licensed family nurse practitioner (FNP) in New York State and beyond. Students use Fitzgerald’s proven FNP certification review course in their final semester to achieve ANCC/AANP certification. Fitzgerald was founded in 1989 to help nurse practitioners prepare for their certification exams through in-depth review courses and testing.

To date, Fitzgerald has helped over 140,000+ NPs achieve certification. Designed to deliver students the experience needed to sit for exams by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), Manhattanville’s Master of Science in Nursing, FNP degree program is flexible, primarily online, and affordable.

Joining Manhattanville’s online Family Nurse Practitioner master’s degree program ensures students receive the high-touch nursing leadership experience and practical knowledge prerequisite to becoming an FNP in private practice or hospital clinical settings.

Designed according to the latest professional guidelines, our FNP program provides credentialed nurses the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in nursing and acquire an in-depth theoretical and applied clinical understanding of advanced nursing roles and responsibilities. With this, graduates are eligible to pursue local and national licensure and progress their nursing careers in a new direction.

Family nurse practitioners are some of the most highly qualified and talented members of the nursing profession. Grow to meet the need for practicing FNPs in today’s healthcare system and for many years to come.

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Manhattanville’s online Family Nurse Practitioner MS program is designed to prepare registered and professional nurses to assume roles as FNPs, to sit for certification exams, and to deliver primary healthcare to families in healthcare settings such as hospitals, physician offices, and clinics.

After graduating from the FNP program, students will have fulfilled the prerequisites needed to sit for either the ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner board certification examination or the AANPCB Family Nurse Practitioner examination.

Clinical practicum components are completed at top healthcare facilities. This ensures graduates can demonstrate the critical communication, decision-making, and leadership skills necessary to be effective, resourceful, and detail-oriented family nurse practitioners and gain licensure in their state, where regulatory practices vary.

Disclosure for NC-SARA Requirements

The 42-credit online MS, Family Nurse Practitioner degree program curriculum is guided by experienced faculty with terminal degrees in their field. Your coursework will blend elements of theory and practice and can be completed part-time in as few as seven semesters.

The online Family Nurse Practitioner program curriculum contains training in the following areas:

  • Organizational and Systems Leadership
  • Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
  • Quality Improvement and Safety
  • Health Policy and Advocacy
  • Clinical Prevention and Population

The nurse practitioner degree program imparts a background in graduate-level science topics and the collaborative and interdisciplinary skills that facilitate interprofessional collaboration and effective communication with patients, families, and larger populations. The program incorporates the Master's Essentials in graduation nursing education.

Family Nurse Practitioner Courses
As a primary care provider, a family nurse practitioner must demonstrate certain advanced expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Become prepared to deliver family-centered primary healthcare with clinical hours and courses such as:

  • Advanced Pharmacology
  • Advanced Pathophysiology
  • Advanced Physical Examination and Fundamentals of Diagnostics
  • Lab: Advanced Physical Examination
  • Advanced Family Nursing Practice I, II, III

With the exception of a 3-day on-campus residency during the course, NUR5120 Advanced Health Assessment, the FNP program’s courses are available fully online. Classroom learning is applied through exam prep seminars, clinical laboratory practice, and NYC-area clinical placements across sub-fields of the family nurse practitioner profession.

Review complete degree requirements and course descriptions for the FNP degree program.

 

Clinical Practicums
Students in the Family Nurse Practitioner master’s degree program complete clinical rotations in preparation for entering the field for the first time or for demonstrating clinical competence to FNP credentialing bodies.

Clinical practicum hours will include experiences in the following advanced nursing settings:

  • Pediatrics
  • Women’s Health
  • Adult and Older Populations
  • Chronic Illness
  • Health Promotion and Disease Promotion

Gaining first-hand experience in patient care in an FNP program practicum provides a foundation for successful nurse practitioner careers and for pathways in public health and policy as your nursing experience progresses.

The flexible MS in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner degree program offers a synchronous/ asynchronous learning format, allowing working nurses and students holding RN licensure to further their career opportunities in an in-demand role at a self-directed pace without missing top practicum placements. After graduating, you’ll hold a Master of Science degree and be eligible to take FNP certification exams offered by the ANCC and the AANPCB.

Graduates of Manhattanville’s Family Nurse Practitioner program will be equipped with the experience and skills to:

  • Provide evidence-based nursing care to diverse patient populations
  • Deliver care independently and in collaboration with a team
  • Navigate a variety of types of healthcare systems
  • Improve daily practice as well as contribute to health policy development
  • Recommend professional standards of care in clinical practice settings
  • Promote wellness and improve health outcomes of families, individuals, and communities
  • Skillfully communicate and receive health information
  • Prescribe medication, order testing, and make medical diagnoses as permitted by state and local regulations
  • Pursue further specialized board certification in areas of medicine such as wound care, cardiology, neurology, and hyperbaric medicine

Family Nurse Practitioner Career Outlook and Salary
Advanced nursing professionals, including FNPs, enjoy an astounding career outlook and a range of career opportunities due to their robust credentials. If you have a bachelor’s degree and are a Registered Nurse (RN), earning a Master of Science in the FNP specialty could be your ideal next step.

The skill set of experienced family nurse practitioners is in high demand due to the need to fill a gap in healthcare providers left by a lack of practicing physicians. This need is compounded in rural areas and underserved communities, where family nurse practitioners can provide some of the same services as general practice doctors. New York State is in the top five states that hire the most Nurse Practitioners, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

According to the BLS, national employment of advanced nursing professionals including FNPs is projected to grow by 40% over ten years through 2031, a rate much higher than the average across all occupations. Depending on factors such as location and years of service, licensed family nurse practitioners with master’s degrees may earn an average annual salary of $120,680.

The School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Manhattanville University offers several bachelor’s and master’s programs for professional nurses or those aspiring to join the healthcare field.

Admission and Aid

The content in the online Family Nurse Practitioner degree program is designed for students who hold credentials as licensed Registered Nurses (RN). No prior RN experience is required to apply.

Spring 2025 applications are now open, however the Spring 2025 cohort is currently full and operating on a waitlist basis until we learn whether or not we can add more seats. You are welcome to apply to have a shot at securing a seat, should more become available. 

Admission requirements for the online Family Nurse Practitioner master’s program include:

  • BS or BSN degree in Nursing from an accredited institution
  • Registered Nurse license
  • A college level statistics course with a grade of B or higher
  • No GRE, Miller Analogy, or other standardized test required for admission
  • Demonstrated experience in direct patient care must be gained prior to practicum

Application requirements include:

  • Online application submission
  • Official transcripts from previously attended educational institutions
  • Personal statement
  • Professional resume
  • One letter of recommendation from individuals who can attest to academic or professional performance

To learn more about program eligibility and how to apply, please contact Jessica Cox, Senior Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions at jessica.cox@mville.edu 

Tuition and Financial Aid
Review graduate tuition and fees information

 

Apply to the Family Nurse Practitioner Degree Program

Pursuing Manhattanville's online Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Master of Science degree program positions students at any point in their nursing career to attain advanced family nurse practitioner roles, help families thrive, and effect comprehensive change in an evolving healthcare environment.

Request more information to learn about enrolling in our FNP master’s degree program.

Apply to the online Family Nurse Practitioner program at Manhattanville