Mar 28, 2024  
2013-2014 Graduate Catalog 
    
2013-2014 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Degree Programs and Graduate Certificates

 

School of Nursing
3008 Human Health Building  (map)
(248) 370-4253 • Fax (248) 364-8740
www.oakland.edu/nursing

► Apply Online

► Class Schedule Search

 

Program director:
Deana Hays
2042 Human Health Building
(248) 364-8726
hays@oakland.edu

   

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Nursing degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Program description

The Master of Science in Nursing degree program prepares professional nurses for advanced nursing practice, leadership in the nursing profession and future doctoral study.

The plan of study for the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program prepares the advanced practice nurse as a primary care provider for clients across ages in a variety of settings. The curriculum focuses on culturally sensitive care, incorporating health promotion and management of acute and chronic health problems. The graduate is prepared to apply nursing theory, principles of advanced practice nursing and evidence based practice in the design and delivery of primary care. Knowledge for advanced nursing practice is synthesized from concepts in nursing, as well as the biological and social sciences. Graduates of the Family Nurse Practitioner program are prepared to take a Family Nurse Practitioner national certification examination.

Master’s Program Objectives

Building on the foundation of the undergraduate program, the master’s program will prepare the graduate student for advancement in nursing practice. The Master’s graduate will:

  1. Integrate theories and research findings from nursing and the related sciences to translate evidence into practice.
  2. Integrate professional practice standards and guidelines in the provision of nursing practice in the student’s specialty area.
  3. Demonstrate the foundational competencies necessary for successful completion of the certification examination in the student’s specialty area.
  4. Demonstrate the foundational competencies necessary for continued study at the doctoral level.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

  • April 1 for fall semester
  • August 1 for winter semester
Readmission and program transfer

Requests for readmission and program transfers must be completed and approved prior to the beginning of a semester.

International application deadlines

International applications are reviewed for fall and winter admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment in the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission and by September 1 for winter admission.

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following university and program application documents by the published application deadlines.

University graduate application requirements
  • Online Application for Admission to Graduate Study     
  • Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
  • Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
    • As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
  • Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
    (Note: Some programs require more than two recommendation forms. Refer to the program application requirements listed below for the total number of recommendations and specific requirements for the recommendations.)
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • International supplemental application and supporting documentation must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.

Program application requirements 
  • School of Nursing Supplemental Application
  • Requirements for recommendations:
    The two recommendations (above) must be from healthcare professionals (prefer letters from nurses in leadership/education) who are able to attest to the applicant’s nursing skills and/or abilities. One reference must be from a colleague who is familiar with the applicant’s work.
  • Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results for those applicants whose overall undergraduate cumulative grade point average is less than 3.2. If GRE results are necessary but not available, the applicant may be admitted under Special Graduate Classification  pending test scores.
  • Professional Goal statement of 500 to 1,000 words. The goal statement should focus on career goals after completion of the program, how recent clinical experiences have prepared him or her for advanced practice role, and plans for professional development. The goal statement will be evaluated on content and appropriate use of grammar, style, spelling and rhetoric.
  • Qualified applicants will be selected for an individual interview with a School of Nursing faculty. The interview will be scheduled after all application materials have been submitted.
  • Applicants for admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program must have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with an overall undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above from an institution accredited by the National League for Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
  • Applicants must be eligible for a current Registered Nurse license in their state of practice.
  • A minimum of one year of clinical experience as an R.N. is required during which time the applicant must have functioned as an independent decision maker and demonstrated advanced psychomotor skills, within two years of the application deadline.
  • Applicants must have completed an undergraduate physical assessment course.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

Degree requirements


The Family Nurse Practitioner track is 48 credits including a minimum of 630 clinical practice hours. The program of study allows full-time students to complete the requirements in two academic years. Part-time students must complete the program in three to six academic years.

Course requirements


a. Foundation requirements (16 credits)


Foundation courses address critical content needed by all graduate nursing students. These courses include content on nursing theory, diversity, research, ethics, health policy and roles of advanced practice nursing.

b. Clinical core courses (13 credits)


The clinical core courses provide graduate students with advanced clinical knowledge and skills in pharmacology, assessment, anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and advanced nursing interventions.

c. Specialty courses (19 credits)


The specialty courses are comprised of didactic and clinical courses that prepare students for advanced practice. The specialty courses build upon nursing knowledge and skills learned at the undergraduate level and during foundation and clinical core courses.

Satisfactory academic progress


Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing


All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

  • Holding a Graduate Assistantship
  • Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
  • Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
  • Going on a leave of absence
  • Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Program requirements:  Students are required to follow the university policies and procedures for graduate students, as described in the Oakland University Graduate Catalog. In addition to the university requirements, specific School of Nursing policies and procedures are outlined in the School of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook.

Students are expected to earn a grade of 3.0 or above in each course in the MSN program. In courses graded Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory (S/U), students are expected to earn a course grade of satisfactory. Students who are not making satisfactory progress in the program may be placed on probation with conditions imposed for retention in the program or may be recommended for dismissal from the program.

Students are required to keep RN license and health requirements current.  See SON website for health requirements.  Students are also required to meet any requirements of the healthcare facilities where they have clinical learning experiences. 

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information


Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be signed by the program director and student and submitted to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework.

Note:  Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.

Advising

Students are responsible for requirements and policies stated in the School of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook and in each course syllabus. Every student admitted to the MSN program is assigned both an academic adviser and a faculty adviser who has teaching responsibilities in the graduate program. These advisers are available to discuss coursework, plans of study, concerns regarding progression in the program, and student career goals.

Leave of Absence

Students may maintain leave of absence status in the Family Nursing Practitioner (FNP) program for up to one year. Before assuming leave of absence status, the student is required to fill out the Request for Leave of Absence form and meet with the SON Graduate Academic Adviser. Return to the program is contingent upon availability of space in the program following return. The following requirements must be met by returning students:

  1. Notify SON Graduate Academic Adviser of intention to return no later than three months prior to the requested return semester.
  2. Develop a revised plan of study with the SON Graduate Academic Adviser prior to registering for courses in the FNP tracks.
  3. Comply with all SON policies and requirements in effect at the time of return.

Note: Submitting a leave of absence form does not guarantee approval. If the form is approved, the student will be required to complete a new plan of study and will be placed in a new cohort as space is available. This will delay the completion of the  program by at least one year. If the student does not return to the program by the Anticipated Return From Leave date indicated on the form, the student must reapply to the program. If the student plans to be out two semesters or more, the student will be required to reapply to the program.

 

 

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Degree Programs and Graduate Certificates