Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner

 

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

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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.