Online MSN FNP Programs

A Masters in Family Nurse Practitioner Online is an advanced nurse capable of providing many services to patients. Students typically need to complete a Master of Science in Nursing MSN to work in this position. The coursework may be challenging. It may be very fulfilling for some, too. Students who have a Bachelor Science in Nursing (BSN) may wish to progress in their degree to the MSN level. This may offer new opportunities, earning potential, and a different level of skill.

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Students who are a registered nurse (RN) may be able to complete this course as well. They may need to complete a series of steps to get to the MSN level. The coursework for an FNP may allow several paths towards achieving this goal.

Some students may be able to complete their education online. An online master’s degree may allow a student to study and work at the same time. Some do this part time. Others do this full time. They may need to complete clinical experience or a capstone in person. However, many of the practicum may be done online to make it easier for students to work and study.

What is a Masters in Family Nurse Practitioner Online?

An online MSN FNP program aims to help a nurse to learn additional skills. This often allows them to provide more enhanced care to patients. Some of that care may include managing disease prevention and diagnosing conditions. In addition, it may include health promotion. In many situations, it may include following a patient through their lifespan.

Those who work  as an FNP may spend time learning new skills and leadership roles. They are often prepared to complete more tasks for patients to meet their unique needs.

An online MSN FNP program may help them to gain these skills. It may becompleted online. That may mean a student could complete classes over a longer period. It may also give them more flexibility in receiving their education.

Once a student completes the curriculum, they may then sit for the national family nurse practitioner certification exam. This exam is comprehensive. It may be challenging to even those students who have a lot of skill and time in the field of healthcare. This online master’s degree program may be available from various schools. The cost and time to complete varies based on the school itself. Many programs may allow for both full time and part time education.

What Could I Pursue After Completing an Online MSN FNP Program?

The first step is often to complete the required coursework for the class. Then, students must meet the necessary requirements set by the school to graduate. After that licensure may be necessary. Some students may already have an RN license. They may need to complete additional certification exams. This typically allows the student to meet the requirements of the credentialing organization. After this, national certification may occur and a nursing degree is in hand.

Once that degree is in hand, a student may begin working in a nursing practice. This is where all of the clinical hours of study and hard work may pay off.

After completing a family nurse practitioner program, students may be able to work in a range of careers. This typically comes after full higher education is met and certification happens.

Students cannot work as an FNP without having a master’s degree in the field and obtaining their license. Once that is complete, they may work in the following fields and areas.

In an evidence-based practice, they are likely to work one on one with patients most days. This is a hands on patient care field for most. Some may focus on areas of specific interest. This may include women’s health.

A student who concentrates in family nurse practitioner may work as an acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP). These individuals may work in high stress and fast paced environments. This may be in various clinical sites. Credentialing is often an important step here.

Here are some of the skills they may learn and use:

• Record Patients Medical Histories - This means that they may ask questions and find out the medical history of the patient. This may mean looking at family medical history and current and past medical problems that the patient has had.
• Perform Physicals - An FNP may perform an annual physical. This may be a simple evaluation designed to determine the overall health of a patient.
• Diagnose Health Problems - An FNP is typically able to diagnose patients. This may be done by conducting tests and exams and going over the symptoms that the patient is experiencing. The use of all tools available may provide for a more thorough diagnosis.
• Provide Patients with Medications - An FNP may write and administer prescriptions through a pharmacy or by providing different medications in office. These may be as simple as antibiotics or a broad number of other options including vaccines.
• Perform Diagnostic Tests - An FNP may be able to run and order diagnostic tests for a patient. This could be requesting bloodwork or having and EKG performed.

Another Avenue for a Family Nurse Practitioner

Some students may not wish to earn a Master of Science in Nursing. Instead, they may wish to focus on a Master of Arts in Nursing. In this case, they may not start working in a clinical setting. Rather, they may use their credit hours and completed education to continue in their education. This may include completing an Online Masters in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner program. Enrollment in this type of program may be best for those who wish to work in research or informatics. They could do this with an advanced nurse practitioner degree like this. A range of concentration options may exist.

Is an Online Masters in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Program Worth it?

An online degree may be a good option for some students. Online courses may allow for flexibility. Some students may work while completing their degree. There may also be on-campus intensives that could be beneficial for in person, full time learning. However, some students may spend a lot of their time working through courses to complete an online degree because it fits their lifestyle.

Students may need to consider their long-term and short term goals to know if an MSN is the right choice for them. Some may elect to work in mental health while others want to work in a family doctor’s office. This type of degree may provide the specialization necessary to achieve these goals.  Ultimately, the student may need to determine if it is worth completing their degree or taking it to the next step. The growth rate for an ACNP is projected at 45% over the next ten years according to the BLS. The 2020 annual median pay for this position is $117,670. The primary places where these people work are hospitals, doctor’s offices, emergency care facilities. You may also look to work in rehab facilities or nursing homes. (Source: BLS.gov)

Registered Nurse

Many times these nurses may be working for private organizations or individuals as opposed to working in a hospital setting. Using data from the BLS, below are the 2020 median annual salary and projected employment growth: (Source: BLS.gov)

Median Salary: $75,330 per year
Job Growth: 9%

Medical or Health Services Manager

In this position the nurse may be responsible for planning and directing all of the business activities of the medical office. Using data from the BLS, below are the 2020 median annual salary and projected employment growth: (Source: BLS.gov)

Median Salary: $104,280 per year
Job Growth: 32%

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

A pediatric nurse practitioner works primarily with children. They typically work in hospitals or in a pediatric practice. The primarily work with infants and children. Using data from the BLS, below are the 2020 median annual salary and projected employment growth: (Source: BLS.gov)

Median Salary: $117,670 per year
Job Growth: 45%

Postsecondary Teacher

This position is typically for those nursing students who would like to go on and pass along their knowledge and experience to future nurses. These positions may be available at colleges, university and trade schools focused in nursing. Using data from the BLS, below are the 2020 median annual salary and projected employment growth: (Source: BLS.gov)

Median Salary: $80,560 per year
Job Growth: 12%

What Classes May I Take With an Online Masters in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Program?

Various factors may play a role in this decision. First, the school selected may set specific courses required. There may be those required for board certification as well.

Sometimes a student with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing may determine he or she wants to continue their education in a brand new field or concentration. They could do this in their master’s degree. This may change the type of classes taken. Concentrations range widely. Online FNP programs may offer more versatility than some schools. This may provide an opportunity for the student to complete an online Master of Science that fits their unique needs and goals.

Students who have an RN license and wish to complete their education may to take a bridge to obtaining their master’s degree. As long as they have an associate degree, it may be possible to find a path that allows them to earn their BSN faster. This may include in person or clinical practice, as well as more advanced courses. The type of degree a person has may influence the courses they tend. Some of the courses common in the United States may include the following. This may change based on an advanced practice nursing degree and the school itself.

FNP Courses:

• Advanced Pathophysiology - In this course the students may analyze and apply responses to pathophysiologic mechanisms and the corresponding conditions. This may include responses that are both abnormal and normal. The student may also look at evaluations of the responses.
• Advanced Pharmacology for Care of the Family - In this course students may focus on medications and pharmacy and the effects they have on people of all ages. Students may also look at how these drugs effect patients in the long and short term. The students may also look at how patients are effected based on ethnicity, gender, current conditions and culture.
• Advanced Physical Assessment - In this course the student may gain a broader knowledge of health assessment. The student may develop techniques for assessing by using medical history and medical exams in order to make determinations.
• Advanced Pharmacology Fundamentals - In this course students may learn about common prescription drugs. Parts of the class may cover the analysis and application of these drugs as well expanding the student’s overall knowledge of the principles of pharmacology.
• Leadership and Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse - The purpose of this course is often to analyze and understand the role of a nurse practitioner. This course may go into detail of the new responsibilities of the position. Ethics, management, collaboration and all aspects of how to deal with patients and fellow co workers.
• Population Health, Epidemiology, and Statistical Principles - In this course students may look into population health, statistics and epidemiology. These principles may be analyzed and evaluated to help in drawing conclusions. The use of data and statistics to help with decision making and how to best treat patients may also be skills taught in this class.

Concentration Areas in an Online Masters in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Program

Many students concentrate. This may be in areas that interest them. Some may seek out wellness focused programs. Others may long to work with people who are in family practice.

Here are a few of the most common concentrations that people often seek out.

• Pediatrics - As a pediatric nurse practitioner you may learn a number of skills regarding how to care for children as an FNP. Pediatric primary health may be the main focus, but other areas learned may be chronic illness care and treatment as well as treating adolescents. Treating and diagnosing children could be complex based on their age as well as how willing they are to communicate.
• Oncology - As an oncology FNP the primary responsibilities may be to cancer patients. This could go from diagnosis to treatment. Other responsibilities may include making assessments, analyzing data and conducting tests. In this position working in a hospital or practice is most common. There may be a broad spectrum when it comes to dealing with cancer and a lot of different factors and possibilities exist when it comes to how to deal with it.
• Cardiac - As a cardiac FNP responsibilities may include any of the following, interpreting labs, analyzing radiology tests, as well as assessing and diagnosing cardiac patients. The practitioner may want to focus on different areas of cardiology ranging from electrophysiology to heart failure and any of the other issues that may be associated with the heart. Many times working and collaborating other doctors and nurse practitioners to reach a diagnosis. They may work with patients of all ages.
• Dermatology - Some of the skills learned and practiced when concentrating in becoming a dermatology FNP may include diagnosing and treating of dermatological issues in patients. They may also learn to treat and manage common and complex issues following a diagnosis. Studying in this program you may deal with all types of issues relating to skin. This could be as simple as acne or as complex as psoriasis. Primarily work may occur in dermatologists offices, hospitals and clinic settings may be options also.

Accreditation Factors

High-quality education may matter. That is why students should look at accreditation before choosing a focus area. Several organizations may do credentialing as well as accreditation. This could influence things like transfer credits and certifications obtained.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) may be one of the key components to the process. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is another organization. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) may also play a role in this.

Scholarships for Online Masters in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Programs

Financial aid may a big part of completing advanced education. There are some scholarships that may help. Scholarships may not have to be repaid, most of the time. This helps ensure a student is getting the financial support they need to pursue this high-quality education. Students who plan to pursue their degree should consider the options available. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify.

These may be a few of the options that may be available. Be sure to verify details before applying for this type of degree.

AfterCollege / AACN

Value: There are four $2,500 scholarships awarded. One each quarter for a total of $10,000 in awards.
Deadline: December 31
Requirements:

• Application form
• Nursing student

Description: This scholarship is designed for students who are pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing. This is a non renewable scholarship.

CastleBranch – GNSA Scholarship

Value: There are four scholarships awarded per your in increments of $2,500 per semester. This scholarship is non renewable.
Deadline: December 30
Requirements:

• Application form
• Letter of recommendation
• Essay

Description: This scholarship is for students in a graduate nursing program that is an AACN member institution. In order to be eligible the student must have at least a 3.5 GPA. If not a member already winners must join the AACN make a post summarizing their essay.

Caroline E. Holt Nursing Scholarship

Value: There are three $2,500 non renewable scholarships. Total value for all scholarships is $7,500.
Deadline: January 31
Requirements:

• Official transcript
• Stamped postcard
• Two letters of recommendation
• Personal statement
• List of extracurricular activities

Description: This scholarship is available for students who are studying nursing and demonstrate financial need. Academic excellence is strongly considered as well.

WiseGeek Nurse Appreciation Scholarship

Value: This is a $500 one time non renewable scholarship.
Deadline: December 31
Requirements:

• Application form
• Official transcript
• Personal statement

Description: This scholarship is for current or prospective nursing students. This is open to all levels of secondary students. The purpose of this scholarship is to help offset loans and tuition.

ENA Foundation Graduate Scholarship Program

Value: $3,909
Deadline: April 28
Requirements:

• Acceptance letter
• Statement of goals
• Copy of nursing license
• Official transcript
• Verification of tuition costs
• Application form
• Two letters of recommendation

Description: This award is for students who are in good standing as a member of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). Students must be pursuing an MSN and have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA as well.

Tylenol Future Care Scholarship

Value: There are a total of 40 scholarships that are awarded. There are ten for $10,000 and 30 for $5,000. These scholarships are for one year and they are non renewable.
Deadline: June 27
Requirements:

• Two essays
• Application form

Description: This scholarship program is designed to help those students who have already completed at least one of ear of school in a healthcare program. The primary basis for this award may be demonstration of leadership as well as academic performance

 This is an offer for educational opportunities that may lead to employment and not an offer or guarantee of employment and that may help prepare students to meet the licensing or certification requirements of the field they choose to study. Students should check with the appropriate licensing or certifying body to make sure the program they apply to will help meet any licensing or certification requirements. Students should also consult with a representative from the school they select to learn more about career opportunities in that field. Program outcomes vary according to each institution's specific program curriculum.

GradSchools.com offers 6 Online MSN FNP Programs