Nurse Practitioner – Master of Science in Nursing

The Nurse Practitioner specialization allows you to choose one of two tracks:

Within this program, you will receive advanced medical training that will allow you to treat a wide range of sicknesses and disease as well as give you the authority to prescribe medication without the oversight of an MD once you receive certification.

Starting in 2015*, all nurse practitioners will need to acquire their Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP). Barry University offers a program called Post-Baccalaureate DNP that will allow you to acquire your MSN and DNP within four years (compared to three years it takes to complete the MSN).

Program Overview

The Nurse Practitioner specialization is a three year MSN program if completed within eight continuous semesters (three years). Since most of our students are full-time registered nurses, we host two classes one day a week to fit busy schedules. Cohorts for the MSN program begin every fall semester. If you are interested in our Post-Baccalaureate DNP program, which will earn you an MSN and DNP, you can complete that within four years.

The MSN and Post-Baccalaureate DNP program have the same course plan for the first year, so if you are undecided about which direction to take, you can decide after the first year of courses. It is a seamless transition whether you want to go from MSN to Post-Baccalaureate, or Post-Baccalaureate to MSN.

We offer a 30% tuition discount for the Master of Science in Nursing program.

Becoming a Nurse Practitioner

When you graduate, you will have the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to engage as an exceptional nurse practitioner. You will graduate with the ability to:

Integrate evidence-based principles from advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment, and health promotion/disease prevention in clinical decision making related to management of patient health/illness status
Establish a caring partnership with patients and/or caregivers based on mutual trust
Incorporate teaching/learning principles to devise and implement an individualized plan of care to meet the needs of patients and families
Incorporate principles of leadership to develop and implement the nurse practitioner role in health care delivery
Advocate for equitable, quality, and cost effective care by managing and negotiating a variety of health care delivery systems
Ensure and monitor the quality of health care practice through the use of professional/legal standards, collaboration, consultation, referral, and use of evidence-based interventions
Respect the rights of individuals to choose, participate, and refuse care and to express cultural and spiritual beliefs regarding their care

Certification

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

The FNP course plan has incorporated Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Competencies in Specialty Areas: Adult, Family, Gerontological, Pediatric, and Women’s Health (NONPF/AACN, 2012), using the section specific to family practice and the AACN (2012) Family Nurse Practitioner Competencies. Additionally, the programs are congruent with Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education, 2012). Graduates from the FNP track are eligible for the FNP national certification examination.

Geriatric-Adult Acute Care (ACNP)

The ACNP course plan has incorporated the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies (National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, 2004). Graduates from the ACNP track are eligible for the ACNP national certification examination.

*Reference American Association of Colleges of Nursing: www.aacn.nche.edu/dnp/faqs