St. John Fisher University Online MSN Nurse Practitioner Programs

St. John Fisher University offers online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs in four nurse practitioner specializations: Primary Care Family (PCFNP), Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMHNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care (AGPCNP), and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AGACNP). Courses are delivered online, and students complete clinical rotations in their own communities.

All of the NP programs require one visit to the campus in Rochester, New York, for a pre-clinical immersion. AGACNP students also come to campus for a second immersion. Through immersions, nurses can gain hands-on practice in critical nursing skills, take advantage of the campus nursing facilities, and build relationships with their cohort, faculty, and alumni.

The Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner MSN program comprises 46 credits plus 600 clinical hours and one campus immersion. It can be completed in 24 months through an accelerated track or 28 months through a part-time track. Prospective students should be committed to providing ethical and compassionate care to patients across their lifespans. PCFNP specialization courses focus on patient evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment through evidence-based practice, patient education, and diagnostic reasoning. Registered nurses (RNs) learn to care for children, women, adults, and older adults through advanced concepts and clinical courses in each category. Clinical rotations may occur in hospitals, primary care clinics, or community health centers.

The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner MSN program comprises 53 credits plus 600 clinical hours and includes one campus immersion. This part-time program can be completed in as few as 36 months and includes academic coursework and clinical rotations. PMHNP specialty courses focus on psychopathology, advanced psychopharmacology, and advanced psychiatric mental health nursing with patients across the lifespan. PMHNP students learn to:

• Assess and diagnose clients through the DSM-5 and other methods used for differential diagnosis
• Conduct neuropsychiatric assessment of adults and older adults with addictions or psychiatric disorders
• Conduct patient evaluation and manage emergency situations
• Practice trauma-informed therapy and conduct interventions
• Practice psychotherapy
• Promote advanced health integration principles
• Use motivational interviewing techniques

Clinical rotations may occur in mental health centers, psychiatric facilities, or community-based mental health centers.

The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner MSN program comprises 46 credits plus 600 clinical hours and includes one campus immersion. This part-time program can be completed in as few as 28 months and focuses on concepts and skills needed to care for adults and older adults. Courses cover concepts in common health problems in adults and older adults, aging, health promotion, disease prevention, and health restoration. Although AGPCNPs generally work in primary care situations, older patients may be in and out of acute care settings or have chronic health problems, requiring knowledge and diagnostic skills to assess and diagnose acute and chronic issues. As such, an acute care clinical preceptorship is included in the AGPCNP program. Clinical rotations may take place in primary care clinics, hospitals, and community care settings.

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner MSN program comprises 46 credits plus 600 clinical hours. This part-time program can be completed in as few as 28 months and includes two campus immersions. AGACNPs learn to care for adults and older adults in acute care situations. Courses cover the same concepts as the AGPCNP curriculum, adding focused courses in acute care and complex acute care diagnosis, treatment, and care plan management. AGACNPs are trained to make advanced clinical decisions in acute care settings, and clinical rotations may occur in urgent care centers, hospital emergency rooms, and ambulatory care facilities.

Small, live classes and corresponding assignments are delivered through the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS). Live class sessions include question-and-answer sessions, breakout rooms, live chat, and real-time annotations. Students can review their learning through live session transcripts and recordings. Also included are weekly assignments, lecture-based videos, and other components to be completed outside of live class time. Faculty hold live office hours in the online classroom, and students can access 24/7 technical support.

The MSN programs are designed for working professionals currently holding nursing positions in a clinical setting. Additionally, applicants must have at least one year of clinical work experience. No GRE/GMAT is required, and cohorts begin in January, May, and September. Application materials may include official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a current resume, and a personal statement.

Core courses for all programs include Foundations in Nursing Research; Capstone Development; Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice and Applications in Advanced Practice Nursing; Advanced Technology and Information Systems in Support of Clinical Management; Healthcare Systems, Policy, and Law; Biostatistics and Epidemiology; Complex Systems and Leadership; and NP Comprehensive Exam. Direct Core courses include Advanced Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Diagnostic Reasoning.

PCFNP specialization courses include Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults; Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults; Diagnosis and Management of Adults; Diagnosis and Management of Older Adults; Advanced Concepts in the Care of Women; Advanced Concepts in the Care of Children; Diagnosis and Management of Women; and Diagnosis and Management of Children.

PMHNP specialization courses include Psychopathology and Differential Diagnosis; Advanced Psychopharmacology; Foundations of Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice; Advanced Concepts in Child and Adolescent Mental Health; Advanced Neuropsychiatric Assessment and Intervention; Advanced Concepts in Psychotherapy with Individuals, Groups, and Families; Advanced Concepts in Health Integration; PMHNP Clinical Practicum I: Trauma-Informed Assessment and Intervention; PMHNP Clinical Practicum II: Evidence-Based Treatment Modalities; PMHNP Clinical Practicum III: Interactive Management of Complex Comorbidities; and PMHNP Clinical Practicum IV: Advanced Strategies for At-Risk Populations.

AGPCNP specialization courses include Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults; Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults; Issues in Acute Care; Complex Care of Chronically Ill Adults; AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis and Management: Adult; AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis and Management: Older Adult; AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis and Management: Acute Care; and AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis and Management: Complex Care.

AGACNP specialization courses include Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults; Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults; Issues in Acute Care; Complex Care of Chronically Ill Adults; AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis and Management: Adult; AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis and Management: Acute Care; AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis and Management: Older Adult; and AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis and Management: Complex Care.

St. John Fisher University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The MSN Nurse Practitioner programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).