School of Nursing

An FNP is educated and trained to provide a broad range of health care services including the following: taking a patient's history, performing a physical exam, and ordering laboratory tests and procedures. In addition, their practice includes diagnosing, treating, and managing diseases, plus writing prescriptions and coordinating referrals. The Family Nurse Practitioner also focuses on disease prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyles.

The Family Nurse Practitioner specialty track is a 42 credit hour, seven semester curriculum designed to prepare registered nurses with advanced practice nursing knowledge for the role of primary health care provider. Students will begin their study with classroom-based didactic courses in a hybrid format, building the theoretical and contextual background necessary for advanced nursing practice. Students will then progress on to didactic courses with clinical components to include 75 practice hours per semester. Note: The final didactic clinical course includes 375 mandatory practice hours as a primary care provider. Classes will be scheduled on one day per week or less. Clinical practice hours will be scheduled based on availability of practice sites.

The FNP program is a seven-semester program. Students must take two FNP courses for six semesters and a final 6 credit hour course with 375 practice hours the seventh semester. We cannot accommodate student work schedules as practice hours are arranged per the clinical practice site schedule.

Semester 1

• NURS-Y 515 Pathophysiology (3 cr.)
• NURS-N 504 Leadership for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)

Semester 2

• NURS-N 502 Nursing Theory (3 cr.)
• NURS-Y 535 Dynamics of Family Health Care (3 cr.)

Semester 3

• NURS-F 570 Assessment of Individuals, Families, and Communities (3 cr.)
• NURS-Y 612 Pharmacology (3 cr.)

Semester 4

• NURS-R 500 Nursing Research (3 cr.)
• NURS-X XXX Primary Care I: Acute Illness Processes (3 cr.)
  (3 credit hours: 2 didactic, 1 clinical for FNP majors; 75 practice hours at a medical practice for the semester to be scheduled based on practice site availability.)

Semester 5

• NURS-R 590 Scholarly Project (3 cr.)
• NURS-X XXX Primary Care II: Acute and Stable Chronic Illness Processes (3 cr.)
  (3 credit hours: 2 didactic, 1 clinical for FNP majors; 75 practice hours at a medical practice for the semester to be scheduled based on practice site availability.)

Semester 6

• NURS-Y 620 Advanced Primary Care and Office Management Procedures (3 cr.)
• NURS-X XXX Primary Care III: Chronic and Complex Illness Processes (3 cr.)
  (3 credit hours: 2 didactic, 1 clinical for FNP majors; 75 practice hours at a medical practice for the semester to be scheduled based on practice site availability.)

Semester 7

• NURS-F 578 Primary Health Care of Families (6 cr.)
  (6 credit hours: 2 didactic, 4 clinical for FNP majors; 375 practice hours at a medical practice for the semester to be scheduled based on practice site availability.)

The following criteria must be met for unconditional admission:

1. Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale from an NLNAC, CCNE, ACEN or CNEA accredited program.
2. Copy of current Indiana RN license: current unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Indiana.
3. All applicants must submit evidence of having completed a 3 credit undergraduate (300- or 400-level) or higher statistics course with a B- or higher grade by the application deadline.
4. A master's level statistics course is required to graduate from the FNP track. The course may be taken prior (within the last five years) to applying or within the plan of study.
5. Essential abilities: applicants must agree to the essential abilities policy of the School of Nursing. The policy states that students must demonstrate essential abilities in a variety of areas (judgment, neurological function, emotional coping skills, intellectual/conceptual skills, and other behavioral attributes) as well as meeting all progression criteria.
6. Computer proficiency: verification of ability to use computer technologies including accessing, retrieving, receiving, and communicating information.
7. Criminal background check: applicants must provide verification of a federal criminal background check per program requirements (castlebranch.com, package code IA03).
8. Submit an official college transcript (degree granting and graduate courses if applicable).
9. Submission of the following:
   1. Essay: a 250-word essay is required
   2. References: applicants must provide two (2) professional references (one from your supervisor) who can speak of your clinical expertise and leadership. They must be included with your application.
   3. CV/Resume

A 3 credit hour undergraduate statistics course is required for admission. If you do not have an undergraduate statistics course, if accepted you will be required to take the course prior to the cohort start date.

A graduate level statistics class such as NURS-R 505 Measurement and Data Analysis is preferred before admission but can be taken during the program and will not delay admission.

Yes, you must submit official transcripts from all colleges attended.

You should provide information about yourself, your career aspirations, and why you have chosen to pursue the FNP advanced practice role.

The following components should be included in your resume/CV:

• Educational background, including institutions, degree(s) awarded and/or degrees in progress, dates of degrees awarded/anticipated date of degree
• Relevant employment history, with location, brief description of position, and dates (if within a health care setting, please describe the type of unit and duties within that position)
• Community/volunteer experience
• Professional presentations and/or publications
• The acceptable file formats are .pdf, .doc, and .docx

Indiana University Northwest School of Nursing requires all applicants to its graduate nursing programs to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

FNP programs are highly competitive and all students admitted to the program will have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. However, students not meeting this requirement may be admitted conditionally or on probation.  After admission criteria is met, each applicant is reviewed holistically by the faculty admissions committee. Commitment to scholarship, leadership, and clinical inquiry are crucial components in a competitive application. Academic rigor, clinical experience, best fit with the program, and advanced specialty are also considered during the application review process.

As tuition costs change yearly, updated fee schedule information can be found on IU Northwest’s tuition and fees web page.

Financial aid information can be found on IU Northwest’s Office of Financial Aid website.

No. You would need to apply to a program that offers a graduate certificate. IU Northwest does not yet have a certificate program as this is a separate authorization process. We hope to have a certificate program in the future but the approval process is lengthy and we do not have an estimated time when this will be available.

Your interview with the admissions committee is meant to determine your capability and commitment for graduate school, as well as things such as communication skills and professional demeanor.  Some example questions might include:

1. What do you want us to know about yourself?
2. Give an example of how you work under pressure.
3. If a fellow colleague were asked about your strengths and weaknesses, what would they say?
4. The Family Nurse Practitioner track will be a very intense and rigorous academic program. How will you juggle your responsibilities such as work and other responsibilities?