This advanced course of study is designed to prepare nurses who have already earned a master's degree in nursing for careers as Family Nurse Practitioners. Family Nurse Practitioners provide comprehensive health promotion services to ambulatory clients, evaluate problems at the client's initial contact with the primary care system, and provide continuing care to clients with acute and stable chronic illnesses. In addition to clinical practice, others themes emphasized throughout the primary care courses include: an epidemiologic approach to clinical problems; holism and caring; family and community systems; appropriate use of technology, cost effectiveness, collaboration, consultation and the referral process; theoretical frameworks; and the research base for primary care practice.
MSN students with an interest in community oriented primary care or global health will have opportunities to focus their study in areas of special interest such as vulnerable populations or health disparities through clinical placements, elective courses, and the Master's Paper. Additionally, students may choose from a wider variety of electives outside the School of Nursing, in the many different departments and schools at Carolina. Students are encouraged to talk with their advisors about their interests in special areas for developing an individualized plan of study.
Individuals who have earned a master's degree in nursing from accredited programs, are currently licensed as RNs, and have at least one year's clinical experience are eligible to apply.
NOTE: Potential applicants who have an MPH in public health nursing accredited by NLNAC must contact the certification organization in their selected specialty area to determine their eligibility and/or need to petition the certification organization for permission to sit for the examination upon completion of a postmaster's program.
Potential applicants who currently hold national certification as a nurse practitioner and an earned master's degree in a related field will need to contact the certification organization in their newly selected specialty area to determine their eligibility or ability to petition the Certification program for permission to sit for the examination upon completion of a postmaster's program.
In addition, all applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Board of Nursing in the state in which they intend to practice, to determine the procedure (if any) to receive approval to practice as a nurse practitioner with an MPH or a master's in another related field. This procedure varies widely by state.
You will be asked to submit the following documents with your application:
Applicants must complete a Health Assessment course, approved by the School of Nursing, within two years prior to enrollment in the clinical courses (unless the applicant is currently practicing as a nurse practitioner). Please refer to the Post-Master's application instructions (Health Assessment Skills Evaluation Form) for detailed information on this requirement.
The program is approximately 25-32 graduate credits in length, and courses must be taken sequentially. Post-master's students meet with the advanced practice coordinator in their specialty area to review all coursework taken during their master's program. Additional or alternative coursework may be recommended based on this evaluation, specifically in the areas of health promotion, health care policy and the advanced practice role. Post-master's students who are not nationally certified as master's prepared nurse practitioners and have not maintained their clinical practice will be required to take additional coursework and consequently a longer program of study. Students are expected to complete the program sequentially; students who drop out are generally not eligible to return in the following year. The classes students attend are regular University classes. The University reserves the right to cancel classes if enrollment is insufficient.
Preceptors and clinical placements are selected to provide exposure to a range of healthcare services and systems such as: family practice, health maintenance organizations, students health service, occupational health, home health, rural clinics and sites that specialize in pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric care. Clinical practice sites are generally located in central NC, but they may extend across the state and require travel. The final practicum can usually be arranged near students' home communities. Faculty work with students, Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program, and the School's Clinical Placement Coordinator to find experiences that fit the FNP program expectations and students' professional goals.
Family Nurse Practitioner faculty members are sensitive to students' learning needs by employing a variety of instructional modalities including seminar or classroom settings, on-line and/or Web-enhanced instruction. As a result, the courses may be offered in traditional classroom settings and/or via distance technologies.
For students who begin during the Fall semester, the Post-Master's FNP Program takes up to two academic years plus one intervening semester to complete. There is an option to extend the program for an additional semester to meet the student's needs.
As a non-degree program, the Post-Master’s Certificate Program is “housed” within the Department of Part-Time Classroom Studies, part of the William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education at UNC-Chapel Hill. Upon acceptance into the program, you will be sent registration instructions for the first semester. Tuition must be submitted at the time of registration. Tuition is subject to annual increases by the University’s Board of Governors. The Post-MSN Program is a part-time program; however, a matriculated student may enroll full-time for one semester over the course of the program.
You may consult the University Cashier’s Office costs of attendance for specific information about tuition for the Post-Master’s Program (Refer to the figures for Part-Time Classroom Studies-Graduate). Additionally, all clinical courses are subject to a $150 practicum fee (a listing of these courses can be found on last page of the cost of attendance document).
Note: Students are fully responsible for all expenses for clinical-related travel.
The deadline for applying for fall admission is March 1 st. Those applicants whose course plan includes non-clinical courses may apply for spring admission by submitting the application no later than October 1 st.
Upon satisfactory completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner and apply for approval by the joint committee of the North Carolina Board of Nursing and North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners to practice as a nurse practitioner in North Carolina
Fall Semester, Year 1
Spring Semester, Year 1
Summer Session, Year 1
Fall Semester, Year 2
Debra J. Barksdale, PhD, RN, CFNP, CANP
Tom Bush, MSN, RN, APRN, BC
Jean Davison, MSN, RN, FNP-C
Eric Hodges, PhD, APRN, BC
Ann Jessup, PhD, RN, CFNP
Laura Calamos Nasir, MSN, RN, FNP, BC
Anne Skelly, PhD, RN, ANP-C
School of Nursing
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Carrington Hall, CB #7460
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460
For general information on the School of Nursing and application materials, contact:
Office of Admissions and Student Services
(919) 966-4260
nursing@unc.edu
