Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN

Program Description

The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program prepares graduates to integrate competencies in health assessment, disease management and health education, including the pathophysiology and pharmacology of the acute and stable chronically ill for management in primary care. The FNP online program prepares for advanced practice nursing to implement established nursing theory and evidenced-based practice to provide healthcare in a variety of primary care settings across the life span.  Upon successful completion of the FNP Program, a Master of Science in Nursing will be awarded.

The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi , Family Nurse Practitioner program focus is the development of clinical expertise, collaboration, leadership, and critical thinking to secure quality care of our community family and supporting healthcare systems.

The master's degree program in nursing and post-graduate certificate program at Texas  is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Nursing Programs Goals

The goals of the Nursing Programs in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences are:  

1. To develop within the student the knowledge and skills necessary for beginning professional and advanced nursing practice, cultivating basic and specialized abilities needed to successfully pursue a career, and
2. To promote the concept of nursing as caring and facilitate attainment of a care delivery system sensitive to multicultural communities and their health values, and
3. To offer individuals the opportunity to increase the breadth and depth of the theoretical base for nursing practice, enhance and expand competence, prepare for role specialization, and contribute to the discovery of new nursing knowledge, and
4. To provide an educational environment of respect within which students may evolve as broadly educated, technology competent, responsible, and accountable professionals dedicated to the principles of lifelong learning, and
5. To build a foundation for life-long learning & systematic practice, and
6. To serve the community as nursing experts, leaders and consultants in professional organizations, health promoters, providers of health care policy information and advocates of ethical distribution and usage of resources.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. Critically analyze, interpret, and integrate appropriate knowledge, research, and theories to meet the health care needs of diverse populations;
2. Apply competent leadership and collaborative skills as members of a multi-professional health care workforce to promote high quality and safe patient care
3. Design evidence-based plans to sustain quality initiatives that promote a transparent professional environment and contribute to the delivery of safe high-quality care;
4. Integrate research into professional practice through the implementation of translational processes;
5. Demonstrate competence and accountability as clinicians, educators, and leaders in advanced healthcare roles;
6. Model caring, sensitivity and respect in the delivery of health care to culturally diverse populations;
7. Operationalize principles of ethical, legal, financial, and economic theories as applied to health care delivery systems;
8. Guide the adoption and use of information, communication technologies and resources to document patient care and improve patient outcomes.
9. Evaluate the effect of legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice, healthcare delivery, and outcomes using critical analysis of policies that influence health services.

For Additional Information

Website:
http://conhs.tamucc.edu

Phone: (361) 825-5893 - CONHS Graduate Academic Advisor

Campus Address:
Island Hall Third Floor

Mailing Address:
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5805
Corpus Christi, Texas 78412-5805

Contact FNP:
Dr. Elizabeth Loika, DNP, FNP-C, PNP-C | FNP Program Coordinator
Lt.Col., USAF, Ret.
Phone: (361) 825-4241
6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5805 Corpus Christi, Texas 78412-5805

Dr. Cathy L. Miller, Ph.D., RN | Director of Graduate Programs
Phone: (361) 825-2162
6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5805 Corpus Christi, Texas 78412-5805

Admission Requirements 

Registered nurses have three entry options to the Master of Science in Nursing program. Individuals who have earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree but would like to acquire a new specialty area of practice may apply to the College post-master’s certification programs.

For admission to any the graduate programs, applicants must:

1. Complete an application to the University for admission to the MSN Program for degree student status using the application through Apply Texas.
2. Students must complete an online application to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences using Nursing CAS. If the student is not already enrolled at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the student must also apply to the University for admission. Admission to the University does not constitute admission to the nursing program.

3. Submit a copy of a valid, unencumbered Texas nursing license or compact RN license with authorization to practice in Texas.

4. Have earned a satisfactory grade point average (4.0 scale): 3.00 GPA on the last 60 semester hours

5. Students with a GPA less than 3.00 may be considered for conditional admission with a waiver request.
6. Submit two letters of recommendation from individuals who can address their potential for graduate study. At least one of these references should be from an individual who can address an applicant’s level of professional competence.
7. Provide a current resume that delineates an applicant’s professional contributions and work experiences and contains sufficient information to represent the applicant’s accomplishments in nursing. The resume should include information about an applicant’s professional activities outside the workplace. Guidelines are available at https://gradschool.TAMU-CC.edu/forms/CONHSGraduateForm.php.
8. Additional information will be required from applicants before full admission can be granted. Applicants must demonstrate compliance with Texas Administrative Code immunization for health professional student regulations, Texas Board of Nursing disclosure of criminal history or disciplinary action, and affiliated clinical agency requirements for access to clinical experiences. Details are outlined under the Program Requirements section below.

The CONHS Admission Progression and Academic Standards (APAS) Committee will consider the information provided in the application and supporting documents for admission decisions. After due consideration the APAS Committee may permit a student who wishes to pursue the Master of Science in Nursing degree but does not meet the requirements for admission to the Graduate Nursing Program, to enroll on a conditional status. Contact the Graduate Nursing Academic Advisor for instructions on requesting waivers to the admission requirements. Progression through the program will require a student meet the conditions associated with admission within the timeframe designated if a waiver is granted.

Students who request to transfer into the TAMU-CC MSN program from another program must submit evidence that they left their former institution in good standing before an admission decision will be made.

Program Requirements

The following program requirements apply to all nursing graduate students upon admission and throughout program of study. Students must:

1. Submit a copy of a valid unencumbered Texas nursing license or compact RN License with authorization to practice in Texas
2. Upon admission to the College, complete a criminal background check.
3. Complete a ten panel non-chain of custody urine drug screen.
4. Purchase professional liability coverage through the University. Fees for this coverage are included in the fees paid at the time of registration at the beginning of each academic year.
5. Meet Texas Department of State Health Services immunization requirements for students in health professions programs. Students must complete and present evidence that immunizations are complete and current prior to starting classes. Immunizations must remain current throughout the program. Students will not be allowed into courses or clinical laboratory agencies if evidence of compliance is missing. These requirements, as stated in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 97, Subchapter B, Rule 97.64 (https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac%24ext.TacPage/?)
6. Complete a tuberculosis screening annually.
7. Hold a current American Heart Association or Red Cross Healthcare Provider CPR certification.
8. See the BON website, http://www.bon.texas.gov, for the statuses and rules regulating licensure.
9. Please note that some agencies where you may choose to complete clinical experiences may have stricter requirements than the state minimum standards. Students will have to meet agency requirements to gain access for clinical.
10. Health insurance coverage is highly recommended as neither the university nor clinical agencies are held responsible for emergency/health care arising from a laboratory assignment. See University Student Handbook.

Graduation Requirements

To earn an MSN FNP from the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, College of Nursing, the following must be accomplished:

• Successful completion of 49.0 graduate semester credit hours
• A minimum GPA of 3.0
• Successful completion of 630 clinical hours
• Completion of MSN FNP degree requirements within 7 years of beginning coursework.

The TAMU-CC Recency of Credit rule requires that all credit earned for a graduate degree must be completed five seven years of the first semester in which a student is enrolled in a graduate program. This requirement means that students are expected to complete their MSN program in seven years. In rare situations, an exception to this seven-year policy may be granted by the Provost when a student is unable to complete courses in this time. The student must complete a request with an explanation as to why the exception should be made as soon as the student determines that courses will not be completed within this time frame. The request should be submitted to the Graduate Nursing Department Academic Advisor and the Graduate Nursing Department Chair.

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Online offering

Field Experiences

Students are expected to complete a minimum of 630 clinical hours related to their courses and focus of study. Applicants will be required to demonstrate these hours were completed in relevant settings. Students will be responsible for identifying and selecting agencies or preceptors for their field experiences. For more information, please see the CONHS Graduate Catalog.  Field experiences will be completed in the following FNP Courses: 

NURS 5624- 90 hours

NURS 5644- 135 hours

NURS 5645- 135 hours

NURS 5746- 270 hours

Courses