Join Rockhurst University in celebrating Nurses Month!
See freebies, discounts, resources for nurses and more.
Apply Now for Fall 2024
Next Start: September 3, 2024
Grow your skills and opportunities as a Family Nurse Practitioner with Rockhurst University’s Online MSN-FNP program. As an FNP, you’ll enjoy greater flexibility, personal fulfillment, a higher salary, and increased opportunities to pursue a more traditional work schedule.
This online FNP program is designed for RNs with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) who are interested in providing primary care for patients of all ages.
Rockhurst University’s CCNE-accredited online MSN-FNP program provides:
Guided by Jesuit values, Rockhurst University prepares advanced practice nurses to care for the needs of the whole person through rigorous academics, rich and varied clinical experiences, and a spirit of inquiry and reflection.
Advanced Practice Nursing Foundations
Incorporate scientific and theoretical concepts from nursing and other relevant disciplines to improve nursing practice in various settings
Evidence-Informed Quality Improvement
Adopt a lifelong learning approach to care that draws upon research and data to ensure safety and quality for patients and organizations
Leadership, Systems, and Policy
Serve as an effective and collaborative nurse leader from organizational, systems, and policy perspectives
Students from Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia are welcome to apply to the online FNP program. Please see our State Authorization page for more detailed information.
Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences is approved by the State of Missouri to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). As a participating institution, Saint Luke’s College may offer online programs to students in other SARA member states without seeking authorization in that state.
Rockhurst University and Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The online Master of Science in Nursing–Family Nurse Practitioner is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)*.
*The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Rockhurst University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Learn why Lori Walters, MSN, was motivated to help others and pay forward the compassionate care of nurses in her life. A graduate of two MSN programs with dual certifications as an AGACNP and FNP, she chose Rockhurst University to enrich her nursing career and become a nurse practitioner.
This introductory course examines the role of advanced practice nurses as influenced by social, cultural, political, and economic forces. Issues present in the changing health care environment are examined for quality and patient safety initiatives to improve patient outcomes. The ethical dimensions and legal parameters for advanced nursing practice are investigated. (3 credits)
This course provides an overview of the role of information systems in health care organizations. Coursework emphasizes the integration of evidence-based practice in clinical decision support and the influence of health care information technology (HIT) systems on health outcomes. In addition, technical, organizational, and cost-benefit issues related to health care information systems, telemedicine applications, and artificial intelligence solutions will be explored. Through a combination of online readings and discussions, group assignments, and individual assignments, students will develop and exercise analytical skills for appraising health information systems in the context of the provision of care. (2 credits)
This course focuses on the theoretical foundations needed to treat patients with common acute and chronic mental health problems in the primary care setting. Emphasis is on the management of mental illness across the life span. (3 credits) Prerequisite or Concurrent: NUR 5950; Prerequisites: NUR 5650, NUR 5750
The advanced health assessment and physical diagnosis course prepares students to perform a systematic, comprehensive health assessment. Students acquire the fundamentals of the differential diagnosis process and use evidence-based information to guide the diagnostic process. Students use scientific, cultural, and ethical principles and therapeutic communication while conducting advanced health assessments and reflecting on their professional performance. (3 credits) Prerequisites or concurrent: NUR 5650, NUR 5750
In order to become a family nurse practitioner, a registered nurse must pass a board certification. Rockhurst’s Online MSN-FNP program helps prepare students to pass their certification exams offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Rockhurst University Online graduates have maintained a 92% first-time pass rate for certification exams, a statistic that exceeds the national average.
Family nurse practitioners work with all age groups, from pediatrics to adult-gerontology, resulting in high demand for FNPs. FNPs are able to diagnose and treat conditions through assessment of patient health history, perform physical examinations, place orders for preventative screenings and diagnostic testing, make medical diagnoses and help treat and educate patients towards healthy lifestyles.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, nurse practitioners have a 52% projected job growth by 2030, making nurse practitioners one of the fastest-growing occupations within the decade. With over half of the states allowing nurse practitioners full practice authority, they are able to help bridge the gap from physician shortages.
Earning an MSN-FNP degree is an effective way to increase your earning potential as a nurse. While salary can depend on the state, the average salary for a Nurse Practitioner in the U.S. is roughly $123,780 per year or $59.51 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021). Graduates of Rockhurst’s Online MSN-FNP program are sure to see a quick return on investment in either option of a full-time or part-time education as the demand for FNPs continues to grow.
The online FNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Rockhurst University and Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
You will learn from active clinicians who bring real-world experience into the online classroom. As trusted Rockhurst faculty members, they are committed to your success as an advanced practice nurse.
Yes. Clinical placement services are built into the cost of the program. A dedicated Rockhurst placement coordinator will identify an appropriate site and preceptor within a reasonable driving distance from where you live.
The online FNP program is offered on a full-time and part-time basis. The full-time track takes 6 semesters to complete, while the part-time track takes 8 semesters.
The online FNP program requires 49 credits of coursework and 750 clinical hours to graduate.
The online FNP program costs $734.69 per credit hour, for a total program investment of $35,999.81, plus fees ($78.30/credit hour). Financial aid may be available to our online students.
Online FNP students will attend one clinical immersion on the Rockhurst campus in Kansas City, Missouri for two days of clinical instruction in the new, state-of-the-art simulation lab and renovated nursing facilities. They will also engage in one virtual immersion to further hone their skills. In these immersive clinical experiences, students will receive hands-on skills training, complete high- and low-fidelity simulation, and demonstrate competencies through objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).
Following the campus immersion, students will return home and continue their online coursework. Additionally, they will complete the rest of their clinical hours at a predetermined site under the direct supervision of a licensed preceptor and the indirect supervision of a Rockhurst clinical faculty supervisor.
100% pass rate
for APRN certification
100% online coursework
plus campus immersion
52% Projected NP job growth by 2030
Source: BLS
Some of our students elect to enroll in the dual degree track in which they earn two online MSN nurse practitioner specializations in one program: family practice and adult-gerontology acute care. Earning two specializations through a single MSN program saves you time and money, streamlines the educational experience, and opens doors to a variety of roles in health care. Our individual online MSN programs each require 49 credits to graduate, whereas the MSN Dual Track only requires 62 credits.
Due to the surging demand for providers in primary and acute care settings, holding both specializations expands your scope of practice and gives you the versatility to work in a wide range of environments. The dual MSN degree offers a significant opportunity to care for all types of patients, influence health promotion, provide primary care to individuals across the life span, and support the acute needs of chronically ill adult patients who may experience life-threatening emergencies.
A dedicated enrollment adviser can answer your questions and guide you through the application process. Click the link below to fill out a form and start the conversation.
Your adviser can help with:
To proceed with either the BSN to MSN FNP or the BSN to DNP FNP, you are required to have a bachelor’s degree and hold your RN license.
If you don’t meet these requirements but would still like further information, please contact us.
To proceed with the EdD in Educational Leadership and Organizational Leadership, you are required to have a master’s degree.
If you don’t meet this requirement but would still like further information, please contact us.
© Rockhurst University Online • All Rights Reserved • Privacy Policy • California Privacy Notice