This innovative and flexible program prepares the professional nurse for advanced nursing practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner and for doctoral studies. The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program consists of 45 semester hours (sh) of coursework. 

Admission Requirements

In addition to the University graduate admission requirements described in the Admissions section of the catalog, the department bases decisions for regular admission on a holistic review of credentials in which the following criteria are used to assess the potential success of each applicant: 

• An earned Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an NLNAC, ACEN, or CCNE accredited nursing program with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale OR a 3.0 (GPA) on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 hours of coursework on the BSN.
• Evidence of a completed undergraduate statistics course with a grade of "C" or better.
• A current unencumbered Registered Nurse license to practice nursing in a state or territory of the United States.
• A curriculum vitae (CV) that includes: work history, educational background, community service involvement with dates, national certification entity, and professional organization memberships.

• A career goals statement that includes a written narrative of the following:

  • How have your past nursing experiences prepared you to pursue and successfully complete graduate studies and contribute to the healthcare field as a family nurse practitioner? 

  • Based on your diverse life and professional experiences, what lessons have you learned that you believe will support you on your graduate journey?  

  • Your answers will serve as an example of your critical thinking and writing skills. Citations and references are not required. Submission should be typed and between 150-200 words.  

Admission to the FNP program is competitive and selective. Applicants are reviewed by the School of Nursing Graduate Admissions Committee. Please note, students who are not eligible to register in the college or university last attended, for academic or disciplinary reasons, will not be admitted to the FNP program. 

Upon admission, the FNP students will receive information concerning additional UWF School of Nursing requirements for enrollment. These include, but are not limited to: physical examination and immunizations; Level 2 criminal background check; drug screen; VECHS fingerprinting; AHA BCLS certification; proof of professional liability insurance; and proof of personal health insurance.

FNP Program Plan of Study Progression

1. Each student must adhere to their FNP program plan of study (cohort progression) that they receive upon admission in order to guarantee a seat in each course. Note: A break in progression includes earning a non-passing grade, dropping a course, withdrawal, or failing to enroll in 1 or more courses.
2. When a break in progression occurs, the student will meet with their advisor to discuss future coursework.
3. The School of Nursing Recruitment, Admissions, Retention, and Progression (RARP) Committee reviews and decides if a seat is available in courses missed due to a break in progression.
4. If a seat is not available in the needed course(s), the RARP committee will notify the student. The student will be considered for a seat the next time the course is offered. When an extended break (3 or more semesters without enrolling in courses) in progression occurs, the student must reapply to the graduate school and FNP program.

Course and GPA requirement

• Students are required to earn a “B” in all courses (Minimal 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale).
• Students may repeat the same nursing course only once, and on a space-available basis.
• Students who receive less than a “B” in the same course two (2) times will be dismissed from the FNP program.
• Students who receive less than a “B” in two (2) different nursing courses will be dismissed from the FNP program.

Degree Requirements

Students must successfully complete both the core courses and the specialty courses. All courses in the plan of study must be passed at a grade of "B" or higher. 

Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization

M.S.N. Direct Care Core (9 sh)

M.S.N Common Core (12 sh)

Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization (24 sh)