Family Nurse Practitioner Program at a Glance
46 Credit Hours
Taken 100% Online
26 Months
to Complete
Prepares Graduates
for FNP Certification
$23,690
Tuition
Enroll in Houston Christian University’s online Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program if you want to provide compassionate care to families in a variety of clinical settings.
HCU’s online FNP program sets nurses up for a rewarding career in family-focused healthcare and prepares them to confidently manage, diagnose, and treat patients across the lifespan. The FNP program prepares students to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam.
At HCU, our students always come first. Our $23,690 tuition reflects our commitment to provide our students with a well-rounded education at a reasonable price. Students are supported by a personal success coach, expert faculty, and HCU’s close-knit, faith-based community.
Tight-Knit Community
At HCU, your connections with your professors and peers extend beyond the walls of the classroom.
Personalized Support
We’ll match you with a success coach who will assist you with registration, organization, and academic guidance.
Mission-Driven
Our Christian values make up the heart of our institution. The FNP curriculum reflects our focus on community-based care and social justice, with opportunities for service-based learning.
Affordable
Make the most of annual tuition reimbursement from employers to complete the program affordably.
Career Outlook
HCU partners with numerous healthcare organizations, including the Texas Medical Center, to connect students with leading healthcare experts and top facilities so they can hone their clinical skills.
$139,360
The mean income for a nurse practitioner in Houston as of May 2023 – Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
45%
Projected growth in employment of nurse practitioners from 2022 to 2032 – BLS
385,000
Number of NPs nationwide in 2023, 70% of them FNPs – American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Structure
HCU’s FNP program courses are 100% online and asynchronous. Students can finish the 46 required credits in as little as 24 months. They will also complete 733 clinical hours at local healthcare facilities.
Learning Experience by the Week
[X] Hours
Watching Recorded Lectures
Hear faculty perspectives on course topics.
+
[X] Hours
Completing Assignments
Read assigned chapters, complete interactive video modules, conduct research, and talk to peers in discussion forums.
+
[X] Hours
in Clinical Rotations
Gain hands-on experience at a healthcare facility.
=
[X-X] Hours Total
Hour estimates are subject to change based on course load and clinical rotation.
Online Nursing FNP Degree Curriculum
Industry-Aligned Curriculum Enriched with Christian Values
The FNP curriculum is rooted in HCU’s 10 Pillars, enabling students to approach family care from a holistic perspective — physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Focus in on managing complex healthcare problems through the development of evidence-based diagnostic and clinical decision-making skills. Participants evaluate the use of advanced diagnostic techniques in terms of best evidence, client values/beliefs, available resources, and clinical expertise. This course will also provide hands-on practice with the advanced skills needed in primary care. This class requires 20 simulation/lab hours on campus or alternative location. This class requires 20 simulation/lab hours on campus or alternative location. This course is 85% didactic and 15% simulation/lab.
This course is the first of two that explores advanced studies in the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic illnesses in adult patient populations. A grade of B or above must be received in this course to progress in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. This course is 40% didactic and 60% clinical, including 135 clinical hours.
This course provides didactic in the diagnosis and management of women’s health. A grade of B or above must be received in this course to allow progression in the Nurse Practitioner program. This course is 40% didactic and 60% clinical.
This course is the second of two that provides content in the diagnosis and management of adult illness. A grade of B or above must be received in this course to allow progression in the Nurse Practitioner program. This course is 40% didactic and 60% clinical.
This course provides advanced nursing practice studies in the diagnosis and management of common, acute and chronic illnesses in pediatric patient population. A grade of B or above must be received in this course to allow progression in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. This course is 40% didactic and 60% clinical, including 81 clinical hours.
The purpose of this course is to provide a conceptual basis for advanced practice nursing. Students examine nurse practitioner competencies with emphasis on acquiring knowledge and skills to assume leadership roles in healthcare delivery, health policy, and complex healthcare systems. Research and quality improvement mechanisms to implement change are explored. A grade of B or above must be received in this course to allow progression in the Nurse Practitioner program.
This course will provide the opportunity for the learner to integrate and practice the content from previous courses. This course is a precepted clinical of 180 hours. A grade of B or above must be received in this course to allow progression in the Nurse Practitioner program.
This course explores and analyzes theories and propositions from social, psychological, medical, nursing, and interpersonal relations as a foundation to understanding research, practice, and scholarship in nursing. A grade of B or above must be received in this course to allow progression in the Nurse Practitioner program.
This course focuses on pathophysiological processes across the lifespan and the development of clinical reasoning skills that distinguish the relationships between normal physiology and specific system alterations produced by injury and disease. Particular attention will be given to etiology, pathogenesis, developmental and environmental influences, and clinical manifestations of major health problems. A grade of B or above must be received in this course to allow progression in the Nurse Practitioner program.
This course provides the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in the therapeutic use of pharmacologic agents. The pharmacologic treatment of major health problems will be explored. Principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenomics will be examined. The effects of culture, ethnicity, age, pregnancy, gender and funding on pharmacologic therapy will be emphasized. Legal aspects of prescribing will be fully addressed. A grade of B or above must be received in this course to allow progression in the Nurse Practitioner program.
Students will learn to integrate appropriate research to assist in resolving clinical issues. Evidence-based practice will be utilized to include patient preferences and values as well as clinical expertise while integrating research data.
The principles and theories germane to leadership will be explored in relation to complex organizations and the development of leadership styles and policy making within microsystems, mesosystems, and macrosystems to transform those healthcare systems. Course content will include continuous quality improvement models, processes, and tools to measure outcomes in a healthcare facility. Emphasis will be placed on the political, demographic, and economic forces that influence the development of health policy and professional nursing practice. Ethical and legal dimensions of nursing practice and interprofessional relationships at advanced level will be explored. A grade of B or above must be received in this course to allow progression in the Nurse Practitioner program.
This course will build upon health assessment skills developed in the professional nurse’s basic educational program. The theoretical and clinical basis for assessment in advanced nursing practice will be developed. The process whereby the advanced practitioner utilizes comprehensive physical, psychosocial, and cultural assessment across the lifespan to gather specific data relevant to common health problems is demonstrated. Faculty and preceptors facilitate laboratory and clinical experiences, which focus on assessment of clients and presentation of findings in a variety of settings. This course will require 27 hours of precepted patient care hours practicing the didactic content across the lifespan. A grade of B or above must be received in this course to allow progression in the Nurse Practitioner program.
This course is designed to provide the learner with an overview of growth and development, encompassing physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes that occur from conception through late adulthood. This course will include an introduction to the human development theories common to all people, as well as five ways in which the population differs from others. The learner will gain hands-on experience through precepted direct patient care of individuals within the context of family. Evidence-based practice is interwoven with practical applications to parenting, teaching, healthcare, and public policy. This course will provide didactic and hands-on practice with guidelines for health supervision of infants, children, and adolescents. This course has 81 hours of precepted clinical and is 40% didactic and 60% direct patient care.
What Our Students And Faculty Are Saying
Admissions
Applicants must be graduates of an accredited Associate Degree in Nursing program and hold an unencumbered RN license. They also need at least one year of professional nursing experience.
HCU’s admissions team works closely with each student to help them maximize transfer credits. You can find detailed requirements and a link to an online application on our Admissions page.
Have Questions?
The tuition for the FNP program is $515 per credit.
The FNP program has no live class meetings. You can do all coursework on your own time, but you’re still responsible for adhering to deadlines. Your clinical supervisor will work with you to set hours when you need to be present for clinical practice.
This MSN-FNP program teaches students to be generalists in the advanced practice registered nurse community. They learn to treat patients across the lifespan with a range of medical issues. FNP roles make up nearly three-quarters of the rapidly expanding NP job field, so they are in high demand.
Yes, students also have to pay $100 per semester for the Online Student Fee, $25 for the Malpractice Fee (NURS 5305, 5223, 5400 – $75 total) and $200 per clinical course (once per term if they follow progression), and $470 per course Amplify Fee (NURS 5501).
No, there is no deposit required.
HCU’s graduate programs are all designed for nurses who want to study while maintaining their careers. HCU works with students to place them for clinical rotations at facilities near their homes or at their current places of employment.
Yes, a range of payment plans are available to accommodate students’ personal finance and employer reimbursement needs.
You need a valid, Texas-specific, RN license.
FNP courses are 16 weeks each semester.
The FNP program has two start dates per year (January and August).
The program can be completed in 24-26 months.
The FNP program is CCNE accredited.