MSN Family Nurse Practitioner

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Invest In Others By Investing In Yourself

The Family Nurse Practitioner program prepares advanced practice nurses to provide holistic care to individuals of all ages from newborn babies to older adults, and to address issues associated with women’s health. Students work in all care settings with a focus on delivering patient care management, health promotion, and disease prevention to people with acute and chronic disease. Graduates diagnose, manage, and evaluate the care of patients, except in critical care settings. Students have clinical practice in nearby city and rural clinics, private practices, hospitals, and other settings that employ advanced practice nurses or MDs.

Sneak Peek | Fairfield University School of Nursing and Health Studies

Fairfield University’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing Simulation Center

Contact Us

Janina Gilo-Tomkins headshot

Janina Gilo-Tomkins

Director, Family Nurse Practitioner

Assistant Professor of the Practice

Office of Graduate Admission

P: (203) 254-4184
F: (203) 254-4199
gradadmis@fairfield.edu

Fairfield Egan Fast Facts

Top 100
Best Grad Programs in the Nation
- U.S. News & World Report
Top 2
Master of Science in Nursing in Connecticut

- U.S. News and World Report

NLN
Center of Excellence in Nursing Education
Top 5%
Best Nursing Schools
- College Factual

Requirements & Curriculum

Required Courses

Healthcare Leadership Roles for Systems Improvement
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Advanced Healthcare Policy
Research Methods for Evidenced-Based Practice
Information Technology for Healthcare Improvement
Advanced Health Assessment
Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
Advanced Pharmacology
Adult Health I
Adult Health II
Care of Children and Families
Care of At-Risk Populations
Practicum in Adult Health I
Clinical Conference Across the Lifespan: FNP Practicum I
Clinical Conference Across the Lifespan: FNP Practicum II

A detailed list of course requirements, offerings, and more can be viewed in the University’s course catalog.

Egan Admission

Applicants for the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Track must hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university (or the international equivalent) with a quality point average of 3.0 or higher preferred. RN applicants who have a non-nursing bachelor's degree will be considered on an individual basis and may be required to complete select prerequisites to be eligible for admission to the MSN program.

More About MSN Family Nurse Practitioner

Career & Professional Opportunities

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Career & Professional Opportunities

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) has the privilege of working in all levels of healthcare but critical care, and the opportunity to care for patients throughout the lifespan. FNPs work in:

  • Emergency Department or other departments of a hospital such as interventional radiology, pain, cardiac, gynecology, neurological, infertility, pediatrics, pulmonary or renal, and more
  • Primary care
  • Surgical centers or specialty
  • Ambulatory care clinics or private practices in internal medicine or family practice
  • Specialty clinics or private practice in all types of specialties such as gastroenterology, cardiac, gynecology, oncology, pulmonary, endocrine, infectious disease, and more
  • College health
  • Pediatric clinics, school-based care, or private practice
  • Long-term care
  • Prisons and detention centers
  • Occupational health
  • Research
  • Palliative care

As an autonomous primary healthcare provider, you'll be prepared to administer care with the following advanced skills and knowledge:

  • Genetics
  • Family theory
  • Physiology and pathophysiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Health assessment
  • Adult health medicine
  • Women's health
  • Geriatrics
  • Pediatrics

Additionally, your knowledge in health policy, epidemiology, biostatistics, and nursing research will serve to improve your ability to assume an advanced practice nursing role.

Learn about how Fairfield's Career Center can support your post-graduate goals, and how Fairfield's tight-knit alumni network can build career and mentoring opportunities that last a lifetime.

Visit the Career Center

Diversity and Inclusive Excellence

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Diversity and Inclusive Excellence

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As a Jesuit, Catholic university, Fairfield is dedicated to diversity and inclusion; to radical hospitality in service of racial, social, and economic justice.

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Egan Newsletter

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Egan Newsletter

Learn more about what our faculty, students, and alumni are doing, as well as stay up-to-date on our rankings and accolades, programs, and more.

Read Our Newsletter

Egan Update

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Egan Update

We invite you to view the Egan Update, a year in review of Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies news.

Read the Egan Update (PDF)

Faculty & Staff

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Faculty & Staff

Fairfield University’s Egan School boasts experienced faculty who inspire students to become leaders across social and healthcare environments. These students are actively engaged with faculty in practice, policy, scholarship, and service.

Meet the Faculty & Staff

Frequently Asked Questions

Individuals can complete either a DNP or a Masters’ program in their chosen area of specialty in order to become certified as a nurse practitioner. Family Nurse Practitioners apply for board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners; visit their websites for more information on the requirements for certification.

The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties is responsible for developing the nurse practitioner competencies. This is true for both MSN and DNP preparation.

A certified Family Nurse Practitioner is prepared to work with patients across the life span except for patients in critical care and high risk pregnancy areas. Family Nurse Practitioners can work in primary care or specialized areas of medicine such as cardiology, infertility, interventional radiology, oncology, and pediatrics at this time. The program at Fairfield University prepares the graduate to be able to work with all age groups. Clinical practica are arranged to prepare the student to gain experience in primary care and, if desired, in one or two specialty areas.

The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program will prepare you to work as an FNP in pediatric settings as well as with adults of all ages in case you change your mind as your career evolves. Primary care is being offered in many family practice centers so being a FNP prepares you for both adult and pediatric practice. If you feel you want to specialize exclusively in pediatrics, you should seek information at institutions offering a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track.

Being a Family Nurse Practitioner will make you most marketable and enable you to work in any practice setting with patients of all ages [except critical care and high risk pregnancy].

Students can transfer up to 6 core credits if the courses are similar. Evaluation of transfer credits are approved by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies.

Call or email Dr. Jaclyn Conelius, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2757 for more information.

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