Why Carson-Newman FNP Programs Online?

Brick sign on Carson-Newman University campus

Vision

To equip nurses to provide compassionate, holistic patient care that positively affects the healthcare industry and improves the lives of others.

Purpose

To provide exceptional nursing education from experienced faculty in a supportive, Christian community grounded in authentic servant-leadership.

Mission

To empower those called to nursing to think critically, advance their clinical competence, and effectively treat patients with the highest quality of care.

Why Carson-Newman FNP Programs Online?

History of Carson-Newman University

Founded on Faith

“Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

Founded in biblical conviction by a group of Baptist Leaders in 1851, Carson-Newman University was built on the intent to “promote education in general, and among the ministry in particular.” Faith-driven leaders including a physician, lawyer, and minister were among the university’s earliest graduates, and these types of service-oriented professions remain at the core of Carson-Newman’s educational foundation today.
 

Fostering Growth through Christ-Centered Education

Over 150 years later, Carson-Newman has evolved and grown in size and offerings, yet our commitment to academic rigor and the education of servant-leaders called by God remains constant. Carson-Newman is Christ-centered and in partnership with several Baptist organizations, committed to sustaining an enriching academic curriculum that fosters professional, personal, and spiritual growth.
 

What Distinguishes Carson-Newman University

At Carson-Newman, we prioritize a close, faith-based, holistic educational environment. Our small class sizes provide intimate interactions and offer a personalized learning experience. Nursing students learn from expert faculty who are currently practicing in the field and passionate about education. 

Our supportive community also includes dedicated Enrollment Advisors who assist during the application process, Student Success Advisors who help you find life balance during the program, and time-saving clinical placement services. 

Combined with our affordable tuition and flexible online format powered by state-of-the-art technology, Carson-Newman leverages every opportunity to make educational advancement accessible to today’s nurses. 

About Carson-Newman Department of Nursing

  • Our nursing department chair is Lana Spence, DNP, a graduate of the Univerisity of Tennessee College of Medicine.  

  • Online, we offer Family Nurse Practitioner programs that allow you to pursue your education in a flexible format that fits your busy schedule. These include the MSN-FNP degree, as well as our Post-Master’s FNP Certificate. 

  • The goal of our Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) and Post-Master’s FNP (PMC-FNP) program is to prepare registered nurses for advanced practice roles in nursing within the context of Christian beliefs, values, and behaviors. 

  • On campus, we offer a BS in Nursing and MSN degrees and Post-Master's Certificate for Family Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Educators, as well as a hybrid Family Nurse Practitioner/Nurse Educator degree.

  • All nursing tracks meet the necessary requirements of eligibility to complete national certification examination.

Accreditation 

  • Carson-Newman University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges

  • Carson-Newman’s Nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and are approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing

Rankings 

Carson-Newman University is ranked:

  • #4 among the Best Online Colleges in Tennessee in 2018 by OnlineDegrees.com

  • #8 among the Best Four-Year Colleges in Tennessee in 2019 by Schools.com

  • #22 among Best Value Colleges in Tennessee in 2019 by Niche.com  

  • #26 among the Best Value Schools: Regional Universities: Southeast in 2018 by U.S. News & World Report

  • #26 among Best Colleges for the Money in Tennessee in 2020 by Niche.com

  • #68 in Best Colleges for Social Mobility in 2021 by U.S. News & World Report

  • #76 among Best Regional Universities: South in 2019 by U.S. News & World Report 

  • #163 among the South Region’s Best Institutions in 2020 by The Princeton Review

  • #259 among Best Online Bachelor's Programs in 2020 by U.S. News & World Report 

  • #293-#381 in Best National Universities in 2020 by U.S. News & World Report 

Carson-Newman Department of Nursing is ranked:

  • #3 among the Highest Paid Nursing Graduates in Tennessee in 2020 by CollegeFactual.com

  • #132-#173 in Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs in 2020 by U.S. News & World Report 

  • #199-252 in Best Nursing Schools: Master's in 2020 by U.S. News & World Report 

  • #288 among the Best Value Colleges for Nursing: Nationwide in 2020 by CollegeFactual.com

  • Recognized as a College of Distinction: Nursing in 2018 by CollegesofDistinction.com

Accolades

  • Yellow Ribbon Participating School

  • Recognized as a “College of Distinction” in 2018 by CollegesofDistinction.com

  • Named to the President’s Honor Roll by the U.S. Department of Education for the university’s focus on ‘service with distinction’

  • Ranked among the “Best in the Southeast” on The Princeton Review’s list of "2020 Best Colleges: Region by Region." 

  • Ranked #19 among Best Religiously Affiliated Colleges in 2020 by CollegeFactual.com

  • Ranked #27 among the Most Diverse Colleges in Tennessee in 2019 by Niche.com

  • Ranked #34 among the Best Colleges for Veterans in 2018 by U.S. News & World Report 

  • Selected as one of only 14 Tennessee universities in 2019 to be included on the Forbes Top Colleges list for delivering top academics, best experiences, career success and lowest debt for students(https://www.forbes.com/colleges/carson-newman-university/?list=top-colleges/#138136881e0a)

  • Ranked #119 among the Top Performers on Social Mobility in 2020 by U.S. News & World Report

Why Choose Carson-Newman University?

Take your career to the next level with Carson-Newman’s flexible online nursing programs.

  • Our online MSN-FNP degree and Post-Master’s FNP Certificate programs will provide you with the essential skills and knowledge needed to enhance your impact as a more autonomous caregiver. 

  • Our Christian mission fits hand-in-glove with the call to compassionate holistic care that equips nurses to look beyond patient folders and doctor’s orders. 

  • Our holistic approach to nursing education will expand your critical thinking skills, develop your clinical competency, and broaden your perspective as a health care provider.

Small Class Sizes that are Individually Focused

Carson-Newman’s responsive, engaged faculty are committed to working collaboratively to ensure student success. This means intentionally keeping class sizes and online cohorts small—between 16 and 20 students each—to allow for an intimate learning environment. Our nursing professors have direct experience in the field and are prepared to help students transfer knowledge and theory from the classroom to real-life application. 

Support from Beginning to End

Carson-Newman’s online programs put students first at each step of the way. Experienced Enrollment Advisors will assist you in finding a program that is the right fit for your needs and professional goals, and will help you prepare the strongest possible application when you are ready to apply. There is no application fee or transcript evaluation fee, and transcript evaluations are usually completed within 24-48 hours. 

A Student Success Advisor offers ongoing support for each student from your first class registration through graduation day and beyond and our faculty members are actively engaged in each student’s education and success. Plus, our students receive access to career development assistance, a writing center, online tutoring, and additional services to ensure they graduate prepared for their board certification exam.

A Flexible Online Format for Working Nurses

Our user-friendly online system allows for flexible learning hours designed for working nurses. Course material is available 24/7, and faculty are extremely responsive to questions and correspondence. All coursework is 100% online and there are no mandatory login times, so your education can be on your schedule. 

Stress-Free Clinical Placements

Carson-Newman believes you are only as successful as your training, which is why we have taken the stress out of the clinical placement process. Each online nursing student works with a Placement Specialist to find the perfect fit for their clinical placement—a valuable time-saving process designed for the student’s success. With this peace of mind, you can focus on your studies instead of clinicals.

Affordable Tuition

Financial aid and employer tuition reimbursement are largely accepted at Carson-Newman, and military aid and benefits are available. Students save up to $200 per credit hour at Carson-Newman when compared to competitors nationwide.
Get all the information you need to make an educated decision by downloading the online nursing program guide