Fast Facts
- 100% online (not including clinical practicum or residency)
- Stress-free clinical site placements
- Complete the online MSN-FNP in as few as 32 months, taking twelve 15-week courses
- Learn from experienced faculty of nurse educators who are active nurse practitioners in their communities
- One three-day on-campus residency experience connects you with your peers and instructors
- Accredited by:
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing
- #26 in Best Value Schools – U.S. News & World Report, 2018
- #76 in Regional Universities South – U.S. News & World Report, 2019
Download our program guide to find out more.
*The master's degree program in nursing at Carson-Newman University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791 (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
By the Numbers
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78%
avg. job offer rate for nurse practitioners at graduation (vs 46% for new grads across all disciplines)*
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95%
job placement 4-6 months after graduation*
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89%
female online MSN-FNP students at C-N
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38
avg. age of online MSN-FNP students at C-N
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*2017 American Association of Colleges of Nursing Report
Why Choose Carson-Newman's Online MSN-FNP Program
Our online programs provide unrivaled support and a user-friendly online learning system.
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Convenient and flexible. Designed for working nurses, with 100% online coursework (not including clinicals, practicum or residency) and no mandatory login times.
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Small class sizes. Enjoy an intimate learning environment focused on meeting your needs - we want you to succeed.
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Stress-free clinical placement. You will be provided with a clinical site and preceptor, so you can focus on your studies.
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Personalized support. A dedicated Student Success Advisor provides guidance and creates a supportive learning environment from registration to graduation day.
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Affordable tuition. Our streamlined MSN-FNP program is competitively priced, saving you up to $200 per credit hour when compared with nationwide competitors.
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Free and fast transcript evaluations. We evaluate your transcripts free of charge, usually within 48 hours.
To get more information, please download our program guide.
Online MSN-FNP Curriculum
Below are select courses from our program. For a complete curriculum and course descriptions, please download a free brochure:
NURS 501 - Advanced Pathophysiology, 3 credit hours
NURS 501 - Advanced Pathophysiology, 3 credit hours
Presentation and in-depth analysis of normal physiologic and pathologic mechanisms of disease as related to the provision and management of client care at the advanced level.
Stress-Free Clinical Placements
The Carson-Newman Department of Nursing believes you are only as successful as your training, which is why we have taken the stress out of the clinical placement process. As an online FNP student, you will be provided with clinical sites and preceptors for primary clinical rotations, so you can focus on coursework and building competency instead of worrying about the logistics of clinical placements.
Residency Experience
One three-day required on-campus residency experience provides you the opportunity you to meet and connect with your peers and program faculty. During the campus residency, students will come to campus for hands-on skills practice and to complete an advanced assessment physical exam.
Getting to meet the professors for the three-day residency has been nice. We get to put a face with the name of professors who have been so great to us.
- Lauren Crowe, Online MSN-FNP Student
Admissions Requirements
To view the Requirements for Admission, please download our program guide.
NURS 503 - Advanced Pharmacology, 3 credit hours
NURS 503 - Advanced Pharmacology, 3 credit hours
Advanced pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of commonly used drug categories are analyzed in depth with consideration to safe, high-quality, cost-effective drug therapy for client care.
MSN-FNP State Restrictions
Currently, the Carson-Newman online MSN-FNP program is available in the following states:
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Online FNP Program Careers and Outcomes
In-Demand Career
MSN Family Nurse Practitioners typically earn more than an RN or BSN-prepared nurse. The 2018 Nurse Practitioner Compensation Survey conducted by the AANP indicates that the average total annual income (which includes base salary, productivity bonuses, incentive payments) for full-time NPs was $109,021. This is approximately $35,500 more than the 2017 average annual salary of a registered nurse at $73,550. By 2026, more than 56,100 nurse practitioner positions are expected to be created (according to the BLS).
Fulfilling a Need
By earning an MSN-FNP degree and becoming a nurse practitioner, graduates will help fulfill a growing need for primary care providers. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) predicts a shortage of more than 20,000 primary care physicians by 2020. Family nurse practitioners are answering the call and filling the gap left by physicians.
High Job Satisfaction
Family nurse practitioners enjoy a high rate of job satisfaction. An FNP is one of the top five Best Healthcare Jobs and in the top seven of the 100 Best Jobs according to U.S. News & World Report, 2019. Family nurse practitioners enjoy more autonomy than RNs. Some states grant prescriptive privileges to FNPs. FNPs can also provide a variety of primary care services.
Other Options for MSN-Prepared Nurses
At Carson-Newman, all nurses learn from a caring faculty of active practitioners who provide stimulating clinical experiences that directly connect hands-on assessment with comprehensive patient care opportunities. For MSN-prepared RNs who wish to earn their FNP licensure, we offer an online Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program.
If you haven’t yet earned your BSN degree, we also offer an online RN to Master of Science in Nursing - FNP program.
Family Nurse Practitioners Fill a Growing Need for Primary Care Providers
An online Master of Science in Nursing-FNP degree is a doorway to a lucrative and in-demand career as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Family Nurse Practitioners, or FNPs, are registered nurses who have achieved the advanced education needed to act as family-focused primary care providers, either autonomously or in collaboration with medical physicians. Graduates of online MSN-FNP programs will join a field that is expected to grow by 36% by 2026.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC 2018), the number of new primary care physicians is not keeping pace with the needs of a growing and aging U.S. population. By 2030, the projected shortage of primary care physicians is expected to reach as high as 49,300. Online Family Nurse Practitioner programs are helping to close the gap, as MSN-FNP qualified nurses are well positioned to fill the role that has historically been filled by family doctors, particularly in states where FNPs have full practice authority.
Online nurse practitioner programs like the MSN-FNP degree offered by Carson-Newman prepare qualified nurses to take the FNP National Certification exam upon graduation, through an advanced curriculum that focuses on the provision of holistic care to individuals and families throughout every stage of life. Obtaining an FNP degree online is an ideal option for busy working nurses, as all coursework can be completed online and there are no mandatory class login times.
An FNP nurse who graduates from Carson-Newman’s MSN-FNP online degree program will be prepared with the knowledge and skills required to succeed as a Family Nurse Practitioner in a variety of health care settings, including outpatient medical clinics, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.
