College of Nursing Welcomes First Class of MSN/FNP Students
Roseman University kicked off 2020 by welcoming in January the inaugural class of students into the College of Nursing’s new Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN/FNP) graduate program. Of the 13 students who make of up the Class of 2021, six are from Utah, four from Nevada, two from California and one from Colorado. Nine of the 13 students enrolled are alumni of Roseman’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
According to College of Nursing Dean Dr. Brian Oxhorn, the MSN/FNP program was designed specifically for nurses who hold a BSN and are ready to fill the growing need for highly skilled advanced practice registered nurses.
“Our newly enrolled students have the opportunity to work full-time, attend class online, the potential to complete clinical hours where they live, and finish their master’s degree in just under two years,” said Dr. Oxhorn.
The MSN/FNP program focuses on training students to provide comprehensive healthcare for people across all ages, body systems and diseases and prepares students to deliver a range of acute, chronic and preventive healthcare services.
“In addition to diagnosing and treating illness, students will also learn to perform advanced patient care with key job functions that include delivering immunizations, screening and diagnostic testing, prescribing appropriate medications as part of a treatment plan, as well as offering personalized counseling on maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Oxhorn.
With a shortage of primary care physicians continuing to strain the nation’s healthcare system, the demand for Nurse Practitioners is growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the demand for nurse practitioners is expected to grow by 36 percent between 2016 and 2026.
Dr. Oxhorn says, nurse practitioners are in demand at hospitals, outpatient settings, ambulatory settings and private practices and are vital to the health of communities as they make healthcare more accessible.
Andrea Huso, a forensic nurse from Utah and also a Roseman University College of Nursing faculty, joined the MSN/FNP program to expand her role in women’s health. “My goal is to work with my team in identifying gaps in the care of victims of sexual assault and rape and fixing them.”
Regardless of the setting or specialty, nurse practitioners have emerged as important members of the healthcare workforce and their role is to deliver patient-centered care that is efficient and cost-effective, says Oxhorn.
Roseman University’s MSN/FNP is a 23-month full time asynchronous online program that prepares students for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse License (APRN). The students are taught using Roseman University’s Six-Point Mastery Learning Model, an education system that promotes high levels of achievement, with a focus on mastery of content. A block curriculum allows them to study full-time while maintaining a full-time job as a nurse, and incorporates evidence-based research, theory and practice with local clinical hours. The College of Nursing offers two class starts per year – January and July. For more information about the program, visit nursing.roseman.edu.
Author
Jason Roth
Vice President, Communications
Roseman University of Health Sciences