Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

A Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is a registered professional nurse with advanced education and clinical training to provide health care to individuals across the lifespan and their families. The FNP is an expert health care provider who practices under the rules and regulations of the State’s Nurse Practice Act.

The FNP major prepares the graduate for the expanded role in assessment and treatment of individuals across the lifespan. It emphasizes a multidisciplinary, culturally sensitive, community based approach that focuses on patient care outcomes.

The FNP advanced generalist curriculum provides the opportunity for a student to acquire current advanced knowledge and skills that are refined through extensive course work involving both class instruction and clinical practicum.

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be able to offer comprehensive, age-appropriate, age-specific quality primary health care that addresses the multiple needs of individuals across the lifespan.

Two years direct clinical experience (medical-surgical experience or intensive / intermediate care units;  trauma / emergency room; labor & delivery; pediatric medical or other relevant experience) is required.

Above courses + 11 semester hours required courses for a total of 47 semester hours. In the post-MSN option, each applicant is evaluated individually to determine the need for additional coursework.

For further information, contact: Beverly H. Robinson, PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor & Associate Dean for Graduate Nursing Program
UTHSCSA School of Nursing 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC # 7943, San Antonio, T X 78229-3900
(210) 567-5815
Website: www.nursing.uthscsa.edu

On-line application : http://studentservices.uthscsa.edu/publications/nursing.html

Graduates are eligible for national certification and recognition by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas as an Advanced Practice Nurse.

“Not an Official Publication of UTHSCSA”

Major Course Descriptions:

• NURS 6307 Health Assessment Across the Lifespan for Advanced Practice Nurses
  Credit Hour Allocation: 3 semester hours
  Prerequisites: Undergraduate health assessment course/comparable experience
  
  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. Major Courses



• NURS 5338 Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nurses
  Credit Hour Allocation: 3 semester hours
  Prerequisites: Graduate Standing
  
  This course focuses on pathophysiological processes across the lifespan. The relationship between normal physiology and specific system alterations produced by disease will be explored. Particular attention will be given to etiology, pathogenesis, developmental and environmental influences, and clinical manifestations of major health problems that affect South Texas . Portions of this course will be delivered by distance technology. Independent completion of modules is required in this course. Major Courses



• NURS 6302 Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nurses
  Credit Hour Allocation: 3 semester hours
  Prerequisites: NURS 5338 or concurrent
  
  This course provides the advanced practice nurse the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in the therapeutic use of pharmacologic agents in the practice of primary health care. Principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics will be examined. The history of disease, pathophysiology, symptomatology and pharmacologic treatment of major health problems will be explored. Potential adverse reactions of various cultural groups to prescribed agents will be emphasized, including adherence, cost of drug, cultural values and beliefs, and individual responses to therapy. Partnerships with patients in comprehensive education, monitoring and adherence is stressed. The state and federal legal regulations for advanced practice nursing prescriptive authority will be addressed. Major Courses


• NURS 6308 Mental Health Concepts for Advanced Practice Nurses
  Credit Hour Allocation: 3 semester hours
  Prerequisites: Graduate Standing
  
  This course emphasizes the development of advanced practice nursing skills in mental health. Individually supervised practice, analysis and evaluation of the interpersonal process with culturally diverse clients experiencing life transition that result in psychological stress and dysfunction across the lifespan is employed.  Students use a holistic perspective to examine the etiology, meaning and consequences of human behavior.  Biological, cultural, psychological and social aspects of mental health and mental health care are considered. A special emphasis is placed on working in partnerships with patients to assess and detect actual and potential mental health problems.  The advanced practice nurse will provide customized care through developmental assessment, crisis intervention, pharmacological management, other biological therapies and/or consultation/referral to other mental health professionals. (45 hour clinical practicum) Major Courses


• NURS 5311 Nursing Assessment of Populations
  Credit Hour Allocation: 3 semester hours
  Prerequisites: Graduate Standing
  
  This course explores the acquisition of knowledge about a community of interest and its health problems. Communities of interest may include populations within organizations, neighborhoods or communities. Sources of both qualitative and quantitative information about selected populations and their health problems will be addressed. Students will be given an opportunity to gain experience in the identification of population characteristics, problem health measurement and the identification of "communities of solution." For their clinical activities, students may choose population aggregates in a variety of settings compatible with their area of interest. (45 hour clinical practicum) Major Courses



• NURS 6603 Family Nurse Practitioner Diagnosis & Management: Concepts   & Theory I
  Credit Hour Allocation: 4 semester hours class; 2 semester hours clinical
  Clock Hour Allocation: 4 clock hours class; 9 clock hours clinical (90 hours clinical practicum)
  Prerequisites: NURS 5306 Nursing Science I; N5226 Nurses Role in Health Care Finance; NURS 5339 Nursing Leadership & Policy; NURS 6307 Health Assessment for APN; NURS 6302 Pharmacotherapeutics for APN; NURS 6308 Mental Health Concepts; NURS 5338 Pathophysiology for APN; NURS 5311 Assessment of Populations (may be taken concurrently); NURS 5307 Nursing Science II ( may be taken concurrently)
  
  The focus of this course is the transition of the RN to the role of the Family Nurse Practitioner in health promotion, diagnosis and management of common illnesses in primary health care practice across the life-span attending to differences in focused populations. Research and theory are used to identify strategies integral to advanced nursing practice for the promotion of health and prevention of illness. Using problem-based and integrated learning strategies, disorder of approximately one half of the physiologic systems are examined, critical thinking processes required for development of differential diagnosis are utilized, and therapeutic regimens for common diseases/disorders identified. Emphasizes collaborative partnerships among patients, families, and other health care disciplines. Major Courses



• NURS 6604 Family Nurse Practitioner Diagnosis & Management: Concepts &             Theory II
  Credit Hour Allocation: 3 semester hours class; 3 semester hours clinical
  Clock Hour Allocation: 3 clock hours class (45 clock hours); 9 clock hours clinical (135 hours clinical practicum)
  Prerequisites: NURS 6603 FNP: Diagnosis and Management: Concepts and Theory I
  
  The focus of this course is the progression of development of the Nurse Practitioner in health promotion, diagnosis and management of common illnesses in primary health care practice across the life-span, attending to differences in focused populations and specialty tracks. Research and theory used to identify strategies that are integral to advanced nursing practice for promotion of health and prevention of illness. Using problem-based and integrated learning strategies, disorders of approximately one half of the physiologic systems are examined, critical thinking processes required for development of differential diagnosis are utilized, and therapeutic regimens for common diseases/disorders identified. Emphasizes collaborative partnerships among patient, family, and other health care disciplines. Major Courses



• NURS 6906 Family Nurse Practitioner: Role & Preceptorship
  Credit Hour Allocation: 1 semester hour class; 8 semester hours clinical
  Clock Hour Allocation: 1 clock hour class (15 hours seminar); 24 clock hours (360 hours of clinical practicum)
  Prerequisites: All courses for the major
  
  This course focuses on health maintenance for patients, professionalism and ethical roles and responsibilities of Family Nurse Practitioners in the health care setting; transition to an advanced practice role (marketing, negotiations, contracts); understanding the political arena of legal and social issues governing advanced practice in primary health care (including prescriptive authority); and maintaining professional partnerships within professional advanced practice nursing and health care professionals in other disciplines. It requires the student to demonstrate integration, synthesis and application of assessment, diagnosis, and management of patients with acute and/or stable chronic health conditions. Practice and mastery of these skills will occur in preceptored clinical settings specific to the population focus and will reflect progressive competency of the Nurse Practitioner student in health promotion, diagnosis and management of patient and family care for a culturally diverse population. The student will use problem-based integrated learning strategies and scholarship to identify and implement strategies to promote health, prevent illness, develop and implement treatment plans, and evaluate outcomes of common and complex disorders. Critical thinking processes required for development of differential diagnosis and evaluation are required, and progressive independence of practice is expected. This course emphasizes collaborative partnerships with patient, family, and other health care disciplines. Major Courses