Azusa Pacific University Nurse Practitioner
Looking to advance your nursing career with an APU MSN degree? The Princeton Review’s 2024 Best Colleges Guide ranks Azusa Pacific University among the top 79 Best Western Colleges. Your education becomes more affordable since all incoming students get financial aid.
APU’s MSN program lets you specialize in various Nurse Practitioner tracks. You can choose from Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Pediatric Primary Care, and Psychiatric Mental Health. The program maintains a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio to ensure customized attention during your studies. APU’s School of Nursing ranks as California’s third-largest producer of nurses. The school received grants over $4.3 million to help students afford their nursing education. This piece covers everything you need to know about your path from MSN to becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner at APU.
Nursing School Overview
Azusa Pacific University’s School of Nursing ranks among the nation’s best nursing education programs. The school is California’s third-largest producer of nurses. Both the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the California Board of Registered Nursing have accredited APU’s nursing programs.
APU’s MSN degree offers multiple paths to advance your nursing career. Students can choose from four specialized tracks in the Master of Science in Nursing with Nurse Practitioner program: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Pediatric Primary Care, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The FNP program equips you to provide primary care to patients of all ages in different healthcare settings.
The MSN program requires 44-56 units based on your specialty choice. Students pay $895 per unit, with total program costs between $39,380 and $50,120. Every incoming student receives some form of financial aid to help with these costs.
The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded APU’s School of Nursing two grants totaling over $4.3 million to help make nursing education available to more students. The school’s small class sizes, with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, create a customized learning experience. Students benefit from a mix of theory and hands-on expertise that prepares them to run and maintain detailed health services in various settings while advancing “the work of God in the world through nursing”.
Types of Nurse Practitioner Programs Available
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) stands out as the most popular choice among nurse practitioner programs that offer different specialization paths. FNPs make up nearly 70% of all nurse practitioners and remain the most sought-after NP specialty. The growing need for preventative medicine and primary care providers who can treat patients of any age drives this high demand.
APU’s MSN program offers the FNP specialty along with several other nurse practitioner specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care – Focuses on complete care for adults and older patients
- Psychiatric-Mental Health – Prepares NPs to provide mental health services throughout life
- Pediatric Primary Care – Concentrates on health services for children and adolescents
- Women’s Health – Specializes in gender-related healthcare needs
Each specialty has its unique focus, yet all nurse practitioner programs share essential core curriculum requirements. Students learn advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment. These programs follow the competencies set by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, which include ethics, leadership, quality, and scientific foundation.
FNP programs teach you to provide primary care for patients of every age in family-centered settings. You’ll build clinical skills in diagnostic reasoning, care management, and complete health assessment during your studies.
After finishing your MSN-FNP program, you must take a national board certification exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). The curriculum helps prepare you for these exams.
Many NP programs use a hybrid format that blends online coursework with in-person clinical experiences. This setup lets you keep working as an RN while pursuing your advanced degree. Schools coordinate clinical rotations that give you hands-on experience in real-life healthcare settings.
Flexible Learning Formats
APU’s MSN program offers flexible learning formats that help you balance your professional life with education. Working nurses can pursue advanced degrees without leaving their careers behind.
The Family Nurse Practitioner program at APU works around your schedule. You’ll find evening lectures, customizable clinical experiences, and part-time options that fit your work life. This means you can keep your nursing job while advancing your education. Summer courses let you move through the program at your own pace.
Hybrid learning models give nursing students the best of both worlds. These combine online coursework with targeted in-person sessions. Students can complete academic work online, but clinical requirements need hands-on training at approved medical facilities. This approach gives you the freedom of remote learning and the vital hands-on experience you need to build advanced practice skills.
The APU APRN program blends on-campus meetings with supervised clinical practice. Students can participate in both live and self-paced online classes. The nurse educator and healthcare administration tracks offer even more flexibility – they’re fully online with self-paced learning.
MSN programs understand the needs of working professionals. Some offer extended completion times that give you more breathing room with your busy schedule. Many schools run 8-week terms with several start dates throughout the year. This lets you begin your studies at the time that works best for you.
Clinical placements are a vital part of your education. Some programs take the stress out of balancing work and education by helping you find clinical placements. This support makes a big difference in your learning journey.
Admissions & Prerequisites
Your first step to the APU MSN-FNP experience starts with meeting admission requirements. You must meet both university graduate admission and program-specific requirements to complete your application.
For domestic applicants to the APU MSN program, you’ll need to submit:
- Graduate application for admission with $45 nonrefundable application fee
- Official transcripts from all institutions leading to your bachelor’s and master’s degrees
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for regular admission status
- Written statement (1-2 pages) describing your professional nursing goals
- Copy of your current RN license status
- Current résumé detailing employment, education, honors, and volunteer activities
- Two recommendations from professional references
Your transcripts should show you’ve completed prerequisite courses that include health assessment, pathophysiology, nursing research, statistics, nursing leadership, and community health nursing. You need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and must be actively licensed as an RN before starting any nurse practitioner program.
International students pursuing an APU MSN FNP degree face additional requirements. They must show English proficiency through a placement test or TOEFL/IELTS scores. They also need to provide financial support documentation, submit passport information, and have an approved agency evaluate their foreign transcripts.
The faculty or department chair reviews your application file after you submit all materials. You’ll then receive written notification about the admission decision. APU’s website provides all program-specific application requirements online.
These foundational requirements stay the same whatever NP specialization you choose. Yes, it is important that your graduate NP education builds on the knowledge you get during your undergraduate BSN education. Meeting these prerequisites helps you succeed in the program.
What Sets the NP Programs Apart at APU
Azusa Pacific University’s nursing programs stand out with their unique features. The APU MSN program holds prestigious accreditation from both the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). This dual accreditation will give a degree that meets strict quality standards.
The program’s Christian foundation makes it special. Graduates learn to “express a Christian worldview, demonstrating respect for the dignity and uniqueness of others”. Students “grow from individual-specific attention in a supportive Christian environment”.
The APU MSN FNP pathway really prepares you for success after graduation. You can apply for California Board of Registered Nursing certification as a nurse practitioner and national FNP certification through examination once you complete the program.
APU’s financial support makes it an excellent choice. The Nurse Faculty Loan Program can forgive up to 85% of loans when graduates work as full-time faculty at nursing schools. The university’s status as a Yellow Ribbon University and Military Friendly School helps military members and their families get complete financial assistance.