Master of Science in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)
Website: https://twu.edu/nursing/graduate-programs/nurse-practitioner/
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who holds a master’s or doctoral degree in a specific population focus. These include family, adult-gerontology (primary or acute care), neonatal, pediatrics (primary or acute care), women’s health, or psychiatric-mental health populations. Texas Woman’s University offers programs for family, adult-gerontology (primary and acute care), pediatric (primary care), and women’s health.
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) provides care for patients of all ages and within many settings. The FNP role focuses on health promotion and health maintenance of patients while also managing both common acute and chronic health conditions across the lifespan.
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) provides care to newborns through young adults for both common acute and chronic health conditions with an emphasis on growth and development. Practice extends across a variety of settings. While there are both primary and acute care programs, TWU prepares students for the primary care role.
The Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) provides care for women extending from adolescence through adults. The TWU WHNP program prepares graduates to provide well-woman care, high-risk prenatal management, family planning, menopause, and fertility care.
The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner is prepared to function in a primary care role (AGPCNP) or an acute care role (AGACNP). Texas Woman’s University offers both specialty tracks. The AGPCNP provides acute, chronic, and preventative care for adults from adolescence through old age, typically in a primary care setting. An AGACNP provides care for acute and severe episodes of illness, injury or trauma, and may continue care following the acute phase.
Marketable Skills
Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."
- Advance a culture of excellence through lifelong learning in the care setting.
- Navigate and integrate care services across the healthcare system.
- Design innovative nursing practices.
- Translate evidence into nursing practice.
Admissions
All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.
This academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours Required
46 semester credit hours (SCH).
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BIOL 5333 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NURS 5001 | Advanced Practice Nursing Seminar | 1 |
| NURS 5002 | Advanced Practice Nursing Role | 2 |
| NURS 5003 | Health Policy and Health Promotion | 3 |
| NURS 5013 | Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 5024 | Research and Quality Improvement in Nursing | 4 |
| NURS 5644 | Advanced Assessment/Differential Diagnosis | 4 |
| NURS 5663 | Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 23 | |
Complete One of the Following Tracks
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | ||
| NURS 5605 | Family Health Nursing II | 5 |
| NURS 5615 | Family Health Nursing III | 5 |
| NURS 5625 | Family Health Nursing I | 5 |
| NURS 5683 | Family Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship I | 3 |
| NURS 5695 | Family Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship II | 5 |
| Total SCHs | 23 | |
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) | ||
| NURS 5305 | Child Health Nursing II | 5 |
| NURS 5315 | Child Health Nursing III | 5 |
| NURS 5325 | Child Health Nursing I | 5 |
| NURS 5383 | Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship I | 3 |
| NURS 5395 | Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship II | 5 |
| Total SCHs | 23 | |
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner | ||
| NURS 5405 | Women's Health Nursing II | 5 |
| NURS 5415 | Women's Health Nursing III | 5 |
| NURS 5425 | Women's Health Nursing I | 5 |
| NURS 5483 | Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship I | 3 |
| NURS 5495 | Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship II | 5 |
| Total SCHs | 23 | |
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner | ||
| NURS 5505 | Adult/Gerontology Nursing II | 5 |
| NURS 5515 | Adult/Gerontology Nursing III | 5 |
| NURS 5525 | Adult/Gerontology Nursing I | 5 |
| NURS 5583 | Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship I | 3 |
| NURS 5595 | Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship II | 5 |
| Total SCHs | 23 | |
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | ||
| NURS 5005 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner I | 5 |
| NURS 5015 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner II | 5 |
| NURS 5025 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner III | 5 |
| NURS 5083 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship I | 3 |
| NURS 5095 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship II | 5 |
| Total SCHs | 23 | |
Special Requirements for all Master’s Degrees
- A grade of B or higher must be achieved in all required courses. A student who has earned a grade of less than B (C, D, or F) in two required courses at the graduate level or who has earned a grade of less than B (C, D, or F) twice in the same graduate-level required course will be removed from the nursing program. For the purpose of removal from the nursing program, a grade of less than B is counted as a grade of less than B even if the course has been successfully repeated.
- Students admitted to the master’s program provisionally, based on low GPA, must complete the first 12 semester credit hours of graduate courses with grades of B or better in each course; at least 9 semester credit hours must be in nursing courses. A provisionally admitted student will be dismissed from the program if a grade of C or lower is made in any course during the probationary period.
- For the MSN graduate who is unsuccessful on a certification examination and is accepted for the re-education process, if the student earns a grade of C or below (D, or F) in one of the required re-education courses, he/she will not be allowed to continue in the re-education process.
Time Limit
Semester credit hours older than six years, including transfer courses, cannot apply toward the master’s degree.
Final Examination
Oral examination of the completed professional or clinical project (course work optional).
