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), women’s health, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner tracks.

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-Primary Care (PNP-PC) 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 adulthood. The TWU WHNP program prepares graduates to provide well-woman care, high-risk prenatal management, family planning, care during 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.

The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is prepared in the mental health assessment, treatment, and management of mental health disorders for clients and families of all ages.  The PMHNP provides advanced therapeutic modalities such as individual, group, and family psychotherapy as well as prescribing psychotherapeutic medications.  

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."

  1. Advance a culture of excellence through lifelong learning in the care setting.
  2. ​Navigate and integrate care services across the healthcare system.
  3. ​Design innovative nursing practices.
  4. ​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

45 semester credit hours (SCH).

Required Courses
BIOL 5333Advanced Pathophysiology3
NURS 5663Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice3
NURS 5643Advanced Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice3
NURS 5073Evidence-Based Practice for the Promotion of Quality Outcomes3
NURS 5093Theoretical Foundations and the Advanced Nursing Role3
NURS 5133Health Policy and Health Care Delivery for Advanced Nursing Practice3
Total SCHs18

Complete One of the Following Tracks

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
NURS 5602Foundational Concepts for the Family Nurse Practitioner2
NURS 5603Principles of Care Management, Diagnostics, and Common Procedural Interventions in Primary Care3
NURS 5303Primary Care Management of Common Acute Illnesses across the Lifespan3
NURS 5493Primary Care Disease and Restorative Health Practicum I3
NURS 5893Chronic Disease and Restorative Health Management across the Lifespan3
NURS 5665Chronic Disease and Restorative Health Practicum II5
NURS 5703Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice for the Family Nurse Practitioner3
NURS 5705Primary Care Disease Management across the Lifespan Practicum III5
Total SCHs27
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
NURS 5302Foundational Concepts for the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner2
NURS 5223Principles of Pediatric Care Management, Diagnostics, and Common Procedural Interventions3
NURS 5343Well Child Concepts in Pediatric Primary Care3
NURS 5353PNP Practicum I: Management of the Well Child3
NURS 5363Acute and Chronic Illness in Pediatric Primary Care3
NURS 5365PNP Practicum II: Non-emergent Acute and Chronic Child Care and Management5
NURS 5403Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice for the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner3
NURS 5585Advanced Pediatric Primary Care Synthesis Practicum III5
Total SCHs27
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
NURS 5402WHNP Role in Managing Healthcare Disparities in Women's Health2
NURS 5412Principles of Women and Gender-Related Care Management: Diagnostics and Common Procedural Interventions2
NURS 5423Women's Health - Gender-related Advanced Practice Nursing I3
NURS 5401Primary Care in Women's Health and Gender-related Advanced Practice Nursing1
NURS 5463WHNP Clinical Practice I3
NURS 5443Women's Health - Gender-related Advanced Practice Nursing II3
NURS 5465WHNP Clinical Practice II5
NURS 5473Women's Health - Gender-related Advanced Practice Nursing Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice3
NURS 5475WHNP Clinical Practice III5
Total SCHs27
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
NURS 5502Foundational Concepts for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner2
NURS 5503Principles of Adult and Geriatric Care Management, Diagnostics and Common Procedural Interventions3
NURS 5323Primary Care Management of the Adolescent, Adult, and Older Adult3
NURS 5523AGPCNP Clinical Practicum I: Introduction to Adult Primary Care3
NURS 5563Acute and Chronic Disease Management of the Adult and Older Adult3
NURS 5565AGPCNP Clinical Practicum II: Acute and Chronic Disease Management5
NURS 5573Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner3
NURS 5575AGPCNP Clinical Practicum III: Advanced Care Management5
Total SCHs27
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
NURS 5012Foundational Concepts for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner2
NURS 5193Principles of Management, Diagnostics, and Procedural Interventions for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners3
NURS 5103Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Evaluation and Management of the Acutely Ill: I3
NURS 5173Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum I3
NURS 5153Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Evaluation and Management of the Acutely Ill: II3
NURS 5055Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum II5
NURS 5163Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice for the Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner3
NURS 5065Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum III5
Total SCHs27
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
NURS 5912Advanced Psychiatric Diagnostics2
NURS 5922Advanced Psychiatric Interviewing and Assessment2
NURS 5932Psychopharmacology for the Advanced Practice Nurse2
NURS 5952Psychotherapeutic Interventions2
NURS 5933Establishing Therapeutic Relationships3
NURS 5953Advanced Psychotherapeutic Interventions3
NURS 5205Advanced Therapeutic Relationships5
NURS 5183Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Synthesis3
NURS 5225Holistic Psychiatric Care5
Total SCHs27

Special Requirements for all Master’s Degrees

All tracks are approved for Distance Education. The FNP track offers an online and on-campus option.

  1. 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. A student who does not maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher will be dismissed 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Graduate students have six years to complete the MSN program.

Time Limit

Semester credit hours older than six years, including transfer courses, cannot apply toward the master’s degree or post-master's certificate completion.

Final Examination

Oral examination of the completed professional or clinical project (subject to change).