As a registered nurse, you already have a strong clinical foundation. If you’re ready to take on a more advanced role in patient care by assessing, diagnosing, and managing treatment, the Master of Science in Nursing / Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN/FNP) program provides an efficient path.
At the Touro School of Health Sciences (SHS), the MSN/FNP program provides advanced nursing practice preparation for registered nurses who want to become family nurse practitioners. Through a combination of rigorous coursework and extensive clinical training, you’ll build the skills to deliver evidence-based care, manage complex conditions, and improve health outcomes across diverse patient populations.
Program Snapshot
Here are some quick facts about the MSN/FNP program at Touro, where new cohorts start every Spring:
- Degree type: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Length: 1.5 years (4 semesters)
- Structure: 44 credits and 765 clinical hours
- Format: Hybrid with day and evening classes
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
About the Program
The MSN/FNP program at Touro SHS is designed for registered nurses pursuing a graduate-level nursing degree for the first time. As a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), you’ll serve as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) and provide primary care to patients across the lifespan.
The curriculum integrates scientific knowledge, clinical training, and evidence-based practice to prepare you to deliver comprehensive patient care. Throughout the program, you’ll develop advanced clinical judgment, strengthen diagnostic and patient management skills, and learn to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care in a range of healthcare settings.
Coursework aligns with competencies established by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and emphasizes both individual patient care and population health outcomes.
Didactic Coursework
Guided by faculty with clinical and academic experience, you’ll complete graduate-level coursework that builds the scientific and analytical foundation for advanced nursing practice. MSN/FNP students study advanced pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment, along with evidence-based practice, research, and clinical decision-making.
Clinical Training
You’ll complete 765 supervised clinical hours across a range of healthcare settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, physician offices, and rehabilitation environments.
Clinical placements are coordinated through a combination of school-supported placements and, when appropriate, student-identified opportunities. Whenever possible, the program works with students to align placements with their professional settings or interests, while ensuring all sites meet required clinical and affiliation standards.
Certifications
Upon completion of the MSN/FNP program, you’ll be eligible to sit for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) certification and/or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification exams.
Curriculum
The 44-credit MSN/FNP curriculum is completed over four semesters starting in the Spring and features the following schedule:
Spring 1 (12 credits)
NUR 600: Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
This course provides an in-depth understanding of pharmacology across all physiological systems. Mechanism of general drug actions provides a framework for discussion of content- specific drugs. Includes 3 hours of required laws and prescription writing.
NUR 601: Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
This course examines abnormal biological processes that result in health deviations affecting individuals and families as a basis for nursing primary care management.
NUR 602: Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
This course presents theories and methods of comprehensive assessment of clients across the lifespan, including physical, psychosocial, and pathophysiological signs and symptoms; refinement of ability to utilize sophisticated techniques to assess, identify, and differentiate deviations from normal; incorporate cultural and developmental variations and needs of clients. (2 credits, didactic; 1 credit, 45 hours lab)
NUR 604: Biostatistics (3 credits)
This course presents fundamental statistical approaches employed in clinical research. Students learn how statistical techniques are applied to clinical data and practice, enabling them to analyze, present, and interpret population health data.
Summer (9 credits)
NUR 681: Advanced Family Nursing Practice 1 — Children (6 credits)
Using a Nursing Science Framework, this course stresses promotion and maintenance of levels of wellness, protection of health, and prevention of illness of children in families, groups and communities, as well as early detection, treatment and symptom management of selected minor and major health problems. Intervention and health care protocols emphasizing the control and/or resolution of the acute phase are included. Supervised practicum in a variety of primary health care and acute care settings provides for implementing clinical decision making and intervention strategies within the context of advanced practice. (2 credits, didactic; 4 credits, clinical 240 hours) Prerequisites: NUR 600, NUR 601, NUR 602
NUR 610: Transcultural Health Promotion & Disease Prevention (3 credits, online)
This course emphasizes the understanding of cultural differences, values, belief systems and practices that are specific to various populations and cultures. Models of health promotion/disease prevention are analyzed. Strategies to enhance global awareness of diverse health populations in order to provide culturally competent and culturally sensitive Nursing care are discussed.
Fall (12 credits)
NUR 603: Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits, online)
This course introduces theories and conceptual frameworks/models for advanced practice modalities, and the interrelationships of theory, research, and practice. Theoretical models that serve as the foundation for advanced family interventions and therapy are emphasized, as well as major Nursing theories, systems theories, and transcultural theories.
NUR 605: Advanced Genomics (3 credits)
This course provides for in-depth review and analysis of genetic influences and determinants affecting the health of individuals, families, and communities. It familiarizes the student with the scientific study of complex diseases and diagnostic methods, treatments, and therapies for these conditions. The course focuses on the use of data to support decision making to improve the health of individuals and populations. Approaches to generating clinically relevant data and utilizing data from clinical information systems are addressed. Ethical, legal, and social implications of genomic knowledge are appraised.
NUR 682: Advanced Family Nursing Practice 2 — Adults/Elderly (6 credits)
Using a Nursing Science Framework, this course stresses promotion and maintenance of levels of wellness, protection of health and prevention of illness of adults and older adults in families, groups and communities, as well as early detection, treatment, and symptom management of selected minor and major health problems of adults and older adults in families, and groups and communities. Intervention and health care protocols emphasizing the control and/or resolution of the acute phase are included. Supervised practicum in a variety of primary health care and acute care settings provides for implementing clinical decision-making and intervention strategies within the context of advanced practice. (2 credits, didactic; 4 credits, clinical 240 hours) Prerequisite: NUR 681
Spring 2 (11 credits)
NUR 606: Advanced Nursing Research (3 credits)
This course introduces qualitative, quantitative, and other research methods, including problem identification, levels of research, design, data collection and strategies for analyzing data. Students analyze research that has relevance for evidence-based, advanced Nursing practice. Prerequisites: NUR 603, NUR 604
NUR 612: Informatics for Evidence-Based Practice (2 credits)
This course provides students with the knowledge of how information systems and technology can support scholarly modes of advanced practice to improve and transform health care.
NUR 683: Advanced Family Nursing Practice 3 — Acute, Chronic, Rehab (6 credits)
This course equips advanced practice nursing students with the knowledge and skills to deliver evidence-based acute, chronic and rehabilitation care across the lifespan. Content stresses assessment of functional needs, development of acute, long-term, and rehab strategies and protocols, and recovery support for children, adults, and elderly experiencing injury, chronic illness, or age-related decline within their families, groups and communities. A preceptor-supervised practicum, emphasizing multidisciplinary collaboration, case management, and culturally responsive, patient -centered care, provides for rich experiences in clinical decision making, intervention, and management strategies within the context of the advanced practice nursing role. (2 credits, didactic; 4 credits, clinical 240 hours) Prerequisite: NUR 681, NUR 682
All coursework aligns with competencies established by AACN for FNP education, and students must pass a final cumulative exam with a score of at least 80% to graduate.
Admissions & Requirements
Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), have an active registered nurse (RN) license, and meet all Touro SHS general admissions requirements. Admitted students start the MSN/FNP program in the Spring semester.
As part of the admissions process, your academic background will be reviewed to ensure readiness for graduate-level nursing coursework. Eligible transfer credits may be applied toward the 44-credit degree, allowing you to build on prior coursework where appropriate.
Curious about the doctoral path? If you’re interested in a doctoral-level program that integrates advanced clinical training with leadership and systems-level focus, explore the BS-to-DNP program at Touro SHS. This is an 80-credit full-time program over three years.
Accreditation
The MSN/FNP program at Touro University SHS is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
Become a Family Nurse Practitioner
If you’re ready to move into advanced clinical practice and to expand your role in patient care, apply to the Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner program now.
