Chamberlain University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs – FNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP
Chamberlain University’s College of Nursing and Public Health offers an online Master of Science in Nursing with three specializations: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult-Gernotology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP). An RN to BSN to MSN degree is also offered in these specializations for students already enrolled in the BSN program at Chamberlain University or who hold an ADN or diploma in nursing. As well, a Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate for MSN/DNP-prepared registered nurses is offered. These programs provide 100% online coursework with required practicums at approved facilities local to the student and one to two campus intensives.
Family nurse practitioners serve all ages of the population from infancy to adolescence, adults, and the aging population. Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners serve adolescents through adults and geriatric patients in either primary or acute care settings. NPs are able to diagnose and manage patient care, prescribe medications, and manage a patient’s health care as a team with other specialists and care providers. NPs provide a range of health care services including routine check-ups, treating acute and chronic illness, and performing health risk assessments, immunizations, and preventative services.
Chamberlain University’s online nurse practitioner programs offer the flexibility of online asynchronous coursework with no group work, and a learning environment led by licensed family nurse practitioners. Students in the NP programs must complete five practicums in the allotted time frame of seven weeks each. These practicums consist of 125 clinical hours and must be supervised by a preceptor.
In addition, FNP students attend two immersion weekends for certain the Advanced Health Assessment course and an intensive review session. Here, students have the opportunity to network with faculty and peers, conduct observations, and be assessed on their clinical assessment skills. This ensures students are adequately prepared to enter their practicum courses and experiences. AGPCNP students attend one 25-hour supervised lab experience, and AGACNP students attend two 25-hour supervised lab intensives.
Graduates of the Chamberlain programs will be prepared to take their respective national certification exams. Family nurse practitioners serve in various roles in hospitals, government organizations, clinics, emergency care settings, intensive care units (ICUs), private practice, schools, and other health care entities.
Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the nurse practitioner programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Chamberlain University is located in Downers Grove, Illinois.
What to Expect from the Chamberlain University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Admission Requirements: Applicants to the College of Nursing & Public Health at Chamberlain University must hold an unencumbered RN license in their approved state of practice. Online applications must include an application fee, official transcripts, an admissions essay, and two letters of recommendation. All nursing applicants must show proof of a current, unencumbered RN license.
International students must also provide proof of English language proficiency as well as transcripts evaluated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES).
- Program Specific Admission Requirements
- MSN: Hold a BSN degree from a regionally accredited institution or a program accredited by an agency recognized by the CHEA; have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA; AGACNP applicants must have a minimum of two years of acute or critical patient care work experience within the previous five years
- RN to BSN to MSN (ADN Bridge Option): Be a current student in the Chamberlain BSN program, applying for the RN to BSN to MSN program or hold a diploma or ADN from an accredited program; ADN or diploma coursework must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. RN to BSN coursework must be completed with a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA
- Post-Master’s FNP Certificate: Hold an MSN degree from a regionally accredited institution or a program accredited by an agency recognized by the CHEA; the earned MSN must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
State Restrictions: While Chamberlain University accepts students from most states, applicants outside of Illinois should check the State Authorization page through Chamberlain University as well as contacting graduate admissions as the FNP programs do not accept students from every state. At this time the NP programs do not accept students from Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York, Puerto Rico, and Washington DC. In addition, the adult-gerontology specializations are not authorized in Arizona, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington.
Study Plan: The Chamberlain University online nursing programs are delivered 100% online and practicums are completed locally. All FNP programs require one to two weekend campus visits for intensives. Courses are offered in an 8-week format with two courses being completed per semester. The MSN program can be completed in eight semesters, the RN-BSN to MSN in 10 semesters, and the Post-Master’s FNP Certificate in 5 semesters. The programs begin six times per year in January, March, May, July, September, November.
MSN Curriculum: The MSN – FNP program comprises 45 credits and 625 practicum hours. The MSN -AGPCNP program requires the completion of 45 credits, 625 clinical hours, and 25 hours of faculty-supervised lab experiences. The MSN – AGACNP program comprises 48 credits, 700 clinical practicum hours, and two faculty-supervised lab experiences of 25 hours each, totaling 50 hours. Core courses include Foundational Concepts and Advanced Practice Roles; Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice; Nursing Informatics for Advanced Practice; Population Health, Epidemiology & Statistical Principles; Advanced Research Methods: Evidence-Based Practice; and Healthcare Policy and Leadership. Additionally students complete Advanced Pathophysiology; Advanced Pharmacology Fundamentals; and Advanced Physical Assessment.
FNP specialty courses include Advanced Pharmacology for Care of the Family; Differential Diagnosis and Primary Care Practicum; Primary Care of the Maturing and Aged Family Practicum; Primary Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family Practicum; Advanced Clinical Diagnosis and Practice Across the Lifespan Practicum; and an FNP Capstone Practicum and Intensive.
AGPCNP specialty courses include Advanced Pharmacology for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner; Differential Diagnosis in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care; Primary Care Management of Adolescents and Adults; Primary Care Management of Older Adults; Palliative Care in Adult-Gerontology Across the Spectrum; and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Capstone and Intensive.
AGACNP specialty courses include Advanced Pharmacology for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner; Differential Diagnosis in Acute Care Practicum; Common Diagnosis and Management in Acute Care Practicum; Complex Diagnosis and Management in Acute Care Practicum; Advanced Acute Care Management and Lab; and Acute Care Practicum I-II.
RN to BSN to MSN Curriculum: The RN to BSN to MSN program comprises 161-164 credits, 77 of which may be transferred in from an ADN or diploma in nursing, or have already been completed in the BSN program. The remaining 84-87 credits include general requirements and nursing courses. Students in this program also complete Statistical Reasoning for the Health Sciences; Transitions in Professional Nursing; RN Evidence-Based Practice; Political Science; and RN Community Health Nursing. Then each student advances to their respective MSN portion of the program, completing all required MSN coursework and practicums as listed above. Upon completion of the MSN portion students will have earned both a BSN and MSN degree.
Post-Master’s FNP Certificate Curriculum: The Post-Master’s FNP Certificate program comprises 30 credits and includes Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Physical Assessment, and Leadership and Role Development of the Advanced Practice Nurse. In addition, FNP Certificate students complete the five practicum experiences listed for the MSN.
Online Experience: Chamberlain University uses Canvas as its online Learning Management System (LMS). Canvas offers a multitude of learning tools that enhance the learning experience and allow faculty and students to communicate effectively and create an experiential learning environment. Through Canvas students can view videos, complete assignments, take assessments, participate in online discussions, exchange email, view syllabi and grades, and much more. Nursing students have access to several key success tools including Chamberlain Care Student Success Strategies which helps with time management, writing skills, and library use. A personal tour of the online Canvas system can be arranged with an admissions advisor. There is also an online classroom demonstration video series available to students. Additionally, students gain support from professors who devote time and attention to personalized communication, the student services team who provide financial and academic advice, the Tutoring Center Smarthinking online tutoring service, online library, ASPIRE counseling services, and 24/7 technical support.
On-Site Requirements: Students in FNP degree options are required to attend two immersion weekends. The first is a 25-hour supervised lab experience as part of the Advanced Physical Assessment course. This immersion is held at the Q Center Training Facility in St. Charles, Illinois. During this Friday through Sunday experience students interact with peers and faculty and conduct clinical observation and evaluations. Each student is assessed on his/her clinical assessment skills to ensure they are ready for the practicum experiences.
AGPCNP students come to campus for a 25-hour faculty-supervised laboratory experience, and AGACNP students attend two of these 25-hour lab experiences on campus.
Paying for the Chamberlain University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
The online MSN and the Post-Master’s FNP Certificate cost $665 per credit plus fees. For the RN to BSN to MSN program students are charged $590 per credit for undergraduate coursework and $565 per credit for graduate coursework. This averages out to approximately $576 per credit plus fees. Potential candidates should contact the admissions department of The School of Nursing & Public Health through Chamberlain University for current tuition information.
Chamberlain University may offer grants, loans, and scholarships to help finance nursing degrees. The DAISY Honoree Scholarship offers a 15% tuition savings for those who have won The DAISY Award, The DAISY Nurse Leader Award, The DAISY Team Award, The DAISY Training Award or The DAISY Faculty Award (through the DAISY Foundation). Federal Stafford loans and Graduate PLUS Loans may also be available. Nursing students are encouraged to check with their employers to see if they qualify for a tuition reimbursement program or tuition discounts. Additionally, Chamberlain students may pursue innovative opportunities to fund their nursing degrees such as organizational or community scholarships.
100% online coursework, no group work, one campus immersion weekend, and 6 start dates make Chamberlain nursing programs an enticing option.
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner Track Post-Master's Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner Track RN-BSN to MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner Track (ADN Bridge)
3005 Highland Parkway
Downer's Grove, Illinois 60515
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nusing
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
January, March, May, July, September, November
No
1
45
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AR, DE, IL, IN, IA, MN, MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, RI
Program Tuition
45
$655.00
$29,475.00
$655.00
$29,475.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
January, March, May, July, September, November
No
2
30
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nusing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AR, DE, IL, IN, IA, MN, MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, RI
Program Tuition
30
$655.00
$19,650.00
$655.00
$19,650.00
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nusing
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
January, March, May, July, September, November
No
1
83
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
ADN – Associate Degree in Nursing
3.0 or higher RN to BSN & No GRE Required
2.0 or higher ADN
AL, AK, AR, DE, IL, IN, IA, MN, MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, RI
Program Tuition
83
$630.00
$52,290.00
$630.00
$52,290.00
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.