East Tennessee State University Online NP Programs – FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP

What to Expect from the East Tennessee State University Online NP Programs

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the nurse practitioner programs at East Tennessee State University must fulfill all requirements for the ETSU College of Graduate Studies and the ETSU College of Nursing. Interested nurses must hold an unrestricted RN license in their state of residence. International students must show proof of English language through the appropriate TOEFL or IELTS score.

Application materials include an application and fee, official transcripts, a written essay, proof of RN licensure, a resume or CV, three professional letters of recommendation, and any other requirements for both colleges. No GRE is required. A criminal background check is required. Students must be eligible for Tennessee licensure or licensure in a compact state.

• MSN Requirements: Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a nationally accredited program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; have completed undergraduate statistics with a grade of B or higher
• RN to MSN Bridge Program Requirements: Hold an RN license and a non-nursing BA/BS degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; have completed undergraduate statistics with a grade of B or higher
• Post-Master’s Certificate Requirements: Hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from a nationally accredited program
• Post-DNP AGPCNP Certificate Requirements: Hold a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a concentration in advanced clinical practice or nursing administration or be concurrently enrolled as an ETSU DNP student
• BSN to DNP Requirements: Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a nationally accredited program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; GRE for applicants with lower than a 3.2 cumulative GPA; participate in an interview; submit a cover letter citing personal goals for DNP study; completion of a writing sample scheduled with the College of Nursing DNP Admissions Committee

State Restrictions: While East Tennessee State University accepts students from most states, applicants outside of TN should check with the College of Nursing to make sure they are eligible for the nursing programs. At this time, NP program eligibility has been verified in the following states: Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

All other states have not been verified, therefore it is the responsibility of the student to verify eligibility with their state licensing board to determine if the program meets state requirements for NP licensure.

Study Plan: MSN students can complete the degree in five semesters full-time or eight semesters part-time. The RN to MSN Bridge Program adds one semester full-time or two semesters part-time. The MSN program begins in the Fall for PMHNP students and in the Fall, Spring, and Summer for FNP students. The MSN program is 100 percent online plus local clinicals.

Post-Master’s Certificate students can complete the program in 12 to 15 months. The PMHNP certificate program begins in the Spring. The FNP certificate program begins in the Fall, Spring, and Summer. The certificates are 100 percent online plus local clinicals.

The Post-DNP Certificate can be completed in about three to five semesters. The Post-DNP program begins in the Fall, Spring, and Summer. The Post-DNP certificate includes four campus visits plus local clinicals.

BSN to DNP students can complete the degree in nine semesters on a full-time basis or 15 semesters part-time. The DNP program begins in the Fall and Spring. The BSN to DNP program includes nine campus visits–one per semester for nine semesters. Part-time students should inquire with the College of Nursing to verify campus visit requirements.

MSN Core Curriculum: The MSN degree includes the following core courses for both specializations: Conceptual Systems for Advanced Nursing Practice; Nursing Research for Evidence-Based Practice; Advanced Role Development; Advanced Pathophysiology; Advanced Clinical Pharmacology; Health Assessment Throughout the Lifespan and Practicum; and Health Policy Leadership.

RN to MSN students must complete the following with a grade of B or higher: Health Promotion and Research; Advancing to Professional Practice; Leadership and Professional Practice; and Population, Community, and Public Health Nursing.

• MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Curriculum: The FNP track comprises 51 credits plus 540 clinical hours. The non-nursing bachelor’s entry program comprises 63 credits. In addition to the core curriculum above FNP students take Health Promotion, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Clinical Management: Nurse Practitioner I-II and Practicums; Life Assessment and Clinical Management: Women’s Health and Practicum; Health Promotion Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Children and Adolescents and Practicum; and Improving Mental Health Outcomes in Primary Care.
• MSN Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Curriculum: The PMHNP program comprises 48 credits plus 540 clinical hours. The non-nursing bachelor’s entry program comprises 60 credits. The program includes the core curriculum plus the following courses: Psychopharmacology; Advanced Family Psychiatric Nursing Care I-II and Practicums; Interpersonal Treatment Modalities for Advanced Practice Nursing and Practicum; and Internship in Advanced Nursing Practice.

Post-Master’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate Curriculum: The PMHNP certificate program comprises 24 credits plus 540 clinical hours. Courses include Psychopharmacology; Advanced Family Psychiatric Nursing Care I-II and Practicums; Interpersonal Treatment Modalities for Advanced Practice Nursing and Practicum; and Internship in Advanced Nursing Practice.

Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate Curriculum: The FNP certificate program comprises 24 credits plus 540 clinical hours. Courses include Health Promotion, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Clinical Management: Nurse Practitioner I-II and Practicums; Life Assessment and Clinical Management: Women’s Health and Practicum; and Health Promotion Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Children and Adolescents and Practicum.

Post-DNP Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Certificate Curriculum: The AGPCNP Post-DNP certificate program comprises 32 credits plus 540 clinical hours. Courses include Health Promotion, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Clinical Management: Nurse Practitioner I-II and Practicums; Life Span Assessment and Clinical Management: Women’s Health and Practicum; Improving Mental Health Outcomes in Primary Care; Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Older Adults; Care of Older Adults with Chronic Health Problems and Complex Needs and Practicum; and DNP Role in Long-Term Care of Adults.

BSN to DNP Curriculum: The BSN to DNP program requires completion of 80 to 85 credits depending on the specialization plus 1,000 clock hours. The FNP specialization comprises 83 credits; the PMHNP comprises 80 credits; the AGPCNP comprises 88 credits.

Core requirements for all specializations include Conceptual Systems for Advanced Nursing Practice; Nursing Research for Evidence-Based Practice; Advanced Role Development; Scholarly Writing; Principles of Population Health and Data Analysis for Advanced Nursing Practice; Health Policy Leadership; Quality/Translation; and Systems Management. Other courses for all three specializations include Health Assessment Throughout the Lifespan and Practicum; Advanced Pathophysiology; and Advanced Clinical Pharmacology.

DNP project courses include Residency I DNP Project identification; DNP project development; DNP project implementation; and DNP project evaluation and dissemination.

Specialization courses for FNP and PMHNP DNP students follow those listed above for MSN students.

• DNP Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Curriculum: Specialization courses include Health Promotion, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Clinical Management: Nurse Practitioner I-II and Practicums; Life Assessment and Clinical Management: Women’s Health and Practicum; Health Promotion Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Children and Adolescents Practicum; Improving Mental Health Outcomes in Primary Care; Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Older Adults; Care of Older Adults with Chronic Health Problems and Complex Needs and Practicum; DNP Role in Long-Term Care of Adults; and Advanced Intervention DNP Practicum.

Online Experience: ETSU utilizes iLearn through D2L Brightspace as their online Learning Management System (LMS). Within iLearn, students have the ability to access course materials, syllabi, email, grades, assignments, assessments, discussion boards, course-related activities, and all programs and technology necessary to the online learning environment.

Online students have access to disability services, student health services, the counseling center, student organizations, online libraries, the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing, academic advising, faculty support, technical support, and career counseling. ETSU also offers student services through the Center for Academic Achievement and the School of Graduate Studies’ Boot Camps. These entities provide free tutoring, speech, and writing services.

On-Site Requirements: The MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate programs are 100 percent online plus local clinical practicums and do not require any campus visits. The Post-DNP AGPCNP Certificate program requires four campus visits to the Johnson City, TN campus. The BSN to DNP program requires one visit to campus per semester totaling nine visits for full-time students. Part-time DNP students should inquire as to the number of campus visits.