Frontier Nursing University Online Nurse Practitioner and Nurse-Midwifery Programs

#15 Best Overall NP School

#6 Most Flexible NP School

• MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
• MSN – Nurse-Midwifery
• MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• MSN – Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
• MSN with DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
• MSN with DNP – Nurse-Midwifery
• MSN with DNP – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• MSN with DNP – Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Graduate Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Graduate Certificate – Nurse-Midwifery
• Post-Graduate Certificate – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Graduate Certificate – Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

Frontier Nursing University offers several online Nurse Practitioner programs with non-nursing bachelor’s, BSN, and MSN entry points. Programs offered include MSN, MSN with Companion DNP (CDNP), and a Post-Graduate Certificate option in the following specializations:

• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
• Nurse-Midwifery (NM)

The coursework is offered 100% online. Students in the programs come to campus twice. Practicums at approved facilities local to the student are also required.

Students in the MSN and Post-Graduate Certificate programs may choose to add the Companion DNP (CDNP) degree to their studies. Applicants to the certificate program must be APRN certified.

Frontier Nursing University boasts a diverse student population from around the United States as well as globally. The average student to faculty ratio is 21:1. Courses are deliberately interactive and collaborative and on-campus intensives serve to create and solidify relationships with faculty and peers. In addition, FNU maintains a large alumni network.

Graduates of the Frontier Nursing University NP programs may be eligible to take the national certification exam for their respective specialization. Nurse practitioners serve in a variety of roles in public and private practice including hospitals, government organizations, clinics, schools, research institutions, and other health care organizations.

Frontier Nursing University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The NP programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Frontier Nursing University is located in Hyden, Kentucky.

What to Expect from the Frontier Nursing University Online NP Programs

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the Frontier Nursing University NP programs must submit an online application and an application fee, plus by mail: two essays, a resume, three professional references, official transcripts, a portfolio (for non-nursing bachelor’s students). All nursing applicants must show proof of a current, unencumbered RN license. Packets must be received by 5 pm on the deadline date to be eligible for consideration. No GRE is required.

International students must also provide proof of English language proficiency through TOEFL test scores and results must be sent to the university directly from the testing agency. In addition, international applicants may be required to meet with the program director of the chosen program to develop a degree completion plan prior to admission.

• Program Specific Admission Requirements
• MSN and MSN with DNP Companion Program: Hold a BSN degree from a CCNE or ACEN accredited program with an unencumbered RN license or hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree plus an unencumbered RN license; non-nursing bachelor’s students must submit a portfolio outlining relevant employment and academic experience; have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; have at least 1 year of RN work experience; successfully complete the Physical Assessment course or add it to the program
• Post-Graduate Certificates: Hold an MSN or higher degree from a CCNE or ACEN accredited program with a current unencumbered RN license; the earned MSN must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA; be an advanced practice registered nurse with one of the following national certifications: ANP, CNM, FNP, GANP, GNP, PNP, WHCNP, PMHNP, ACNP, or NNP; have completed Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Physical Assessment, and Advanced Pharmacology or add them to the certificate program

State Restrictions: Frontier Nursing University accepts students from all states except New York at this time, with the exception that Nurse-Midwifery students who currently reside in New York may enroll but have very limited clinical preceptorship opportunities. Applicants outside of Kentucky should always check with the admissions department to make sure they are eligible for the nursing programs. In addition, prospective students should contact the licensing board of their specific state of residence to determine if the program meets state requirements for NP licensure.

Study Plan: Frontier Nursing University offers two flexible study plans for each program which are not based on part-time or full-time enrollment but on the total length of time for the program. The MSN program can be completed in 24 or 30 months (24 or 27 months for the WHNP specialization). The DNP Companion Program (CDNP) adds either 12 months or 15 months to the degree programs depending on the program of study (POS) chosen. The Post-Master’s Certificate option can be completed on an 18 months program of Study (POS) plus any courses not met in the prerequisites.

Courses run on a quarter system at 11 weeks each with two weeks off between each term. Students may begin the programs in January, April, July, or October.

MSN Foundation Curriculum: All specialty tracks in the MSN program include the following courses: Communication and Intro to Scholarly Writing; Principles of Health Promotion; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Advanced Pathophysiology; Advanced Physical Assessment; Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan; and Evidence-Based Practice. Each MSN track includes 675 clinical hours.

MSN-FNP Curriculum: The MSN-FNP comprises 61 credits. FNP courses include Primary Care I-III; Primary Care: Pediatrics; Women’s Health and Childbearing; Role of the Nurse Practitioner; Skills for Advanced Practice; and Advanced Skills for Nurse Practitioner Care. Clinical practicum courses include Principles of Independent Practice; Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical I through V; and Family Nurse Practitioner Final Comprehensive Review.

MSN-WHNP Curriculum: The MSN-WHNP comprises 58 credits. WHCNP courses include Primary Care of Women; Women’s Health; Midwifery Care during Pregnancy; Antepartum Complications and Comprehensive Postpartum Care; Role of the Nurse Practitioner; Skills for Advanced Practice; and Skills for Women’s Health Care. Clinical practicum courses include Principles of Independent Practice; Women’s Health Clinical I through V; and Women’s Health Final Comprehensive Review.

MSN-PMHNP Curriculum: The MSN-PMHNP comprises 60 credits. PMHNP courses include Psychopharmacologic/Neuroscience Foundations for Mental Health Care; Psychotherapy Foundations Across the Lifespan; Psych-Mental Health Care of Individuals and Groups; Psychiatric Care of Serious Mental Illness and Vulnerable Populations/Families; Psych-Mental Health Roles and Modalities of Care; Integrating Psych-Mental Health Care; Skills for Advanced Practice; and Advanced Skills for PMHNP. Clinical practicum courses include PMHNP Clinical I through V; Principles of Independent Practice; and PMHNP Final Comprehensive Review.

MSN-NM Curriculum: The MSN-NM comprises 64 credits. NM courses include Primary Care of Women; Role of the Nurse Midwife; Midwifery Care during Labor and Birth; Midwifery Care during Pregnancy; Midwifery Care of Postpartum Women and Newborns; Advanced Midwifery Care of Childbearing Women and Newborns; Women’s Health; Skills for Advanced Practice; and Skills for Nurse-Midwifery Care. Clinical practicum courses include Principles of Independent Practice; Nurse-Midwifery Clinical I through V; and Nurse-Midwifery Final Comprehensive Review.

Companion DNP (CDNP) Curriculum: The CDNP program comprises 19 additional credits to earn the DNP degree. Clinical hours total at least 1,035 for all DNP NP tracks. Courses include Nurse as Educator; Leadership and Organizational Dynamics; Clinical Scholarship Planning; DNP Clinical Scholarship Implementation; Health Policy and Advocacy; and Clinical Scholarship Dissemination. Students who complete the Post-master’s Certificate may also complete the CDNP.

Post-Graduate Certificate FNP Curriculum: The Post-Master’s FNP Certificate program comprises 36 credits and includes 675 clinical hours. Courses include The Role of the Nurse Practitioner; Primary Care I-III; Psychiatric Concepts for APRNs; Primary Care Pediatrics; Women’s Health and Childbearing; Advanced Skills for NP Care; Nurse Practitioner Clinical II through V; and Final Comprehensive Review.

Post-Graduate Certificate WHNP Curriculum: The Post-Master’s WHNP Certificate program comprises 33 credits and includes 675 clinical hours. Courses include The Role of the Nurse Practitioner; Primary Care of Women; Midwifery Care During Pregnancy; Psych Concepts for APRNs; Women’s Health; AP Complications and Comprehensive PP Care; Skills for Women’s Health Care; WHNP Clinical II through V; and Final Comprehensive Review.

Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP Curriculum: The Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate program comprises 32 credits and includes 675 clinical hours. Courses include Psych-Mental Health Care of Individuals and Groups; Psych-Mental Health Roles and Modalities of Care; Psychopharmacologic/Neuroscience Foundations for Mental Health Care; Psychotherapy Foundations Across the Lifespan; Psychiatric Care of Serious Mental Illness and Vulnerable Populations/Families; Integrating Psych-Mental Health Care; Skills for PMHNP Care; PMHNP Clinical II through V; and Final Comprehensive Review.

Post-Graduate Certificate NM Curriculum: The Post-Master’s NM Certificate program comprises 39 credits and includes 675 clinical hours. Courses include The Role of the Nurse-Midwife; Primary Care of Women; Psychiatric Concepts for APRNs; Midwifery Care During Pregnancy; Midwifery Care During Labor and Birth; Midwifery Care of Postpartum Women and Newborns; Women’s Health; Advanced Midwifery Care of the Childbearing Woman and Newborns; Skills for Midwifery Care; Nurse-Midwifery Clinical II through V; and Final Comprehensive Review.

Online Experience: Frontier Nursing University offers mostly asynchronous courses with some scheduled synchronous activities. Every class utilizes presentations, learning modules, live interaction, assignments, assessments, simulations, online forums, reflective writing, and group work. The assessment software used for exams, Proctorio, allows students to log in from their home or distance location. FNU utilizes Canvas as its online Learning Management System (LMS). Students stay in communication regularly using forums, emails, video chat, and phone calls. Available tools include the Google apps, Canvas discussion boards, conferences, and announcements, and Web Conference, Camtasia for videos, and Banyan Tree Portal. Online students have access to admissions counseling, career services, library services, 24/7 technical support, and academic advising.

On-Site Requirements: MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate students and those completing the CDNP come for the 4-day Frontier/DNP Bound intensive that is the new student orientation, and for the 6-day Clinical Bound intensive before clinicals. Practicums are completed locally.