Grand Canyon University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs – FNP, AG-ACNP

What to Expect from the Grand Canyon University Online FNP and AG-ACNP Programs

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions at Grand Canyon University must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA for all prior coursework. Those who do not meet this requirement may be eligible for admission through GMAT or GRE graduate test scores. Online applications must include an application fee, official transcripts, a current unencumbered RN license, and all other requirements listed below for each program. Students whose primary language is not English must also provide proof of English language proficiency.

• Program Specific Admission Requirements
• MSN FNP and AG-ACNP: Hold a BSN degree from an ACEN- or CCNE/NLNAC- accredited program; current CV with at least two years full-time work experience as a registered nurse in the prior two years; letter of intent
• Post-Master’s Certificate FNP and AG-ACNP: Hold an MSN degree from an ACEN- or CCNE/NLNAC- accredited program; current CV with at least one year full-time work experience as a registered nurse; letter of intent
• FNP students must currently have full-time employment in a healthcare role or provide documentation of such a role in the two years prior to application.
• AG-ACNP students must be employed full-time in a hospital setting with at least one year of Adult ER experience, ICU experience, or progressive care or post-operative care experience.
• RN to MSN FNP and AG-ACNP Bridge: Have a current unencumbered RN license and a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field

State Restrictions: The Grand Canyon University AG-ACNP programs are offered to students in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas. The FNP programs are available to residents of Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New Mexico. Applicants outside of Arizona should check with the admissions department to make sure they are eligible for the nursing programs. Prospective students in approved states should also contact the licensing board of their specific state of residence to verify that the program meets state requirements for NP licensure.

Study Plan: Courses for the online MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate programs run 16 weeks in length. Courses for the RN to MSN Bridge program run 5 weeks in length. Several start dates are offered throughout the year. Students should contact the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions for exact start dates for the desired program. Online nursing program coursework is delivered 100% online and clinicals are completed locally. MSN – FNP students come to campus twice while MSN – AG-ACNP students come to campus three times. Post-Master’s Certificate students also come to campus twice.

MSN – FNP and AG-ACNP Core Curriculum: The MSN degree comprises 53 credits and 675 hours of clinicals. Courses for both specialties include Introduction to Advanced Registered Nursing; Translational Research and Population Health Management; Organizational Leadership and Informatics; Evidence-Based Practice; Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology; Advanced Pharmacology; and Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning With Skills.

MSN – FNP Specialty Curriculum: Specialty courses include Health Promotion and On-Campus Experience I; Family Primary Care I-II; and Practicum and On-Campus Experience II.

MSN – AG-ACNP Specialty Curriculum: Specialty courses include Health Promotion and On-Campus Experience I; Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I-II; and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care III and On-Campus Experience II.

RN to MSN – FNP and AG-ACNP Bridge Curriculum: The total RN to MSN degree comprises 71 credits and includes 675 hours of clinicals. The 18 credits of bridge courses include Professional Dynamics; Health Assessment; Applied Statistics for Health Care Professionals; Introduction to Nursing Research; Pathophysiology and Nursing Management of Clients’ Health; and Concepts in Community and Public Health. Students then follow their chosen MSN specialization courses.

Post-Master’s FNP and AG-ACNP Certificate Curriculum: The Post-Master’s FNP and AG-ACNP Certificate program comprises 37 credits. Courses include Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology; Advanced Pharmacology; and Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning With Skills.

FNP specialty courses include Health Promotion and On-Campus Experience I; Family Primary Care I-II; and Practicum and On-Campus Experience II.

AG-ACNP specialty courses include Health Promotion and On-Campus Experience I; Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I-II; and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care III and On-Campus Experience II.

Online Experience: Grand Canyon University uses an innovative Learning Management System (LMS) for online learning. Students are able to watch videos, turn in assignments, view assignments and assessments, and communicate with faculty and peers. To create a collaborative environment students complete projects and participate in discussion forums. Online courses are asynchronous and allow for greater flexibility. Students have access to 24/7 technical support, ACE tutoring, academic advising, library services, and career services.

On-Site Requirements: FNP students come to the Phoenix, AZ campus twice: once for a 3-day visit, and once for a 1-day experience. During the 3-day visit students perform health assessments, and practice casting, splinting, suturing, and wound care. Presentations include case study analysis, chronic disease management, and radiologic interpretation. The 1-day experience helps to prepare students for certification exams.

AG-ACNP students come to the Phoenix, AZ campus a total of three times. Two 3-day campus experiences provide students with hands-on critical care and acute care practice in incisions, suturing, drainage, casting, splinting, catheter insertion, intubation, chest tube insertion, lumbar puncture, ventilator management, radiology interpretation, and hemodynamic monitoring. Additionally, AG-ACNP students participate in a 1-day campus experience to prepare them for the national AG-ACNP certification exam.