Sacred Heart University Online NP Programs

What to Expect from the Sacred Heart University Online NP Programs

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the Sacred Heart University MSN program must have a BSN from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Post-Master’s Certificate FNP and PMHNP program applicants must hold an MSN from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Applicants must also hold an unencumbered RN license in Connecticut or in their state of residence. In addition, applicants must have proof of professional liability insurance and have completed a background check. Application materials include the application, application fee, a statement of professional goals, a résumé, two letters of recommendation, a promise to pay form, disclosure, and official copies of transcripts of all prior nursing and academic coursework. Prerequisites include an undergraduate statistics course, an undergraduate research course, and an undergraduate health assessment course of at least 30 hours. Applicants will participate in an interview with faculty. No GRE or GMAT is required.

State Restrictions: While Sacred Heart University accepts students from most states into their NP programs, applicants outside of Connecticut should check with their state Board of Nursing to ensure they are eligible to study with Sacred Heart University. Sacred Heart University is authorized to operate in the SARA states. Interested nursing students should note that they may need to travel significant distances to complete clinical requirements, including traveling to another state. Note that residents of New York may enroll in the online FNP program but may not complete clinicals in New York, and no clinicals may be completed in New York by students of any state in the online programs. In addition, due to limited clinical site opportunities in Connecticut, residents of Connecticut must be willing to complete clinicals in another state if necessary.

Study Plan: The Sacred Heart University online NP programs are delivered in 16-week sessions, and students should expect to spend 12 to 15 hours per week on each course. The MSN program can be completed in 2.5 years, the online FNP Post-Master’s certificate in 1.5 years, and the PMHNP certificate in 15 months. Start dates land in Fall, Spring, and Summer. MSN students come to campus for a two-day orientation and two other campus visits and have opportunities for global health experiences as well. Students in the certificate programs should verify campus visit requirements with SHU admissions.

MSN – FNP Curriculum: The online MSN – FNP program comprises 42 credits and requires completing at least 550 clinical hours. The online MSN – PMHNP program comprises 42 credits and requires completing at least 540 clinical hours. Core courses include Health Care Policy and Ethics for Contemporary Nursing Practice; Principles of Health Care Research for Contemporary Nursing Practice; Nursing Theory and Professional Roles for Contemporary Nursing Practice; Advanced Pathophysiology for the Nurse Practitioner; Advanced Pharmacology for the Nurse Practitioner; Advanced Health Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner; and Family and Community Context for Healthcare.

FNP specialty courses include Primary Care I: Comprehensive Primary Care of the Adult; Primary Care of Children; Primary Care for Women; and Primary Care II: Advanced Primary Care of Families in Complex Systems. If students have not completed the following courses, they will be added to the curriculum: Health Assessment for RNs and Statistics for Decision-Making.

PMHNP specialty courses include Role Development of the PMHNP; The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner’s Role with Children and Their Families; Advanced Role Development of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in Complex Systems; and Advanced Psychopharmacology for the PMHNP.

Post-Master’s FNP Certificate students take 24 credits and complete 550 clinical hours. Courses include Family and Community Context for Healthcare and the FNP specialty courses. Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate students take 21 credits and complete 540 clinical hours. Courses are comprised of the PMHNP specialty courses.

Online Experience: Online MSN and certificate courses are asynchronous, allowing maximum flexibility with students’ work, family, and education schedules. However, students must complete assignments and participate in classroom discussions within a given timeframe. Sacred Heart University utilizes Blackboard as its online Learning Management System (LMS). Online learning tools may include lectures, readings, document sharing, discussion boards, and communication takes place through online chat, email, and phone calls. Online students can access 24/7 technical support, academic advising, the online bookstore, online library, and career services.

On-Site Requirements: Sacred Heart MSN students must come to the Fairfield, Connecticut, campus for orientation during their first semester, one residency in the first semester of their second year, and one residency in their final semester for skills testing. All other coursework is completely online, and practicums are completed locally. Post-Master’s Certificate students should verify campus visit requirements with SHU admissions.