MS in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN to MSN)
Elevate Your Practice. Expand Your Impact.
Antioch University’s Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program empowers experienced nurses to lead in delivering comprehensive, equitable, and person-centered primary care. Grounded in evidence-based practice and built around a family-focused model, the program equips you with the advanced clinical knowledge to assess health, manage disease, promote wellness, and support individuals and families across the lifespan.
Through a combination of online coursework and hands-on clinical experience, you’ll develop deep expertise in:
- Advanced health assessment
- Pathophysiology and pharmacology
- Diagnostic reasoning and care planning
- Population health and culturally responsive care
You’ll graduate with the confidence and capability to serve diverse populations and improve access to care in the communities that need it most.
Program Overview
Designed to prepare graduates for national board certification as Family Nurse Practitioners, this MSN program meets the eligibility requirements for certification through either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner Certification Program (AANPCP).
Rooted in Antioch’s longstanding commitment to social, racial, and health justice, the curriculum emphasizes:
- Culturally responsive, inclusive care
- Advocacy for underserved populations
- Clinical excellence with real-world relevance
The program features a flexible, online core supported by a science sequence in Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Pathophysiology. The clinical component includes coursework and 600 supervised clinical hours in wellness promotion, acute and common illnesses, and complex chronic care across adult, pediatric, and women’s health populations. Clinical hours are completed under the supervision of an approved nurse practitioner or physician in your local area, coordinated in collaboration with faculty.
Elevating Your Nursing Career with a Proven Legacy
As Proud Co-Founder of the Coalition for the Common Good, Antioch University offers a program with a rich tradition of excellence, honed over 45 years by dedicated nursing professionals. Formerly anchored at Otterbein University, this initiative now thrives at Antioch, continuing a legacy of quality and practical expertise. Benefit from our flexible, student-centered graduate model, designed to empower you with clinical confidence and personalized support, ensuring you're prepared to excel in your nursing practice.
Degree Requirements
2 years
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 40% increase in employment for nurse practitioners from 2023 to 2033, significantly outpacing the average growth rate for all occupations. This surge is driven by an aging population, a heightened focus on preventive care, and a growing shortage of primary care physicians.
Family Nurse Practitioners, in particular, are in high demand due to their ability to provide comprehensive care across all age groups. This versatility makes them especially valuable in underserved areas, including rural communities.
Some FNPs work in:
- Primary care and workplace clinics
- Correctional facilities
- Government health services
- Home health agencies
- Hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
- Military
- Schools
Upon fulfilling the program requirements, you’ll earn your Master of Science in Nursing and be eligible to sit for national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Graduates may choose to:
- Enter practice immediately, or
- Continue for an additional year to complete a scholarly project leading to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree
Antioch’s flexible pathway also allows MSN graduates to return within five years to complete the DNP when the time is right.
- Domain 1, MSN Outcome 1. Synthesize knowledge from nursing and relevant fields of study as a basis for an advanced nursing role.
- Domain 9, MSN Outcome 2. Use the nursing process to perform the independent, collaborative, multifaceted functions of an advanced nursing role to optimize health care outcomes that advance health equity and lead to positive change.
- Domain 5 & 7, MSN Outcome 3. Demonstrate critical thinking when making decisions regarding the delivery of quality, cost-effective, culturally relevant health care to individuals or populations.
- Domain 8, MSN Outcome 4. Analyze the legal, political, ethical, financial, and professional functions of advanced nursing roles and how those aspects affect the community and individuals.
- Domain 8, MSN Outcome 5. Examine the implications of health care issues, health care delivery systems and informatics on nursing and health care delivery to all.
- Domain 6 & 10, MSN Outcome 6. Provide leadership in advanced nursing roles through interprofessional communication, advocacy and change management within the health care delivery system.
- Domain 2 & 3, MSN Outcome 7. Integrate caring behaviors and patterns into advanced nursing roles.
- Domain 4, MSN Outcome 8. Apply the body of nursing knowledge through systematic inquiry, professional standards of care, and evidence-based practice.
Faculty Spotlights
Kelly Drifmeyer, MLS, MM
Research and Instruction Librarian
Deana Batross
Director
Regina Prusinski
Chair
Diane White, PhD
Dean
How to Apply
Admission Criteria
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an institution of higher education that is fully accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agency, and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- A current, valid, and unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse in the U.S.. In addition, an applicant must not have had a previous revocation, denial, suspension, or restriction of their license from any state or country. Current unrestricted licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state where the clinical and immersion experiences, as well as the practice project, will be conducted.
- Minimum of one (1) year paid clinical work experience within the past three years as a Registered Nurse before the application deadline, documented on the submitted resume. Clinical work experience must include direct care in a public health, community, hospital, or ambulatory care setting that serves patients across the life span.
- Evidence of capacity for graduate study.
- A blended cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all previous coursework on the submitted transcripts;
- A Science GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale comprising grades in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, microbiology, statistics, and chemistry courses.
- Completion of an undergraduate- or graduate-level statistics course with a grade of B or better.
- Positive professional recommendations.
Application Requirements
- Complete the online admissions application, including:
- Personal Essay (optional): Summarize your professional background; describe past experiences and reflections that have influenced these goals; and discuss professional and career goals, and how these goals can be achieved in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, as well as ideas for the final scholarly project. The essay should be carefully planned, written, and edited by the applicant.
- Professional resume. Also include leadership activities, scholastic awards, nursing organizational memberships, and community service, as applicable.
- Evidence of licensure and certification, if any. Include professional licensure numbers and the licensing state, and a copy of the certificate issued by your national board certification body. The Graduate School will verify licensure and certification, which will be added to the student's file.
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities where you earned a degree or certificate (A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred). Email to [email protected] or mail to: Antioch University, Admissions Office, 900 Dayton Street, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387
- Three letters of recommendation are required from people who are in a position to evaluate your professional (e.g., clinical supervisor, Peer (RN), other clinician, and academic (e.g. professor) work. The person making the recommendation may not be related to you.
- Interview with the Nursing Program faculty if selected. This interview will be conducted via Zoom (video conferencing).
- Students must submit documentation of meeting health requirements – including completion of the American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) curriculum – before starting classes, and must submit documentation of keeping health requirements current throughout their course of study.
All application materials submitted become part of an applicant’s file and cannot be returned.
Application Deadlines
| Semester | Application Deadlines |
|---|---|
| Spring | November 1 |
| Fall | July 1 |
| Please review the Academic Calendar for additional details. | |
If you have any questions during the process, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. Our faculty and staff are here to assist you throughout the application process.
Financial Aid
Many students finance their education through some form of financial aid. You may not be sure which federal, state, public, and private aid packages – such as loans, scholarships, and grants – are right for you. Our staff is here to help you so you can focus on what’s most important: beginning your academic program.
Antioch University is proud to partner with several schools and employers to offer scholarships and/or special educational benefits to employees, students, and alumni of select partner institutions. To learn more about these scholarships and to find out if you are eligible, talk with Admissions.
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