Master of Science programs offered in the School of Nursing include a Master of Science Family Nurse Practitioner, a Master of Science Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, a Master of Science Nurse Educator with a Clinical Focus and a Master of Science Nursing Management and Quality Leadership.

Master Of Science (Family Nurse Practitioner)

The family nurse practitioner specializes in providing care services across populations, focused on managing care and episodic illness for the entire family with appropriate referrals for needed services. Clinically, the nurse practitioner will assess, diagnose and prescribe treatments for individuals and families in need of care, within the legal and ethical parameters of the nurse practitioner role.

Full-time graduate students may register for 9-12 credit hours per semester. Part-time students register for less than 9 credits per semester. Summer sessions are not counted as semesters.

Students generally complete their coursework in 2.5 - 3 years of study. Courses must be taken in the sequence indicated by the prerequisites. There are a total of 750 clinical hours.

The Master of Science degree and the Post-Master’s certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner may be completed on a full- or part-time basis; students who work full-time will not be considered for a two-year completion plan. Classes are offered in either a low-residency or online format. Clinical preceptorships are scheduled as available during daytime and/or evening hours on days when classes are not in session.

As a graduate of the program, students will be prepared to take the exam for board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) to further demonstrate their expertise in the family health field.

Please refer to the general Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog for health, C.P.R., and malpractice insurance requirements. Students must register with CastleBranch for their document repository. Students must also read and acknowledge the Criminal History and Background Check policy.

Technical, professional, and behavioral standards for all Nurse Practitioner students are covered in detail in the Graduate Nursing Student Handbook. All standards apply to MS and Post-graduate APRN students.

Course Requirements

Continuing Practicum courses include:

Students who receive grades below B in courses other than those listed above are subject to the overall policies of the graduate school. Students on probation can take other preparation or supportive courses while on probation.

Academic Regulations

In addition to the general academic regulations, all matriculated students in the nurse practitioner program must fulfill these requirements:

1. Completion of 43 credit-hours (Master of Science) or 31 credit-hours (Post-Master’s certificate) as required.
2. Students on academic probation are limited to six credits per semester while on probation.
   1. Students in Graduate Nursing Programs are expected to maintain a cumulative and semester GPA of 3.0. Students who do not maintain this GPA will be reviewed by the Progression and Retention Committee for academic consequences. A student who has less than a 3.0 GPA in either semester or cumulative, at any time will be placed on academic probation for the next semester or summer session. At the end of the probation period, the student’s file will be reviewed by the program Graduate Progression and Retention committee. If the student’s cumulative or semester GPA is a minimum of 3.0, the student will be removed from probation.
   2.  If the student does not achieve the 3.0 cumulative or semester GPA after a first probation, the graduate progression and retention committee may consider a second semester of probation. If a minimum of 3.0 GPA (cumulative or semester) is not achieved after a second probation, the student will automatically be ineligible to continue in their program.
   3. A student will be allowed probationary status for no more than two semesters during the entire graduate program. The student will automatically be ineligible to continue in their program if in excess of two semesters.
3. Students cannot register for clinical courses in the N.P. program until formally accepted into the program.
4. Family Nurse Practitioner students are required to receive at least a B in all courses required for the FNP degree. Students who receive less than a B, including a B-, C+, C or lower in these courses, will have to repeat that course, will be placed on probation and cannot take any of the clinical practicum courses until they raise their grade in the applicable course to at least a B. They are also limited to six credits while on probation.

5. Withdrawal policy for non-medical reasons: A student can withdraw (W) 2 times throughout their time in the nursing program. Repeated withdrawal from the same course is not permitted. More than two academic withdrawals is considered lack of progress toward the degree.  A request for a subsequent withdrawal requires review by the Admission, Progression and Retention (APR) Committee.

6. Student responsibilities: The nurse practitioner program is a demanding program in coursework, time, commitment and financial obligation. Due to these responsibilities for the program, students should seriously evaluate the impact that employment may have on their clinical performance and academic progress.
7. Refer to the School of Nursing Graduate Handbook, for a full list of academic and progression regulations.

Admission Requirements — Family Nurse Practitioner

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate programs at D’Youville, applicants for the master of science degree in Nursing Education with a Clinical Focus must present the following:

1. Completed online graduate application for admission (no application fee).

2. Completion of a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an approved or accredited institution with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of program at least 3.0.

3. GPA for admissions decisions:

     A. GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or greater is required for unconditional admission to master’s programs.

     B. GPA of 2.75-2.99 is eligible for provisional admission status. Students must successfully complete two faculty determined graduate courses with a grade of B or better in the first semester to attain full admission in the second semester of study.  Students who earn a grade less than B will not be permitted to repeat the course and will be ineligible to continue in the program.

     C. Applicants with a GPA of 2.70-2.74 and a baccalaureate degree in nursing earned more than five years ago and who have achieved significant professional success as documented on curricula vitae are eligible for consideration of provisional admission.

4. Official transcripts from all college/ universities attended. Non-US students must submit ‘course-by-course’ evaluation (or equivalent) of all college and/or university transcripts through the World Education Services (WES) or other approved foreign transcript evaluation agencies.

5. Active unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in New York or in Ontario for Canadian students. Students in an online program must hold an unencumbered license for the state or province in which their clinical is held.

6. A current CPR certification with a psychomotor component.

7. One year of practice as a registered nurse is recommended.

8. A 3-cr descriptive statistics course or equivalent with a grade of C or better.

9. Optional: Applicants who wish to strengthen their submission packet are encouraged to submit two references on clinical performance with one reference from a professional with an advanced degree attesting to the clinical knowledge, skills, leadership and the ability to be a good applicant. Other acceptable references include supervisor, manager or former professor. 

10. Optional: Applicants who wish to strengthen their submission packet are encouraged to submit a writing assignment on their philosophy of nursing, 2 pages in length, double space and 12-point font that includes philosophy of nursing focused on past experience, what influencing nursing has had on your career, why you chose to pursue this degree, how you see this degree enhancing your career and how you will utilize this degree to advance patient care and health care outcomes.

11. A student who meets the entry requirements and is currently or previously enrolled in a graduate nursing program at another college or university must obtain a letter from that School of Nursing stating the student is in good standing, not on probation, and able to register for classes. Students who were dismissed from a graduate nursing program will not be considered for admission.