Master of Science in Nursing Program Overview
The Family Nurse Practitioner program at the Georgia College School of Nursing prepares students to provide complete, advanced care for the whole family. This master’s option couples theoretical background with evidence-based clinical experiences in a wide variety of community-based practice settings.
With unique access to respected Georgia College faculty and resources, you will develop skills in providing health assessment, direct care, and health maintenance promotion information and tools to the entire family. You will learn to approach patient care broadly, in the context of the family’s physical, emotional, mental, and sociocultural systems.
Those who earn a master’s degree for the nurse practitioner in family primary care:
- Can address a wide range of primary care needs, write prescriptions, and order diagnostic tests
- Apply evidence-based, family-centered approach to diagnosing and managing common acute and chronic health problems of individuals from infancy through adulthood
- Work in diverse practice settings such as health clinics and maintenance organizations, student health services, private medical offices, correctional facilities, and emergency rooms.
- Are prepared to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center or National Certification Board of Family Nurse Practitioners/Nurses certification examinations as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care.
- Can complete the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at GC in 5 additional semesters after the masters
Course of Study
The 40-credit FNP program is offered in a convenient online for didactic course work. Clinical hours are arranged in a timeframe and community setting that is convenient for the student. The program can be completed in six semesters of full-time study or nine semester of part-time study, integrating approximately two weeks of on-site immersion experience each year with online and virtual learning experiences.
Enrichment Status
Georgia College offers an enrichment status for a "person who holds a baccalaureate degree and wishes to enroll in graduate courses for purposes of self-improvement or enjoyment." In the School of Nursing, a maximum of nine (9) credit hours is permitted in this status. Enrichment students may enroll only in non-clinical courses. Enrichment students may apply for any semester.
Successful completion of courses taken as an Enrichment Status student does not lead to admission to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. Enrichment students desiring regular admission and having a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 undergraduate hours required in the nursing major, must apply for regular admissions and meet all criteria listed above for regular admissions.
Applicants wishing to take enrichment courses focusing on Nursing Education may wish to consider the following courses: NRSG 6115 Leadership and the Nurse Educator Role, NRSG 6120 Implementing Educational Programs in Nursing and NRSG 6125 Curriculum Design and Evaluation. These courses help to prepare faculty for the Certified Nurse Educator Examination.
Specifically aimed at Clinical Nurse Specialists we offer NRSG 5480 Advanced Assessment, NRSG 6300 Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology, and NRSG 5800 Applied Pharmacology which are required for certification as a Clinical Nurse Specialist APRN status in Georgia.
Acceptance into a course as an enrichment student is dependent upon availability of space and facilities after full-time and part-time students have been registered.
See the complete list of programs.
Contact Information
Dr. Deborah MacMillan
Assistant Director Graduate Program
School of Nursing
Macon Graduate Center
Macon, GA 31201
478-752-1074 - office
478-747-0986 - cell
debby.macmillan@gcsu.edu
