Requirements to Progress to FNP Track Courses
GPA - A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 is required for progression in the MSN Program and ultimately, for graduation. For all tracks except the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track, students must receive a C+ or better and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better to progress. A minimum grade of B (3.00) is required in the Advanced Practice Nursing core - NURS 670 (Advanced Pharmacology), NURS 530 (Advanced Pathophysiology) and NURS 680 (Advanced Health and Physical Assessment) for a student to progress into the FNP Track.
In the FNP track, students must receive a grade of B or better in order to progress. Students who do not achieve a grade of B (3.00) will be required to repeat the course prior to entering the FNP Track and must receive a B (3.00) or better as a final course grade. Students may repeat the course only once."
Paired Courses - If a student in the FNP track passes only one of the two required paired courses in a term, i.e., receives a B in theory and a C in clinical, or vice-versa, then the student must repeat the "failed" course (failure being defined as less than a B). The student who fails a sequenced theory and/or clinical course may not continue on to the next course in the sequence. (Example: a student must pass NURS 663 and NURS 663L in order to proceed to NURS 664 and NURS 664L).
Clinical Hours - Students must complete all required clinical hours in each of the clinical courses, or they will not progress into the next course; they will have a maximum of 10 days at the end of that term to complete the hours, consistent with the University incomplete policy. No further extension will be granted.
Students must demonstrate clinical competence prior to starting any of the FNP Track Clinical Practicum courses. Demonstration includes a focused history taking, physical examination and
documentation of findings (OSCE). Clinical competence will be assessed by the faculty at a scheduled time prior to the first FNP track course.
Students who do not demonstrate clinical competence cannot be placed in a clinical practicum course. Unsuccessful students will be given the opportunity to repeat Advanced Health Assessment and
demonstrate clinical competence prior to entering the FNP track courses. After an unsuccessful repeat attempt, they will have the choice of transferring into the Generalist Track if there is space available.
FNP theory or clinical practicum courses may be repeated only one time. Students who do not pass these courses with a minimum of B the second time will be withdrawn from the FNP track. A student who must repeat a class or clinical practicum will do so when the course is available and only if there is space available in the class. An FNP student who is required to repeat a clinical practicum cannot go back to the same clinical site or work with the same preceptor he/she had before.
Academic Warning - Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. If a student’s cGPA falls below 3.00 then the student will be placed on academic warning. The student can remain on warning for one semester only, at which time they must bring their cGPA up to a minimum of 3.00 or they will be dismissed. In the MSN program, they may be placed on academic warning only once. In the Family Nurse Practitioner track, students cannot be on academic warning at the time of entry into the FNP Track. They have the option to complete the Generalist track (6 units) and then apply to return as a post-master’s FNP certificate student on a space-available basis.
MSN Program - FNP track: Recency Requirements for Advanced Practice core courses and competency exam.
Due to the importance of the content of the three Advanced Practice core courses in the MSN program, (NUR 530) Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology, (NUR 570) Advanced Pharmacology and (NURS 580) Advanced Health Physical Assessment, in preparation for the Family Nurse Practitioner track, they must have been taken within three (3) years prior to starting the actual FNP courses. This would apply to the MSN students as well as the post-master's FNP Certificate students. If more than three years has elapsed since they have taken these courses, they will need to repeat them in the MSN program.