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The Family Nurse Practitioner program prepares advanced practice nurses to provide holistic care to individuals of all ages from newborn babies to older adults, and to address issues associated with women’s health. Students work in all care settings with a focus on delivering patient care management, health promotion, and disease prevention to people with acute and chronic disease. Graduates diagnose, manage, and evaluate the care of patients, except in critical care settings. Students have clinical practice in nearby city and rural clinics, private practices, hospitals, and other settings that employ advanced practice nurses or MDs.
Sneak Peek | Fairfield University School of Nursing and Health Studies
Fairfield University’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing Simulation Center
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Jaclyn Conelius
Suzanne Strazza
Fairfield Egan Fast Facts
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Requirements & Curriculum
Required Courses
| Healthcare Leadership Roles for Systems Improvement |
| Epidemiology and Biostatistics |
| Advanced Healthcare Policy |
| Research Methods for Evidenced-Based Practice |
| Information Technology for Healthcare Improvement |
| Advanced Health Assessment |
| Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology |
| Advanced Pharmacology |
| Adult Health I |
| Adult Health II |
| Care of Children and Families |
| Care of At-Risk Populations |
| Practicum in Adult Health I |
| Clinical Conference Across the Lifespan: FNP Practicum I |
| Clinical Conference Across the Lifespan: FNP Practicum II |
A detailed list of course requirements, offerings, and more can be viewed in the University’s course catalog.
Egan Admission
Applicants for the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Track must hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university (or the international equivalent) with a quality point average of 3.0 or higher preferred. RN applicants who have a non-nursing bachelor's degree will be considered on an individual basis and may be required to complete select prerequisites to be eligible for admission to the MSN program.
More About MSN Family Nurse Practitioner
Career & Professional Opportunities
Career & Professional Opportunities
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) has the privilege of working in all levels of healthcare but critical care, and the opportunity to care for patients throughout the lifespan. FNPs work in:
- Emergency Department or other departments of a hospital such as interventional radiology, pain, cardiac, gynecology, neurological, infertility, pediatrics, pulmonary or renal, and more
- Primary care
- Surgical centers or specialty
- Ambulatory care clinics or private practices in internal medicine or family practice
- Specialty clinics or private practice in all types of specialties such as gastroenterology, cardiac, gynecology, oncology, pulmonary, endocrine, infectious disease, and more
- College health
- Pediatric clinics, school-based care, or private practice
- Long-term care
- Prisons and detention centers
- Occupational health
- Research
- Palliative care
As an autonomous primary healthcare provider, you'll be prepared to administer care with the following advanced skills and knowledge:
- Genetics
- Family theory
- Physiology and pathophysiology
- Pharmacology
- Health assessment
- Adult health medicine
- Women's health
- Geriatrics
- Pediatrics
Additionally, your knowledge in health policy, epidemiology, biostatistics, and nursing research will serve to improve your ability to assume an advanced practice nursing role.
Learn about how Fairfield's Career Center can support your post-graduate goals, and how Fairfield's tight-knit alumni network can build career and mentoring opportunities that last a lifetime.
Diversity and Inclusive Excellence
Diversity and Inclusive Excellence
As a Jesuit, Catholic university, Fairfield is dedicated to diversity and inclusion; to radical hospitality in service of racial, social, and economic justice.
Egan Newsletter
Egan Newsletter
Learn more about what our faculty, students, and alumni are doing, as well as stay up-to-date on our rankings and accolades, programs, and more.
Egan Update
Egan Update
We invite you to view the Egan Update, a year in review of Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies news.
Faculty & Staff
Faculty & Staff
Fairfield University’s Egan School boasts experienced faculty who inspire students to become leaders across social and healthcare environments. These students are actively engaged with faculty in practice, policy, scholarship, and service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Individuals can complete either a DNP or a Masters’ program in their chosen area of specialty in order to become certified as a nurse practitioner. Family Nurse Practitioners apply for board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners; visit their websites for more information on the requirements for certification.
The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties is responsible for developing the nurse practitioner competencies. This is true for both MSN and DNP preparation.
A certified Family Nurse Practitioner is prepared to work with patients across the life span except for patients in critical care and high risk pregnancy areas. Family Nurse Practitioners can work in primary care or specialized areas of medicine such as cardiology, infertility, interventional radiology, oncology, and pediatrics at this time. The program at Fairfield University prepares the graduate to be able to work with all age groups. Clinical practica are arranged to prepare the student to gain experience in primary care and, if desired, in one or two specialty areas.
The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program will prepare you to work as an FNP in pediatric settings as well as with adults of all ages in case you change your mind as your career evolves. Primary care is being offered in many family practice centers so being a FNP prepares you for both adult and pediatric practice. If you feel you want to specialize exclusively in pediatrics, you should seek information at institutions offering a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track.
Being a Family Nurse Practitioner will make you most marketable and enable you to work in any practice setting with patients of all ages [except critical care and high risk pregnancy].
Students can transfer up to 6 core credits if the courses are similar. Evaluation of transfer credits are approved by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies.
Call or email Dr. Jaclyn Conelius, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2757 for more information.