Nursing, MSN /Post-Master’s Nursing Certificates/Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner/ Family Nurse Practitioner

Introduction

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is designed for the baccalaureate-prepared registered nurse (RN) who wishes to pursue a graduate degree with eligibility for specialty certification as an Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) or a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). In addition, a post-master’s certificate as a FNP or AGPCNP is available for master’s prepared nurses. The program may be completed in 24 months or 33 months. 

The program focuses on the synthesis of knowledge and skills that enable the advanced level nurse to manage health care issues and implement change by fostering safe, effective, quality interventions across the four spheres of care: wellness, disease prevention; chronic disease management; regenerative/restorative care; hospice/palliative care. 

Theories, principles, and evidence-based practice guidelines regarding holistic assessment, health promotion, and disease prevention are also emphasized in learning activities in the classroom and community.  

The MSN Program provides knowledge and skills for nurses to excel as advanced practice nurses in an increasingly complex health care environment.  

The Mission 

The mission of the MSN Program is to develop competent advanced-level nurses to practice in a culturally diverse and rapidly evolving world. The University and the Graduate Nursing Programs remain responsive to community needs. 

Independent, experiential learning fosters students to choose their education and future professional endeavors. 

Goals of the MSN Program  

• Develop advanced-level nurses that demonstrate professional, ethical, skilled, and evidence-based practice competencies in their roles. 

• Prepare graduates that influence health and health outcomes of individuals, families, and communities through the application of evidence-based practice.   

• Advance the educational level of nurses to effect positive changes in the health care of consumers.

• Prepare advanced-level nurses who are eligible for national certification. 

• Provide a foundation for continued graduate study. 

• Prepare graduates to represent the nursing profession in health organizations and health policy at the local, state, national, and international levels. 

MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate Student Learning Outcomes 

Stockton’s learning outcomes are in accordance with those of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The MSN and Post-Master’s certificate programs are designed to produce an advanced level nurse who can: 

• Utilize the Roy Adaptation Model or other theories from Nursing and other disciplines when making decisions regarding professional nursing practice. 

• Assess and diagnose the health status and health potential of diverse clients within multiple complicated contexts to provide compassionate, coordinated, evidence-based care.    

• Identify specific common deviations from wellness using evidence-based guidelines and clinical decision-making to provide culturally sensitive equitable care, across settings and populations.   

• Synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge from the physical and behavioral sciences and humanities with advanced level nursing practice. 

• Apply principles of quality, safety, and ethical decision-making to minimize risks and enhance health outcomes across diverse settings and populations.

• Work collaboratively with interprofessional teams, patients, families, and stakeholders to improve health outcomes at the local, regional, national, and global levels.   

• Utilize leadership skills through interaction with consumers and providers to address quality, safety, racism, and advocate for coordinated fiscally responsible, equitable resources for diverse populations. 

• Utilize information technologies to manage and enhance efficiency of health care decision making and services in accordance with current evidence, quality, safety, regulatory and professional standards. 

• Practice and advocate for the values of the profession in manners that are ethically, culturally, and linguistically appropriate demonstrating collaboration and professional accountability to address inequities, social injustice, and human rights issues.

• Promote and practice the values of the profession by participating in activities that foster accountability, self-care, resilience, lifelong learning, nursing expertise, advocacy, and leadership acumen.    

MSN Program Organization

The MSN curriculum builds on the undergraduate program and utilizes philosophy, purposes and learning outcomes to develop advanced level nurses. The Roy Adaptation Model serves as the conceptual framework of the program. 

The Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track consists of 46 credits, which may be completed in 24 months or 33 months. A minimum of 750 supervised clinical hours in primary care must be completed in addition to the didactic portion of the curriculum. 

The Family Nurse Practitioner track consists of 50 credits. A minimum of 770 supervised clinical hours in primary care must be completed in addition to the didactic portion of the curriculum.  

Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

The curriculum builds on previous graduate nursing education and utilizes philosophy, purposes and student learning outcomes to develop advanced level nurses. The Roy Adaptation Model serves as the conceptual framework of the program.  

The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certificate track consists of 25 credits for option 1 candidates. A minimum of 750 supervised hours must be completed in addition to the didactic portion of the curriculum.  

The Family Nurse Practitioner certificate track consists of 28 credits for option 1 candidates or 7 credits for option 2 and 3 candidates (see option descriptions below).  A minimum of 770 supervised clinical hours in primary care and pediatric must be completed in addition to the didactic portion of the curriculum.  A gap analysis of the clinical course work completed in the student’s previous NP program is performed by the MSN Chair to determine the number of clinical hours to be completed during Stockton’s program.  

There are three options a prospective student can seek admission to the post master’s certificate programs of study.  

Option 1

Provides registered nurses with a master's degree the option to complete coursework for eligibility to take the AGPCNP or FNP national certification examination.  This option is applicable to prospective students who are practicing as NPs in roles other than the AGPCNP or FNP such as the acute care NP, or pediatric NP.  It also applies to prospective students that obtained a non-clinical MSN degree.  

Option 2

Provides nationally certified and practicing Adult Nurse Practitioners (ANP) or AGPCNP an option to complete additional didactic and clinical coursework to become eligible to take the FNP national certification examination. Applicants must provide proof of valid New Jersey APN credentials, proof of current NP certification, past clinical hour documentation and course syllabi for review. 

Option 3

Recent graduates of Stockton's MSN program may qualify for "Direct Entry" into the FNP program.  This option is available to Stockton MSN graduates with graduation date 12 months prior to the first day of courses in the FNP track. If the graduation date is more than 12 months, please follow option 2.  NURS5424/5924 must be completed as a prerequisite for direct entry into the FNP program. 

The Family Nurse Practitioner post-master’s track consists of an additional 7 credits including a minimum of 200 clinical hours for practicing Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP). 

Admission to the MSN/Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

Admission is open to licensed RNs with a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Prospective applicants must meet the following criteria; however, meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee admission:

1.      Possess a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) from an NLN or CCNE-accredited school. Applicants to the post-master’s program must have a master's degree in nursing.

2.      Meet one of the two requirements:

• Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher (on a scale of 4.0) with a minimum grade of "B" in all nursing courses

• Cumulative GPA of 3.30 in at least two graduate nursing courses IF BSN GPA is less than or equal to 3.19. 

3.      Completion of BSN prerequisite courses:

• Health Assessment

• Nursing or another Health Discipline Research course

• Statistics

4.      Students must successfully pass a criminal background check and urine drug screening prior to enrollment and as required or requested while enrolled. 

Students must adhere to all health and safety program mandates and must meet the   Technical Standards and Essential Functions requirements as specified by the Nursing Program. 

In addition, the applicant must provide:

• Proof of licensure to practice as a registered professional nurse in New Jersey.

• Two letters of recommendation

• Completion of an admission essay

• Current CPR certification.

• Valid certification in their NP specialty (ANCC or AANPCP) for practicing NP applicants only. 

Nonmatriculated Graduate Nursing Courses

At Stockton, there are three graduate level nursing courses available for non-matriculated students.

• NURS 5336 Healthcare Systems & Policy (Summer semester)

• NURS 5330 Advanced Pathophysiology (Summer semester) 

• NURS 5326 Biostatistics & Epidemiology in Population Health (Fall semester)  

Transfer Credits

Students may transfer a maximum of nine (9) credits from another graduate nursing program if they have achieved at least a B in the course. Students will be asked to submit a course syllabus for review before final approval of the transfer credit is given. Clinical courses or courses with a clinical component are exempt from transfer credits. 

Clinical Prerequisites

Students must successfully complete health screenings, required immunizations, a criminal background check and drug screen prior to the first clinical experience (Practicum I). Students need to provide validation of CPR certification, personal health insurance, NJ RN licensure, and professional liability insurance as a student nurse practitioner. In addition, students must meet all technical standards and can perform essential functions as specified by the Nursing Program  Technical Standards and Essential Functions).  Health screenings, CPR certification, RN licensure, personal health insurance and professional liability insurance as an NP student must be maintained by the student during clinical semesters.  Failure to do so will result in removal from clinical. 

Leave of Absence

Students who wish to interrupt their Graduate Nursing education for one or more semesters must submit a written request for a leave of absence (LOA) to the MSN Program Chair.  The request must be received prior to the next semester. The written request must include the reason for the LOA, anticipated date of return, and a description of how the reason for the LOA is resolved upon return to the Graduate Nursing program.  

The Program awards a maximum of a 1 year (2 consecutive semesters) or a total of 2 non-consecutive semesters of LOA.  The Program reserves the right to limit, modify and/or deny a LOA request. Should the LOA be approved by the MSN Program Chair, you must then follow University wide LOA procedures as described in the University Bulletin.  

While on LOA, the student is expected to maintain contact with their preceptor/advisor to revise academic plan and prepare for future course work.  An additional request for a LOA is required if the student will extend their LOA if it does not exceed 2 consecutive semesters.  Failure to maintain a current request for LOA will result in withdrawal from the University.  The student will need to reapply and meet admission requirements to complete the MSN or Post-Master’s certificate program. 

Graduation Requirements

Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and successfully complete all nursing and clinical coursework/requirements as stipulated in the Master of Science in Nursing and Post-Master’s Certificate Policies and Procedure Manual. NOTE: Students must achieve the letter grade of a B- or above in didactic courses and B or above in clinical courses for all Stockton Graduate Nursing coursework.

2025 MSN AGPCNP & FNP Curriculum

Adult Gero Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

• MHAL 5000 - Management & Leadership Development in Health Care (3 credits)

• MHAL 5036 - Healthcare Informatics (3 credits)

• NURS 5326 - Biostatistics & Epidemiology in Population Health (3 credits)

• NURS 5325 - Health Care Systems & Policy (3 credits)

• NURS 5332 - Pharmacology (3 credits)

• NURS 5327 - Theory & Research for Evidence- Based Practice (3 credits)

• NURS 5330 - Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)

• NURS 5333 - Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)

• NURSE 5422 - Adult Primary Care (3 credits)

• NURS 5922 - Adult Practicum I (3 credits)

• NURS 5423 - Adult Primary Care II (3 credits)

• NURS 5923 - Adult Practicum II (3 credits)

• NURS 5424 - Adult Primary Care III (3 credits)

• NURS 5924 - Adult Practicum III (3 credits)

• NURS 5590 - Professional Role Development (1 credit)

• NURS 5932 - Immersion in AGNP Practice (3 credits)

Total Credits: 46

Family Nurse Practitioner

• MHAL 5000 - Management & Leadership Development in Health Care (3 credits)

• MHAL 5036 - Healthcare informatics (3 credits)

• NURS 5326 - Biostatistics & Epidemiology in Population Health (3 credits)

• NURS 5325 - Health Care Systems & Policy (3 credits)

• NURS 5332 - Pharmacology (3 credits)

• NURS 5327 - Theory & Research for Evidence- Based Practice (3 credits)

• NURS 5330 - Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)

• NURS 5333 - Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)

• NURSE 5422 - Adult Primary Care (3 credits)

• NURS 5922 - Adult Practicum I (3 credits)

• NURS 5423 - Adult Primary Care II (3 credits)

• NURS 5923 - Adult Practicum II (3 credits)

• NURS 5424 - Adult Primary Care III (3 credits)

• NURS 5924 - Adult Practicum III (3 credits)

• NURS 5590 - Professional Role Development (1 credit)

• NURS 5541 - Assessment and Care of the Family with Young Children (3 credits)

• NURS 5941 - Pediatric Practicum (4 credits)

Total Credits: 50

Accreditation                                                       

The master’s degree in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Stockton University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. 

Full details about the curriculum can be accessed on the MSN website.