Austin Peay State University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
The School of Nursing through Austin Peay State University (APSU) offers an online Master of Science in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialization, plus a Post-Master’s FNP Certificate. Students choose a completion plan and move through as a cohort, developing relationships and graduating together.
Coursework is completed online, and students come to the Clarksville, TN campus for two intensives for the MSN and one intensive for the certificate program. In addition, NP students complete an advanced virtual skills intensive. Practicums are also completed at approved facilities local to the student.
The APSU School of Nursing operates out of the following core values: quality, change, innovation, collaboration, global awareness, community, professionalism, caring, and safety. Some of the learning outcomes for the online nurse practitioner programs include the proper use of evidence and practice to create safe, quality patient care; effective use of clinical reasoning and ethical decision-making; effective communication and proper patient advocacy; the use of scientific inquiry to affect clinical decision-making and improve care quality; and professional behaviors and leadership competency.
Family nurse practitioners typically work in primary care clinics, schools, hospitals, community health and government facilities, long-term care and nursing home facilities, and home health care situations. Graduates of the online FNP programs are eligible to sit for the family nurse practitioner certification exams through the American Nurses Credentialing Corporation (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners may work in schools, clinics, and hospitals, as well as rehab facilities, counseling centers, and correctional facilities. PMHNPs work with individuals, groups, and families in mental healthcare situations and can prescribe psychotropic medications as needed. Graduates of the online PMHNP MSN program are eligible to sit for the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certification exam through the ANCC.
Austin Peay State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The online MSN programs are accredited through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Austin Peay State University is located in Clarksville, Tennessee.
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What to Expect from the APSU Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
General Graduate Nursing Admissions Requirements: Students must hold a current, unencumbered RN license. Application materials include an application, application fee, a one-page goal statement, and proof of unencumbered RN license in Tennessee or the state of where clinicals will be completed. No GMAT or GRE is required.
- Specific Program Requirements:
- MSN: Students must hold a BSN degree from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have completed undergraduate statistics
- Post-Master’s Certificate: Students must hold an MSN degree from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have completed undergraduate or graduate-level statistics, Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Physical Assessment
State Restrictions: Austin Peay State University is an NC-SARA participant, therefore, the program is approved in all states that fall under this agreement. However, Austin Peay is not able to accept students from New York at this time. In addition, while California is not included in the NC-SARA agreement, California is not required to be monitored. As such, students from this state may be eligible for the nursing programs. To be sure, students should contact state nursing boards for their state of residence to determine licensing eligibility for out-of-state nursing programs. Additionally, students should contact the APSU School of Nursing to confirm eligibility.
Study Plan: The APSU online NP programs are offered both full-time and part-time. Students may begin in the Summer or Spring semester. MSN students typically complete two courses per semester to finish the program in approximately two years. There are 6-semester plans (full-time) and 8-semester plans (part-time). Post-Master’s FNP students can complete the program in approximately four semesters by taking two courses per semester. Students complete courses online as well as clinicals local to the student. In addition, students come to campus for two intensives for the MSN program and one intensive for the certificate program and complete a virtual skills intensive during the Advanced Health Assessment Lab course.
MSN – FNP and PMHNP Curriculum: The online MSN – FNP program comprises 43 credits plus at least 600 clinical hours. The online MSN – PMHNP program comprises 42 credits plus 540 clinical hours. Core courses for both specializations include Transition to Graduate Nursing Practice; Healthcare Policy with an Emphasis on Prevention and Population Health; Scientific Inquiry; Advanced Role Development with an Emphasis on Quality, Safety, Ethics; Advanced Pathophysiology; Advanced Pharmacology; Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning Across the Lifespan course and Lab; and Capstone.
FNP specialty courses include Advanced Family Practice I-II, Primary Care Practicum I-II, and Family Practice Residency.
PMHNP specialty courses include Advanced Psychiatric Care I-II, Advanced Psychiatric Practicum I-II, and Advanced Psychiatric Residency.
Post-Master’s FNP Certificate Curriculum: The online Post-Master’s FNP Certificate program comprises 20 credits plus at least 600 clinical hours. Courses include Advanced Family Practice I-II, Primary Care Practicum I-II, and Family Practice Residency.
Online Experience: Austin Peay State University utilizes D2L Brightspace as its online Learning Management System (LMS). This LMS is mobile-friendly and easy to use. Most courses are asynchronous and are not self-paced. Courses may include readings, videos, assignments, projects, and assessments. Students may also engage in virtual classes, discussion boards, online chat, and email. Courses typically require a minimum of 9 hours of outside work by the student. Online student services include admissions counseling, academic advising, disability services, library services, faculty office hours, career planning services, and 24/7 technical support.
The online learning experience includes low student-to-faculty ratios, personal access to faculty members, and one-on-one advising. The program is interactive and requires on-campus intensives for hands-on practice, simulations, and contact with fellow students and faculty, as well as industry experts. Students move through as a cohort and graduate together.
On-Site Requirements: Austin Peay State University MSN students are required to come to the Clarksville, Tennessee campus for two immersions, and FNP students must also complete an advanced virtual skills intensive. The campus immersions take place during the second practicum course and the residency course. The virtual skills intensive takes place during Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning Across the Lifespan (Lab). Certificate students are required to come to campus once in addition to completing the advanced virtual skills intensive. All other coursework is online, and practicums are completed local to the student.
Paying for the Austin Peay State University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Austin Peay State University charges $470 per credit plus fees for the online MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate programs for in-state residents. Out-of-state tuition is $734 per credit plus fees. Note that travel costs for on-campus immersions are not included in tuition. Interested students should contact the School of Nursing at APSU for an updated and complete list of tuition costs and fees, as tuition generally changes from year to year.
Austin Peay State University offers graduate students unsubsidized federal graduate loans in accordance with the FAFSA. Online MSN and certificate students may also check with their employers concerning a tuition reimbursement program. Additionally, nursing students may find other opportunities for outside funding, such as religious, community, and organizational scholarships and grants.
The APSU graduate FNP programs are available in most states offering affordable tuition, three campus visits, and curriculum based on the core values of quality, change, innovation, collaboration, global awareness, community, professionalism, caring, and safety.
Family Nurse Practitioner – MSN
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – MSN
McCord, Room 118
Clarksville, Tennessee 37044
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Summer II, Spring I
No
2
43
600
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
NY
Program Tuition
43
$488.00
$20,984.00
$776.00
$33,368.00
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Summer II, Spring I
No
2
42
540
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
None
Program Tuition
42
$488.00
$20,496.00
$776.00
$32,592.00
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Sara Navratil
WriterSara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She’s the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online NP programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.