Indiana Wesleyan University Online NP and Certificate Programs: FNP, PMHNP

What to Expect from the IWU Online NP and Certificate Programs

Admission Requirements: Students must meet a number of requirements to be considered eligible for MSN program admission. Applicants must:

• Hold a bachelor of science in nursing degree from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by both the US Department of Education and CHEA and national nursing programmatic accreditation (CCNE, ACEN, CNEA). RNs whose bachelor’s degree is in a non-nursing discipline may also be admitted, provided they have a minimum of ten years of experience in nursing practice and submit a portfolio demonstrating relevant accomplishments in nursing. Review of an applicant’s portfolio requires payment of a non-refundable portfolio review fee. 
• Meet cumulative GPA requirements as noted on the IWU website.
• Have at least one year of professional nursing practice experience. Students applying for admission to the FNP specialization must have at least 500 hours of direct contact and/or care for patients within the year immediately before admission. 
• Submit proof that all nursing licenses, whether current or inactive, are unencumbered.
• Provide three letters of professional reference from faculty members, professional colleagues, work supervisors, or a pastor (with at least one recommendation letter being issued by a supervisor from within the last two years). 
• Pass a criminal history background check is conducted on all applicants within an initial enrollment application. A second background check and drug screen will be conducted for Primary Care students before the first practicum experience.
• Have the necessary level of English language ability to succeed. Applicants who do not speak English as their first, primary language must submit satisfactory English language proficiency scores for admission.

State Restrictions: IWU accepts applicants from a variety of backgrounds. The IWU website does not currently indicate international students are eligible to complete the MSN degree program from within the United States. Because academic program offerings can easily change, international applicants are advised to contact IWU directly to verify potential admission eligibility.

Domestic students living outside Indiana are also welcome to apply. Students completing their degree outside of Indiana must maintain an active nursing license in the state where they complete their practicum requirement. In addition, the requirement that students have an unencumbered nursing license is valid for all students regardless of state of residency.

Study Plan: Study plans will vary according to the particular program, the pace of study, requirements of practicum placement, and other factors. Certificate programs can be completed in approximately one year (12 to 16 months) while a DNP program can require four years. Students should thoroughly consider their career goals and available resources when considering applying to IWU.

MSN Curriculum: Indiana Wesleyan University’s online MSN program features personalized learning, a supportive facility, clinical practice courses, 24/7 IT support, and many other supports designed to foster students’ learning and enthusiasm for the nursing profession. All MSN program students must complete these courses: evidence-based communication, theoretical foundations for advanced nursing practice, ethics and health policy, epidemiology & care of populations, and utilization of research for evidence-based practice. ASN-MSN students pursuing the FNP specialization are not required to take the ethics and health policy course.

Students also complete a practicum placement in which they must accrue at least 525 training hours. In addition, students will attend an onsite course in advanced health assessment and two on-site intensives.

FNP Specialization Courses: The MSN-FNP program is a 49-credit hour program. Courses prepare students to develop evidence-based treatment plans, enhance care for patients both as an independent practitioner and a member of a care team, and positively influence clinical decisions. Graduates apply such skills within the framework of a Christian perspective. 

FNP students, regardless of whether they have a BSN or associate degree in nursing as their educational foundation, take the following courses: introduction to professional development for advanced practice in primary care nursing, professional role development for the advanced practice nurse, advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment and three primary care across the lifespan (I, II and III) courses.

The ASN-to-MSN program with FNP specialization is necessarily a more time intensive program requiring twenty courses that can usually be completed in 36 months. Students starting out at the associate’s degree level must also complete these courses: introduction to professional nursing, knowledge of nursing practice and person-centered care, quality, safety, & interprofessional practice, informatics & healthcare technologies, and systems-based healthcare.

PMHNP Specialization Courses: The PMHNP program features a mix of online coursework and clinical experiences in a student’s local community. Students also may do live OSCE psych evaluations with trained actors to enhance their understanding via practice. Courses prepare students to care for diverse populations, collaborate with other healthcare professionals, advocate for patients with psychiatric conditions, and treat individuals across the lifespan. IWU’s faith-integrated curriculum prepares students to incorporate their faith into their nursing practice.

PMHNP students take the following specialization courses: introduction to interprofessional practice for the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, neuro-psychopharmacology, advanced health status assessment for the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, diagnostic reasoning, a sequence of three psychotherapeutic modalities across the lifespan courses, and interprofessional development for the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner.

DNP Curriculum: Required courses include scholarly writing, science of nursing, advanced healthcare policy, critical inquiry and data management, information management, systems and organizational leadership, evidence-based project planning, a three-course scholarly project series, healthcare across cultures, epidemiology and population health, professional role development for the advanced practice nurse, courses in advanced pharmacology, pathophysiology and health assessment, and a three-course series in primary care across the lifespan.

To graduate, students must complete all necessary coursework while maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25, fulfill at least 1,000 practicum hours, successfully complete, defend, and submit their DNP project, settle any financial obligations with IWU, and complete all degree requirements within 78 months of matriculation.

Certificate Program Courses:

FNP concentration: This program prepares advanced practice nurses to provide effective family-centered nursing care in various settings, including general practice, specialty clinics, acute and chronic care settings, and still more. This program can be completed in 12 months and features the following required courses: advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment, professional role development for the advanced practice nurse, and a series of three courses focused on primary care across the lifespan.

PMHNP concentration: This program prepares nurses to understand and meet the mental healthcare needs of diverse individuals. Coursework incorporates varied technologies. This 16-month program features the following courses: professional role development for the advanced practice nurse, diagnostic reasoning, advanced health status assessment for the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, neuro-psychopharmacology, a three-course series entitled psychotherapeutic modalities across the lifespan (I, II, and III), and interprofessional development for the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner.

Online Experience: IWU recognizes that many nursing professionals wish to advance their careers without necessarily leaving the workforce. Like many universities, IWU seeks to accommodate the busy lives of its nursing students by offering its programs online. Students will nonetheless have some on-site requirements, as noted immediately below.

On-Site Requirements: Though the IWU MSN program is essentially an online program, students have some in-person requirements. As noted above, students must complete a practicum placement, a course in advanced health assessment and two intensives on-site.