Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who function as primary care providers to clients of any age, focusing on common health care problems. These skilled health care providers use expert clinical judgment and decision making in the performance of comprehensive health assessments, differential diagnoses and prescribing of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions in the direct treatment of health problems. These work in collaborative practices with primary care physicians to deliver culturally sensitive care to clients.
Nurse practitioners programs include:
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)
- Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
The Family Nurse Practitioner program has become very popular in the past couple of years. Due to a high number of applicants and limited slots, the admissions have become competitive. Please be sure and adhere to our admission dates of:
| Semester for Admission | Submit application and all transcripts to the Office of Admissions no later than |
| Fall | May 1 |
| Spring | September 15 |
| Summer (Houston campus only) | February 1 |
Core Requirements
The nurse practitioner tracks require 46 credit hours. The following courses must be completed by all nurse practitioner students:
| Core Requirements |
credit hours |
| N5013: Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice | 3 |
| N5024: Research in Nursing | 4 |
| N5644: Advanced Assessement/Differential Diagnosis | 4 |
| B5333: Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| N5663: Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| N5003: Health Promotion and Primary Prevention | 3 |
| N5002: Advanced Practice Nursing Role | 2 |
| N5001: Advanced Practice Nursing Seminar | 1 |
|
Total |
23 hrs. |
Additional Requirements in Specialty Area
In addition, nurse practitioner candidates complete 23 credit hours of clinical courses in their specialty area.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)
The Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) program will prepare the professional nurse for a leadership role in the delivery of health care and the promotion of health within the acute care setting. The core body of knowledge for the ACNP is derived from the full spectrum of high acuity patient care needs. The role of the ACNP has expanded to include inpatients, specialty based clinics, private practice groups, as well as virtual locations, such as telemedicine/telenursing and eICUs. The program is available at the Houston Center.
| ACNP Clinical Courses: |
credit hours |
| N5005: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner I | 5 |
| N5015: Acute Care Nurse PractitiionerII | 5 |
| N5025: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner III | 5 |
| Total | 15 |
| Preceptorship Courses can be completed in 1 or 2 semesters |
credit hours |
| N5683: Preceptorship I | 3 |
| N5695: Preceptorship II | 5 |
| Total | 8 |
Adult Nurse Practitioners (ANP)
Adult nurse practitioner students focus on promoting the health of adults through theory and research-based interventions. Protocols for treatment decisions, referrals and follow-up are used in the management of commonly encountered health deviations in the adult population. The program is available at the Dallas Center and Houston Center.
| ANP Clinical Courses |
credit hours |
| N5525: Adult Health Nursing I | 5 |
| N5505: Adult Health Nursing II | 5 |
| N5515: Adult Health Nursing III | 5 |
|
Total |
15 |
| Preceptorship Courses can be completed in 1 or 2 semesters |
credit hours |
| N5683: Preceptorship I | 3 |
| N5695: Preceptorship II | 5 |
|
Total |
8 |
Students are encouraged to frequent the web site of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Family nurse practitioner students synthesize concepts from theory-based, family-centered nursing practice for the management of culturally diverse and medically underserved families across the life span. Focus is placed on health promotion and health maintenance primary health care settings. The program is available in Denton, Dallas, or Houston.
| FNP Clinical Courses |
credit hours |
| N5625: Family Health Nursing I | 5 |
| N5605: Family Health Nursing II | 5 |
| N5615: Family Health Nursing III | 5 |
|
Total |
15 |
| Preceptorship Courses can be completed in 1 or 2 semesters |
credit hours |
| N5683: Preceptorship I | 3 |
| N5695: Preceptorship II | 5 |
|
Total |
8 |
Students are encouraged to frequent the web site of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
Pediatric nurse practitioner students focus on the common acute and chronic illnesses experienced by children and adolescents. Physiological, behavioral and family theories are used in all phases of clinical maintenance of these clients. The program is available at the Dallas Center.
| PNP Clinical Courses |
credit hours |
| N5325: Child Health Nursing I | 5 |
| N5305: Child Health Nursing II | 5 |
| N5315: Child Health Nursing III | 5 |
|
Total |
15 |
| Preceptorship Courses can be completed in 1 or 2 semesters |
credit hours |
| N5683: Preceptorship I | 3 |
| N5695: Preceptorship II | 5 |
|
Total |
8 |
Students are encouraged to frequent the web site of the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Women's health nurse practitioner students examine the health care needs of adult and adolescent females. Treatment modalities, pharmocologic interventions and referral criteria are used in the management of the reproductive and nonreproductive needs of clients. The program is available at the Dallas Center.
| WHNP Clinical Courses: |
credit hours |
| N5425: Women's Health Nursing I | 5 |
| N5405: Women's Health Nursing II | 5 |
| N5415: Women's Health Nursing III | 5 |
| Total | 15 |
| Preceptorship Courses can be completed in 1 or 2 semesters |
credit hours |
| N5683: Preceptorship I | 3 |
| N5695: Preceptorship II | 5 |
| Total | 8 |
Students are encouraged to frequent the web site of the National Certification Corporation (NCC).
page last updated 5/17/2013 3:47 PM