If you’ve earned your Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) and you are a practicing Registered Nurse (RN), congratulations! You have discovered how much you love healthcare and helping others. Whatever environment you’re working in, whether that is a hospital, a physician’s office, a specialized care center, or elsewhere, we know that you have a good head on your shoulders. Nursing isn’t easy, but you’re motivated. That’s why you are thinking about your next career step! You know that there is more out there for you—more to learn, more to achieve, and more competitive nursing jobs to take on.
Many BSNs decide to advance their career with a master’s degree and become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Family Nurse Practitioners have duties similar to physicians, providing healthcare for children and adults across the lifespan. To go from a BSN to FNP, you need to complete a specialized FNP program and earn certification as an advanced nurse practitioner.
An FNP degree program typically includes 600 hours of clinical study, theory, research, leadership, policy, and politics courses—enabling you to take on advanced responsibilities in the field. After 27 months of study, a median salary of $110,000 to $115,000 annually could be at your fingertips. What does it take to go from BSN to FNP? Let’s find out about each of the admission requirements for Goodwin University’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program.
First, let’s check off the requirements related to your experience, just to show that you’ve already done the hard part. You will need to provide:
- An Active RN License. Your license must be current and unencumbered. If you’ve been practicing as an RN, this should be proverbially right in your back pocket.
- College Transcript. A transcript from your BSN program will prove that you have the necessary, prerequisite education to tackle the FNP program. You must have achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, which also demonstrates your capabilities. Additionally, the college or university from which you earned your BSN degree must be acknowledged by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This shows Goodwin University that you received high-quality nursing training during your undergraduate program.
- RN Experience. During the last five years, you must have spent at least two years providing direct care under your RN license to be considered for admission. The FNP program is designed to help nurses build their existing skillset to become even more advanced in patient care.
Next, these requirements help the admissions staff understand why you’ve decided to take your BSN to the FNP level. Teach them a little bit about you!
- Personal Statement. Within 800 to 1,000 words, applicants must relay what entry into the FNP program would mean to them. You can express a blend of personal and professional goals as you tell your story. If you can “see yourself” in the current healthcare system and describe what that looks like, your message will be compelling. Make your statement colorful, logical, and engaging, or in other words, a real reflection of you.
- Professional Resume. Show off all of your accomplishments in one place! Your resume should include your education, job history, professional organizations, licenses, and whatever else you’ve achieved that is note-worthy.
- Travel Ability. While the courses are largely online, nurses in the FNP program may need to travel to clinical sites as part of their studies. You’ll need to have a transportation plan, whether that is your car, taking mass transportation, or even carpooling.
Finally, these next application materials should be a cinch to check off:
- Graduate Application Form. This simple form includes contact information fields, as well as basic education and employment background questions. Find it here, online!
- Application Fee. This $50 non-refundable fee covers the processing of your application and ensures that you’re serious about your intentions on attending Goodwin University.
- Immunizations Report. You’ll need to be up-to-date on immunizations including Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella. This keeps you, your peers, professors, and patients protected.
Did you notice what’s missing from these requirements? A GRE score! Standardized test scores are not needed to be considered for the FNP program. Goodwin University knows that you work hard enough, and the requested materials should paint an accurate picture of you, your experiences, and ultimately, your potential.
In addition to the application requirements, you are probably wondering what kind of financial commitment you can expect when taking your BSN to an FNP degree. After all, affordability should be a requirement on your list, and we all know that higher education can be costly. You should sit down with your bank account, expenses, and current income information to decide how much you are ready to invest. You may also sit down with a financial aid advisor at Goodwin.
Luckily, we can tell you that Goodwin University’s tuition is competitive with other private, non-profit colleges in Connecticut. To help you with budgeting, the cost from dollars per credit to miscellaneous clinical fees is completely transparent. See the tuition schedule for full details. If you’re worried about affordability, we encourage you to explore our financial aid options.
Ready to take the plunge from a BSN to FNP? For any questions about the FNP program, your application, or anything else on your mind, we hope that you’ll get in touch with us at 800-889-3282, or request more information online.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.