Family Nurse Practitioner Program
A Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is an advanced practice nurse who manages the healthcare of individuals and their families by providing preventive and primary care, promoting health and wellbeing, and helping their patients manage chronic conditions. FNPs conduct routine checkups and assessments, order and interpret tests, make diagnoses, prescribe medications, and initiate and manage treatment plans for their patients.
Frontier Nursing University offers a graduate Family Nurse Practitioner specialty track that can be pursued full- or part-time while completing a Master of Science in Nursing or a Post-Graduate Certificate. After earning an MSN or certificate, you have the option to continue on to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at FNU.
With our distance education model, your home community serves as your classroom. FNU faculty are committed to being present and providing consistent support throughout the educational journey. Our flexible family nurse practitioner program allows you to complete courses online and work closely with a practicing family nurse practitioner during your clinical experience.
“I looked at a lot of different schools...Frontier just stood out.” - Paige Boran, Student
What Sets FNU Apart?
- A leader in distance education since 1989
- A focus on rural and underserved populations since 1939
- A national leader in DEI
- A culture of caring shared by the FNU community
- Flexible format offering every course every term to fit your life and career goals
- Two campus immersion experiences to build lifelong connections with other students and faculty
- Nearly 13,000 clinical sites and 16,000 preceptors nationwide
- Scholarship opportunities for students
Specialty Track Overview
- Earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC).
- Complete your coursework online.
- Attend full- or part-time. FNU offers every course every term.
- After earning your MSN, you can continue on to complete a DNP at FNU.
- Enjoy two brief on-campus immersion experiences.
- Complete your clinical practicum in your home community.
- 750 clinical hours for the MSN.
- View Program of Study.
What is a
Family Nurse Practitioner?
Exam Pass Rates
American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
FNP MSN graduates have an overall certification pass rate of 95% compared with 74% national average. (AANP 2022)
FNP PGC graduates have an overall certification pass rate of 100% compared with 74% national average. (AANP 2022)
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
FNP graduates have an overall certification pass rate of 95% compared with 85% national average. (ANCC 2022)
Affordable
Affordable Tuition
Flexibility
100% Online Coursework
Supportive
Doctorally-prepared Faculty
Dedicated
Clinical Placement Services
Accredited
Top-ranked Programs
FNP Program Q&A
Recorded August 2024
Ready to Apply?
First FNP Program in the U.S.
Frontier Nursing University began offering the first FNP program in the U.S. in 1970. Our Community-based Family Nurse Practitioner Program (CFNP) curriculum has a strong academic and clinical basis.
It is unique in that we teach you not only to be a family nurse practitioner, but also to be an entrepreneur and a leader in healthcare.
"Thank you for taking time to explore the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program at Frontier Nursing University. As home of the nation’s first FNP program, Frontier has a tradition of being an innovator in family nursing education. Our graduates are well prepared clinicians who are improving healthcare around the country and the world. As a Frontier student, you will get to know the needs of your community and also learn entrepreneurial skills to be able start your own practice. If you are an innovator, a trailblazer and a changemaker, Frontier is the place for you."
- Audra Cave, DNP, FNP-BC
Clinical Director, Department of Family Nursing
"Thank you for taking time to explore the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program at Frontier Nursing University. As home of the nation’s first FNP program, Frontier has a tradition of being an innovator in family nursing education. Our graduates are well prepared clinicians who are improving healthcare around the country and the world. As a Frontier student, you will get to know the needs of your community and also learn entrepreneurial skills to be able start your own practice. If you are an innovator, a trailblazer and a changemaker, Frontier is the place for you."
- Audra Cave, DNP, FNP-BC
Clinical Director, Department of Family Nursing
FNP News
![](https://frontier.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/FNU-Featured-Image-400x250-5-150x150.png)
Student Spotlight: Jazmene Landing Advocates for Mental Health Awareness
At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented and diverse community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community who … Read More...
![](https://frontier.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/SusanWoolsey-150x150.jpg)
Graduate Spotlight: Susan VanZandt builds a sense of trust with underserved patients
At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented and diverse community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, Couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community that … Read More...
![](https://frontier.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DrCheyenneAllen-150x150.jpg)
Graduate Spotlight: Cheyenne Allen pursued DNP to positively influence next generation of nurses
At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented and diverse community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community who … Read More...
FNP News
![](https://frontier.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/FNU-Featured-Image-400x250-5.png)
Student Spotlight: Jazmene Landing Advocates for Mental Health Awareness
At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a … Read More...
![](https://frontier.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/SusanWoolsey.jpg)
Graduate Spotlight: Susan VanZandt builds a sense of trust with underserved patients
At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a … Read More...
![](https://frontier.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DrCheyenneAllen.jpg)
Graduate Spotlight: Cheyenne Allen pursued DNP to positively influence next generation of nurses
At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a … Read More...