MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner—FNP (Online)

  • MSN
  • Graduate
  • Online
  • Nursing & Health Professions

With Rivier's online MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program you will gain the skills and knowledge needed to serve as a primary healthcare provider and improve the health outcomes and quality of life for patients.

Program Details

  • Next Start Date:  September 2, 2025
  • Est. Program Length:  3–5 years
  • Low-Residency Format:  Online coursework and nine days on campus during the course of the program
  • Credit Hours:  45–51
  • Course Length:  14 weeks (NSG517 is 7 weeks)
  • Cost Per Credit (2025-26 Academic Year): Nursing Courses – $747/Clinical Courses – $1,166

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To learn more about Rivier’s online MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program, please complete the inquiry form below.

Rankings and Accolades

Rivier's online FNP program ranked second in United States

Rivier’s online MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner program is ranked second in the United States, according to NursePractitionerOnline.com.

Rivier University MSN Program Ranked Nationally

Our MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Program has received national recognition based on flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation.

Rivier Ranked Top Nursing School in New Hampshire!

Nursing Schools Almanac 2024 has recognized Rivier’s exceptional nursing education, ranking the University as the #1 nursing school in NH!

MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner Overview

Gain the Skills Needed to Be a Primary Healthcare Provider.

A family nurse practitioner (FNP) must be expertly prepared to provide care to patients. Graduates of Rivier University’s online MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner degree are prepared to deliver the full scope of primary care within many healthcare settings. You’ll diagnose and treat patients’ medical problems, prescribe medication, and act as a researcher, educator, and counselor.

Licensure

Registered nurses (RN) who complete this advanced degree coursework and clinical education are qualified to sit for the national exams to become certified in family practice (FNP-BC).

As reported by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), graduates of Rivier’s MSN program who completed the certification exam for Family Nurse Practitioner in 2022 had a first-time pass rate of 92.5%, exceeding the 75.0% national average pass rate.

Rivier University is unable to accept students from some states due to the post-secondary higher-education requirements. There are also some restrictions for programs that lead to professional licensure due to the various requirements of individual state boards of nursing. For more information, visit our Licensing information page.

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A Commitment to Quality

Rivier University’s ASN, BSN, MSN, Post Master’s Certificates, and DNP programs located in Nashua, NH are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000.

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the master’s nursing program is Continuing Accreditation. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program.

Program Outcomes

In the online FNP program, you will:

  • Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to function in an advanced practice role.
  • Learn the skills needed to influence health policy as a nurse leader and patient advocate.
  • Enhance your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Become an effective communicator and collaborator.
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Family Nurse Practitioner Program Curriculum

You will explore advanced theory and clinical nursing topics such as pathophysiology, health assessment, family nursing theory,  quality healthcare improvement, health policy, and more. Coursework includes:

  • Advanced Pathophysiology
  • Advanced Family Nursing Theory
  • Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum
  • Advanced Health Assessment
  • Advanced Role of the Nurse
  • Advanced Pharmacology
  • Quality Healthcare Improvement
  • Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare
  • Research Capstone Advisement
  • Advanced Health Policy
  • Biostatistics for Health Sciences

Where Will Your Online FNP Take You?

Rivier’s online FNP degree prepares you with the skills needed to succeed in advanced clinical practice and leadership roles in today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment. Overall employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 46 percent in the next 10 years, a rate much faster than the average for all other occupations.

Some careers you can pursue include the following:

  • Adult nurse practitioner: $99,398/year
  • Family nurse practitioner: $95,180/year
  • Adult-gerontology nurse practitioner: $94,984/year

Explore Other Tracks

There are four other tracks offered in the online Master of Science in Nursing program.

Dr. Donna Proulx, Ph.D., RN, CCRN, CSC, the Program Director for Graduate & Doctoral Nursing Education, is working to advance substance use disorders treatment for vulnerable populations. Her doctoral research was a qualitative inquiry titled “The Lived Experience of Postpartum Women Attending Outpatient Substance-Abuse Treatment for Opioid or Heroin Use.” She holds two certifications in critical care from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (ACCN)—one in adult critical care (CCRN) and a second in adult cardiac surgery (CSC)—and is a past president of the New Hampshire Chapter of ACCN.

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Office of Graduate and Professional Studies Admissions

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Prepare to advance your career with an MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner degree.