Two universities in Maine offer online graduate programs in the family nurse practitioner (FNP) specialization. Husson University offers a master of science in nursing (MSN) in FNP for RNs with bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) degrees and a post-master’s certificate for nurses already in possession of an advanced degree. Saint Joseph’s College of Maine has MSN programs in FNP for applicants with either a BSN or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has accredited the online FNP programs at Husson University and Saint Joseph’s College in Maine.
Featured Online Programs (RN License Required)
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) specialized in family care are trained to provide primary care to individuals of all ages in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Descriptions of Husson’s and Saint Joseph’s online FNP programs are provided below, as well as information on FNP licensing requirements in Maine.
Program Information: Online FNP Programs in Maine
Husson University in Bangor, Maine offers an MSN in the family and community nurse practitioner concentration. Courses are administered online, mostly asynchronously, with one to three hours of synchronous meetings per month. The MSN consists of 48 credits, while the post-master’s certificate entails 30 hours of study.
Core courses provide a foundation in advanced practice nursing through the study of advanced pharmacotherapeutics, integrating primary care, and pediatric, family, adult and women’s health, complemented by specialized courses on topics such as interprofessional collaboration in rural public health. Clinical courses are taught by faculty members with active FNP practices.
In addition to coursework and clinical practice, Husson students participate in two weeklong on-campus residencies during the summer term in which they engage in hands-on lab work.
No GRE scores are required of applicants to Husson University’s FNP programs; however, international candidates must submit test scores measuring their English language proficiency, such as TOEFL or IELTS.
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine offers an integrated curriculum with online classes in ethics, leadership, research, and policy, as well as advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical health assessment. Engaged in the promotion of health and prevention of disease through patient education and support, FNPs at Saint Joseph’s College are trained to manage acute and chronic health problems as primary care providers of individuals across the lifespan.
FNP courses are built upon the foundation of students’ prior professional experience as well as current clinical practice providing for immediate application of learning to the field. Specific topics include the advanced practice nurse as a provider, family theory of young and middle age adults, and family theory of older adults.
The 48-credit curriculum (164 for those with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees) is combined with 600 hours of clinical practice completed in students’ local areas with qualified preceptors. In addition, students complete an additional 80 hours during two weeklong summer intensives on campus designed to reinforce clinical skills.
Maine FNP Licensing Requirements
To earn licensure as a family nurse practitioner in the state of Maine, applicants must submit the following documentation to the Maine Board of Nursing:
- A completed application form
- A nonrefundable application fee of $100 (an additional $50 fee per specialty is required)
- A recent passport-size photo (2×2 in size, less than two years old)
- Certification as a nurse practitioner directly from a certifying body, or verification of authority to test with receipt verifying scheduled exam date
- Proof of registration with a supervising, licensed physician or nurse practitioner in the same population focus as the applicant (24 months of supervision is required for full-time nurses), or submission of a signed letter from a supervisor attesting to the fulfillment of this requirement
- Official transcripts sent directly from the graduate nursing program to the Board
A note on compact licenses: applicants who hold a compact license in a state in which they legally reside must provide verification of RN licensure from the original state either through NURSYS or by requesting a paper verification and completing a basic nursing information form.
