MSN Nurse Practitioner Pathway

Graduates of the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Specialty are educated to care for individuals and families across the lifespan. As advanced primary care specialists, Family Nurse Practitioners diagnose and manage commonly occurring episodic and chronic health problems while promoting health and wellness for individuals, families and communities.

To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the curriculum is offered via a part-time program of study delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets.

The curriculum is accomplished through 45 credit hours of course work, with 35 credit hours of didactic coursework and 10 credit hours of clinical practica, that is completed in six or seven successive semesters depending on the semester of entry.

For more information, contact:

Alice Bristow, DNP, CRNP

Specialty Track Co-Coordinator

abristow@uab.edu 205.996.7668

Lauren Mays, DNP, CRNP

Specialty Track Co-Coordinator

laurenc@uab.edu 205.996.0852

Sample Program of Study^1,2

¹Program of Study is subject to change.
²Program of Study varies depending on semester of admission. Students admitted in a summer semester complete coursework over 7 semesters and fall semester over 6 semesters.

Graduates of the MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Specialty are educated to care for adolescents and young adults to older adults and their primary care needs including assessment, diagnosis, and management of commonly occurring episodic and chronic health problems while promoting health and wellness.

To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the curriculum is offered via a part-time program of study delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets.

The curriculum consists of 45 credit hours of course work, with 35 credit hours of didactic coursework and 10 credit hours of clinical practica under the supervision of primary care advanced practice providers that is completed in six or seven successive semesters.

For more information, contact:

Cori O'Neal, DNP, CRNP

Specialty Track Coordinator

coricham@uab.edu 205.996.2363

Sample Program of Study^1,2

¹Program of Study is subject to change.
²Program of Study varies depending on semester of admission. Students admitted in a summer semester complete coursework over 7 semesters and fall semester over 6 semesters.

Graduates of the MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Specialty are prepared for advanced nursing practice in a variety of acute and critical care settings. As advanced acute care specialists, Adult Gerontology Acute care Nurse Practitioners diagnose and manage complex health conditions of short and long term duration for young adult (including late adolescents), adult, and older adult (including frail older adults) populations.

To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the curriculum is offered via a part-time program of study in a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets.

The curriculum consists of 45 credit hours of course work, with 35 credit hours of didactic coursework and 10 credit hours of clinical practica under the supervision of acute and critical care advanced practice providers, that is completed in six or seven successive semesters, depending on the semester of entry.

Students admitted to the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Specialty Track may elect to also complete the RNFA subspecialty as part of their program of study. This option is only available for those students admitted for a summer semester entrance.

For more information, contact:

Somali Nguyen, DNP, CRNP

Specialty Track Co-Coordinator

shn@uab.edu 205.975.0650

Sabrina Kopf, DNP, CRNP

Specialty Track Co-Coordinator

sddollar@uab.edu 205.934.2507

Sample Program of Study^1,2

¹Program of Study is subject to change.
²Program of Study varies depending on semester of admission. Students admitted in a summer semester complete coursework over 7 semesters and fall semester over 6 semesters.

Students enrolled in the MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Specialty may also elect to complete additional coursework for the Registered Nurse First Assist (RNFA).

A Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) is prepared to practice in a variety of acute or critical care settings. The RNFA, in collaboration with the surgeon, provides continuous and comprehensive patient care throughout the perioperative period. The RNFA provides direct patient care management; admits and discharges patients from surgical areas; performs pre and post-operative assessments; analyzes clinical data; assist in orders and or performance of necessary diagnostic tests or procedures; develops, implements, and evaluates the therapeutic regimen; provides pre-and post-operative teaching; minimizes fragmentation by coordinating care; manages transitions of patients to other units and serves as patient advocate.

Admission Requirements: Students applying to the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with RNFA track must have at least two of the three required letters of reference needed for the application for admission be from individuals attesting to the applicant’s experience as an RN and the applicant’s knowledge, judgment, and skills specific to perioperative patient care. Students must be first admitted to this track to register for RNFA courses.

For more information, contact:

Tracie White, DNP, CRNFA

RNFA Coordinator

twhite220@uab.edu 205.451.8179

RNFA Program of Study^1,2

The RNFA is only an option for students with a summer admission.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP students who are approved to complete the RNFA will add the following courses to their program of study:

¹Program of Study is subject to change.
²Program of Study varies depending on semester of admission. Students admitted in a summer semester complete coursework over 7 semesters and fall semester over 6 semesters.

Graduates of the MSN Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Specialty provide mental health care in a variety of primary care settings with populations that represent the full life span. As advanced primary care specialists, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners assess, diagnose and manage commonly occurring mental health conditions in collaboration with other primary health care providers.

To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the curriculum is offered via a part-time program of study delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets.

The curriculum consists of 45 credit hours of course work, with 35 credit hours of didactic coursework and 10 credit hours of clinical practica under the supervision of psychiatric/mental health advanced practice providers, that is completed in six or seven successive semesters depending on the semester of entry.

For more information, contact:

Jennifer Carpenter, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Specialty Track Co-Coordinator

jcarpenter@uab.edu 205.975.5674

Simone Durand, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Specialty Track Co-Coordinator

sdurand@uab.edu 205.975.6887

Brenda Mayfield, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Specialty Track Co-Coordinator

brendmay@uab.edu 205.934.4569

Sample Program of Study^1,2

¹Program of Study is subject to change.
²Program of Study varies depending on semester of admission. Students admitted in a summer semester complete coursework over 7 semesters and fall semester over 6 semesters.

Graduates of the MSN Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-PC) Specialty are prepared for advanced nursing practice in a variety of settings with populations of infants, children and adolescents. As advanced primary care specialists, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioners assess, diagnose and manage commonly occurring episodic and chronic health problems while promoting health and wellness.

To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the curriculum is offered via a part-time program of study delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets.

The curriculum consists of 45 credit hours of course work, with 35 credit hours of didactic coursework and 10 credit hours of clinical practica under the supervision of pediatric primary care advanced practice providers that is completed in six or seven successive semesters depending on the semester of entry.

For more information, contact:

Sherita Etheridge, DNP, CRNP

Specialty Track Coordinator

toby2@uab.edu 205.996.4075

Sample Program of Study^1,2

¹Program of Study is subject to change.
²Program of Study varies depending on semester of admission. Students admitted in a summer semester complete coursework over 7 semesters and fall semester over 6 semesters.

Graduates of the MSN Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC) Specialty are prepared for advanced nursing practice across the continuum of care settings with populations of infants, children and adolescents. As advanced acute care specialists, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioners assess, diagnose and manage acute and chronic complex health problems.

To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the curriculum is offered via a part-time program of study delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets.

The curriculum consists of 45 credit hours of course work, with 35 credit hours of didactic coursework and 10 credit hours of clinical practica under the supervision of pediatric acute care advanced practice providers, that is completed in six or seven successive semesters depending on semester of entry.

Students applying to the Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty track are encouraged to have at least two of the required reference letters from supervisors or providers in the pediatric unit that can attest to the individual's experience as an RN and the applicant's knowledge, judgment, and skills specific to pediatric patient care.

For those interested in applying to the Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track, you will be required to have at least one year of full-time RN experience engaged in the direct care of a pediatric population at the start of the first semester of the program (The pediatric population is generally cared for in pediatric urgent cares, pediatric emergency departments, pediatric specialty clinics, pediatric inpatient floors, pediatric intermediate care units, and/or pediatric critical care units).

For more information, contact:

Jeremy Jordan, PhD, CRNP

Specialty Track Coordinator

jordanjd@uab.edu 205.975.3651

Sample Program of Study^1,2

¹Program of Study is subject to change.
²Program of Study varies depending on semester of admission. Students admitted in a summer semester complete coursework over 7 semesters and fall semester over 6 semesters.

Students enrolled in the MSN Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) Specialty are prepared for advanced nursing practice to diagnose and manage the health problems of newborns, infants and toddlers up to the age of two years, who are acutely ill or have long term health problems of the neonatal population.

To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the curriculum is offered via a part-time program of study delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets.

The curriculum consists of 45 credit hours of course work, with 35 credit hours of didactic coursework and 10 credit hours of clinical practica, that is completed in six successive semesters.

Students applying to the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner specialty track are encouraged to have at least two of the required reference letters from supervisors or providers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit who can attest to the individual's experience as an RN and the applicant's knowledge, judgment, and skills specific to neonatal patient care.

For those interested in applying to the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner track, you will be required to have at least two years of RN experience in a Level III NICU or higher by the start of your first clinical semester.

For more information, contact:

Tara Wood, DNP, CRNP

Specialty Track Coordinator

tarabwood@uab.edu 205.996.1607

Sample Program of Study^1,2

¹Program of Study is subject to change.
²Program of Study varies depending on semester of admission. Students admitted in a summer semester complete coursework over 7 semesters and fall semester over 6 semesters.

Students enrolled in the MSN Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) Specialty are prepared for advanced nursing practice to deliver primary health care with specialized knowledge of women’s health. As advanced primary care specialists, Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioners diagnose and manage commonly occurring episodic and chronic health problems while promoting health and wellness.

To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the curriculum is offered via a part-time program of study delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets.

The curriculum consists of 45 credit hours of course work, with 35 credit hours of didactic coursework and 10 credit hours of clinical practica under the supervision of women's health advanced practice providers, that is completed in six successive semesters.

For more information, contact:

Lisa Pair, DNP, CRNP

Specialty Track Co-Coordinator

lpair@uab.edu 205.996.0096

Elisabeth Pelt, DNP, CRNP-FACULTY

Specialty Track Co-Coordinator

elisabethpelt@uab.edu 205.996.4115

Sample Program of Study^1,2

¹Program of Study is subject to change.
²Program of Study varies depending on semester of admission. Students admitted in a summer semester complete coursework over 7 semesters and fall semester over 6 semesters.

Prospective students must meet the following requirements for admission:

• Hold a BSN degree from a regionally accredited institution and a nationally accredited nursing program (CCNE or CNEA accreditation), equivalent to the one offered by the UAB School of Nursing.
• Possess an unencumbered and unrestricted nursing license to practice in the state where you plan to conduct your clinical practicum.
• Cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or on the last 60 semester hours.
• Students with less than a 3.2 GPA (last 60 hours undergraduate GPA or overall undergraduate GPA) are required to complete and submit scores for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or GMAT; only scores completed within the previous 5 years are accepted. Minimum required scores are a combined score of 297 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE or score of 480 on the GMAT. Applicants who have successfully completed a graduate degree from a regionally accredited academic institution may receive a waiver for this requirement if they achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their previous graduate degree program. The following individuals are not eligible for the GRE waiver process: International applicants, non-native English speaking applicants, and Dual degree seeking applicants (e.g., MSN/MPH). For more information on the Test Score Waiver process click here.
• Submit three letters of professional reference attesting to the applicant’s potential for graduate study. For those applying to the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with RNFA track only, at least two of the three required letters of reference should be from individuals attesting to the applicant’s experience as an RN and the applicant’s knowledge, judgement, and skills specific to perioperative patient care.
• Applicants should submit an official transcript from every college or university they have ever attended (even if for only one semester). Transcripts may be emailed electronically by the issuing institution to the UAB Graduate School at gradschool@uab.edu or mailed to:
• UAB Graduate School
  LHL G03
  1720 2nd Ave. S.
  Birmingham, AL 35294-0013
• If admitted to the MSN program, students must show proof of completion of a descriptive statistics course, equivalent to UAB’s MA-180, before starting the program.

CORE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Out-of-state applicants to any of our distance-accessible programs should become familiar with their state’s regulations governing distance accessible programs. Prospective students residing in states other than Alabama should contact their state’s Board of Nursing and Department of Education for specific rules and regulations pertaining to students enrolled in out-of-state programs and are planning to conduct UABSON distance education in their home state. Only those students who reside in Alabama or those states where the UAB School of Nursing programs are available will be eligible to receive an offer of admission.

More information is available at the State Approval Website for Online Degree Programs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Upon completion of the MSN Program, students will be able to:

• Synthesize research, theoretical formulations, and principles of scientific inquiry to provide evidence-based practice.
• Assume leadership in managing and evaluating continuous quality improvement processes.
• Use information systems/technology to evaluate programs of care, outcomes of care, and care systems.
• Advocate and implement health-care policies that improve access, equity, efficiency, and social justice in the delivery of health care.
• Provide ethical, culturally sensitive care in an advanced nursing role independently and collaboratively with professionals from multiple disciplines.
• Monitor the quality of one's own nursing practice based on professional practice standards and relevant statutes and regulations.
• Apply theories and principles of marketing, economics, consultation, management, and leadership to comprehensively perform an advanced nursing role.

The following tuition and fees are valid for the 2023-2024 academic year. Tuition and fees and are SUBJECT TO CHANGE annually based on approval from the University of Alabama Board of Trustees and/or university.

The estimates below are based on the costs listed at the UAB Office of Planning and Analysis website.

Each student’s costs will vary depending upon a number of factors including state of residence, the number of credits taken in a semester, or whether the student attends class live or through a distance-accessible format. Fees vary by program and course.

UAB Financial Aid and Scholarships

Information on Financial Aid, University Scholarships and other funding opportunities is available at:

UAB School of Nursing Scholarships

• The School of Nursing at UAB has an excellent scholarship program that provides financial support to Alabama’s best and brightest nursing students.
• Currently, the School’s scholarship portfolio consists of 76 endowed scholarships and 3 active sponsored scholarships.
• The school currently has an $10.1 million endowed fund that supports nursing scholarships annually.
• Scholarships are awarded twice a year – spring and fall semesters. The scholarship application process is simple. One application is needed to be considered for all undergraduate or graduate scholarships.
• Application and additional information can be found at https://www.uab.edu/nursing/home/scholarships-financial-aid

For Information about School of Nursing Scholarships, Contact:

Stephanie Hamberger, MPA

Director of Student Engagement, Recruitment and Scholarships

ssallen@uab.edu 205.934.5483

Fellowship, Traineeship, and Other Funding for Graduate Programs

There are a limited number of Graduate Fellowships and Traineeships that are awarded through the UAB School of Nursing that require students to meet specific requirements, and are only awarded when funds are available. When such funds are available in a particular program, students enrolled in the program will be notified and provided information on how to apply. Contact Katrina Staffney (email: KatrinaStaffney@uab.edu), for more information.

• Information Sheet

Nurse Faculty Loan

Federal Nurse Faculty Loan Funds are available to MSN students who intend to assume a faculty position in a school of nursing upon completion of the degree. These funds are limited to payment of tuition and fees and other reasonable educational expenses. Contact JoeAnn Kennedy (email: joeann@uab.edu), for more information.

• Information Sheet
• Application Form

NOTE: Prospective International students must first contact UAB International Admissions to determine eligibility to study in the U.S. and/or submit an application for admission to UAB.

The table below provides information on eligibility requirements for the MSN Program.

Application Requirements

• Prospective students must have a bachelors degree in nursing equivalent to that offered by a U.S. regionally accredited educational institution.
• For Graduate Clinical Programs such as the Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program, prospective students must also be licensed as a registered nurse in the U.S., in the state in which they will reside while completing the program.
• International applicants must, as part of their application, provide a detailed course by course evaluation of their academic transcripts and verification of their academic credentials. Students may use one of the following firms for transcript evaluation; a report of the evaluation must be submitted directly to the UAB School of Nursing prior to admission decisions.
• Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
  P.O. Box 514070
  Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 USA
  Website: www.ece.org
• World Education Services
  Bowling Green Station
  P.O. Box 5087
  New York, NY 10274-5087 USA
  Website: www.wes.org
• Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on prior college/university course work.
• Applicants must complete and submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as part of the application process. If the GRE was completed prior to application, only scores completed within the previous 5 years are accepted.
• Completion of a formal admission interview.
• Meet English language requirements. Students must submit scores on Tests of English Language (TOEFL or IELTS) and achieve the following minimum scores:
• TOEFL iBT 80 and minimum of 18 in each of the 4 test sections, or
• IELTS 6.5 and minimum of 6.0 in at least 2 of the 4 test sections.