The mission of the Western New Mexico University School of Nursing is to promote health and improve the quality of life for diverse populations by providing nursing education which instills the values of community, nursing scholarship, practice and community service.

Western New Mexico University offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Community & Rural/ Frontier Health degree and the Post-MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certificate. Students who complete the MSN program will be prepared for positions in leadership, management, community, and health care delivery systems. Students who complete the FNP certificate program will be eligible to sit for the family nurse practitioner national certificate exams offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Certification Board.

Student enrollment in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at Western New Mexico University (WNMU) School of Nursing does not imply nor guarantee admission to the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Post-Master’s Certificate Program at WNMU.

Furthermore, students must meet admission requirements which include at least one year of Registered Nurse (RN) experience within the past five years by the time of application to the Post-MSN FNP Certificate Program.
Final admission to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program or Post-Master Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate Program is contingent on passing a criminal background check.

1. Can be completed in as few as 5 semesters and is a Post-Master Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate program with a focus on community and rural/frontier health.
2. Runs for five consecutive semesters and has rolling enrollment.
3. 100% online.
4. Offers personalized attention to students.
5. A total of 752 precepted clinical hours are required upon completion of the program to apply for the national certification examination.
6. Students are responsible for finding their clinical sites but will be assisted by WNMU in the event that they cannot find a site.
7. The National Certification Exam Review Prep Course is integrated throughout the curriculum beginning on the first day of the program.

Master of Science in Nursing
Applicants are required to have graduated from an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in nursing, documented by an official transcript. Completion of the “3P” courses (Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Physical Assessment) within three years of admission and appropriate as considered per gap analysis.

GPA
All applicants are required to demonstrate a minimum nursing GPA of 3.0.

Licensure
Applicants are required to hold a valid, unencumbered, RN license in the United States

Clinical Practice Requirements
At least one year of full-time RN experience in a clinical setting, preferably medical-surgical, critical care, or emergency department, is required.

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

• A résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) is required. In chronological order, include details of your relevant work history, academic accomplishments, volunteer activities and professional affiliations, licenses, certifications applicable to advanced practice nursing or nurse leadership.
• Describe the basic elements and particular details of each experience, including the title of your position, the schedule (e.g., three weekends per month, five shifts per week and a brief description of the duties involved.
• Be concise. Your submitted résumé / CV document should be 2-5 pages in length. A résumé / CV may include the following and any other pertinent information:
  • Educational background
  • Work experience
  • Honors, awards and scholarships
  • Professional organizations, community and/or public service including leadership role(s) i.e., membership versus leadership roles
  • Professional certifications
  • Professional presentations
  • Research experience
  • Publications

Letters of Recommendation
Applicants to the Family Nurse Practitioner certificate program must submit three letters of recommendation that meet the following criteria:

1. One recommendation from current/recent employer or supervisor
2. One recommendation from a faculty member who can assess your academic performance in the area in which you wish to study
3. One recommendation from an individual, not a relative, who is well acquainted with your professional preparation and experience. For example:
   1. Professional colleague
   2. Advanced practice nurse (in the specialty you are applying if possible)

Recommenders should address one or more of the following areas in their letters:

• Relationships with team members such as nurses, physicians, and others
• Professional nursing ability including independent judgment where appropriate, and quality of patient care
• Leadership Skills
• Communication Skills
• Creativity
• Self-direction in learning
• Writing Skills
• Teaching
• Recommender’s relationship to the applicant

A comprehensive well-written goal statement essay is an essential component of a successful application.

The goal statement essay is used as a source of information and as a sample of your writing ability. You should focus on your professional goals and how you envision these goals can be achieved through your designated area of specialization and study at WNMU. Please include the following information in this order if possible:

• Describe your professional or career rationale for applying to the FNP certificate program
• Explain the reasons for choosing the FNP specialty
• Address future career goals and contributions you expect to make to nursing after completing the degree program

Your submitted Goal Statement should be no more than 500 words, double-spaced and typewritten. Please include your full legal name and page number at the top of each page. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is strictly prohibited in the completion of this statement. This includes the use of AI-generated text, as well as the use of AI tools or software.

• The Master of Science in Nursing in Community & Rural/Frontier Health degree will be offered completely online, requiring 33 credit hours which students can complete in as few as four full-time semesters.
• Online Instructional Model: Courses for the Master of Science in Nursing in Community & Rural/Frontier Health will be delivered through online and electronic methodologies, utilizing a problem-based learning approach where various educational strategies are used to facilitate student success. Examples of such strategies include but are not limited to the following: discussion boards, film critiques, debates, peer presentations, and papers. Computer proficiency, especially word processing and internet/web skills are an absolute necessity for the successful student enrolling in an online graduate program.
• A community practicum component is required but is to be carried out in the student’s local area.

A criminal background check will be required of all incoming students. Information about background checks will be sent to accepted students via the admission packet. The cost of the background check is the responsibility of the incoming student. Students may be unable to complete a clinical rotation because of the host facility’s policy regarding felony convictions or failure to disclose a felony conviction in the application process. Students who are unable to participate in a clinical rotation due to a previous felony conviction or students who fail to disclose a felony conviction in the application process will not be able to complete the program.

Regarding the 750+ hours of precepted clinical experience required for completion of the program, students convicted of a felony may not be eligible for nursing licensure in the state of New Mexico. Therefore, any individual who has a felony conviction should contact the New Mexico Board of Nursing (NMBON) for further information prior to enrolling in the Post-MSN FNP Certificate program.