A leading resource for higher education program rankings has recognized the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as the number one FNP program in the nation. Seattle-based Intelligent.com gave the TAMU-CC program a score of 98.68 out of a possible 100. The score is based on reputation, cost, course strength, graduation rate, flexibility, and faculty. The curriculum, conducted mostly online, requires 49 graduate credits for degree completion plus a two-day, on-campus event that includes lectures, hands-on skills learning, and simulation training.
The distance-based format does not lessen the quality of instruction, according to Ashley Dominguez, simulation laboratory supervisor of the TAMU-CC Simulation and Clinical Learning Center.
“The program is immersive because of how involved instructors are with discussion boards, Zoom calls, and online lectures,” Dominguez said. “At the beginning of each semester, the expectations are laid out so that the learner can manage their time and find balance through home, work, and family.”
A nurse practitioner is qualified to deliver more advanced medical care than a registered nurse and is empowered to treat certain conditions without a doctor’s direct supervision. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects nurse practitioner jobs to grow by 46 percent over the next decade, driven in part by increased demand for healthcare services.
chuck@thepicayune.com