Big news for prospective graduate students in Westchester! Iona University recently announced its new hybrid Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) master’s degree program within the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences. The program aims to meet New York’s increasing demand for primary care providers, as employment for family nurse practitioners is expected to grow 26% between 2022 and 2032, according to the New York State Department of Labor.
“Launching the Family Nurse Practitioner program is a natural next step for Iona,” says Kavita Dhanwada, Ph.D., founding dean of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences. “We have built a strong foundation in undergraduate and graduate nursing, and this new program extends that strength into advanced nursing, a high-demand area.”
View this post on Instagram
A Hybrid Program
Located in the Kelly Center for Health Sciences, the Family Nurse Practitioner Program is a hybrid 44-credit curriculum that is ideal for working nurses. Students can complete the program within eight to 10 semesters, while having access to simulation labs, modern classrooms, and virtual reality suites to promote real-world healthcare training. Additionally, nursing master’s students will complete 800 direct patient practice hours at primary care environments such as family practice clinics, community health centers, internal medicine and pediatric offices, urgent care centers, and women’s health practices.
The clinical placements provide students with real-world experience and knowledge under the guidance of qualified preceptors. Graduates of the FNP program will be eligible to sit through the American Credentialing Nursing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
“With hands-on learning in the Kelly Center for Health Sciences, a flexible format, and extensive practicum experience, we are preparing nurses to advance their careers and help improve health outcomes across our communities,” says Sherylyn Watson, Ph.D., MSN, RN, CNE, director of nursing.
“Iona students are very dedicated and compassionate. This is going to be a rigorous program, but the outcome is that they will have a chance in their personal and professional lives to advance their careers and continue to make a real impact in the field,” Watson adds.
Major Milestones for Iona University
Iona University continues to make major strides in academic excellence and student success. Since 2020, Iona University’s nursing programs have shown increased enrollment. In 2025, the university renamed its school of health science to NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health & Sciences to reflect the continued growth of the nursing programs. Iona University reported that 91% of May 2025 graduated from the university’s traditional bachelor’s degree program and 92% of the January 2026 ABSN graduates passed the NCLEX exam during their first time sitting for the exam.
View this post on Instagram
Applications to Iona University’s FNP program are now open. For more information about the program, contact Daniel Gallagher, director of graduate admissions for the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences, at 914.637.7770 or dgallagher@iona.edu.
Related: A New Clean Energy Workforce Program Kicks off in Westchester
