Degrees and Requirements
Family Nurse Practitioner Post Master's Certificate
Family Nurse Practitioner Post Master's Certificate Admission Criteria:
- BSN and MSN from an accredited program or MSN only, if the entry-level nursing program was at the masters degree level.
- GPA of 3.0 or better from Master's program
- At least 1 year of professional experience as a registered nurse.
- Hold an active unrestrictive PA RN license
Our FNP program is designed for nurses who are seeking to advance their education and training as professional nurses. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, you will play a critical role in providing primary care services to patients across the lifespan, from birth to end of life.
Our program is structured to provide students with a comprehensive education in advanced nursing practice, including diagnostic and treatment skills, decision making, health promotion and disease prevention, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively with other healthcare providers. With a focus on evidence-based practice and patient-centered care, our FNP program prepares graduates to provide high-quality, compassionate care to patients and their families.
REQUIREMENTS: To successfully complete the Post Master’s Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner, the following coursework is required:
Summary of Requirements
Year 1, Fall: 5 credits
FNPC6000ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
The focus of this course is on pathophysiological alterations. Emphasis is placed on abnormal changes that occur in body systems and the development of disease. Consideration of the relationship between genetics, epigenetics, the environment, and pathology are explored.
FNPC6005HEALTH PROMOTION & DISEASE
Credits (Min/Max): 2/2
This course is designed to illuminate the role of the nurse practitioner as a provider of primary health care to clients and their families. Course content centers on promotion of health, prevention of illness, and management of health- illness situations of families within varied environmental contexts. Particular focus is placed on disparity in health care and the challenge this presents for the family nurse practitioner. The significance of research findings influencing primary care is explored and evaluated to determine the applicability to advanced nursing practice.
Year 1, Spring: 6 credits
FNPC6010ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course provides the opportunity for students to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in the pharmacologic treatment of commonly encountered health problems. The role of the advanced practice nurse in collaboration with health team members in providing safe and effective drug therapy will be explored. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of the Family Nurse Practitioner and prescriptive privilege. The principles of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenetics, and pharmacogenomics as well as adverse drug reactions will be incorporated in the decision-making process to assess and monitor drug therapy and to teach patients safe and effective medication administration. The effects of culture, ethnicity, age, pregnancy, gender and economics on pharmacologic therapy will be emphasized. Assessment of the use of herbal and nutritional supplements, nutraceutical, and over-the-counter drugs on prescribed therapies will be addressed. In addition, current issues in drug therapy will be discussed such as the role of the advanced practice nurse in the current opioid epidemic and the use of medical marijuana.
FNPC6015COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course focuses on performing a comprehensive health assessment on patients throughout the lifespan and communicating the assessment findings to members of the multi-disciplinary health care team The course builds on knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment skills previously attained in undergraduate nursing education Emphasis is placed on the collection, interpretation, and synthesis of relevant historical, genetic, biological, cultural, psychosocial and physical data for the development of a comprehensive and holistic health assessment Evidence based practice concepts related to health promotion/disease prevention are applied Diagnostic reasoning skills are developed to determine health and risk status, develop health promotion/disease prevention strategies, and establish priorities of care Post-Masters Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program students will obtain 15 hours of assessment experience in the simulation center, focusing on both normal and abnormal findings.
Year 1, Summer: 5 credits
FNPC6020DIAGNOSIS & MANAGEMENT OF
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course builds on the concepts from the prerequisite courses to develop the role of the nurse practitioner in promoting health and managing common acute and chronic health conditions in adults Adaptations in health assessment, management of common acute and chronic conditions, and health promotion based upon developmental and ethnocultural considerations are emphasized The interaction of individual, family, and environment are studied from the perspective of nursing and other health-related theories.
FNPC6020PDIAGNOSIS & MANAGEMENT OF
Credits (Min/Max): 2/2
This practicum is designed to guide students in developing the basic competencies of the nurse practitioner in the care of adults experiencing acute and chronic health conditions. Students will utilize skills of critical thinking, logical reasoning, and sound diagnostic judgement in generating clinical decisions and directing care. Students will gain skill in all aspects of diagnosis, therapeutics, and management as required of a competent primary care practitioner. Supervision in this practicum will be provided by nurse practitioner and physician preceptors, under the guidance and oversight of faculty. Students will arrange clinical hours with preceptors as mutually acceptable. If the student is unable to meet with the preceptor at an established time, the student will notify the preceptor as soon as possible to avoid any disruption and to arrange alternative clinical hours. Students are required to obtain a minimum of 200 practicum hours for this course.
Year 2, Fall: 5 credits
FNPC6025DIAGNOSIS & MANAGEMENT OF WOMEN
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course builds on the concepts of family health nursing in exploring the role of the nurse practitioner in women?s health and pediatrics. The course focuses on conditions specific to women?s health, the parent-child experience during pregnancy and birth, and conditions specific to children from infancy through adolescence. Particular attention is placed on the developmental changes of children and their impact on the acute and chronic health conditions most frequently encountered in the primary care setting.
FNPC6025PDIAGNOSIS & MANAGEMENT OF WOMEN
Credits (Min/Max): 2/2
This practicum is designed to guide students in developing the basic competencies of the nurse practitioner in the care of women and children in the primary care setting. Students will utilize skills of critical thinking, logical reasoning, and sound diagnostic judgement in generating clinical decisions and directing care. Students will gain skill in all aspects of diagnosis, therapeutics, and management as required of a competent primary care practitioner. Supervision in this practicum will be provided by nurse practitioner and physician preceptors, under the guidance and oversight of faculty. Students will arrange clinical hours with preceptors as mutually acceptable If the student is unable to meet with the preceptor at an established time, the student will notify the preceptor as soon as possible to avoid any disruption and to arrange alternative clinical hours. Students are required to obtain a minimum of 200 practicum hours for this course.
Year 2, Spring: 5 credits
FNPC6030DIAGNOSIS & MANAGEMENT OF
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course builds on the concepts from the prerequisite courses to develop the role of the nurse practitioner in promoting health and managing common acute and chronic health conditions in adults. This course incorporates a focus on older adults, adaptations in health assessment, management of common acute and chronic conditions, and health promotion based upon developmental and ethnocultural considerations are emphasized. The interaction of individual, family, and environment are studied from the perspective of nursing and other health-related theories.
FNPC6030PDIAGNOSIS & MANAGEMENT OF
Credits (Min/Max): 2/2
This practicum is designed to guide students in developing the basic competencies of the nurse practitioner in the care of adults experiencing acute and chronic health conditions. Students will utilize skills of critical thinking, logical reasoning, and sound diagnostic judgement in generating clinical decisions and directing care. Students will gain skill in all aspects of diagnosis, therapeutics, and management as required of a competent primary care practitioner. Skill in assessment and management of older adults will be emphasized. Supervision in this practicum will be provided by nurse practitioner and physician preceptors, under the guidance and oversight of faculty. Students will arrange clinical hours with preceptors as mutually acceptable. If the student is unable to meet with the preceptor at an established time, the student will notify the preceptor as soon as possible to avoid any disruption and to arrange alternative clinical hours. Students are required to obtain a minimum of 200 practicum hours for this course.
Year 2, Summer: 4 credits
FNPC6040INTEGRATION OF THE ADVANCED
Credits (Min/Max): 2/2
This course provides an opportunity to integrate the theory and practice of the family nurse practitioner. Focus is placed on the domains and competencies of the nurse practitioner as a direct provider of primary health care. Students will synthesize theories and concepts that guide practice as well as discuss issues and policies that define the nurse practitioner role. They will examine issues of control and power, dignity and respect, and mutual expectations in healing relationships.
FNPC6040PINTEGRATION OF THE ADVANCED
Credits (Min/Max): 2/2
The class will meet for a two- hour session every week. The clinical practicum will be conducted in collaboration with and under the supervision of nurse practitioner and physician preceptors. The practicum will provide a foundation for the transition to independent clinical practice. Students are required to obtain a minimum of 200 practicum hours for this course.