Graduate Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track is designed to prepare professional nurses for the FNP role in primary care nursing. The curriculum features theoretically based and clinically focused courses. FNP graduates are eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification exam or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner (AANP) certification exam corresponding to their population foci upon graduation. The curriculum includes 780 contact hours for clinical practice. Courses must be evaluated for equivalency on admission. A grade of B or higher is required in advanced pathophysiology, advanced physical assessment, and advanced pharmacology. Students who have not completed any of these 3 courses will be admitted and required to complete them prior to beginning the clinically focused courses. Learning Outcomes PLO 1. Synthesize knowledge derived from a scientific foundation in order to demonstrate expertise in advanced clinical nursing practice to improve delivery of care. PLO 2. Demonstrate continuous quality improvement in patient care situations while providing leadership in clinical decision making through use of information systems and technology for the improvement and transformation of health care. PLO 3. Use clinical scholarship and analytical methods to implement safe, quality improvement in administration of patient care. PLO 4. Encourage interprofessional collaboration and teamwork to enhance and improve population health outcomes. PLO 5. Engage in influencing the development and implementation of health policy that provides an interface between practice, research and policy development. PLO 6. This should not be a separate program assessment plan. The program is subsumed in either the MSN or DNP APRN programs.

Baccalaureate in nursing (BSN) from an accredited college/university that is accredited by a nationally recognized body for nursing education accreditation is required for BSN - DNP and MSN APRN only.

Baccalaureate degree (in any field other than nursing) from an accredited college/university is required for applicants to the Graduate-Entry MSN program. Pre-requisites: Human Anatomy and Physiology (6 semester hours - must earn a "B" or higher); Psychology (3 semester hours); Social Science Elective (3 semester hours).

Master of Science in nursing (MSN) from an accredited college/university that is accredited by a nationally recognized body for nursing education accreditation is required for applicants to the MSN-DNP, or graduate certificate programs.

3.0 higher ed. GPA (unadjusted by grade deletion).

Submission of official transcripts from all academic institutions.

Personal statement:

MSN and graduate certificate candidates

• Career goals
• Future plans for employment
• Expectations for graduate study.