Nurse Practitioner - Family Focus (Post-Masters Certificate)

Overview

Build on your MSN and pursue certification as a family nurse practitioner (FNP) with D’Youville Online.

Take the next step toward a career providing holistic care across the lifespan as a family nurse practitioner (FNP). Designed for working nurses who hold a master’s degree in the field, the CCNE-accredited online Family Nurse Practitioner Advanced Certificate program from D’Youville University can help you develop the advanced skills you need to become the primary care practitioner and patient advocate your community needs.

Our Family Nurse Practitioner Advanced Certificate program is offered online and on campus.

Essential Industry Topics Learned

  • Concepts of case management
  • Administration of preventative services
  • Choosing and prescribing medications
  • Methods for family health education
  • Best practices in pediatrics
  • Adult health in aging populations

As you navigate our accelerated curriculum, you’ll receive personalized instruction from educators with years of nursing experience. Dedicated to your academic and professional success, your educators will be there every step of the way to provide the guidance you need to graduate fully prepared to treat patients throughout the lifespan. You’ll also complete clinical experience with different patient populations in a variety of settings. Graduates of this program will be prepared to pursue board certification as a family nurse practitioner – for example, to earn the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-BC™) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

This program meets licensure requirements in the state of New York. Applicants from outside of New York (including Ohio and Pennsylvania) are responsible to contact their Board of Nursing to verify that this program meets the requirements for future nurse practitioner licensure.

YOU WILL:

  • Gain knowledge and skills to provide care services across populations, from birth to the elder years.
  • Assess, diagnose, and prescribe treatments for individuals and families, within appropriate legal and ethical parameters.
  • Learn to provide advising and education to patients about a range of topics, including healthy lifestyle choices, chronic condition management, and more.
  • Prepare for board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

Admission Requirements

Program Requirements
  1. Completed online graduate application for admissions (no application fee)
  2. Completed masters of science degree in nursing from a CCNE or NLNAC (ACEN) accredited program at a college or university in the US (or by the CNO in Ontario).
  3. Evidence of capability to succeed in a graduate program based on an overall GPA of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Non - U.S. students must submit a ‘course-by-course’ evaluation (or equivalent) of all college and/or university transcripts through the World Education Services (WES) or other approved foreign transcript evaluation agencies.
  4. All official graduate transcripts. If health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology courses were taken at the undergraduate level those official transcripts must be submitted.
  5. An overall G.P.A. of at least 3.0. Applicants with a masters’ degree in nursing, earned more than five years ago, with an overall G.P.A. less than 3.0 but more than or equal to 2.7, who have achieved significant professional success as documented on curricula vitae, may submit an application for consideration. Preferential admissions will be given to applicants with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher.
  6. Active, unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in New York state or Ontario if Canadian.
  7. Current CPR Certification with psychomotor component
  8. A minimum of one year of experience as a registered nurse with a baccalaureate degree is required
  9. Baccalaureate-level health assessment, pathophysiology and pharmacology courses or equivalent
  10. Two references on clinical performance with one reference from an advanced practice nurse (NP) or a physician attesting to clinical knowledge, skills, leadership and the ability to be a good NP candidate. Other acceptable references include supervisors, managers or a former professor.
  11. Writing assignment on your philosophy of nursing, 2 pages in length, double space and 12-point font that includes philosophy of nursing focused on past experience, what influencing nursing has had on your career, why you chose to pursue this degree, how you see this degree enhancing your career and how you will utilize this degree to advance patient care and health care outcomes.
  12.  A student who meets the entry requirements and is currently enrolled or previously enrolled in the Nurse Practitioner program or Doctor of Nursing Practice program at another college or university, must obtain a letter from that School of Nursing stating that the student is in good standing, not on probation, and able to register for classes. Students who were dismissed from a graduate or doctoral program will not be considered for admission.
  13. Applicants who work full-time are not eligible for planned 2-year completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner certificate program.

Course Requirements

Find detailed course information for the Certificate for Family Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master's) program, tools to plan your education, and complete academic policies and procedures in the D'Youville academic catalog.

Required Courses
Number Name Credits
NUR-631 Advanced Health Assessment 3
NUR-631L Advanced Health Assessment Lab 1
NUR-632 Advanced Pharmacology 3
NUR-633 Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology 3
NUR-634 Health Promotion-Children & Families 3
NUR-635 Health Promotion-Women 3
NUR-637 Health Promotion Adults Aging Population 3
NUR-638 Fnp Practicum in Pediatrics In Pediatrics 3
NUR-639 FNP Practicum-Women Health Care 3
NUR-640 Clinical Practicum in Adult Health I 1
NUR-641 Clinical Practicum in Adult Health II 4
Total Credits   30

Total required for Post-Masters Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner: 30*

* An individual gap analysis assessment will be made of each applicant's transcripts to determine what additional courses or clinical hours may be needed to satisfy the DNP requirements.

Career Outcomes

Earning an FNP certificate means earning the credentials to become a trusted leader in healthcare. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for family nurse practitioners are projected to rise by 52% from 2019-2029, making FNPs one of the nation’s fastest-growing occupations.

Family nurse practitioners provide care to patients throughout the lifespan. They are qualified to facilitate community-based healthcare for aging populations, care for women and treat a wide variety of health issues as a trusted healthcare provider. Many family nurse practitioners work in private practice while others are employed by hospitals, clinics, and government facilities. As of 2020, NPs nationwide earned a median salary of $111,680.

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