Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate

This combined program allows students to earn a master’s degree along with the School Nurse Services Credential, including a specialization in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), preparing them for certification by the state of California and for national certification.

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate program is a nondegree course credit option for nurses with a master’s degree in nursing.1 This program prepares students with primary healthcare skills through didactic education and clinical supervision. Nurses are eligible to apply to the California Board of Registered Nursing for certification as a nurse practitioner, and may apply for national FNP certification through examination. Students must be admitted into the university before registering for this program.

1

Students may be given transfer credits for previous content completed in a master’s degree program. Students who hold current California certification as a nurse practitioner or nurse midwife, and students who hold a master’s degree in nursing and/or national certification as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS), may challenge or request waiver of the coursework required for the Family Nurse Practitioner program, as appropriate to the student’s current specialty. Petitions for challenge or waiver of courses must be initiated upon admission and approved by the MSN chair. Students must show proof of current nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or clinical nurse specialist certification.

Requirements 

Advanced Practice Core Courses12
GNRS 513Advanced Nursing Practice Role 12
GNRS 610Advanced Pathophysiology3
GNRS 611Advanced Pharmacology3
GNRS 612Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning 24 (3/1)
Advanced Practice Specialty Courses18
GNRS 590APrimary Health Care of the Young Family6 (3/3)
GNRS 591Primary Health Care of the Childbearing Family4 (2/2)
GNRS 592APrimary Health Care of the Adult and Aging Family6 (3/3)
GNRS 592BPrimary Health Care Clinical Practicum2 (0/2)
Specialization Option Courses4
Select from the following:
GNRS 543Transitions Across the Care Continuum4 (2/2)
- or -
GNRS 593Psychosocial Primary Health Care of the Adult and Aging Family4 (2/2)
- or -
GNRS 589Adolescent Health Care4 (2/2)
Total Units34
1

This requirement is waived for 1992-96 APU master’s graduates, as the content was integrated in the clinical courses.

2

Units in parentheses are classroom/clinical units.

Admission

University graduate admission and program-specific requirements must be met before an application is complete (see Admission to the University). Program-specific application requirements are available online.

International students should contact Graduate and Professional Admissions for application procedures.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:
  1. Articulate a Christian worldview, demonstrating respect for the dignity and uniqueness of others, valuing diversity, and applying spiritual concepts.
    2.
  2. Engage in scholarly inquiry and critical thinking, including evaluation and application of evidence-based research.
    3.
  3. Appraise and apply knowledge to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions that promote health and prevent disease.
  4. Demonstrate thoughtful analysis of the legal, political, ethical, and/or financial factors impacting healthcare.
    5.
  5. Use information systems and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, promote quality, mitigate error and support decision-making.
    6.
  6. Demonstrate the ability to coordinate and collaborate with other health care team professionals.
  7. Engage in clinical reasoning, effective communication, and act as change agents to develop professional identity and practice skill.