Advanced Certificate Program: Family Nurse Practitioner

The Advanced Certificate Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program is designed for registered nurses with a Master of Science degree in nursing in one of the advanced practice nursing roles. The program prepares registered nurses with the advanced theoretical knowledge, clinical judgment, and diagnostic skills that lay the foundation for the care of families across the age continuum. Students must hold a master’s degree, APRN state certification with the speciality in FNP.

As advanced practice nurse, the FNP is prepared to provide comprehensive primary health care services to individuals and families across their life spans, implement evidence-based practice guidelines, critically analyze and implement health care interventions based on individualized assessments of individual/family needs. The FNP practices in the context of community, with advanced knowledge, and awareness of the specific needs of people from diverse populations and cultural backgrounds. FNPs practice primarily in ambulatory care settings. A primary emphasis of this advanced practice role is a holistic approach to management of family health through interdisciplinary collaboration. FNPs are among those who, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), contribute significantly to providing health care to underserved populations residing in both urban and rural settings.

The curriculum of the FNP program is based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's Essentials document, delineating the outcomes expected of all graduates of master's nursing programs. It also reflects the recommendations of the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education (LACE). It also conforms to the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) educational guidelines and the National Task Force (NTF) Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs.

The program (35 credits) is designed to be completed in six semesters. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national Family Nurse Practitioner certification examinations offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).