Nursing, Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate

A post-graduate family nurse practitioner certificate is available to RNs who have completed a master’s degree in Nursing from an accredited university. A gap analysis will be performed to determine the required courses. Advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, advanced courses, and a FNP skills/differential diagnosis course are required for all nurse practitioner students. Specific family nurse practitioner courses include assessment and diagnosis of mental health conditions, gender-related health, pediatric primary care, adult and geriatric primary care, and a capstone course. 

The post-graduate APRN certificate at the University of Saint Joseph is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.

 

IMPORTANT!

Family health nurse practitioner students must complete the FNP skills course and 3Ps for the lifespan: advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced physical assessment. Currently practicing nurse practitioners who completed the 3Ps courses during their nurse practitioner program with a B or better will have met this requirement. Other applicants who are not practicing nurse practitioners (defined as practicing a minimum of 1000 hours in the past 2 years), did not complete a nurse practitioner degree program, or completed a non-clinical degree, will be required to complete an NP skills course and the 3Ps at the University of Saint Joseph.

NURS 507 - Advanced Health Assessment  (3 credits)

NURS 519 - Advanced Pathophysiology  (3 credits)

NURS 535 - Advanced Pharmacology  (3 credits)

NURS 732 - FNP Skills/Differential Diagnosis  (3 credits)

 

Admission Requirements:

1. Acceptance into this program is highly competitive.
2. Applications are reviewed twice a year. All application materials should be received by the Graduate Admission’s Office by October 1 for application review the following spring, and March 1 for application review for admission for the following fall.
3. Admission application and nonrefundable admission fee.
4. A current resume
5. A sealed official transcript showing a master’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher from a regionally and nationally accredited Nursing institution, as well as transcripts from all undergraduate coursework.
6. A current Registered Nurse license from the state in which clinical work will be completed and a current APRN license if applicable.
7. Essay: Discuss a practice problem in your field that, in your experience has a broad impact on patient care and outcomes; state professional goals for the next 5-10 years and explain how this certificate will help you reach your goals.
8. Two letters from professionals attesting to the candidate’s intellectual, clinical and leadership abilities to pursue graduate work at the University of Saint Joseph. Letters should be from clinical supervisors or managers, and academic faculty.
9. An interview with the graduate faculty prior to acceptance into the program.
10. All immunization records as required by the University and Department of Nursing.
11. Upon formal admission, a certified background check is required.
12. Malpractice insurance: Students are required to purchase their own malpractice insurance, at the APRN level, prior to the start of their clinical coursework.

Progression

• A grade of B- or higher must be earned in every course in the graduate Nursing program
• All students must maintain a Nursing cumulative GPA of 2.67 throughout the program
• If at any time the Nursing GPA falls below 2.67 the students will be placed on departmental probation
• A student placed on probation must improve their GPA within the next 6 credits taken
• Failure to increase the GPA to 2.67 or higher in a subsequent 6 credits following probation will result in dismissal
• Any grade below B- in a required program course will result in departmental review with the student being placed on academic probation
• Students who earn less than a B- in a required Nursing course must re-take the course. In certain cases, such as clinical courses, the course must be retaken prior to enrollment in a subsequent clinical course
• Students may retake one course only one time
• Failure to earn a passing grade (B-) in the second attempt will result in dismissal from the program
• Students who do not achieve the clinical competencies required of a clinical course will fail the course with a maximum grade of C+ (79) when other course work is calculated
• Students may withdraw from one Nursing course one time during the program
• Any students who earns a D or less in any course will be immediately dismissed from the program

Students must be 100% compliant with all clinical requirements (Project Concert or Castlebranch) no later than two weeks before the beginning of any semester that has a clinical course otherwise the student will be administratively removed from the clinical courses until they are in full compliance and will need to re-enroll once determined by the Nursing Department to be in full compliance. 

Students that have an appeal in process may enroll in a clinical course but may not attend clinical until a final decision is rendered. If the appeal is granted, they are eligible for a course extension to complete their clinical hours.