Post Masters Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program

The Byers School of Nursing Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate Program allows Master's-prepared nurses to expand their scope of practice to include care of individuals across the lifespan. The program includes didactic and clinical experiences that focus on the primary care needs of individuals, families, and communities. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the national Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam.

The Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate Program objectives are to:

1. Demonstrate personal, collegial, and collaborative approaches that enhance the family nurse practitioner's effectiveness in working in an interprofessional manner.
2. Synthesize theoretical, scientific, and contemporary clinical knowledge for the assessment and management of both health and illness states, health promotion, health protection, disease prevention, and treatment of all patients including those with multiple chronic conditions.
3. Ensure quality of care through consultations and collaboration with other professions.
4. Analyze situations to improve health outcomes for patients, communities, and systems by overseeing and directing the delivery of clinical services within an interprofessional system of health care.
5. Translate knowledge and psychomotor skills to enhance patients' ability for self-care through advocating, modeling, and teaching.
6. Demonstrate a commitment to the implementation, preservation, and evolution of the family nurse practitioner role as well as build interprofessional relationships to provide optimal care to the patient.
7. Provide culturally competent care with respect to cultural and spiritual beliefs and make health care resources available to patients from diverse cultures.

Target Audience

• Nurses who are DNP or PhD graduates or students who wish to gain expertise as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
• Master's students within any other track of Walsh's Master's Nursing program.
• Post-master's nurses with clinical expertise who are seeking educational training.

Global Experiences

While enrolled in the certificate program, certificate students may participate in the Byers School of Nursing's global experiences(s). The student is advised to seek more information on global experiences from the Graduate Program Director or the Office of Global Learning.

Certificate Academic Guidelines

Admission Policy

• Participants enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program must comply with the Byers School of Nursing, Graduate admissions requirements.

Program Delivery

The Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program is offered using a distance learning methodology* and requires students to be on campus for two intensives.

Registration Procedures

New students are given instructions on how to register with their acceptance letter. Before or during the first half of the first semester, students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisors to map out a curriculum plan. For the remainder of the program students are responsible for registering for their own classes. The process is as follows:  

• Graduate students may register on-line via the Walsh University Cavalier Center (www.walsh.edu.) To register on-line, the student must obtain an alternate PIN from their assigned academic advisor and resolve any holds that may prevent registration.
• Obtain a form from the website (www.walsh.edu ). Click on “Academics” and scroll down to the “Office of the Registrar” link. Scroll down to the link “forms” and then on “Graduate Registration Form”. Download a copy and fax (330) 490-7372, mail or present the completed form to the Registrar’s Office (located in Farrell Hall).

* Online refers to the definition form the Higher Learning Commission: Distance-delivered course are those in which all or the vast majority (typically 75% or more) of the instruction and interaction occurs via electronic communication, correspondence, or equivalent mechanisms, with the faculty and students physically separated from each other.

Certificate Requirements

To receive the Certificate in Family Nursing Practitioner, a student will complete the following curriculum:

¹ Courses may be waived for advanced practice nurses with prescriptive authority and current practice.

² Courses may be waived for currently certified nurse practitioners in specialty practice (adult, women's health, pediatrics, nurse midwifery).