Advance your nursing skills and your career to the next level
The Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate is for registered nurses who already hold a Master of Science in Nursing. Our program provides you with the necessary knowledge, skills, values, meanings and experiences to assume the role of a primary health care provider in a variety of clinical settings through both didactic and clinical courses.
Family nurse practitioners are critical in meeting the primary care needs of rural and/or underserved populations in this country.
The Post Graduate Certificate (PGC): Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program designed for RNs who already hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. The FNP Certificate is designed to provide the nurse with the necessary knowledge, skills, values, meanings, and experiences to assume the role of a primary health care provider in a variety of clinical settings. Graduates of the FNP Certificate program are eligible to take the national certification exam given by either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). The program can be completed in 15 months full time with summer courses.
Nursing at Shenandoah
Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing‘s programs are challenging, but the rewards of completing your degree and entering this critical profession are many. We are committed to providing an outstanding education to nurses at all levels— from people entering the profession with a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, to advanced practice nurses seeking doctoral-level training. Our programs are dynamic and responsive to the needs of our students and the health care industry. Shenandoah Nursing offers classes in Winchester at the Health and Life Sciences Building, and in Fairfax at the Shenandoah Northern Virginia campus. We’re excited to share our programs with you.
The curricula for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs combine important knowledge and skills with a friendly and caring spirit. Students like you share diverse backgrounds and personal and professional experiences with seasoned teaching faculty and clinical preceptors, who contribute to robust classroom discussions and enriching and exciting clinical interactions. Our goal is to prepare and challenge you for that next step in your professional career.
Career and Salary Possibilities
Upon completion of the program, you will be prepared to practice in the primary care role in urban, suburban, rural and underserved areas, choose to teach in nursing schools or continue your higher education.
Family nurse practitioners are critical in meeting the primary care needs of rural and/or underserved populations in this country. Family nurse practitioners typically earn $75,000 and up to six figures annually.
Classes
Clinical experiences are in a wide variety of ambulatory and community rural and medically underserved health care settings appropriate to the family nurse practitioner track.
You will learn:
- assessment and management of health promotion and maintenance strategies
- risk reduction
- common acute and chronic alterations in health status for individuals and families across the lifespan
- role development
- research and statistics
- advanced knowledge in pharmacology and pathophysiology
Our small classes combined with a close-knit, caring and compassionate learning environment make the Shenandoah University program special. Our faculty is comprised of respected current practitioners.
Nursing education electives leading to a certificate in nursing education are available if you are interested in teaching.
Alumni are eligible for a tuition discount.
Post Graduate Certificate - FNP Student Curriculum
Prerequisites
- Advanced Pathophysiology 3
- Advanced Pharmacology 3
- Advanced Health Assessment 4
Summer I
- NP 525 Behavioral Neuroscience & Psychopharmacology 3
Fall I
- NP 610 Primary Care of Families: Chronic 3
- NP 630 Primary Care of Women & Children 3
- NPLB 650 Primary Care of Families Practicum I-180 clinical hours 3
Spring I
- NP 620 Primary Care of Families: Acute 3
- NPLB 670 Primary Care of Families Practicum II- 180 clinical hours 3
- NP 690 Role Development for the Advance Nurse Practitioner 2
- NP641 Diagnostics and Procedures 1
Summer II
- NPLB 680 Primary Care of Families Advanced Practicum -240 clinical hours 4
Total Credits 25 credits and 600 clinical hours
Womens’ Health- 40 clinical hours, 7 pediatrics, and 80 clinical hours are included in the above
total
Application Information
We’re excited you’re interested in one of our graduate nursing programs! Shenandoah reviews applications on a rolling basis, which means we will begin evaluating your application once all your documentation has been submitted. Students submitting completed applications before our priority deadlines will be considered first.
Admissions Requirements
- SU graduate application along with $30 non-refundable application fee
- Earned MSN degree from CCNE or ACEN accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Unofficial transcripts for initial admission from all institutions of higher education previously attended
- 2 letters of recommendation (1 from nursing faculty, 1 from direct supervisor)
- Resume/C.V.
- Essay answering the following questions:
- How will this degree advance your professional goals?
- What is your research area of interest?
- Documentation of 2,080 RN clinical work hours prior to specialty courses
- Copy of current RN license
- Successful completion of MSN courses with a “B” or better within the last 5 years:
- Advanced Physical Assessment
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Interview with graduate nursing faculty may be required.
- TOEFL score at acceptable level for Non-Native English Speakers
- Upon admission – up-to-date immunizations and health records, a criminal background check, a urine drug screen and a BCLS from AHA only will be required.