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 Certification Board(AANPCB). The certificate program begins in the summer (non-NP’s will begin in the Fall as they may have an additional two semesters if they require the prerequisites). Once the prerequisites are met, the certificate program can be completed full time in 5 semesters.
The School of Nursing is in the process of seeking approval to offer this program in a fully online format with synchronous class meetings.
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 (if you need to take the prerequisite courses they may add an additional 2 semesters and start in the Fall)
- Advanced Pathophysiology 3 (offered only in the fall and is a prerequisite for Advanced Health Assessment)
- Advanced Pharmacology 3 (offered only in the spring)
- Advanced Health Assessment 4 (offered both in fall and spring
Summer I
- Mental Health in Primary Care 3
Fall I
- Primary Care of Families: Chronic 3
- Primary Care of Families (180 clinical hours) 3
Spring I
- Primary Care of Families: Acute 3
- Primary Care of Families Practicum (180 clinical hours) 3
Summer II
- Primary Care of Women & Children 3
Fall II
- Primary Care of Families Advanced Practicum (240 clinical hours) 4
- Diagnostics & Procedures 1
Total: 23 credits and 600 clinical hours
Pediatrics and Women’s Health competencies are met through clinical experiences in various settings included in the above clinical hour totals.
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
- Resume/C.V.
- Essay answering the following question:
- How will this degree advance your professional goals?
- Documentation of 2,080 RN or APRN hours (direct patient care) hours
- Copy of current unencumbered RN license – multi-state or individual state (must obtain licensure in clinical rotation state)
- Copy of Advanced Practice Nursing certification (if applicable). Applicants without national certification will be individually evaluated and must submit evidence of their specialty expertise.
- Successful completion of MSN courses with a “B” or better:
- Advanced Physical Assessment
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Interview with graduate nursing faculty will be required.
- Language Proficiency Requirement must be met. Submit TOEFL, PTE, or Duolingo English test scores may be required. See our policy for full details: Https://www.su.edu/admissions/international-students
- 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.
