Post-Master’s Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner

The Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate focuses on preparing nurses who already have Master’s Degrees to address the healthcare needs of rural and underserved communities. Employment of nurse practitioners is expected to grow 31 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than average for all occupations. Rural areas, particularly in the counties surrounding SMWC —Parke, Clay, Greene, and Sullivan — are currently lacking in full-time nurse practitioners.

Earn the certificate in less than two years and pursue a career which will help address this need. Upon program completion, students will be eligible to take the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). This part-time program gives nurses the flexibility to work toward advancing their career while meeting family and professional responsibilities.

Highlights

• Students attend face-to-face classes on campus one day a week
• Classroom courses are only eight weeks long and students take them one at a time. A week’s break between courses is built into fall and spring semester. Students get a generous break over Christmas, as well as before and after the eight-week summer session.
• Books are included in the total cost of the program. Students have the option to opt-out and purchase books from a different vendor. If students to opt-out and purchase their own books, they are responsible for the cost.
• The program requires the completion of 24 credit hours
• Small classes allow students to interact with fellow nurses and receive mentoring from expert faculty
• Learn hands-on with 500 clinical hours required focusing on family, women and children, and mental health conditions. Two hundred of the clinical hours are during a residency to allow for extensive learning in the outpatient primary care setting.

How will Post-Master’s FNP benefit me?

Rooted in the strong foundation of liberal arts, science, and Catholic education, all graduates of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods nursing programs are expected to demonstrate the following outcomes:

• Utilize effective communication and collaboration skills through oral, written and technology media with patients, nursing colleagues and interprofessional team members.
• Promote holistic health, including spiritual well-being, through the support of wellness and health related activities for self and patients.
• Guard patient safety through critical thinking, information technology, data analysis and risk management strategies.
• Provide effective, culturally sensitive and compassionate nursing care through the use of the nursing process that is supported by current, evidence-based research as indicated by educational preparation and scope of practice.
• Demonstrate effective leadership and management abilities through the competent coordination of patient care across the health care continuum.
• Advocate for social justice through the promotion of access, resources, quality health care and prudent health policies.
• Exhibit professionalism through upholding the values, ethics, and standards of nursing.

Admissions Requirements

• Completed application
• Official transcript(s) of all collegiate work (graduate and undergraduate courses) from accredited institutions
• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
• Earned master’s degree with a major in nursing from a nationally accredited program of nursing
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 / 4.0 or higher on any undergraduate work
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 / 4.0 or higher on any graduate work
• Successful completion of a graduate-level pharmacology course (3 credit hours) within the past five years with a minimum grade of B.
• Successful completion a graduate-level pathophysiology course (3 credit hours) within the past five years with a minimum grade of B.
• Two letters of recommendation from individuals knowledgeable of your professional or academic experience.
• Must have current unencumbered license as a registered nurse
• A current résumé
• Personal career statement (limit 500 words)
• Must pass a background check or provide a current background check

The Post-Master’s FNP Certificate program requires 24 credit hours of coursework and 500 clinical hours.is designed according to the educational guidelines of the American Association of Colleges in Nursing and The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. The curriculum offers a focus in social justice.

Post-Master’s Certificate for FNP Curriculum

(24 credit hours)

Required Courses

NU 525	Advanced Physical Assessment	3
NU 528	Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostics	2
NU 530	FNP Assessment Clinical	1
NU 535	Clinical Management of Mental Health Needs of the Individual and Family	2
NU 544	Nurse Practitioner Review	1
NU 545	Clinical Management I	5
NU 546	FNP Seminar	2
NU 547	Healthcare Informatics	1
NU 555	FNP Clinical Management II	5
NU 565	Culminating Clinical Experience	2

*Please note: NU 513 and NU 519 are pre-requisites (or current equivalency demonstrated on graduate transcript)

Up one level

• Program Offerings