The family nurse practitioner certificate prepares the MSN-prepared, experienced registered nurse to work as advanced practice primary care providers for infants through individuals in their geriatric years. This certificate prepares individuals to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner board certification exam through the ANCC or AANP. A 650-hour practicum experience culminates this certificate program. Students collaborate with faculty members to select a community-based primary or family health-focused clinical site for the practicum.
| Course # | Course Title | Course Description | Credits |
| NUR-642 | Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology | This Web-enhanced course focuses on the advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles. This course is used to guide the family nurse practitioner (FNP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and clinical nurse specialist education (CNS-ED) student in interpreting changes in normal function that result in symptoms indicative of illness. The emphasis is placed on the genetic, molecular, cellular, and organ system levels. Co-requisite: NUR 644. | 3 |
| NUR-644 | Advanced Pharmacology | This Web-enhanced course focuses on the advanced pharmacotherapy principles and practices to enable the family nurse practitioner (FNP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and the clinical nurse specialist education (CNS-ED) student to prescribe and monitor the effects of medications and selected herbal therapy. Emphasis is on the pharmacodynamics of clients with common, acute, and chronic health problems in various stages of the lifecycle in diverse populations. Evidence-based research provides the basis for selecting effective, safe, and cost-efficient pharmacologic or integrative regimens. Appropriate client education as to various prescribed pharmacologic agents in incorporated. Legal requirements for prescriptive writing and dispensing authority are covered. Prerequisite: One of the following: 1) NUR 640; or 2) none. Co-requisite: NUR 642. | 3 |
| NUR-640 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning with Skills Lab | This course builds upon the student‛s previous assessment skills, offering more advanced health assessment content to provide the foundation for the advanced practice nursing role. This course also gives emphasis to focused assessments for a chief complaint that include physical, psychosocial, and spiritual health assessment; risk assessment; functional assessment; and physical examination in diverse populations. Students use a systematic method of diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision making to establish a differential diagnosis. An overview of appropriate protocols for performing health screening and for ordering, performing, and interpreting lab, radiographic, and other diagnostic data is included based on best practice consistent with resource allocations. Topics—from effective communication and client teaching/counseling to eliciting clients‛ interpretation of their health status and perceived barriers—are incorporated throughout the course to maintain a nursing focus on patient responses to illness or the threat of illness. Effective documentation and medical recordkeeping are required. Prerequisites: One of the following combinations: 1) Undergraduate Health Assessment course; or 2) NUR 642 and NUR 644. | 3 |
| NUR-646 | Health Promotion Advanced Practice Nursing | This course focuses on the advanced health promotion strategies of the nation‛s priority lifestyle concerns throughout the lifespan as presented in the Healthy People 2010 National Health Objectives. Detailed evidence-based health promotion information and services—such as age, development, lifestyle, geography location, spirituality and culture—are considered. Professional and client community resources and referrals are examined. Emphasis is placed on development of the advanced practice nurse-client relationship to enhance the effectiveness of client education and counseling to promote healthy lifestyle changes. The use of integrative healing (nonpharmacological) strategies in assisting clients to achieve goals of health promotion are introduced and evaluated based on evidence-based research. The course has a community-focused perspective, addressing roles in delivering care to improve the health of the entire community. Students consider the relationship between community/public health issues and social problems as they impact the health care of their clients. Prerequisite: NUR 640. | 3 |
| NUR-675 | Advance Practice Management of Adult Health Care Problems in Primary Care | This course focuses on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of adult health care problems of individuals and their families within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment. Advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, spirituality, and advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles are integrated with advanced nursing theory. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care for adult health care problems. Care will include health promotion counseling, screening, and client education to optimize the client‛s health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of client illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Prerequisites: NUR 640, NUR 642, NUR 644, and NUR 646. Co-requisite: NUR 675C. | 3 |
| NUR-675C | Advance Practice Management of Adult Health Care Problems in Primary Care Clinical | The student will collaborate with faculty members to select a community-based, adult or primary care clinical site for completion of 150 clinical hours. The clinical component for NUR 675 allows the student an opportunity to provide comprehensive health care to diverse clients across the lifespan. Clinical hours are completed in person with a qualified preceptor (NP, DO, MD, DNM) and serve as the opportunity to demonstrate clinical skills, learn clinical decision-making skills, and learn the role of the advanced practice nurse in collaboration with experienced preceptors who serve as mentors. The clinical component of each course is accomplished during the same semester as the corresponding didactic course and is graded as Pass/Fail. Failure of a clinical course constitutes failure of the corresponding didactic course. Prerequisites: NUR 640, NUR 642, NUR 644, and NUR 646. Co-Requisite: NUR 675. | 3 |
| NUR-668 | Advanced Practice Management of Pediatric & Adolescent Health Care Problems in Primary Care | This course focuses on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of pediatric and adolescent health care problems of individuals and their families within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment. Advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles are integrated with spirituality concepts and advanced nursing theory. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care for pediatric and adolescent health care problems. Care includes health promotion counseling, client education, and appropriate screening to optimize the client‛s health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of client illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Prerequisite: NUR 675. Co-requisite NUR 668C. | 3 |
| NUR-668C | Advanced Practice Management of Pediatric & Adolescent Health Care Problems in Primary Care Clinical | Students collaborate with faculty members to select a community-based pediatric or adolescent clinical site for completion of 150 clinical hours. The clinical component for NUR 668 allows the student an opportunity to provide comprehensive health care to diverse clients across the lifespan. Clinical hours are completed in person with a qualified preceptor (NP, DO, MD, DNM) and serve as the opportunity to demonstrate clinical skills, learn clinical decision-making skills, and learn the role of the advanced practice nurse in collaboration with experienced preceptors who serve as mentors. The clinical component of each course is accomplished during the same semester as the corresponding didactic course and is graded as Pass/Fail. Failure of a clinical course constitutes failure of the corresponding didactic course. Co-requisite NUR 668. | 3 |
| NUR-667 | Advance Practice Management of Women's Health Care Issues in Primary Care | This course focuses on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of women‛s health care issues (including care of the pregnant patient) for individuals and their families within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment, contextually within the health care delivery system. Advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, spirituality, and advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles are integrated with advanced nursing theory. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care for women. Care includes health promotion counseling, screening, and client education to optimize the client‛s health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of client illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Prerequisite: NUR 675. Co-requisite: NUR 667C. | 1.5 |
| NUR-667C | Advance Practice Management of Women's Health Care Issues in Primary Care Clinical | Students collaborate with faculty members to select a community-based, women‛s health-focused, clinical site for completion of 75 clinical hours. The clinical component for NUR 667 allows the student an opportunity to provide comprehensive health care to diverse clients across the lifespan. Clinical hours are completed in person with a qualified preceptor (NP, DO, MD, DNM) and serve as the opportunity to demonstrate clinical skills, learn clinical decision-making skills, and learn the role of the advanced practice nurse in collaboration with experienced preceptors who serve as mentors. The clinical component of each course is accomplished during the same semester as the corresponding didactic course and is graded as Pass/Fail. Failure of a clinical course constitutes failure of the corresponding didactic course. Co-requisite NUR 667. | 1.5 |
| NUR-664T | Advance Practice Management of Geriatric Issues in Primary Care | This course focuses on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of geriatric health care problems of individuals and their families within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment. Advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles are integrated with spirituality concepts and advanced nursing theory. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care for geriatric clients. Care will include health promotion counseling, client education, and appropriate screening to optimize the client‛s health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of client illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Prerequisite: NUR 675. Co-requisite: NUR 664C. | 1.5 |
| NUR-664C | Advance Practice Management of Geriatric Issues in Primary Care Clinical | The student will collaborate with faculty members to select a community-based, geontological health-focused, clinical site for completion of 75 clinical hours. The clinical component for NUR 664T allows the student an opportunity to provide comprehensive health care to diverse clients in late age. Clinical hours are completed in person with a qualified preceptor (NP, DO, MD, DNM) and serve as the opportunity to demonstrate clinical skills, learn clinical decision-making skills, and learn the role of the advanced practice nurse in collaboration with experienced preceptors who serve as mentors. The clinical component of each course is accomplished during the same semester as the corresponding didactic course and is graded as Pass/Fail. Failure of a clinical course constitutes failure of the corresponding didactic course. Prerequisite: NUR 675. Co-requisite: NUR 664T. | 1.5 |
| NUR-654 | Diverse Applications of Advanced Practice Concepts | This course presents practice concepts that blend the function of the clinical nurse specialist with the family nurse practitioner (FNP) role for a futuristic vision for integration of these roles to include assessing and addressing the needs of client populations and nursing personnel across the continuum of care. Management concepts include case management, teaching of professionals, program planning, evaluation, peer review, broad-based consultation, marketing, business management, resource management, cost-effective use of formularies, and payment for services, including processing insurance claims. Prerequisite: One of the following: 1) NUR 652, 2) NUR 662, 3) NUR 675 and NUR 675C, or 4) NUR 643. | 3 |
| NUR-682C | Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum | In this 16-week culminating practicum experience, students collaborate with faculty members to select a community-based primary or family health-focused clinical site for completion of 200 clinical hours. This clinical practice affords students the opportunity to refine their clinical-decision management of primary health problems for diverse clients across the life span. Students use the SOAP method to analyze case studies in accordance with the guidelines of evidence-based practice and current standards of care. | 4 |
| Required Course Total Credit: | 37 | ||
| Courses: | 37 credits |
This program is offered in the following formats or locations:
To meet the demands of today's working adults, this degree is offered through our convenient evening program. Classes meet one evening per week and allow you to interact directly with instructors and peers face-to-face. Locations vary - speak with an enrollment counselor to learn more.
Program Disclosure
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* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.
Grand Canyon University © 2012 - All Rights Reserved. GCU is an accredited university founded in 1949. We are a Christian university and offer online degree programs and campus based classes. As a private university in Arizona, GCU has six colleges offering business degree programs including an Executive MBA, health science degrees, liberal arts degrees, doctorate degrees, nursing programs, and teaching programs. Our Performing Arts College offers fine arts and production degree programs. GCU is a military friendly school and offers military tuition rates.
