Overview

Take Your Healthcare Skills to the Next Level

Prepare for advanced practice as a primary care provider by pursuing the online and evening post-master’s FNP certificate at Grand Canyon University.¹ Gain confidence in making critical decisions in health promotion, diagnostics and disease management when working with diverse patient populations, from children to seniors.

This certificate can be well-suited for aspiring advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who are interested in sharpening their clinical skills and broadening their nursing knowledge in preparation for pursuing board certification as an APRN.² The family nursing certificate program is offered by the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, with in-person evening class options available.

Post-Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Offered By

College of Nursing and Health Care Professions

Class Settings

Evening

Online

Tuition Rate

Online: $750 per credit [More Info]

Evening: $750 per credit [More Info]

Cost of Attendance

Course Information

Credits: 37

Campus: 15 weeks

Online: 16 weeks

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Transfer Credits

Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)

Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements (Master's)

Undergraduate Degree*
2.8+ GPA

OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and

GMAT: 500
GRE: 300 combined**

Program available in Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, Nevada and Colorado

Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).

Coursework

Examine Advanced Nurse Practitioner Concepts and Principles

Examine core competencies and apply evidence-based research to optimize patient, family and community health. The management of common, acute and chronic conditions is examined through the lens of culturally and spiritually diverse environments. You will work through a well-rounded program of classroom instruction and hands-on, in-person learning experiences.

You will be empowered to embrace the principles of servant leadership, ethical decision-making and sound diagnostic reasoning.

This FNP certificate program covers several core competencies for nurse practitioners, including the following:

Comprehensive primary care management, including health promotion, counseling, screening and patient education
Performance and interpretation of head-to-toe health assessments, as well as focused assessments for chief complaints
The basic concepts and principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and their practical implications in clinical practice
Advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles, including understanding normal function and interpreting changes in normal function
Well visits across the lifespan and the development of the nurse-patient relationship for optimum patient education, counseling and screening

Program Requirements

In addition to classroom instruction, the FNP certificate program requires in-person experiential learning activities, including a 675-hour supervised clinical/practicum. You will complete the supervised clinical/practicum within a family health-focused clinical site or community-based primary care setting.

The certificate program also includes two separate on-campus experiences. During these experiences, you will be educated on the scope of practice, prescriptive authority and how to prepare for the National Certification Board exam.

Careers

Career Paths for FNP Certificate Holders

This certificate program aims to prepare you to take the Family Nurse Practitioner board certification exam through The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).³ Additional requirements may apply to graduates planning to practice in certain states.

This program is designed to prepare you to work with diverse patient populations. Graduates may choose to pursue opportunities in nursing specialties such as:⁴

Chronic disease management

Acute care

Family care

Pediatrics

Geriatrics

Postsecondary nursing instruction

Accreditation

Earn Your Certificate From an Institutionally Accredited Nursing College

The online and evening post-master’s FNP certificate program at GCU is designed to align with the standards established by the following entities:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Nursing Association: Scope and Standards of Practice
Interprofessional Education Collaborative: Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
American Nurses Credentialing Center
American Association of Nurse Practitioners

GCU is proud to be an institutionally accredited university that maintains a focus on academic excellence. The Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The College of Nursing and Health Care Professions shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.

The baccalaureate degree programs in nursing, the master’s degree programs in nursing, the Doctor of Nursing Practice programs and the post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Grand Canyon University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.ccneaccreditation.org). For more information on the accreditation of nursing programs and other university approvals, please visit our nursing accreditation page.

FAQ

Post-Master’s FNP Certificate FAQs

The following frequently asked questions and answers may prove helpful to you as you reflect upon your career options and academic intentions.

The online and evening courses at GCU are generally 16 weeks long.¹ This FNP certificate program also requires 675 hours of supervised clinicals and two on-campus experiences at GCU. To better understand how long it might take to earn your certificate, fill out the form on this page and request a consult with a university counselor.

An FNP is a type of nurse practitioner. FNPs and other types of NPs, such as adult-gerontology nurse practitioners (AGNPs) and pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) are on the same level of the nursing hierarchy. They are all types of APRNs.

A post-master’s certificate is an opportunity to broaden your scope of practice. You may be eligible to sit for the board certification exam. Once you pass the exam and achieve certification, you will be able to pursue work providing comprehensive primary care for patients and families.

An FNP is an APRN who specializes in family care. FNPs can work alongside or in place of a doctor to diagnose, treat and manage illnesses. They work closely and build long-term relationships with patients and their families. To become an FNP, you need board certification, RN and APRN licenses, clinical training and a master’s degree at minimum.³

Some FNPs choose to pursue the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, which is the highest degree in the nursing field. DNP candidates may choose to specialize in a specific patient population or take on leadership roles in various healthcare or academic settings. Some DNP graduates may bring their expertise back to their practice as FNPs in family care.

The College of Nursing and Health Care Professions at GCU offers a few ways for experienced RNs to advance to the role of nurse practitioner or NP. Nursing students may choose to pursue the Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner degree to prepare for the opportunity of a more advanced position within the nursing profession. For those students who have goals to lead or teach in this field, the terminal Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is the natural next step in the nursing career path.

To become an FNP — a type of APRN — all states require board certification among other achievements, such as completion of an accredited master’s degree program.^1,3 There are many different certifications for nurse practitioners, including those from the AANPCB, ANCC and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).¹

Certification requires passing a national exam and periodic renewal.¹ Certification is different from a certificate program, which is a tailored learning program in a particular subject. Certificates teach advanced knowledge and skills, which can provide opportunities to prepare to sit for a certification exam.

Nursing is a profession of lifelong learners who continually strive to improve their clinical skills and deepen their nursing knowledge to better contribute to patient care. Certification as a nurse practitioner signifies that you are recognized as an expert in your field who adheres to the highest standards of ethical practice and prioritizes patient care and safety.

Students applying to the post-master's family nurse practitioner certificate program at GCU must hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must also have a current unencumbered, unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) and show proof of at least two recent years of relevant and professional work experience as an RN. You will be required to submit a Registration Commitment during the application process.

Courses

Course List

Credit Summary

Major37 credits

Degree Requirements37 credits

Core Courses

NUR-631

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course focuses on advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles across the life span. This course is used to guide the advanced nursing practice learner in understanding normal function and interpreting changes in normal function that result in symptoms and diagnostic markers indicative of illness. Emphasis is placed on the following systems: cellular environment and inflammatory changes; fluids, electrolytes and acid-base balance; genetics, genetic diseases, and the role of the environment; stress, disease, and the development of neoplasms; hematology and alterations in immunity. In addition, the physiology and pathophysiology of the endocrine, pulmonary, renal, digestive and integumentary, cardiovascular and lymphatic, musculoskeletal, reproductive, and neurological systems, including mood disorders, are addressed. Prerequisite: NUR-590 or NUR-590A.

NUR-635

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course focuses on the basic concepts and principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and their practical implication in clinical practice across the life span. This course also places an emphasis on the strong influence of physiological variables (age, ethnicity, or pregnancy) and pathological conditions (hepatic or renal insufficiency, cardiac dysfunction) on drugs’ pharmacological response. An in-depth understanding of the relationship between patient’s physiological/pathological variables and pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics can provide additional insight for practitioners in predicting potential drug interactions, and thus will provide additional guidance in prescribing strategies. This course also includes clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; clinical toxicology; and pathology and pharmacotherapy of cardiovascular, psychiatric, endocrine, respiratory, gastrointestinal, bone and joint, infectious, reproductive, and dermatological disorders. Prerequisite: NUR-631.

NUR-634

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course builds upon the learner's undergraduate and clinical assessment skills, offering advanced health assessment content to provide the foundation for the advanced practice nursing role across the life span. This course addresses the completion and interpretation of a head-to-toe assessment in addition to focused assessments for chief complaints that include physical, psychosocial, spiritual, risk, and functional assessments in diverse populations and across age groups. Learners learn a systematic method of diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision-making to establish differential diagnoses. Prerequisites: NUR-631, and either NUR-632, NUR-633, or NUR-635.

FNP-630

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course covers preventive health care practices and integrates cultural and spiritual considerations, environmental factors, genetic influences, and national public health objectives. Emphasis is placed on development of the advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship to enhance the effectiveness of patient education, counseling, and promotion of healthy lifestyle changes. Learners explore concepts relevant to primary care, including family systems theory and developmental theory. Learners are also introduced to well visits across the life span and build upon advanced health assessment skills in assessing the well child, adolescent, woman, and man. Specific emphasis is placed on clinical diagnostic reasoning and interpretation and the development of differential diagnoses based on clinical practice guidelines. Learners examine professional and patient community resources and evaluate the use of integrative healing strategies in assisting patients to achieve health goals using evidence-based research. This course includes a required 3-day, on-campus experience. Prerequisite: NUR-634.

FNP-630CE

0 Total Credits

Course Description

This course covers preventive health care practices and integrates cultural and spiritual considerations, environmental factors, genetic influences, and national public health objectives. Emphasis is placed on development of the advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship to enhance the effectiveness of patient education, counseling, and promotion of healthy lifestyle changes. Learners explore concepts relevant to primary care, including family systems theory and developmental theory. Learners are also introduced to well visits across the life span and build upon advanced health assessment skills in assessing the well child, adolescent, woman, and man. Specific emphasis is placed on clinical diagnostic reasoning and interpretation and the development of differential diagnoses based on clinical practice guidelines. Learners examine professional and patient community resources and evaluate the use of integrative healing strategies in assisting patients to achieve health goals using evidence-based research. This course includes a required 3-day, on-campus experience. Prerequisite: NUR-634.

FNP-652

7 Total Credits

Course Description

This course focuses on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of individuals with common, acute, and chronic conditions across the life span within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care. Care includes health promotion counseling, screening, and patient education to optimize patient and family health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of patient illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacological and nonpharmacological integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: FNP-630.

FNP-654

7 Total Credits

Course Description

This course deepens its focus on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of individuals with common, acute, and chronic conditions across the life span within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment. Learners integrate evidence-based research in the development of comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care. Care includes health promotion counseling, screening, and patient education to optimize patient and family health. Learners further advance their critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills to guide clinical decision making in the management of patient illness. Learners also further develop their competence in ordering appropriate diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacological and nonpharmacological integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: FNP-652.

FNP-690

7 Total Credits

Course Description

This practicum course is the final synthesis of the theoretical and clinical foundation of advanced practice nursing in the primary care management of individuals and families across the life span. Emphasis is placed on scope of practice, roles, contract negotiation, prescriptive authority, licensure, certification, and credentialing. Updates on legislation and health policy are incorporated utilizing multidimensional clinical case studies. Learners also examine ethical issues that arise in clinical practice. This course includes a required 2-day, on-campus experience. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: FNP-654.

FNP-690CE

0 Total Credits

Course Description

This practicum course is the final synthesis of the theoretical and clinical foundation of advanced practice nursing in the primary care management of individuals and families across the life span. Emphasis is placed on scope of practice, roles, contract negotiation, prescriptive authority, licensure, certification, and credentialing. Updates on legislation and health policy are incorporated utilizing multidimensional clinical case studies. Learners also examine ethical issues that arise in clinical practice. This course includes a required 2-day, on-campus experience. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: FNP-654.

GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change

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