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

What Is a Post-Master’s FNP Certificate?

Prepare for advanced practice as a primary care provider by pursuing the post-master’s FNP certificate at Grand Canyon University. Gain confidence in making critical judgments in health promotion, diagnostics and disease management when working with diverse patient populations, from children to seniors. The post-MSN nurse practitioner program is offered by the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions.

Acquire 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. Students will work through an intensive program of classroom instruction and hands-on, on-campus learning experiences.

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

• American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN): The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing
• American Nursing Association (ANA): Scope and Standards of Practice
• Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC): Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice
• National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)

Earn an FNP Certificate to Care for Diverse Populations and Age Groups

The FNP certificate program echoes real-world scenarios and encourages stimulating peer discussions within a collaborative and academically rigorous setting. Learners are supported as they embrace the principles of servant leadership, ethical decision-making and sound diagnostic reasoning. This post-master’s program covers a number of 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 implication 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

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

The post-master’s FNP certificate includes two separate on-campus experiences. Students will complete a three-day on-campus experience, followed by a one-day on-campus experience during FNP 690. During the latter experience, students examine ethical issues that are common in clinical practice, along with the scope of practice, prescriptive authority and health legislation.

Take Your Nursing Career to the Next Level with a Post-Master’s FNP Certificate

The online post-master’s FNP certificate prepares graduates to work with diverse patient populations. Graduates may choose to pursue opportunities in chronic disease management or acute care. The emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention is well-suited to family care practice settings. Graduates may decide to pursue employment in specialized areas, such as pediatrics or geriatrics. Opportunities in postsecondary nursing instruction may be an additional option for post-master’s FNP graduates.

GCU’s Post-Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate may prepare graduates to take the Family Nurse Practitioner board certification exam through the AANP or the ANCC. Additional requirements may apply to graduates planning to practice in certain states.