Post-Master's Certificate in Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner

Certificate Level: Graduate
Admission Requirements: Master's degree
Certificate Type: Post-Master's
Number of Credits to Completion: 38.0 credits; 720 clinical hours
Instructional Delivery: Online
Calendar Type: Quarter
Expected Time to Completion: 2 years
Financial Aid Eligibility: Aid eligible*
Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) Code: 51.3801
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: 29-1141

*The current plan of study for this program would only allow for federal financial aid (including Federal Direct Student Loans) for terms that are at least a minimum of 4.5 credits for graduate courses and 6.0 credits for undergraduate courses. This is based on current regulations from the U.S. Department of Education.

About the Program

The Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner (FNP) online program focuses on the application of advanced-practice nursing knowledge — including physical, psychosocial and environmental assessment skills — to manage common health and illness problems of clients of all ages and their families. This certificate is offered to those individuals who have earned a master's degree in nursing and seek further preparation to become a family/individual across the lifespan nurse practitioner (FNP). Graduates will be eligible to sit for the AANP's Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination and the ANCC's Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination.

The nurse practitioner faculty is committed to quality and excellence in the nurse practitioner (NP) programs. Students meet on campus for mandatory on-campus intensive (OCI) learning experiences, simulation and evaluation. There are a maximum of two OCIs in each program. Students will attend an OCI during week one of their first clinical course for three to four days (summer quarter). An additional OCI visit may be required for two to three days in another clinical quarter. Dates are subject to change.

During the OCIs, students engage in simulated clinical learning experiences conducted in the College of Nursing and Health Professions' state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary patient simulation lab. These visits provide direct guidance and mentoring from faculty and the opportunity to collaborate with peers. Mandatory, on-campus visits are essential to students transitioning into the NP role.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Program Requirements

Required Courses
Support Courses
NURS 548Advanced Pathophysiology3.0
NURS 549Advanced Pharmacology3.0
NURS 550Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning4.0
NURS 664Professional Issues for Nurse Practitioners1.0
Concentration Courses
NURS 534FNP I: Primary Care of the Emerging Family5.0
NURS 535FNP II: Primary and Episodic Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents5.0
NURS 536FNP III: Primary Care of Adults and Older Adults Across the Adult Age Spectrum I5.0
NURS 537FNP IV: Primary Care of Adults and Older Adults Across the Adult Age Spectrum II5.0
NURS 538FNP V: Integrative Practicum in Family Practice Across the Lifespan4.0
NURS 556Pharmacology for Family Nurse Practitioners3.0
Total Credits38.0

Sample Plan of Study

First Year
Term 1CreditsTerm 2CreditsTerm 3CreditsTerm 4Credits
NURS 5483.0NURS 5563.0NURS 5504.0NURS 5345.0
NURS 5493.0 NURS 6641.0 
 6 3 5 5
Second Year
Term 1CreditsTerm 2CreditsTerm 3CreditsTerm 4Credits
NURS 5355.0NURS 5365.0NURS 5375.0NURS 5384.0
 5 5 5 4
Total Credits 38

Additional Information

For more information about this program, contact:

Graduate Nursing Division

CNHPGraduateDivision@drexel.edu

Additional information is available on Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions Post-Master's Certificate Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner webpage and on the Drexel University Online Post-Master's Certificate Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner webpage.

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