Post-Master's Certificate in Family/Individual Across the Lifespan with Emergency Specialization

Certificate Level: Graduate
Admission Requirements: Master's degree
Certificate Type: Post-Master's
Number of Credits to Completion: 48.0 credits; 1,140 clinical hours
Instructional Delivery: Online
Calendar Type: Quarter
Expected Time to Completion: 3 years
Financial Aid Eligibility: Not aid eligible
Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) Code: 51.3801
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: 29-1171

NOTE: No applications will be accepted for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Please check back in summer 2023 for an update.

About the Program

The Family/Individual Across the Lifespan with Emergency Specialization program focuses on applying 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 in primary and emergency care settings. It emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention. Family nurse practitioners primarily practice in ambulatory care settings, such as primary care clinics, physician offices, HMOs, outpatient clinics, schools, nursing centers, emergency departments, long-term care facilities, industry, the armed services, public health departments, correctional institutions, and home health agencies. Emergency nurse practitioners primarily practice across the emergency care continuum. This rigorous program provides the education and skills necessary to function as a competent nurse practitioner and leader in primary care and emergency care populations. In addition to preparing students for the primary care role across the lifespan, this program prepares students with the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures skills specific to the emergency care setting. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the ANCC’s Family Nurse Practitioner Examination and/or the AANP’s Family Nurse Practitioner Examination. In addition, graduates are eligible to sit for the AANP’s Emergency Nurse Practitioner 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. OCI visits occur 2-4 times during the clinical portion of the program and range from 2-3 days. Mandatory on-campus visits are essential to students transitioning into the NP role. 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.

Admission Requirements

  • A Master's degree in Nursing from program fully accredited by NLN and/or CCNE is required for all applicants with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
  • 1-2 years experience in ED, critical care, urgent care, trauma experience as an RN or APRN. ACLS, BLS, PALS required..
  • Two professional references required from previous or current supervisors, managers, nursing faculty members, or providers who can attest to applicant's clinical knowledge, skill, and potential aptitude for graduate study. References will not be accepted from colleagues or family members.
  • An unrestricted United States RN license or eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse. An unrestricted Pennsylvania RN license or eligibility for licensure in the State of Pennsylvania is required, regardless of the state with the student resides.

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

Program Requirements

Nurse Practitioner Support Courses
NURS 548Advanced Pathophysiology3.0
NUPR 600Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics5.0
NURS 550Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning 4.0
NURS 664Professional Issues for Nurse Practitioners1.0
Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner 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
Emergency Nurse Practitioner Concentration Courses
NURS 673Emergency/Trauma Care Across the Lifespan I5.0
NURS 674Emergency/Trauma Care Across the Lifespan II5.0
NURS 675Emergency/Trauma Caring for Trauma and Critically Ill Patient 5.0
Total Credits48.0

Sample Plan of Study

First Year (Part-Time)
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NURS 6641.0NURS 5483.0NUPR 6005.0VACATION0.0
 1 3 5 0
Second Year (Part-Time)
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NURS 5504.0NURS 5365.0NURS 5375.0NURS 5345.0
 4 5 5 5
Third Year (Part-Time)
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NURS 5355.0NURS 6735.0NURS 6745.0NURS 6755.0
 5 5 5 5
Total Credits 48

Additional Information

For more information about this program, contact:

Graduate Nursing Division

CNHPGraduateDivision@drexel.edu

Additional information is also available on Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions webpage and on the Drexel University Online webpage.

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