Aug 29, 2024  
OHIO University Graduate Catalog 2024-25 
    
OHIO University Graduate Catalog 2024-25

Post-Graduate Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs

Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate – CTFNRG

School of Nursing
Athens Campus (Main Office)
Grover Center E365
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio 45701
740-593-4494
800-560-0144 (toll free)
graduatenursing@ohio.edu

Delivery Mode: Online

Terms of Entry: Fall, Spring

Terms of Entry Requiring Program Permission: None

Enrollment Eligibility: Current degree-seeking or non-degree status

Certificate Overview

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Post-Graduate certificate is designed to give active nurses the skills, confidence, and autonomy needed to become a family nurse practitioner (FNP). The program provides students with the current theory and advanced practical knowledge necessary to be able to assess and manage the health of patients ranging from children to adults. The program is designed for advanced practice nurses in other specialties, as well as those who hold a master’s degree in nursing and have at least two semesters of clinical nursing experience. The program prepares students for providing care to patients of all ages and in a wide array of medical settings as an FNP. The program can be completed in 2 semesters. 

Further Information

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/chsp/nursing/graduate/certificates/fnp

Certificate Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  • Synthesize knowledge from nursing and other disciplines as a basis for clinical judgment, clinical reasoning, and innovative evidence-based education and practice.
  • Incorporate evidence-based practice in the delivery of personcentered care to enhance health outcomes and improve health systems.
  • Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to select and apply principles of population health and advocacy strategies that optimize health outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and populations.
  • Integrate and evaluate evidence-based practice to inform and promote advanced clinical practice.
  • Analyze and apply quality improvement strategies to create a culture of safe, professional nursing practice that optimizes health and protects all.
  • Apply leadership skills as a member of the interprofessional team to optimize the health of individuals, families, and populations within complex healthcare environments.
  • Apply evidence-based, innovative strategies based on organizational and systems policies to enhance value, access, quality, and cost-effectiveness within complex healthcare delivery systems.
  • Integrate information technology systems to drive decision making, healthcare change and interdisciplinary communication in complex healthcare delivery systems.
  • Integrate the role of the advanced practice nurse utilizing effective professional communication and presence to promote person-centered care.
  • Contribute to an environment that promotes self-care, personal health, well-being and professional development in a culture of accountability and collaboration.

Opportunities upon Completion

Family Nurse Practitioners are prepared to work collaboratively in diverse primary care settings such as: primary care offices, school-based health clinics, hospice/homecare medical practices, retail health clinics, and community health clinics.

Admission Requirements

  • Awarded Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from a regionally accredited institution. Minimum grade point average of 3.20 for unconditional admission.
  • Statement of professional goals
  • Resume or CV
  • Three letters of recommendation from individuals who are knowledgeable about the applicant’s ability to complete graduate-level coursework and practice abilities. A minimum of 2 of these must be from individuals prepared at or above the master’s level. One must be from an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse or Registered Nurse.
  • Residents of and evidence of valid, unencumbered RN licensure in an approved state (https://www.ohio.edu/chsp/nursing/graduate/masters/msn-application-process)
  • Evidence of the equivalent of two years full time relevant experience working as an RN within the past five years
  • A web-based admission interview with faculty

Admission Pre-requisites

Students must have completed the following courses or the equivalent with a minimum of a B prior to admission into the certificate program:

Students who have not had these pre-requisites may either take them as non-degree seeking students prior to admission or take them as part of their certificate program.. Please contact the MSN program at graduatenursing@ohio.edu for further information.

Pre-Clinical Requirements

  • Specified health status/clinical requirements (i.e., immunization status, BLS certification) per the current Graduate Handbook
  • Federal and state background checks free from disqualifying offenses
  • Evidence of malpractice insurance

International Students

This certificate program does not permit full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 cannot be issued based on admission to this program.

Completion Requirements

The program of study includes 20 credit hours of track-specific content designed to meet the core competencies and clinical hour requirements for eligibility for national certification as an FNP. These courses are as follows:

Culminating Experience


The culminating experience for the major includes a comprehensive program exam.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs