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Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Fall start only)

The online Post Master’s Certificate FNP Clinical Specialty prepares advanced practice nurses to function as family nurse practitioners (FNP). This program can be completed on a full-time (6 credits) or part-time basis. A graduate of the program is eligible for certification and licensure as a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP). Students need not be Pennsylvania residents or intend to work in Pennsylvania to enroll in the program. Graduates are eligible to take either the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification examination.

After being accepted for admission to the Post Master’s Certificate Family Nurse Practitioner Program, each student is assigned a faculty mentor who will assist the student in completion of a Program Plan. To complete this program, students must complete 21 credits of FNP course work in addition to core and MSN clinical requirements. Students have up to five years to complete the program.

Although this program is offered online, students are required to come to campus in the second and third year. The required campus visits are in November.

This program is based upon and consistent with the mission, purposes, and philosophy of Duquesne University and its undergraduate nursing program. The Duquesne faculty is committed to nurturing a flexible and creative scholarly environment that encourages students to participate actively in scientific inquiry and research.

View Gainful Employment Disclosure for Certificates.

APPLICATION ALERT

Due to higher education regulation changes, effective August 1, 2011, Duquesne University is unable to accept applications for admission to online programs and courses from students residing in Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin. For questions, please contact Paul-James Cukanna in the Office of Admissions at 412.396.5002 or grademg@duq.edu.
Curriculum

Family Nurse Practitioner Curriculum

Download PMC curriculum grid

Course # Course Title Credits
GPNG 503 Population-Based Health Promotion 3 credits
GPNG 508 Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nursing 3 credits
GPNG 509* Physical Assessment for Advanced Practice Nursing 3 credits
GPNG 510 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing 3 credits
GNFN 500* Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care 1 credit
GNFN 501 Family Counseling 2 credits
GNFN 502 Primary Care of the Childbearing Age Family in Health and Illness 4 credits
(2T/2CL)
GNFN 503 Primary Care of the Maturing Family in Health and Illness 4 credits
(2T/2CL)
GNFN 504* Clinical Diagnosis and Management Principles of the Family in Primary Health Care 4 credits
GNFN 505 Role Seminar I for Advanced Practice Nursing 1 credit
GNFN 506 Advanced Practice Clinical Preceptorship 4 credits
GNFN 507 Role Seminar II for Advanced Practice Nursing 1 credit

TOTAL = 33 credits
* Students enrolled in GPNG 509, GNFN 500 and GNFN 504 must come to campus in November for around 40 hours of course work.

Revisions to courses and curricula are ongoing.

AACN Synergy Model

The Synergy Model for Patient Care, developed by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, has been adopted by the faculty and integrated into the undergraduate and graduate nursing curriculums.  The core concept of the Synergy Model: the needs or characteristics of patients and families influence the characteristics or competencies of the nurse.  Synergy results when the needs and characteristics of a patient, clinical unit or system match those of the nurse.

The Synergy Model describes eight patient characteristics (needs) and eight nurse characteristics (competencies); patient needs drive nurse competencies.  Each individual characteristic is further delineated by levels of complexity or intensity.  The core competencies of the nurse include clinical judgment, advocacy, clinical practices, collaboration, systems thinking, response to diversity, clinical inquiry and facilitation of learning.  These eight competencies provide the basis for program and level outcomes in the undergraduate program.  An additional ninth program/level outcome focuses on the synergy between the nurse’s competencies and patient characteristics as it relates to patient outcomes.  Similarly, the graduate program outcomes are based on these same nurse characteristics but at a higher level. Underlying all competencies is the unique contribution of nurses to provide safe passage for patients and their families through the health care environment.

The table below illustrates the relationship between nurse competencies of the Synergy Model and the BSN program outcomes.

Nurse Competencies

Program Outcomes
Clinical Judgment Integrate clinical judgment skills when implementing care for individuals, families, groups, and community.
Advocacy Justify one’s practice through the implementation of the role of being a moral agent.
Caring Practices Display a caring attitude in all aspects of one’s practice.
Collaboration Initiate collaborative efforts for the improvement of care to individuals and for improvement in the health care delivery.
Systems Thinking Demonstrate the ability to utilize integrated systems analysis for the personal and professional navigation of the health care delivery systems.
Response to Diversity Integrate cultural sensitivity in caring for individuals/families of diverse populations.
Clinical Inquiry Engage in evidenced-based practice.
Facilitation of Learning Incorporate teaching into all aspects of one’s practice.
Impact of “synergy” nurse/patient characteristics and patient outcomes Evaluate the interrelationship of nurse competencies and the patient characteristics to patient outcomes.

Links

The AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care