• This program is offered online.

  • Certificate Available in Select States Only

    Due to the number of different certification organizations and the individual state requirements related to nurse practitioner responsibilities, completion of the adult nurse practitioner specialization or certificate does not imply or guarantee certification or licensure. Students are responsible for the investigation of the qualifications and requirements for certification and/or licensure in their specific location.

    At this time, the Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate is available only in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

    Please note: International Students are not eligible to enroll for this program. 

    Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program Highlights

    Prepare for exciting new opportunities in a variety of health care settings. Consider earning a post-master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate online at Kaplan University. 

    Our program is designed to help professional nurses like you promote holistic health care to adults and children in a family context, and diagnose and manage their acute and chronic health problems. Prepare to serve as an advocate for clients as they interface with the health care system.

    The Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program consists of 65 quarter credit hours. Upon successful completion of this program, you are awarded a certificate.

    As a student in the Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program, you will participate in a clinical practice experience at a health care facility or clinical site. The onsite component is designed to provide you with an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting.

    Please contact an Admissions Advisor for more information about hours needed to complete the clinical practicum requirement.

    What are the Career Opportunities?

    Nurse practitioners (NPs) function as primary providers of clinical services to specialized groups of patients. They diagnose and treat patients, order tests, interpret results, prepare treatment plans, and, in many states, can prescribe medication.*

    Family NPs can serve in many different work environments, including urgent care facilities, emergency rooms, family practices, or retail heath locations. They could also play vital roles in convenient care facilities, nursing care facilities, and universities.† 

    Accreditation Notice

    Please note that most states require nurses to be nationally certified in order to obtain licensure as a nurse practitioner. Students are responsible for determining whether they will be eligible for state Board of Nursing approval and certification as a nurse practitioner or advanced practice nurse in their state. Students can obtain additional information from their state’s Board of Nursing, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (AACN), and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).‡ 

  • Kaplan University offers multiple start dates, giving you greater flexibility with your education, life, and work schedules.

    Jul 31

    Online Start Date
    Jul 31, 2013

    Oct 16

    Online Start Date
    Oct 16, 2013

    View the Academic Calendar

  • Curriculum: All Tracks

    Certificate Requirements

    MN 550: ROLE OF THE NURSE PRACTITIONER IN PRIMARY CARE (5 Credits)

    This course prepares the registered nurse to transition into advanced nursing practice by examining the role of the advanced practice nurse within the context of the United States health care delivery system. Students will discuss the scope and standard of practice for advanced practice nurses. Students will investigate the regulatory, legal, and legislative issues affecting the advanced practice nurse role.

    Prerequisites Required: Completion of all core courses

    Total Certificate Requirements Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 65

    MN 551: ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN (5 Credits)

    This course integrates knowledge of advanced physiology and pathophysiology across the life span and the clinical implications for the advanced practice nurse. Function and dysfunction of organ systems are analyzed from the cellular level through the integrated organ level. Students will examine the pathophysiological factors that influence the incidence and manifestations of acute, episodic, and chronic diseases in populations across the life span. Disease processes and symptom management approaches are investigated utilizing an evidence-based approach.

    Total Certificate Requirements Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 65

    MN 552: ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT (5 Credits)

    This course provides the student with the skills and knowledge to conduct a focused and comprehensive health history, and a functional, physical, and psychosocial assessment. Relationships between assessment findings and underlying physiology and pathophysiology to the healthy and unhealthy client are investigated. Clinical judgment and clinical reasoning skills are used in establishing differential diagnoses. Students will learn to address variables such as age, culture, ethnicity, and developmental stages into their differential diagnosis and evaluation and management plans.

    Prerequisites Required: MN 551 and MN 553

    Total Certificate Requirements Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 65

    MN 553: ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN (5 Credits)

    This course integrates advanced knowledge of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and genomics across the life span and prepares the advanced practice nurse to prescribe pharmacotherapeutics safely and effectively. Students will apply client history and physical examination findings, together with laboratory and imaging studies, in the evidence-based selection of the correct prescriptive and nonprescriptive medications for therapy. Students will examine ethical, legal, regulatory, and cost-effective prescribing practices of the advanced practice nurse. Communication plans for the interdisciplinary team, clients, and/or families for both prescriptive and nonprescriptive drug therapies will be created.

    Prerequisites Required: MN 551

    Total Certificate Requirements Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 65

    MN 554: PRIMARY CARE ACROSS THE ADULT AGE CONTINUUM I (5 Credits)

    This first course in a series of three examines the range of illnesses and conditions experienced by clients and presented to the advanced practice nurse in primary care settings. Students will develop a consistent approach to the evaluation and management of illnesses and conditions frequently encountered. Content builds upon previous diagnostic knowledge and clinical reasoning skills in the development of differential diagnosis and appropriate diagnostic workups. Age-appropriate, culturally sensitive, and evidence-based plans of care are created. The course explores health promotion and health maintenance approaches and strategies that incorporate individual health beliefs and practices intended to encourage the client’s participation and adherence.

    Prerequisites Required: MN 552 and MN 553

    Total Certificate Requirements Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 65

    MN 555: PRIMARY CARE ACROSS THE ADULT AGE CONTINUUM II (5 Credits)

    This second course in a series of three examines the range of illnesses and conditions experienced by clients and presented to the advanced practice nurse in primary care settings. Illustration of a consistent approach to the evaluation and management of these illnesses and conditions are emphasized. Students expand their diagnostic and clinical reasoning and differential diagnoses abilities through continued application of new and previously acquired knowledge and skills in caring for clients who present acute, episodic, and chronic illness and conditions. Students can determine the diagnostic workup with greater ease based on the differential diagnoses formulated. Students formulate evidence-based management plans that address clients’ health beliefs, developmental and family life cycle stages, health promotion, and health maintenance behaviors.

    Prerequisites Required: MN 552 and MN 553

    Total Certificate Requirements Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 65

    MN 556: PRIMARY CARE ACROSS THE ADULT AGE CONTINUUM III (5 Credits)

    This final course in a series of three integrates the evaluation and management plans of clients who present an acute, episodic, or chronic state of illness to the advanced practice nurse. Generating an inclusive differential diagnosis reflecting clinical reasoning from a cost-effective diagnostic workup is highlighted. Designing age-appropriate, culturally sensitive, and evidence-based plans of care based on sound diagnostic reasoning and clinical judgment is emphasized. Conditions considered to be office emergencies and the evaluation and management strategies specifically designed to treat or stabilize them are evaluated. Strategies used to support and promote individual, family, and community health promotion and health maintenance activities are explored.

    Prerequisites Required: MN 554 and MN 555

    Total Certificate Requirements Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 65

    MN 557: PRIMARY CARE OF THE PEDIATRIC CLIENT (5 Credits)

    This course uses a developmental framework to explore the evaluation and management of the most common health problems encountered by children from birth through early adolescence. Building on previously obtained knowledge and skills, the student develops new knowledge and applies concepts to assist children and families in managing acute episodic illness as well as stable chronic disease. Concepts of health promotion and health maintenance are integrated throughout the course.

    Prerequisites Required: MN 556

    Total Certificate Requirements Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 65

    MN 560: ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE CLINICAL I (5 Credits)

    This clinical course focuses on the student applying interviewing and physical examination techniques to obtain accurate historical and physical data. Students apply clinical reasoning to the formulation of differential diagnoses and evaluation and management of acute episodic and chronic diseases across the adult age continuum. Students will have the opportunity to implement the role of the nurse practitioner with adults in a family and community context. Students are expected to assess and manage common acute episodic and chronic health illnesses and conditions in consultation with their clinical preceptor. Initiation of health promotion and health maintenance activities with individuals and groups is stressed.

    Prerequisites Required: MN 554 and MN 555; Corequisite: MN 556

    Total Certificate Requirements Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 65

    MN 561: ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE CLINICAL II (5 Credits)

    This course provides the student with opportunities to refine interview and physical examination techniques. Students will develop a comprehensive list of differential diagnoses and order cost-effective diagnostic and laboratory tests for the client’s symptoms and diseases. Applying diagnostic reasoning and clinical judgment, students will develop and evaluate individualized management plans that consider the numerous factors affecting client adherence to prescribed treatment plans such as health beliefs and cultural practices.

    Prerequisites Required: MN 560

    Total Certificate Requirements Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 65

    MN 562: ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE CLINICAL—PEDIATRICS (5 Credits)

    This course provides the student with opportunities to apply advanced interviewing and examination techniques and utilize clinical judgment and diagnostic reasoning when evaluating and managing primary care health issues for children (0 to 12 years of age). Implementation of the role of the nurse practitioner with children and their families in the community occurs under the guidance of an experienced preceptor. The student initiates health promotion and health maintenance activities with pediatric clients and their families and/or caregivers. Collaborative, interdisciplinary practice is emphasized as students evaluate and manage the range of common illnesses and conditions in pediatric patients.

    Prerequisites Required: MN 557

    Total Certificate Requirements Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 65

    MN 599: ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE CLINICAL III (5 Credits)

    This final clinical course provides students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the role of the primary care nurse practitioner. Applying the principles of clinical judgment and diagnostic reasoning to the evaluation and management of clients with acute episodic and chronic illness, the nurse practitioner student will practice more independent decision-making skills while using the preceptor as a clinical resource. Students will explore the impact of regulatory, legislative, and legal factors on the implementation of the nurse practitioner role in primary care. Students will develop a stronger identity as an advanced practice nurse as they implement all aspects of the role, such as provider and educator, and demonstrate a commitment to ensuring quality of care through consultation, collaboration, continuing education, certification, and self-reflection. The student may also begin an evidence-based project proposal that is to be completed in MN 600: Evidence-Based Practice Project.

    Prerequisites Required: MN 561

    Total Certificate Requirements Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 65

    MN 600: EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROJECT (5 Credits)

    Students who have successfully completed the core and specialization courses have a theoretical base in nursing, evidence-based decision making, health policy, finance, and organization of the health care delivery system. Students also have a theoretical base in advanced practice issues, ethics, health promotion and disease prevention, and biostatistics. In this capstone course, students demonstrate their depth of knowledge by working with a mentor to identify a problem in the student’s concentration area amenable to an evidence-based solution showing mastery of the program outcomes. Students integrate diverse content areas and submit an evidence-based practice project proposal that addresses the identified problem.

    Prerequisites Required: All core and specialization courses; the specialization residency requirement may be taken concurrently

    Total Certificate Requirements Credits: 65
    Total Program Credits: 65

    Tuition & Fees: All Tracks

    The 25% tuition reduction applies only to international students living outside of the United States. This discount does not apply to military students. Please check with your advisor to see if you are eligible. 

    All Tracks Online &
    Learning Center     		Campus
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    Tuition and Fees

    Some programs have additional associated fees that are not included in the price of tuition. Click here or check with an Admissions Advisor for more information. 

    Learn More about Kaplan University Tuition and Fees  

    Notice to Learning Center Students

    Kaplan University Learning Center students will only complete a portion of this program on site. You will need to complete at least 50% of the program requirements online, or through transfer credit awarded via prior learning assessment. If you have any questions about these requirements, please speak with an admissions advisor.

    Scholarships and Grants

    Learn more about grants and Kaplan University Scholarships and that may help reduce the cost of your education.

    Kaplan University tuition reductions (including active-duty, spouse, and veterans military tuition rates; scholarships; grants; vouchers; and alumni and alliance reductions) cannot be combined. 

    Tuition Rates for Military Students and Spouses

    Kaplan University has significantly reduced many of our tuition rates and fees for active-duty servicemembers, their spouses, and veterans. Click here for more information.
     

  •  This program is not eligible for Title IV federal financial aid.

  • * O*Net OnLine, Summary Report for Nurse Practitioners, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/29-1199.03.

    † Kaplan University cannot guarantee employment or career advancement.

    ‡ Although certain programs at Kaplan University are designed to prepare students to take various certification or licensing exams, the University cannot guarantee the student will pass those exams. In some cases, field experience, additional coursework, and/or background checks may be necessary to take or to successfully pass the exams.

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