Post-Graduate Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Program Coordinator/Contact

Heidi Mennenga, Interim Associate Dean for Academic Programs
Department of Graduate Nursing
Wagner Hall 255, Box 2275
605-688-5178 or 1-888-216-9806 Ext. 3

Program Information

Nurses who have a master’s in nursing but are not nurse practitioners are eligible to apply. Graduates of this program are prepared to deliver evidence-based direct patient care at an advanced practice level to individuals across the lifespan in primary care settings. Graduates are eligible to write certification examinations in Family Nurse Practitioner from either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP).

The program has many online courses, and some where intermittent in-person attendance is required. Students who have completed graduate nursing courses in pharmacology, pathophysiology and advanced health assessment in the last five years may be able to use those course towards certificate requirements. Students complete a minimum of 1000 hours of clinical practice preceptorship in a variety of settings, including mandatory practice in rural settings.

Program Outcomes

To prepare clinical nurse leaders, nurse educators, family nurse practitioners and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners who:

apply knowledge of evidence-based practice,
engage in life-long learning, and
serve South Dakota, the region, the nation, and the world in urban, rural, and frontier health care settings.

Student Learning Outcomes

Assess, diagnose, and treat patients appropriately throughout the lifespan who present to primary care for acute and chronic health conditions.
Demonstrate understanding of the professional and legal aspects of the family nurse practitioner role.
Develop patient centered treatment plans that demonstrate understanding of physical assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacologic principles and integrate cultural, socioeconomic, and spiritual factors.

Course Delivery Format

The program coursework is delivered online and face-to-face. Students complete a minimum of 1000 hours of clinical practice preceptorship.

Certificate Requirements

NURS 765 - FNP Integration: Practicum I Credits: 7 (3, 4)
NURS 768 - FNP Integration: Practicum II Credits: 4
NURS 771 - FNP Integration: Practicum III Credits: 7 (3, 4)
NURS 776 - FNP Integration: Practicum IV Credits: 8 (3, 5)

Total Required Credits: 26

Notes

For additional information, refer to the Graduate Nursing Department webpage.

Additional Admission Requirements

GRE: Not required
TOEFL: Score of 81 Internet-based
IELTS: 6.5 total band
Duolingo: 110

In addition to meeting basic requirements for admission to the Graduate School, applicants for graduate study in nursing must have:

Current licensure as a Registered Nurse (and if applicable, APRN and licensure) in the United States or its’ territories prior to enrollment in first graduate nursing course.
1500 hours of documented nursing practice experience prior to the first clinical course.
Completed graduate level courses in Advanced Physical Assessment (Lifespan), Advanced Pathophysiology (Lifespan), Advanced Pharmacology / Pharmacotherapeutics (Lifespan) with a course grade of 3.0 within the last 5 years.
Completed and verified application to the Graduate Nursing program via NursingCAS website.
Completed an approved statistical methods course within 5 years of enrollment in the designated research course within the DNP program coursework.
Interview assessment reviewed by graduate faculty.
Applicants who have begun but not completed a graduate nursing program at another college or university must submit a letter to the College of Nursing indicating their reason for leaving that said program. A letter of recommendation must also be submitted to the College of Nursing from the dean/director of their former program that includes the applicant’s standing in that program upon exit.
Completed Compliance requirements: Clear Background check, clear FBI rolled fingerprint, clear drug screen, Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, ACLS certification for FNP specialization, professional liability insurance, influenza vaccine, and TB test.

For applicants who completed their higher education within the United States:

Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.
Master’s degree in nursing (from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.

For applicants who completed their higher education outside the United States:

A degree deemed equivalent (by the World Education Service) to a Bachelor’s degree in nursing (within the United States Education System) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.
A degree deemed equivalent (by the World Education Service) to a Master’s degree in nursing (within the United States Education System) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.

Additional Information

Students enrolled in SDSU certificate programs are not eligible for federal student financial aid. The non-federal alternative loan programs may be used for students meeting the lender criteria as found at www.sdstate.edu (search alternative loans). For further information, please contact the SDSU financial aid office at 605-688-4695 or finaid@sdstate.edu.