Advanced Certificate Program

This certificate program, which is registered with the New York State Education Department, is designed to provide a focused course of study for individuals already holding a Master of Science degree in nursing to position themselves for certification as a family nurse practitioner.

The family nurse practitioner specializes in providing care services across populations focused on managing primary care and episodic illness for the entire family with appropriate referrals for needed services. Clinically, the nurse practitioner will assess, diagnose and prescribe treatments for individuals and families in need of care within the legal and ethical parameters of the nurse practitioner role. This program includes 700 hours of direct care of patients in health care settings. Students learn under the supervision of expert nurse practitioners and physicians. An individualized gap analysis will be done for all post-graduate student transcripts. Graduates will be eligible to take the ANCC or AANP certification exam as a family nurse practitioner.

Grading policies and academic regulations are consistent with those previously described in the master’s degree family nurse practitioner program. Please refer to the general Academic Regulations section of this catalog for health, CPR and malpractice insurance requirements.

As a graduate of the program, you will be prepared to take the exam for board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and AANP to further demonstrate your expertise in the family health field.

Technical, professional, and behavioral standards for all Nurse Practitioner students are covered in detail in the Graduate Nursing Student Handbook. All standards apply to MS and Post-graduate APRN students.

Please refer to the general Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog for health, C.P.R., and malpractice insurance requirements. Students must register with CastleBranch for their document repository. Students must also read and acknowledge the Criminal History and Background Check policy.

Required Courses

Total required for Post-Masters Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner: 30¹

Admissions Requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate programs at D’Youville College, applicants to the post-master’s certificate in family nurse practitioner must present the following:

1. Completed online graduate application for admissions (no application fee)

2. Completed masters of science degree in nursing from a CCNE or NLNAC (ACEN) accredited program at a college or university in the US (or by the CNO in Ontario).

3. Evidence of capability to succeed in a graduate program based on an overall GPA of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Non - U.S. students must submit a ‘course-by-course’ evaluation (or equivalent) of all college and/or university transcripts through the World Education Services (WES) or other approved foreign transcript evaluation agencies.

4. All official graduate transcripts. If health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology courses were taken at the undergraduate level those official transcripts must be submitted.

5. An overall G.P.A. of at least 3.0. Applicants with a masters’ degree in nursing, earned more than five years ago, with an overall G.P.A. less than 3.0 but more than or equal to 2.7, who have achieved significant professional success as documented on curricula vitae, may submit an application for consideration. Preferential admissions will be given to applicants with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher.

6. Active, unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in New York state or Ontario if Canadian.

7. Current CPR Certification with psychomotor component

8. A minimum of one year of experience as a registered nurse with a baccalaureate degree is required

9. Baccalaureate-level health assessment, pathophysiology and pharmacology courses or equivalent

10. Two references on clinical performance with one reference from an advanced practice nurse (NP) or a physician attesting to clinical knowledge, skills, leadership and the ability to be a good NP candidate. Other acceptable references include supervisors, managers or a former professor.

11. Writing assignment on your philosophy of nursing, 2 pages in length, double space and 12-point font that includes philosophy of nursing focused on past experience, what influencing nursing has had on your career, why you chose to pursue this degree, how you see this degree enhancing your career and how you will utilize this degree to advance patient care and health care outcomes.

12. A student who meets the entry requirements and is currently enrolled or previously enrolled in the Nurse Practitioner program or Doctor of Nursing Practice program at another college or university, must obtain a letter from that School of Nursing stating that the student is in good standing, not on probation, and able to register for classes. Students who were dismissed from a graduate or doctoral program will not be considered for admission.

13. Applicants who work full-time are not eligible for planned 2-year completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner certificate program.

Academic Regulations

In addition to the general academic regulations, all matriculated students in the nurse practitioner program must fulfill these requirements:

1. Completion of 40 credit-hours (Master of Science) or 30 credit-hours (Post-Master’s certificate) as required.
2. Students on academic probation are limited to six credits per semester while on probation.
   1. Students in Graduate Nursing Programs are expected to maintain a cumulative and semester GPA of 3.0. Students who do not maintain this GPA will be reviewed by the Progression and Retention Committee for academic consequences. A student who has less than a 3.0 GPA in either semester or cumulative, at any time will be placed on academic probation for the next semester or summer session. At the end of the probation period, the student’s file will be reviewed by the program Graduate Progression and Retention committee. If the student’s cumulative or semester GPA is a minimum of 3.0, the student will be removed from probation.
   2.  If the student does not achieve the 3.0 cumulative or semester GPA after a first probation, the graduate progression and retention committee may consider a second semester of probation. If a minimum of 3.0 GPA (cumulative or semester) is not achieved after a second probation, the student will automatically be ineligible to continue in their program.
   3. A student will be allowed probationary status for no more than two semesters during the entire graduate program. The student will automatically be ineligible to continue in their program if in excess of two semesters.
3. Students cannot register for clinical courses in the N.P. program until formally accepted into the program.
4. Family Nurse Practitioner certificate students are required to receive at least a B in all courses required for the FNP degree. Students who receive less than a B, including a B-, C+, C or lower in these courses, will have to repeat that course, will be placed on probation and cannot take any of the clinical practicum courses until they raise their grade in the applicable course to at least a B. They are also limited to six credits while on probation.
5. Student responsibilities: The nurse practitioner program is a demanding program in coursework, time, commitment and financial obligation. Due to these responsibilities for the program, students should seriously evaluate the impact that employment may have on their clinical performance and academic progress.