Post Master’s Nurse Practitioner Programs California

What Is The Difference Between A Nursing Certification And A Post

When it comes to nursing certifications, there are several options for nurses based on their degree level. For example, nursing certifications differ from post-master’s graduate certificates for several reasons. First, the requirements for certification are different. Nursing certifications are offered to RNs with a minimum of 2,000 hours of practice in a specific specialty. Post-master’s certificates are offered to master’s degree nurses or higher. Second, nursing certifications usually only require a certain amount of clinical experience. Post-master’s certificates usually require completion of a curriculum in order to become certified.

Master Of Science Degree Requirements

Courses. Under the direction of the graduate coordinator, each student prepares and submits an individually designed program based on the following:

Core courses in nursing

Role Specialization courses

• Nurse Practitioner/Primary Care/Family Option

Thesis or Project

Minimum Total

Facilities. The diverse facilities of the community provide a wide variety of learning opportunities for individualized pursuit of student goals. Graduate and postbaccalaureate students have clinical placements, which are consistent with their career goals.

Preceptor selection for clinical placement in the Nurse Practitioner/Primary Care/Family program is the responsibility of the School of Nursing. The school will gather pertinent information to assist in preceptor identification during the first semester of the program. All preceptors must meet standards for educational and clinical experience as established by the California Board of Registered Nursing and appropriate accrediting bodies. Preceptors must be either a physician or a master’s prepared nurse practitioner.

Graduate Writing Requirement. All students must meet the university’s graduate writing proficiency requirement prior to being advanced to candidacy for the master’s degree. Students fulfill the writing requirement by passing the writing component of NURS 221. Students can obtain additional information regarding the graduate writing requirement in the program’s Graduate Student Handbook.

Build Your Clinical Expertise

In this online post-masters PMHNP certificate program, youll acquire the advanced-practice nursing skills and clinical judgment to make comprehensive mental health assessments on patients of all ages. Learn to provide holistic mental health services and lead mental health wellness efforts for individuals, groups, and families. Explore the use of research in creating, assessing, and refining health promotion materials that best resonate with the populations in your community.

This certificates content is consistent with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties standards for psychiatric-mental health nursing programs.

Walden field experience coordinators are available to assist you in meeting your practicum requirements and you can view this FAQ document for answers to some of the most common questions.

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Application Deadlines And Process

For entry for the 2022-2023 academic year, applications open July 1, 2021. The deadline for completed and locked applications, with transcripts and all recommendations included, is Feb. 1, 2022.

Deadlines vary by specialty. If you plan to apply after the Feb. 1, 2022 deadline, please first confirm that the specialty you have chosen is still accepting new applications. Availability and capacity differs among the specialty areas.

Please note that the deadline for the two-year Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate specialty is Feb. 1, 2022. For applicants to the one-year UC Multi-Campus Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate Program, applications open July 16, 2021 and close March 1, 2022 for January 2023 entry.

The School of Nursing reserves the right to process and admit applicants after the published deadlines.

List Of Online Nurse Practitioner Schools In California

California RNs are lucky in that they have a variety of online NP programs to choose from. Whether you are looking for part-time options, a particular specialty, or a certain degree level, it wont be hard to find something that fits the bill in the state. Some schools also offer hybrid options, which combines the flexibility of online coursework with limited on-campus visits. Prospective students should also know that while the academic portion of these distance-learning programs can be completed online, clinical requirements will still need to be completed in-person at a local medical facility or hospital.

Accredited online NP programs in California produce skilled graduates who will have the same employment and salary opportunities as their colleagues who complete traditional, classroom-based programs. If you are a current RN looking for a flexible and convenient way to advance your career, consider the online programs below.

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Clinical Nurse Specialist Programs

The programs on the list conform to the Boards requirements for Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification but are not formally approved by the BRN.

* Denotes Private Schools

Submit Application To San Francisco State University Via Cal State Apply

• A personal statement, 250-500 words and must address the following:
• Describe the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Program of study you are interested in as it relates to your career goals
• Explain why you are seeking a degree from SF State
• How do you anticipate this program will assist your goals?
• What contributions do you foresee adding to the field of nursing?
• What special attributes will you bring to the nursing profession?

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Family Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse Practitioner Option

The purpose of the Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is to prepare the nurse interested in an advanced practice role in the health care system. The student receives preparation in a variety of roles including independent psychotherapy practice and management of psychiatric and mental health conditions in a variety of settings. Such management includes the furnishing of psychiatric medications. Students receive detailed supervision of cases so as to understand the incorporation of mental health sciences theory into practice. The program builds on the rich history and tradition of practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing. The educational preparation includes courses in nursing research and theories, as well as in working with clients at all levels of the health-illness continuum. The graduate from the program is fully eligible to take the national nurse practitioner examination for Certification by the American Nurse Credentialing Center as well as by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

The Post Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program

The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration focuses upon the theoretical and scientific bases for the diagnosis and treatment of common illness, as well as health teaching, counseling and preventive services. Emphasis is placed upon advanced clinical skills, including history-taking and physical examination, health screening, management of common illness, and techniques of prevention and risk reduction.

SSUs Post-Masters FNP Certificate program is a four semester two-year program, 36 semester unit program. See School of Extended and International Education for current fee schedule. Courses are face to face, hybrid and on-line using a variety of modalities. Student will need to come to Sonoma 8 or more times during the first semester and 3 -4 times in subsequent semesters. Clinical preceptorships are conducted in the students local community with oversight from SSU clinical faculty member. The majority of the programs coursework is web-based and students need to be comfortable in using a computer and the internet. The program is currently offered in the geographic service areas of Sonoma State University, Chico, Redding and Turlock, Modesto, Stockton and Merced. The program accepts students from all geographic areas in Northern and Central California with the acknowledgement that students will be required to attend some seminars and labs on the SSU campus.

For further information, please see the FNP Certificate Program website.

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Licensing Certification And Employment Opportunities Of Our Msn Graduates:

The MSN graduate of the CSULB will be eligible to obtain licensing, certification, and assume employment positions in any of the following areas as appropriate to their clinical specialization:

• Be eligible to take the national certification examination in their own specialty, either as a nurse practitioner or an executive manager, as appropriate.

• As an Advanced Practice Nurse , be eligible to obtain privileges to legally furnish specific medications and treatments and obtain the prescription writing furnishing license.

• Be able to practice as an APN within the parameters of the California Board of Registered Nursings scope of practice as a nurse practitioner in any of the following selected clinical specialties:

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

• Family Nurse Practitioner

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse practitioner

Cal State Apply Application Period

We strongly recommend that prospective students complete the Cal State Apply application as early as possible during the application period to allow time for an SF State ID number to be issued and all required university documentation, including a set of official transcripts, residency status information, etc., to be submitted, received and processed. Late applications will not be accepted.

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Choosing A Specialty Area

We offer Post-Master’s options for specialized study as a clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner or health policy specialist.

MS specialties become available on a year-to-year basis, depending on faculty and funding resources. For details on which MS specialties offer Post-Master’s options and for specialty-specific details and requirements, visit the webpages for our specialties. You may also contact the coordinator for the specialty you’re interested in if you have questions.

Nurse Practitioner Specialities

Requirements For The Certificate

Students will qualify for the award of the post-masters certificate after they have successfully completed the required certificate program course with a 3.0 or higher GPA. This program consists of advanced practice core courses and required option courses . Once students have successfully met the requirements for the 12 units of Advanced Practice Core and the Common Core course NURS 5020 . This will enable the graduate of this program to obtain State certification from the BRN as a nurse practitioner and to sit for national certification examinations as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

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New Spring And Summer Admissions

The FNP-C Program is based on the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Competencies , the FNP-C program to become more efficient and competent practitioners.

The post-masters FNP-C program builds on existing curricula found in masters nursing programs, rooted in a social justice framework. In the program, youll have access to a number of traditional and non-traditional clinical rotations. Our faculty staff several safety-net organizations, work with unhoused populations, with international non-governmental organizations and specialize in a number of interprofesional areas including palliative care, specialty womens health, public health and newborn care.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to test for FNP certification exams through the American Nurses Credentialing Center or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program and apply for California Nurse Practitioner Certification.

The FNP-C is offered as a full-time coursework – 90% online and 10% on-campus intensives . Clinical opportunities and those with faculty are in a variety of geographic locations located both within and outside of the United States.

FNP-C students will be prepared to:

Curriculum And Time Needed To Earn A Certificate

The Post-Master’s program does not have a single separate curriculum. Each MS specialty’s webpage carries information about specific courses and curricula requirements. The specialty coordinator and/or specialty advisor will work with each student on a gap analysis to determine what specific curricular requirements are required for successful completion of the individual program.

The average time commitment is 4 to 8 quarters, depending on the specialty area selected. Students are typically required to attend classes at UCSF an average of 2 days each week and attend clinical a minimum of 1 to 2 days each week. Post-Master’s students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 3 quarters to fulfill the residency requirement to receive a Post-Master’s certificate. Students are not required to find their own clinical placements.

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Why Pursue An Online Nurse Practitioner Program In California

Nurse Practitioners fulfill a crucial role in the healthcare landscape in California. These highly-skilled nurses are able to offset physician shortages in the state, and are often the primary caregivers to residents in more rural areas of California. With several degree types available to prospective NPs, including a masters , a post-graduate certificate , and a doctoral pathway , nurses in California who wish to advance their careers, earn higher salaries, and work with the patient population of their choice are increasingly opting for online nurse practitioner programs.

Many RNs pursue online courses while holding a full-time job. Flexible online options let them deepen their understanding of their specialization to provide better care, and they can also advance their earning capability. Plus, studying at home takes away the pressure and distraction of in-person classes.

Nurse Practitioner Career And Salary

Certified nurse practitioners are in high demand and the job outlook is excellent for these roles. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, nurse practitioner positions are expected to rise 28 percent between 2018 and 2028, an increase of over 53,000 jobs . Additionally, nurse-midwifery positions are expected to increase by 16 percent for that same time frame. The average across all occupations is 5 percent, for reference.

Nurse practitioners can expect to earn between $80,670 and $182,750 per year with a median salary landing at $107,030 . NPs play an important role in healthcare, and given their advanced practice training and their significant autonomy and practice authority, NPs can help mitigate the shortage of family practice doctors across the country.

NPs study a wide variety of subjectsincluding courses on:

• Healthcare policy

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What Will I Learn In A Post

Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Masters Certificate Program graduates obtain the necessary skills and knowledge needed to assess, diagnose and manage patients along the continuum of health. FNP professionals care for patients across the lifespan in a wide array of primary care settings including clinics, offices and other community settings.

Quick Facts

• Masters degree in nursing and at least one year of clinical nursing experience is required
• The FNP Post-Masters Certificate Program is not eligible for financial aid or financial assistance

Why Get A Post

Earning a post-masters certificate can be an efficient way to earn a specialty certification as a nurse practitioner, especially if youre not interested in getting another graduate degree. After earning a post-masters certificate, many psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners go on to open their own private practice. Others work within a network of mental health professionals in a counseling office. Other options include working in private or public healthcare systems, addiction rehabilitation centers, or hospitals for people with mental health issues.

Lets take a look at some of the pros and cons of taking this path.

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Continue Expanding Your Nursing Skills With A Post

Our Post-Masters Certificate Program enables nurses with a master’s degree in nursing to pursue state certification in an additional specialty area, or seek a program of study that may lead to a change in role . You’ll receive a certificate upon completion and will be eligible to apply for national certification examinations.

Why Should I Pursue A Post

There are several reasons why a master’s-prepared nurse would pursue a post-master’s certificate. As mentioned earlier, nurse practitioners may wish to change specialties, or enhance their current practice. For example, a primary care nurse practitioner may want to become certified in acute care. A family practice nurse practitioner may wish to pursue a mental health certificate. Adding expertise in a clinical specialty helps to increase job prospects as well as provide high-quality care in current practice.

Nurses who hold a master’s degree in nursing may also wish to pursue more administrative or educational roles. For example, master’s-prepared nurses who work as clinical nurse specialists may want to earn certification in education to enhance their practice and expand their career mobility. Nurses with an MSN in nurse leadership may choose a certificate program in informatics, which would help them participate in designing and implementing innovative technology to improve patient care outcomes. Essentially, a post-master’s certificate broadens a nurse’s knowledge base and can help open more doors in their careers.

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Schedule And Application Deadline

• Certified registered nurse anesthetists

Required Qualifications

• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licensure in California. Nursing license must be recognized as valid for practice within the state of California during the complete course of study.
• Minimum of 3 letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV
• English proficiency for non-native speakers

Required Prerequisite Coursework

• Advanced Physical Health Assessment
• Advanced Pharmacology

Graduates And Students Of Foreign Institutions

Graduates and students of foreign institutions are invited to apply provided they satisfy the eligibility requirements provided above. Degrees and coursework completed outside the United States must be evaluated by an approved evaluation service. Details regarding Touro University California requirements for Graduates and Students of Foreign Institutions may be found on our Graduates and Students of Foreign Institutions page.

NursingCAS maintains a direct integration with World Education Services, Inc, the preferred evaluation agency of Touro University California, which enables electronic transmission of your evaluation directly to NursingCAS. If you wish, you may use one of the other two TUC approved evaluation agencies listed via the link above. Directions for requesting/submitting your evaluation to Nursing CAS may be found under the Foreign and French-Canadian Transcripts section of the NursingCAS help center .

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