Please note: Admissions as of Fall 2025 is on hold for program review.
This post-professional certificate is targeted to licensed, registered nurses with an APRN MSN who wish to gain new skills and knowledge for board certification to provide primary care services as a family nurse practitioner. The program has been developed to address a growing demand from nurses for programming that enables them to obtain national certification as an advanced practice nurse (nurse practitioner) in the area of family care. The program will educate students in the concepts associated with illnesses and conditions across the lifespan. Students will develop knowledge in the diagnosis and management of illnesses. Students will learn to provide advanced nursing care to patients from childhood to older adulthood. Upon completing the program, application of key concepts related to diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of patients in primary care settings, with a focus on healthy promotion and disease prevention using best practices and evidence-based care to achieve the best possible patient outcomes will be understood.
Program Highlights
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Prepares nurses with an APRN MSN for an additional board certification to provide primary care services as a family nurse practitioner
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Students will understand key concepts related to diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of patients in primary care settings
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Completion time is 4 semesters
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There are a limited number of seats for the Post-Professional Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner
Careers
Check out these ideas from ODU's Center for Career & Leadership Development and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is a midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.
Nurse Practitioners
Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.
Family Medicine Physicians
Diagnose, treat, and provide preventive care to individuals and families across the lifespan. May refer patients to specialists when needed for further diagnosis or treatment.
Registered Nurses
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
Physician Assistants
Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
Requirements
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A completed online application and application fee. Applications to the Post-Professional Certificate Program are due on or before August 1st, and are considered for January admission.
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A graduate APRN degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution
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Satisfactory completion (Grade B or better) within the previous 5 years of required core courses including:
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Physical Assessment
- Advanced Pharmacology
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Licensure as a registered nurse
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Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work at regionally accredited institutions
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Submission of current resume and 3 letters of recommendation
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Current scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum of 230 on the computer-based TOEFL or 80 on the TOEFL iBT are required if the applicant’s native language is not English
Featured Courses
This course for the family nurse practitioner focuses upon primary health care problems in the pediatric population. Emphasis is placed upon assessment and management of healthy and ill children. Prerequisites: NURS 661, NURS 670, NURS 671, NURS 672.
This course provides students with the opportunity to develop advanced practice skills for assessing families and family members across the life span and throughout generations. This course will focus on theoretical, research and practice foundations used to develop strategies to maximize safe, comprehensive, and holistic care given by the advanced practice nurse.
This course will explore current clinical concepts related to the care of healthy and pregnant women. Roles and responsibilities of the family nurse practitioner in these sub-specialties will also be discussed.
Cost of Attendance
We believe in providing students with transparent and accessible information about the cost of attendance.
Review the estimated tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year (subject to change). Other fees are assessed for special services and certain academic programs. Non-resident rates are charged for anyone who is not a current Virginia resident, including international students.
Ways to Fund Your Degree
There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Old Dominion University, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.
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