Dedicated support to assist you from application to graduation
Expert faculty to guide students through their studies
Walsh University is a CCNE-Accredited Master's Nursing Degree Program
Expand your Scope of Care Across the Lifespan as an FNP
Walsh University’s online Post Master’s Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner (PMC-FNP) program was designed for RNs who hold a master's degree in nursing and want to make a more meaningful, long-lasting change in their community. This certificate will expand your competencies and scope of practice to help fill the need for primary care providers.
With high academic standards at a lower cost, this online FNP Post-Master's Certificate program will provide an environment for you to work alongside experienced faculty as you gain the skills needed to expand your scope of practice. You can complete the program in as few as two years full-time, so you can continue to care for patients.
Online FNP Program Fast Facts
If you are interested in taking your career to the next level, Walsh University’s online Post Master’s Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner program can help you achieve your goals.
Designed with working nurses in mind, this program offers the convenience of online coursework along with hands-on clinical experiences, providing you the knowledge and skills to focus on the primary care needs of patients as you advocate for their well-being.
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Walsh University’s online Post-Master’s Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner (PMC-FNP) program allows you to work alongside faculty as you develop the core competencies required to care for patients across the lifespan. The program consists of:
- 100% online coursework (excludes clinicals)
- 21 – 30 total credit hours* (complete in as few as six semesters, or two years)
- Three start dates per year (fall, spring, summer)
- Three clinical rotations (700 hours)
- Two intensive experiences (one online, one on campus)
*NURS 610, NURS 612 and NURS 614 courses may be waived for currently certified Nurse Practitioners in specialty practice (adult, women’s health, pediatrics, nurse midwifery) and in current practice.
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Walsh University’s online Post-Master’s Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner (PMC-FNP) program allows you to work alongside faculty as you develop the core competencies required to care for patients across the lifespan. The program consists of:
- 100% online coursework (excludes clinicals)
- 21 – 30 total credit hours* (complete in as few as six semesters, or two years)
- Three start dates per year (fall, spring, summer)
- Three clinical rotations (700 hours)
- Two intensive experiences (one online, one on campus)
*NURS 610, NURS 612 and NURS 614 courses may be waived for currently certified Nurse Practitioners in specialty practice (adult, women’s health, pediatrics, nurse midwifery) and in current practice.
Online PMC-FNP Program Curriculum
Walsh’s contemporary curriculum ensures students are equipped with the core competencies required to prepare for their board certification. Students will complete 21-30 credit hours and 700 direct patient clinical hours in as few as two years of full-time study. Below is a sample list of courses you will take while enrolled in the PMC-FNP program. For a full list, please download a brochure.
This course focuses on the inter-relationships of human biological systems, biochemical, genetic and cellular concepts which provide the framework for study of advanced pathological concepts. Case studies illustrate theoretical concepts and assist in the application of theory to practice. (3 credits)
This course builds on the students’ knowledge and skills of Advanced Health Assessment focusing on the diagnostic process within the primary care context. Evidence based practice will be incorporated to assist students through the inductive process of moving from specific physical findings or patient concerns to possible diagnoses based on history, physical, and laboratory and diagnostic tests. Students will be expected to synthesize diagnostic information in order to arrive at appropriate diagnoses. (3 credits)
Clinical pharmacology builds upon NURS 612 Advanced Pharmacology. Specific requirements, responsibilities, interprofessionalism, and concerns as an APN prescriber, including safe prescription writing and medication management of patients throughout the life span, including persons with multiple chronic conditions (MCC), will be comprehensively reviewed. (3 credits)
This course emphasizes illness prevention, healthy lifestyle adaptations, wellness promotion and health maintenance of the adult and elderly patient including health/wellness motivation and promotion, disease prevention, and self-determination. The interrelationships between disease processes, human physiology, and pharmacologic and other treatment modalities inherent in the care of the adult or elderly patient with multiple chronic healthcare conditions (MCC) will also be explored. (3 credits)
This course emphasizes illness prevention, healthy lifestyle adaptations, wellness promotion and health maintenance in the care of women and pediatric patients and families. Students synthesize knowledge from health assessment, pharmacology, diagnostic and disease management courses, family health nursing. The course has a strong focus on providing culturally competent care of underserved and vulnerable populations. (3 credits)
Get more information
Submit your information to instantly access a digital program brochure.
Applications are currently being accepted for next intake
Clinical Placement Support
We know finding preceptors for clinical rotations can be one of the most challenging and stressful parts of any nursing program. As a Walsh PMC-FNP student, you’ll be paired with a clinical placement coordinator who will collaborate with you to secure clinical sites and preceptors for your clinical courses.
Our goal is to facilitate a streamlined, high-quality clinical placement experience to help you apply newly gained knowledge, values and skills from the classroom to the clinical area. By assisting in the management of placement logistics, we hope you’ll be free to focus your efforts where they’re needed most—on coursework and developing competencies.
We collaborate with students to source and vet placement sites for all our online PMC-FNP students.
We assist in the heavy lifting to confirm your placement site meets all of the necessary clearances.
We’ll be readily available to answer any logistical questions you have about the placement process.
Online FNP Program Eligible States
Currently, the Walsh PMC-FNP program is available in the following states. Visit our State Authorization page for more information.
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Online PMC-FNP Program Careers and Outcomes
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 220,300 licensed nurse practitioners in the United States in 2020. That number is projected to increase by a massive 52% from 2020-2030. By comparison, the number of positions for registered nurses is expected to grow by 9% in the same time period, while the total number of jobs for all professions is projected to increase by 4%.
Family Nurse Practitioners work in a variety of environments, including:
- Primary care settings
- Ambulatory care centers
- Clinics
Along with appealing job opportunities, nurse practitioners also enjoy far above-average compensation, with median wages of $109,820 in 2019. This compares to median wages of $73,300 for registered nurses in 2019 and median annual wages of $39,810 for all occupations.
$109,820
Media Annual Salary
*(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Areas for Clinical Practice:
- Primary care settings
- Ambulatory care centers
- Clinics
- Hospitals
An FNP Nurse Fills a Growing Demand for Primary Care Providers
Family Nurse Practitioners, or FNPs, are highly educated advanced practice registered nurses who work autonomously or in collaboration with other healthcare professionals to deliver primary care to patients. An online PMC-FNP program covers a curriculum that prepares a qualified nurse to take the FNP National Certification exam. FNP nurses care for individuals and families throughout each stage of their lives, providing treatment for a range of medical problems and non-life-threatening acute conditions in outpatient settings, medical clinics and other healthcare environments.
An FNP nurse who graduates from an online MSN program or FNP Certificate program is increasingly being called upon to fulfill the essential need for primary healthcare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of physician office visits tops 1 billion in the U.S. today. More than 50% of those visits are made to primary care providers. Couple that with the fact that today, a smaller percentage of physicians are entering the field than are practicing, suggests that shortages will worsen over time. Due to the dwindling number of primary care physicians, an FNP nurse is perfectly positioned to help fill the gap for primary care providers.
With a focus on preventative care, health care policy, health promotion, clinical assessment and management, Walsh University’s PMC-FNP online program can help you prepare to become a confident family nurse practitioner who’s ready to make a difference in the lives of patients and entire communities as a primary care provider. An online FNP Certificate program can provide a nurse with the family care skills that healthcare organizations and clinics need.
Frequently Asked Questions
All entering students must have:
- Current, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license
- Completion of an undergraduate or graduate-level statistics course
- Official transcripts from all academic institutions attended
- Two letters of reference
For those applying for the BSN-DNP program, a BSN degree from an accredited school of nursing is required.
For those applying for the MSN-DNP program, the following is required:
- MSN degree from an accredited school of nursing
- Confirmation from school of clinical hours completed in the master's program
All DNP students are required to submit 2 letters of recommendation as well as a personal statement. Standardized tests (GRE/GMAT) are not required.
The online BSN to DNP program can be completed in as little as three years. Part-time and full-time options are available to accommodate students’ work schedules.
The online MSN to DNP program can be completed in as few as 5 semesters (1 year and 8 months) for full-time students, or 8 semesters (2 years and 8 months) for part-time students. However, the length of time to complete the program can vary, based personal time management and prior clinical experience.
DNP-PMHNP: This program contains a total of 67 credit hours and can be completed in as little as three years. Part-time and full-time options are available to accommodate students’ work schedules.
MSN to DNP: This program can be completed in as few as 5 semesters (1 year and 8 months) for full-time students, or 8 semesters (2 years and 8 months) for part-time students. However, the length of time to complete the program can vary from student to student; examples include personal time management and individual DNP project progression to completion.
The clinical portion of this program will see you develop leadership skills and practical, hands-on competencies. As a Walsh nursing student, you’ll be paired with a dedicated clinical placement coordinator who will collaborate with you to secure clinical sites and preceptors for your clinical courses. Learn more about our clinical placement support services here.
The number of clinical hours required varies by program:
- BSN to DNP (Family Nurse Practitioner): 1,250 hours
- MSN to DNP: 500-1,000 hours, depending on prior clinical experiences
Walsh University collaborates with our nursing students to find suitable clinical placements. You are encouraged to network with potential preceptors and work closely with the placement coordinator to secure your placements.
Walsh University’s Financial Services department is committed to working with you to guide you to the assistance needed in order to pursue your studies. There are a variety of financial aid options available to students, including private scholarships, federal loans and federal direct plus loans. Learn more about the tuition and financial aid options available here.
As part of the online BSN-DNP PMHNP program, you’ll participate in one on-campus skills day (intensive).
Students undertake a systematic investigation of a clinical or administration-based problem selected by the student and supported by faculty. The student will identify the problem to be addressed, review and critique pertinent literature, and implement and evaluate the project. The designed and approved project will be implemented and within a mentored and supervised clinical immersion experience. The project uses an evidence-based practice model and is systematically developed in consultation with the student’s Doctor of Nursing Practice and scholarly project chair who evaluates each step of the process (200 clinical hours).
Students are encouraged to look at their own practice or a health system to determine any gaps in care, steps to improve the patient experience or patient outcomes, patient education, staff education, etc. Often, students collaborate with a health system on the needs already identified by the system. In fact, that is sometimes a very good DNP project because the health facility already recognizes the need so solve the identified problem/issue.
While it might be helpful to have ideas in mind for the project, it is not required. Topics are typically something you are passionate about and may have experienced firsthand, perhaps a quality control such as preventing readmissions, reducing no shows for appointments, improving compliance with plan of care, and bringing measures of chronic illness into control.
This will depend on your schedule and if you are a full-time or part-time student. Adjustments to your work schedule may be required to accommodate the clinical practice hours and project hours requirements. Please note, weekend and evening hours cannot be guaranteed and many mentors you may work with such as hospital administrators often work more traditional 9-5 hours.
A student may transfer up to 9 credits toward their DNP program, subject to approval post acceptance.
The Walsh online MSN to DNP program is designed to provide students with 500 practice hours toward their DNP. All students are expected to complete a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate advanced nursing practice hours to earn their DNP. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) typically accrue at least 500 hours in their master’s program. The applicant will need to have these prior hours verified by the university that conferred their MSN. Coursework is available to students who enter the DNP program with less than 500 clinical hours to help meet the minimum 1,000 clinical practicum hours mandated by the AACN for a DNP degree. It is recommended that any additional hours required be completed early in the program.
Walsh ensures students are adequately prepared throughout the placement process, understanding the required direct and indirect clinical hours necessary for graduation and certification. Due to the nature of the hours, DNP students must be highly involved in the process. Clinical placements and DNP project hours may be completed in your current place of employment; however, they must be outside of your current scope of work. Placements are centered around leadership, providing exposure to the delivery and improvement of quality outcomes within health systems and organizations. The clinical placement coordinators will collaborate with you to plan and source your clinical experiences.
Victoria B., MSN FNP program
Teresa Rufo, School Counseling Program
Chelsea Wilson, MSN FNP program
The master’s degree program in nursing and doctor of nursing practice program at Walsh University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
