Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration

Education

• Baccalaureate degree or equivalent in nursing from an accredited institution.

Academic Performance 

• Minimum GPA of 3.0, both cumulative and in nursing coursework.

Licensure

• Current unencumbered United States RN license at the time of application.
• California RN license must be obtained before the start of classes and maintained throughout the program.

Experience

• Minimum of one year of full-time RN experience is required before matriculating into clinical courses (applies to most programs).

Certification

• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR) certification.

Recommendations

Two electronic recommendations following:

• Required: Recent nurse manager or director
• Additional may be either of the following:
  • Nursing peer
  • Spiritual advisor

Interview Process (if granted by the Admissions Committee)

• Completion of the Emotional Intelligence Interview Process, which includes a meeting (in person or via Zoom) with the program coordinator and another Graduate Nursing Program faculty member.

Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) are prepared for careers in a wide range of healthcare settings, providing primary and specialized care across the lifespan.

In direct patient care settings, FNPs play key roles in primary care clinics, including private practices, community health centers, and federally qualified health centers. They also serve in urgent care centers, retail clinics such as CVS MinuteClinic and Walgreens Healthcare Clinic, and hospital-based outpatient clinics. In some states, FNPs practice in emergency departments, occupational or employee health clinics, and even in home health and hospice care, where they deliver comprehensive, patient-centered services in diverse environments.

Many FNPs choose to specialize in specific populations or conditions. Common focus areas include geriatrics (serving patients in nursing homes or assisted living facilities), pediatrics (though many in this field pursue PNP certification), women’s health, and chronic disease management such as diabetes or hypertension. Others work in mental health or psychiatry (with additional training), pain management, or other specialized practice areas that require advanced expertise and interprofessional collaboration.

FNPs also thrive in non-traditional roles beyond direct patient care. They may practice as telehealth providers, participate in clinical research, or work for pharmaceutical and medical device companies in education, consulting, or sales roles. Many pursue leadership in healthcare administration and management, teach in nursing education programs, or contribute their expertise to health insurance organizations, public health departments, correctional facilities, or mobile health clinics. Opportunities also extend to international and travel health, where FNPs support communities globally.

Finally, some FNPs explore entrepreneurial paths, opening independent or collaborative practices where permitted by law, launching consulting services, or contributing to healthcare startups.

It’s important to note that the scope of practice for FNPs varies by state. Some states grant full practice authority, allowing independent clinical decision-making, while others require collaboration or supervision by a physician—factors that can influence the specific roles and settings available in each region.

Our Hybrid model combines the convenience of online learning with the irreplaceable value of face-to-face clinical mastery. Clinical/Lab/Simulation courses will be hybrid to allow students to have hands-on practice, preparing them for their clinical practice setting.  Schedules will be provided to students for required meetings during the quarter in advance.  This allows you to refine your practical expertise in person and graduate with exceptional skills that set you apart from other Advanced Practice Nurses.

NGRD 624 Advanced Health Assessment 4u
This course has mandatory synchronous lab meetings 4-6 meetings during the quarter. The schedule will be given in advance for planning.

All clinical and practicum courses

1. Direct Clinical Hours: 630-750 hours, depending on the specialty.
   Students in the CNS and NP clinical courses will be assigned clinical rotations within Southern California (within a 90 mile radius of Loma Linda).
    
2. DNP Project: The DNP Project can be done in the workplace, allowing students to collect evidence-based research data.

Sample Schedule
Full-time: 3 years, 9 months (15 academic quarters).
Part-time options are available.