About the Post-Masters FNP Program

• Flexible Web-Based Program
• About the Program
• Self-Directed Learning Activities
• Weekend Seminars
• Preceptored Clinical Experiences
• Student Assessment
• Admissions Information
• The Curriculum
• MSN-FNP Informational PowerPoint (1.34 MB pdf file)
• View the MSN/FNP Information Session Webcast

CGN Recipient of Grant Through the Advanced Nursing Education Expansion Program

Western University of Health Sciences and the College of Graduate Nursing is proud to announce that we are recipients of $1,056,00.00 through the Advanced Nursing Education Expansion Program from the Affordable Care Act's Prevention and Public Health Fund.  The grant will increase the likelihood of students maintaning full time status, thus accelerating their graduation.  This grant will increase the number of Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) in the workforce who focus on the needs of vulnerable populations in California and beyond.

This is a 5 year grant from 2010 to 2015 and will support students with tuition reimbursement at $22,000 for one year (Post Masters FNP students) or two years (MSN/FNP students). Six students per year are receiving this support to allow them to serve the underserved populations as primary care providers.  The FNP Program Director and HRSA Project Director, Diana Lithgow said, "The distance format of the curriculum enables students to continue living in their rural or underserved communities and still obtain their FNP education. This grant was a perfect fit for us and our students."

This project is supported by funds from the Division of Nursing (DN), Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) under

T57HP20587, Advanced Nursing Education Expansion: Increasing the Number of Family Nurse Practitioners to Meet the Needs of Vulnerable Populations in California and Beyond in the amount of $1,056,000.00.  The information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any official endorsement be inferred by, the DN, BHPr, HRSA, DHHS, or the US Government.

Flexible Web-Based Programs Designed for Busy Nursing Professionals

The Western University Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program is designed for master's prepared nurses who wish to continue working in their profession, keep family commitments and live in the same community while pursuing a graduate education. This benefit is especially convenient for students living in rural areas, small communities, or on active military duty. This CCNE-accredited program consists of three integrated elements:

• Web-based curriculum
• Weekend sessions at the Pomona, California campus twice per semester
• Clinical training in your own community under the supervision of an approved preceptor

About the Program

Western University's Post-Master Family Nurse Practitioner program is for nursing professionals who have an MSN. Full-time students complete the program in one year. Part-time tracks are also available.

To provide maximum scheduling and pacing flexibility while eliminating the need to commute daily to campus, the College of Graduate Nursing uses a combination of self-directed learning activities, collaborative projects, and intensive weekend seminars.

Self-Directed Learning Activities

The World Wide Web provides a unique opportunity to offer students individualized learning experiences that would be impossible through other media. Online discussion forums and e-mail also provide important lines of communication and support among distance learners, faculty, and other program personnel.

Weekend Seminars

Twice during each semester, students are required to convene on campus for an intensive weekend of instruction. The weekend seminars provide an opportunity for faculty-student interaction, didactic instruction and demonstrations, student presentations, group project work, and clinical training and testing. The weekend of study begins on Friday morning and ends on Sunday.

Preceptored Clinical Experiences

A clinical component is scheduled during each semester to provide students with an opportunity to apply their learning in the clinical work setting. Students are supervised by a local preceptor who is responsible for assuring that the student is provided with adequate and appropriate learning experiences as close to home as possible. This partnership between the academic and clinical settings not only results in a well prepared family nurse practitioner, but positions the student for employment opportunities as they arise.

Student Assessment

Student performance in each module is assessed through a combination of seminar participation, written and oral presentations, and objective examination.

Admissions Information

For more information, please review the FNP admissions information, or if you are ready you may download an application. If you have any questions regarding the application requirements, please contact the Admissions Counselors: Jacob Rivera at (909) 469-5442, Michelle Cowling at (909) 469-5540, or Elaine Gonzalez at (909) 469-5337.

The Curriculum

With the pre-program module CGN 5000: Communication and Information Management (1 unit) the FNP curriculum consists of 45 semester units. CGN 5000 is offered through the College of Graduate Nursing during the summer prior to the start of the program in the fall. Please note that CGN 5000 is not covered under Financial Aid because it is a pre-program course and not part of the core curriculum. The following shows the courses included in the full-time track for the Post-Master FNP Certificate Program. Unit values for each course are shown in parenthesis. Select the course title to see a description of the course.

For more information on the Post-Master Family Nurse Practitioner Program, please contact Diana Lithgow, PhD, FNP-C, RN by email at dlithgow@westernu.edu or view the MSN/FNP Information Session Webcast.

Total Program Units: 44

* Courses not charged tuition but subject to clinical fee