Nurse Practitioner at Touro University California
Touro University California’s School of Nursing began with just 32 students in 2014 and has grown to become the core of advanced nursing education. The school marks its 10th anniversary while building its reputation through graduates who shine in clinical practice, research, and patient advocacy.
Touro’s nursing program welcomes you into a supportive family rather than just another set of classes. The faculty, staff, and fellow students create an atmosphere that feels like home instead of a typical academic environment. Dr. Prabjot (Jodie) Sandhu, a dedicated Family Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Leader, leads the school with a steadfast dedication to balanced healthcare delivery across cultures.
Working professionals will find Touro University California’s nurse practitioner programs perfectly suited to their needs. Students can complete their ADN to MSN in just 18 months, or BSN to MSN in only 12 months. The program lets current MSN holders get their Family Nurse Practitioner certification in 12 months. This quick timeline makes Touro perfect for nurses who want to advance their careers without long breaks from practice.
The programs stand out with their smart hybrid format—90% online coursework paired with 10% on-campus intensives. Working nurses get the flexibility they need while gaining hands-on experience through skills labs, clinical training, and interprofessional education events.
Graduates can look forward to excellent financial rewards. California-based nurse practitioners earn $161,540 annually on average—the highest in the country. Beyond the great pay, Touro’s NP programs prepare you to lead in modern healthcare systems and create changes that improve patient outcomes.
The programs follow National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Competencies. This ensures graduates develop advanced clinical and organizational skills to deliver exceptional care in a variety of populations. WASC Senior College and University Commission accreditation proves the quality of education you’ll receive.
Types of Nurse Practitioner Programs Available
Touro University California has two nurse practitioner pathways that will take your nursing career to the next level. These programs build on what you already know and prepare you for specialized clinical practice.
The Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate (FNP-C) program needs you to have a graduate degree before you can apply. The complete curriculum takes 38 credit hours and covers the most important topics like pathophysiology across the lifespan, pharmacology, physical assessment, and primary care for patients of all types. You’ll spend 585 clinical hours getting hands-on experience. This program teaches you to become skilled at providing comprehensive patient care—you’ll learn to assess, diagnose, treat, and manage patients of every age.
The FNP program has several key courses worth highlighting:
- Primary Care for Disease Prevention & Wellness
- Primary Care of Childbearing Families & Children
- Primary Care of Mental Health Across the Lifespan
- Primary Care of the Aging Adult
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certificate helps address the critical shortage of mental and behavioral health providers. This 5-semester hybrid program equips you to work with patients of all ages in different mental health settings. You’ll master therapy approaches and disease management techniques that work in inpatient, outpatient, short-term, and long-term care settings.
These programs stand out from other nurse practitioner options. Students get guaranteed clinical placements and experience in multiple healthcare settings including street medicine, mobile health, and wellness programs. The curriculum also prepares you for board certification, so you’ll be ready for national certification exams when you graduate.
One-on-one mentorship through individual clinical faculty sessions makes these programs special. These sessions strengthen your clinical reasoning skills and boost your confidence as you step into advanced practice roles.
After graduation, you can take the national certification examinations, setting yourself up for success in the faster-growing field of advanced practice nursing.
Flexible Learning Formats
Touro University California’s learning format caters to busy healthcare professionals. The program balances flexibility with hands-on training perfectly. Nurse practitioner programs include weekly online Zoom classes that let you learn live from anywhere, which substantially reduces travel time.
The well-laid-out hybrid format includes:
- 90% online coursework through interactive virtual classes
- 10% on-campus intensives focused on essential hands-on training
Campus immersive experiences happen 2-3 times each semester. These sessions are scheduled six months ahead to help you plan your personal and professional commitments. You’ll participate in critical skills development during these valuable on-campus sessions. The training covers procedures, urgent care, gynecologic/genitourinary care practice, clinical labs, standardized patient training, and interprofessional education events[92].
The accelerated hybrid approach combines convenience with complete skill building. Program administrators note that this mix of online and in-person elements “offers flexibility, with relationship-building and experiential learning opportunities that are both hands-on and remote”.
Working nurses can earn advanced credentials without career interruption through this innovative structure. You’ll spend less time commuting while staying highly engaged in virtual learning sessions. This balanced approach will give you theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed for advanced nursing practice while you keep up with your professional duties.
Admissions & Prerequisites
Your journey to become a nurse practitioner at Touro University California starts with meeting admission requirements. The NursingCAS application system accepts applications throughout the year. You’ll receive decisions about two weeks after submitting all required materials.
Program paths have different prerequisites. Students need a graduate degree to join the FNP-C track. The PMHNP program also needs a graduate degree. Both certificate programs need a minimum 3.0 GPA in all master’s level coursework and a valid California RN license.
Students should check their transfer credits before enrolling. The university might accept transfer credits if you completed Advanced Physical Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology, or Advanced Pathophysiology in the last 5 years. Students must retake all three courses if their coursework is older than 5 years.
Advanced practice nurses who want to switch specialties need to submit their previous program syllabi to evaluate equivalency. Active APRNs might skip certain requirements after they prove their competency.
Post-master’s programs need three recommendation letters from specific sources, including a nursing supervisor and master’s level RN. Students must submit official transcripts from all their colleges through NursingCAS.
What Sets the NP Programs Apart at Touro University California
Touro University California’s nurse practitioner programs stand out with unique features that set them apart from other options in the state. These programs provide an unmatched value by taking a strategic approach to clinical education.
Touro’s guaranteed clinical placements make it special – a rare advantage when most NP students find it hard to get quality practice sites. Students get hands-on experience in a variety of healthcare settings, from street medicine to mobile health clinics and community wellness programs.
Personal attention makes these programs even more valuable. Students strengthen their clinical reasoning and build confidence through one-on-one mentoring sessions with clinical faculty as they step into advanced practice roles.
The high-quality curriculum follows National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Competencies and has full accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission. Students develop advanced clinical and organizational skills to provide exceptional care to patients of all backgrounds.
Board certification prep is built into every course at Touro, which helps students succeed in national certification exams after graduation.
Working professionals will find Touro’s NP programs particularly appealing. The innovative hybrid format and faster completion times let students advance their careers without long breaks from practice – a key advantage in today’s competitive education scene.
A nurse practitioner program at Touro University California will advance your career and give you more clinical responsibilities and leadership roles in healthcare. You’ll get the credentials you need to provide detailed primary care services or specialized mental health services after completing either the FNP or PMHNP track.
Students who graduate from these programs are happy with their career growth. The strong curriculum will teach you to diagnose and treat common acute illnesses, manage chronic conditions, and provide preventive care to patients of all backgrounds. Touro’s focus on cultural competence will give you the tools to help underserved communities and address healthcare disparities.
California’s job outlook for nurse practitioners looks exceptionally strong. Employment is projected to grow 38.4% through 2032. This is a big deal as it means that the growth rate is nowhere near what other healthcare jobs offer, which shows the rising need for primary care providers in a state that doesn’t have enough physicians.
Your Touro education prepares you for more than just clinical practice. You can work in healthcare leadership, education, and policy development. Many graduates head over to academic medical centers, community health organizations, or start their private practices.
The next step is to check the program requirements and get your application materials ready. You might want to ask current students or alumni about their experiences. An information session can help answer your questions about getting admitted or what to expect from the program.
A nurse practitioner role at Touro University California means more than just moving up in your career. You’ll have the chance to revolutionize patient care in your community.