Nurse Practitioner Programs at CSUDH
California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) is a 22-year-old leader in nursing education across California. CSUDH’s School of Nursing gives nursing professionals multiple paths to advance their careers, with its Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program leading the way.
Since its launch in 2001, the FNP program has helped 416 family nurse practitioners graduate and provide primary health care to California’s patients. These numbers showcase the program’s proven ability to prepare skilled advanced practice nurses.
Students at CSUDH’s School of Nursing get quality NP education backed by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation. The university also holds accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). These credentials ensure your degree meets the healthcare industry’s highest standards.
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program has several specialized tracks:
- Nurse Administrator (30 units)
- Nurse Educator (36 units)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist options (43 units each)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (48 units)
The FNP program teaches you to deliver detailed primary care to patients of all ages in ambulatory settings. Your role will involve physical examinations, diagnostic test analysis, colleague consultations, diagnosis making, and treatment selection.
Recent data shows the program’s strength with a 100% new student retention rate during 2022-2023 and a 69% four-year graduation rate for 2023-2024. New students average 38 years of age, showing how the program attracts experienced nurses.
The program makes success easier for working nurses through its flexible online/hybrid format. While most coursework happens online, students participate in both synchronous and asynchronous meetings, attend campus sessions (1-3 per semester), and complete clinical practice experiences.
Graduates can take national certification exams from both the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). They can also apply for California Board of Registered Nursing’s nurse practitioner certification and a furnishing number.
CSUDH’s well-laid-out nursing program prepares you for advanced practice while fitting the needs of working professionals through its flexible learning approach and detailed curriculum.
Types of Nurse Practitioner Programs Available
CSUDH has a wide range of Nurse Practitioner programs that align with different career goals and specializations. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program gives registered nurses several specialized tracks to advance their practice.
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program needs 48 graduate units and has 576 clinical hours that students complete in outpatient ambulatory care settings. RNs learn to work in primary care settings and care for patients of all ages—from pregnancy through older adulthood. Students who complete the program can apply for California BRN nurse practitioner certification and national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
CSUDH also has Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) programs in three key areas:
- Adult-Gerontology: Prepares you for advanced nursing care for adult and older adult populations
- Neonatal: Focuses on specialized care for newborns and infants
- Pediatric: Concentrates on providing advanced care for children and adolescents
Students must complete a minimum of 500 clinical hours under qualified preceptor supervision in each CNS program. National CNS certification becomes available after graduation, with options varying by specialization:
- Neonatal and Pediatric CNS graduates can get American Association of Critical-care Nurses (AACN) certification
- Adult-Gerontology CNS graduates qualify for both ANCC and AACN certifications
The School of Nursing also has Nurse Administrator and Nurse Educator tracks that prepare students for healthcare leadership or nursing education careers.
Registered nurses with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees can join through an MSN pathway program. This pathway requires students to complete BSN courses (Pathophysiology, Health Assessment with Lab, and Research) before they apply to their chosen specialization.
These programs combine theory courses with hands-on clinical components. Students develop the knowledge and practical skills they need for advanced nursing practice.
Flexible Learning Formats
CSUDH’s Family Nurse Practitioner program offers advanced nursing education mostly online with some hybrid elements. Working professionals can now access quality education without disrupting their careers. Students get the best of both worlds – flexible learning and hands-on clinical training to prepare for advanced practice roles.
The program has two key parts. Students complete all didactic courses online and work at their own pace. The clinical courses blend three key elements:
- Online synchronous and asynchronous meetings
- Clinical practice experience in local outpatient settings (144 hours per semester for four semesters, totaling a minimum of 576 hours)
- On-campus meetings 1-3 times each semester
This setup works great for working nurses while upholding strong educational standards. Students should plan their time well – current learners spend 26-40 hours each week on studies and clinical practice.
Canvas, CSUDH’s Learning Management System, delivers all core and didactic coursework. Students can engage with various interactive tools and resources on this platform. The clinical components require attendance at mandatory on-campus sessions for specific courses.
Students must attend on-campus meetings for Health Assessment Lab (MSN 522) and all FNP Role Performance courses (MSN 558, 568, 578, and 588). These face-to-face sessions let students develop hands-on clinical skills under faculty guidance.
CSUDH started offering online education early. The program has grown better with input from students in different locations. You can advance your nursing education while keeping your current job and home base.
Your success depends on having good computer equipment, reliable internet, and comfort with different software programs. These tech basics support your learning journey throughout the program.
Admissions & Prerequisites
The Nurse Practitioner program at California State University, Dominguez Hills has specific admission criteria and a detailed application process. Students can apply twice a year. Spring admission applications must reach between August 1 and September 15, while Fall admission applications are accepted from October 1 through April 1.
The MSN program requirements include a baccalaureate degree with an ACEN or CCNE accredited upper division nursing major from a regionally accredited institution. You need a minimum 3.0 GPA from your last 60 semester units of upper division coursework. Your California RN license must be active and unrestricted, without any pending or imposed disciplinary actions. The program also needs you to complete prerequisite courses in statistics (with probability and inferential components), nursing research, and health assessment with lab.
The FNP program has additional requirements. You should have two years of recent experience as an RN providing direct clinical care to patients, preferably in acute care settings.
The application process happens through Cal State Apply. You must fill out all four quadrants of the application and submit required documents before the deadline. The school strongly recommends attending an online information session first. Late or incomplete applications won’t be reviewed.
International students with non-U.S. degrees must provide official academic records with certified English translations. They also need to prove English proficiency through TOEFL or IELTS test scores.
Students must get clinical clearance items before starting clinical courses. These items include health exams, immunizations, COVID testing and vaccination, BLS training, and other agency-specific requirements. Students pay for these clearances themselves.
Remember that meeting basic requirements doesn’t guarantee your spot. The program accepts students on a competitive basis. Fall applicants learn about admission decisions in May/June, while Spring applicants hear back in November/December.
What Sets the NP Programs Apart at California State University, Dominguez Hills
CSUDH’s Nurse Practitioner program goes way beyond standard curricula. MSN FNP graduates have achieved a 97% pass rate on national certification exams, which is a big deal as it means that they perform better than the national average. This showcases how well the program prepares advanced practice nurses.
Students receive individual attention thanks to the program’s excellent faculty-to-student ratio. The faculty members teach while maintaining active clinical practices and give an explanation of today’s healthcare challenges based on their ground experience.
There’s another reason why this program shines – its focus on serving diverse populations. CSUDH’s location in Los Angeles County helps prepare nurse practitioners with cultural competency skills needed to address healthcare gaps in underserved communities. Students get clinical placements in federally qualified health centers that serve vulnerable populations.
The program blends evidence-based practice with social determinants of health. This gives graduates the skills to deliver integrated care in healthcare settings of all types. Students develop practical skills through simulation exercises using advanced technology.
Of course, the program’s strong healthcare partnerships across Southern California create exclusive clinical placement opportunities that other institutions’ students can’t access. These mutually beneficial alliances help students transition smoothly from education to employment. Many students receive job offers from their clinical sites before graduation.