Nurse Practitioner at Loma Linda University

The 118-year old School of Nursing at Loma Linda University serves as the core of what became Loma Linda University in 1961. The school’s rich heritage began modestly with seven students—five women and two men—graduating in 1907. The institution has grown substantially over the years, moving from a hospital diploma program to a complete college-based program that brought in the baccalaureate degree in 1949.

The school expanded its programs to match healthcare’s changing needs. Students could pursue a Master of Science degree by 1957. The Doctor of Philosophy degree came along in 2002, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree followed in 2010. On top of that, the Entry Level Masters program welcomed its first class in 2024.

Loma Linda University stands out with remarkable performance metrics. The school achieved a 98% first-time pass rate for the newly released Next Generation NCLEX. Students benefit from an impressive 6:1 student to faculty ratio that improves their educational journey. The institution’s 1,500 School of Nursing graduate alumni now serve communities worldwide.

Loma Linda’s educational philosophy emphasizes:

• Whole person care that connects mind, body, and spirit
• A foundation of global Christian service and mission
• Strong intellectual and moral character development to support lifelong learning

Students get extensive clinical training, including 570 clinical hours at a Level 1 Trauma Center ICU. They learn hands-on at Loma Linda University Medical Center, a tertiary-care teaching hospital with over 1,000 beds across multiple facilities. This center runs some of the largest clinical programs in the United States.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) fully accredits Loma Linda University School of Nursing. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits the BS, MS, and DNP Programs. These credentials ensure high-quality education standards.

Students from more than 80 countries and 65 religions create a vibrant learning community. This diverse environment is a great way to get cultural viewpoints—essential for future nurse practitioners serving varied patient populations.

Types of Nurse Practitioner Programs Available

Loma Linda University’s specialized nurse practitioner (NP) programs prepare you for advanced practice roles in healthcare settings of all types. Each program delivers unique training that matches specific patient populations and healthcare needs.

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program gives you the skills to deliver primary healthcare to patients of all ages, from infants to elderly adults. You’ll learn to focus on preventative care and practice mainly in ambulatory settings while serving underserved populations. The program has 660 hours of clinical practice in the advanced role and 510 practicum hours for DNP role development. Graduates can apply for certification from both California state and the American Nurses Certification Corporation.

Students interested in adult healthcare can choose the Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) program. This program teaches you to independently assess and manage primary care needs of patients 18 and older. Students learn preventive health and management of both chronic and acute conditions. The coursework combines advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and clinical decision-making with hands-on applications in community settings.

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program helps you improve patients’ mental well-being through whole-person care. This specialized track combines mental, physical, and spiritual health components smoothly. Students build on nursing fundamentals with a focus on psychiatry and learn to provide therapy for patients with depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, and other conditions that respond to counseling. You’ll cooperate with psychiatrists and other mental health providers while developing expertise in both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology interventions.

Students can choose between full-time and part-time study paths to fit their professional and personal commitments in all programs. The FNP program also comes in a hybrid format that splits instruction between core courses, concentration courses, clinical experience, and DNP project work.

Loma Linda University’s complete programs create nurse practitioners who make meaningful contributions to healthcare while showing the institution’s steadfast dedication to whole-person care.

Flexible Learning Formats

Loma Linda University’s nurse practitioner programs make it easy to balance your work and studies. You can take advantage of their hybrid format that combines online learning with hands-on training.

You’ll complete most coursework online at your own pace, with some required campus visits. Each quarter features a “Seminar Week” that needs 4-8 hours of your time mid-term. This schedule helps you learn effectively while keeping your work commitments intact.

Working nurses looking to advance their careers can choose part-time options in any nurse practitioner specialty. The full-time BS to DNP programs usually take 3 years and 9 months, but the part-time track lets you extend this timeline.

Here are the specific attendance requirements for some courses:

• NGRD 657 (Intermediate Statistics) has four required synchronous class meetings each quarter, available on-campus or through Zoom
• NGRD 624 (Advanced Health Assessment) needs you to attend lab meetings every two weeks
• NP clinical courses meet on campus at least four times per quarter
• NP skills courses need weekly attendance during scheduled quarters

The program stays flexible even with these campus requirements. You’ll take all exams, including midterms and finals, on campus. This mix of online and in-person learning helps you build both theoretical knowledge and practical skills for advanced nursing.

California residents find these flexible options especially valuable. You can grow your clinical expertise while keeping your job. The program understands the challenges working professionals face when pursuing advanced degrees, so it creates paths that fit different schedules without compromising on quality or clinical competence.

Admissions & Prerequisites

Students who want to become nurse practitioners at Loma Linda University should understand the application timeline first. The School of Nursing welcomes NP students for Fall and Winter Quarters. Application deadlines are April 15 for Fall (September start) and September 15 for Winter (January start). Students need to prepare two application fees: USD 70 for the NursingCAS application and USD 50 for the secondary application.

These simple eligibility requirements must be met:

• Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited program
• Minimum 3.0 GPA (both cumulative and in nursing courses)
• Current United States RN license prior to application
• California RN license before classes begin
• Personal statement
• Official transcripts for all college credits
• Interview with School of Nursing faculty members

The application requires three electronic references. These typically come from a Nurse Supervisor, RN Co-worker, and Spiritual advisor. All the same, new baccalaureate graduates without an RN license have different recommendation requirements. They need references from Academic Faculty, Clinical Instructor, and a Spiritual Advisor.

Proper transcript submission is a vital part of the application process. NursingCAS applicants must have their transcripts sent directly from issuing institutions to NursingCAS. This includes transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended. International applicants must meet additional requirements. They need to satisfy all standard admission criteria and have their official international transcripts evaluated by an accredited evaluation service. A TOEFL score might be required.

Some programs like the Acute Care NP program require specific clinical experience. Applicants need minimum of one year of full-time RN experience in an acute care setting. The program recommends 4-8 hours of shadowing to strengthen applications.

What Sets the NP Programs Apart at Loma Linda University

Loma Linda University’s nurse practitioner programs stand out with their whole-person care philosophy. Students learn to blend mind, body, and spiritual aspects of healthcare. This comprehensive approach helps practitioners treat the complete patient, not just their symptoms.

The university’s steadfast dedication to mission-driven healthcare makes it different from other nursing schools. Students gain experience through clinical rotations in a variety of settings. They can participate in service learning projects with underserved communities at home and abroad.

Practicing clinicians make up the NP faculty and bring their ground expertise to the classroom. Their practical knowledge keeps your education aligned with current healthcare practices and technologies.

Nurse practitioner students have many chances to advance healthcare knowledge through research. Faculty members guide students as they develop research projects. These projects tackle pressing healthcare issues and help build analytical skills.

The educational model puts shared teamwork first. Students become skilled at working with healthcare teams. This mirrors everyday healthcare settings where nurse practitioners team up with physicians, specialists, therapists, and other providers.

Students in specialized paths like acute care nurse practitioner programs in California get vital placement assistance from Loma Linda. This helps them secure hands-on experience needed to certification and career preparation.

A spiritual foundation creates a special learning environment. Students learn to balance ethical considerations and compassionate care with clinical excellence.