Overview
Build on Your Experience in an Advanced Practice Role
If you are a Registered Nurse ready to take the next step in your career, consider advancing your role by becoming a Nurse Practitioner with a focus on delivering high-quality, compassionate primary care across the lifespan.
As one of the most in-demand and highly respected professions, the Nurse Practitioner role consistently ranks among the fastest-growing and most rewarding careers across all industries.
Guided by the University of San Diego’s mission to advance academic excellence, social justice, and compassionate service, our nationally recognized Nurse Practitioner program is designed to prepare you to expand your scope of practice, lead in diverse healthcare settings, and promote health equity, especially among underserved and marginalized populations.
Your Path to Becoming an NP
Degree & Certificate Programs
With multiple population-focused tracks to choose from, our curriculum, taught by experienced educators, integrates evidence-based coursework with hands-on clinical training. Graduates are fully prepared to sit for national certification and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.
Our programs are designed for working Registered Nurses who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and have at least one year of clinical experience. Post-graduate certificates are also available for nurses who have already earned a post-licensure graduate degree.
Career Outcomes
Roles in the NP Pathway
Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced practice roles in a variety of in-demand specialities, including:
FNPs provide comprehensive primary care to individuals and families across the lifespan, from infancy through older adulthood. They diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions, promote health and wellness, and coordinate care in settings such as family practice clinics, community health centers, and urgent care facilities. FNPs often serve as the first point of contact for patients and play a key role in preventive care and chronic disease management.
The PNP/FNP dual track prepares Nurse Practitioners to provide comprehensive primary care across the lifespan from infancy through older adulthood. Students receive focused training in both pediatric and family-centered care, gaining specialized knowledge to address the developmental, preventive, and primary care needs of children and adolescents, as well as the broader health needs of adults and older adults. Graduates are prepared to work in diverse care settings, including pediatric and family practice clinics, school-based health centers, urgent care, and community health organizations. PNPs/FNPs are uniquely prepared to serve diverse populations and play a critical role in addressing the growing shortage of pediatric providers.
PMHNPs provide mental health care to individuals across the lifespan. They assess, diagnose, and manage psychiatric conditions using both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. PMHNPs practice in a wide range of settings, including outpatient clinics, integrated behavioral health systems, hospitals, substance use recovery programs, correctional facilities, and private practice. Their role is critical in addressing the growing need for mental health services nationwide.
The AGNP/FNP dual track prepares Nurse Practitioners to provide comprehensive primary care across the lifespan from infancy through older adulthood. Students receive focused training on managing complex, chronic conditions to promote healthy aging. This track combines the broad training of family practice with specialized preparation in adult-gerontology care. Graduates are qualified to work in family practice clinics, community health centers, long-term care facilities, urgent care, palliative care, and home-based primary care. With dual expertise, AGNPs/FNPs are well-positioned to meet the healthcare needs of diverse populations, especially in response to the growing demands of an aging population.
Explore What's Next
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