The hybrid program is designed for individuals working as Family Nurse Practitioners who are interested in expanding their skills to be able to work in emergency nursing.
Ohio University is launching a new post-graduate Emergency Nurse Practitioner certificate program for the Fall 2026 semester. The new hybrid program will give current Family Nurse Practitioners the opportunity to enhance their current skillsets to give them the ability to work in emergency nursing. The program includes online coursework, on-campus intensives, and clinical experiences, with the program having been designed to still allow for work.
According to an article on Ohio University’s website, Char Miller, who is the program’s executive director and an associate professor, was quoted as saying of the new program, “Ohio University’s new Emergency Nurse Practitioner certificate equips experienced nurse practitioners to work in teams to bridge critical gaps in rural and urban emergency care. This promotes accelerated healthcare access, improving healthcare equity across Ohio and beyond.”
The program is a part-time, three-semester experience that is designed to be an alternative to the typical thousands of hours of on-the-job training that nurse practitioners need to complete before becoming certified Emergency Nurse Practitioners, and similar programs are only available at a handful of universities.
Mary Lou Garey, an assistant clinical professor, said, “There are very few programs like this available at colleges or clinical facilities today. Instead of spending 2,000 hours working in the field to gain this experience, our program provides a structured, efficient pathway to prepare for certification.”
Students will take six to eight credits per 15-week term, which includes 25 hours of coursework per week, with that time commitment rising to 40 hours per week during clinical courses.
Garey said, “We offer extensive hands-on training on campus in Dublin twice during the program, using high-fidelity simulations to build practical skills. This program is designed so that someone working full-time can complete the certificate and come out fully prepared for emergency practice. There’s a steep learning curve when entering emergency care. This program builds on a family nurse practitioner’s existing skills so they can function effectively in the emergency department. We cover all the critical situations they are likely to encounter, going beyond standard FNP training. Anything that can be rolled into an emergency room, we’re going to teach you how to take care of that patient because it goes beyond what’s included in standard FNP training.”
Among the benefits of the program are the instructors who will be teaching the course content. Every instructor is master- or doctorate-level and is currently practicing. There will be no teaching assistants to ensure that students are receiving direct mentorship throughout the course.
For more information about Ohio University, visit the school’s website.