Nursing (Post-Master Certificate Programs)

The post-masters certificates are designed to provide master’s prepared registered nurses with advanced knowledge related to the scope of practice for academic and staff development nurse educators and nurse administrators. The courses within the certificate program emphasize the professional role of the nurse educator/administrator, leadership roles, interpersonal and communication skills, diversity, critical thinking, the application of ethical, legal and professional standards of practice, and the evaluation of forces within the health care delivery and/or academic institutions impacting the professional role of the nurse educator or nurse administrator. 

The Nurse Educator certificate focuses on the role of the nurse educator and responsibilities related to teaching, scholarship, service, clinical excellence, trends in education and ethical/legal issues impacting nurse educators. Students explore a variety of learning styles, needs and characteristics of diverse learners, competency-based instruction, including new trends in creative instructional technology strategies and techniques. Evaluative processes in nursing education in the classroom, simulation, clinical and distance learning are examined. The process of designing dynamic curricula and programs that are relevant in a changing and challenging health care environment, as well as the accreditation process of nursing programs are explored. 

The Nurse Administrator certificate is designed to prepare nurses to assume managerial roles in diverse settings: hospitals, long term care facilities, community service agencies, ambulatory care facilities, governmental agencies and corporations. Courses focus on developing core knowledge related to delivery of care; legal, regulatory and ethical issues; healthcare economics; health care environment; and professional practice. Students use organizational, analytic, strategic planning, financial, human resources, and evaluation skills in the role of a nurse leader. Nurse administrator courses focus on organizational and leadership theories, regulatory standards, risk management, quality assurance, strategic planning and concepts of human resource management. Students in the nurse educator and nurse administrator certificate programs complete an internship experience which provides an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and skills into the real-world setting. Internship placements are arranged individually through the School of Nursing.

The Family Nurse Practitioner certificate program is designed to provide students the knowledge and skills to deliver comprehensive primary care to clients from infancy to adulthood. The curriculum emphasis is on interdisciplinary collaboration and strategies for meeting patients’ primary care needs through a family-centered approach to health promotion and illness intervention. Upon completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner courses, students are eligible for Family Nurse Practitioner Certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). In addition to the FNP core concentration course work students in the post-master’s FNP program are required to complete 600 clinical hours in the areas of adult, geriatric, pediatric, adolescent and women’s primary healthcare.