Post-Graduate Certificate: Nurse Practitioner Specializations

The post-graduate certificate specializations of Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) programs prepare nurses for flexible leadership and critical action within complex, changing healthcare systems. Certification in either of these specialties equips nurses with valuable knowledge and skills to lead change, promote health, and elevate care in various roles and settings. The faculty supports these certification programs as a critical component of the nursing education trajectory to prepare nurses who can address the gaps resulting from growing healthcare needs. The curriculum supports the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculty guidelines to obtain the nurse practitioner competencies in their selected specialty to improve health outcomes. For some nurses, master’s education equips them with a fulfilling lifetime expression of their mastery area. For others, this core is a graduate foundation for doctoral education. The post-graduate certificate specializations of Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington D.C. 20001, [phone].

The program is built on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Master’s Essentials (2011) that education at this level must prepare the nurse practitioner student to meet six primary expectations including: Lead change to improve quality outcomes; advance a culture of excellence through lifelong learning; build and lead collaborative interprofessional care teams, navigate and integrate care services across the healthcare system; design innovative nursing practices, and translate evidence into practice. Graduates of the post-master’s certificate programs in nursing are prepared with broad knowledge and practice expertise that builds and expands on baccalaureate or entry-level nursing practice. This provides certificate completers with a fuller understanding of the discipline of nursing to engage in higher-level practice and leadership in a variety of settings and commit to lifelong learning. For those nurses seeking a terminal degree, the certification program allows for seamless movement into a research or practice-focused doctoral program (AACN, 2010).

Purpose

The purpose of the post-graduate certificate program is to prepare clinically competent advanced practice nurses able to serve as nursing leaders for advanced clinical nursing practice. These specialties can be practiced in a variety of healthcare delivery systems and educational settings.

Philosophy and Mission

The Graduate Nursing programs embrace the core commitments and values expressed in the University Mission, which includes providing the highest academic standards in graduate and professional education. The programs provide educational experiences, which are transformative and inclusive by building on the knowledge, skills, and values of the Baccalaureate and/or Masters prepared nurse. The faculty support a student-centered approach to education and a commitment to advancing the profession. The programs seek to educate advance practice nurses and scholar/scientists who honor and respect human dignity and who are prepared to serve as senior level nurses in key leadership positions that influence health care delivery locally, nationally, and globally.

Goals

In accordance with the NONPF Core Competencies Content Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education, 2016), criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education, 2016), graduates from the nurse practitioner specialty tracks shall be able to:

1. Meet educational eligibility to sit for a national NP certification examination that corresponds to the role and population focus of the NP program.
2. Demonstrate on entry-level the NP core competencies and the population-focused competencies in the area of specialization.
3. Meet the complex challenges of translating rapidly expanding knowledge into practice and function in a changing health care environment. (LEADERSHIP)
4. Utilize scientific foundations to critically analyze data for improving advanced practice. (SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS)
5. Translate research and knowledge to develop new practice approaches and improve practice processes and outcomes. (SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS)
6. Use best available evidence to continuously improve quality of clinical practice. (QUALITY)
7. Apply clinical investigative skills to improve health care. (PRACTICE INQUIRY)
8. Integrate appropriate technologies to improve health care. (Technology and Information Literacy)
9. Analyze ethical, legal, and social factors influencing policy. (POLICY)
10. Collaborate in the development of health care systems that address the needs of culturally diverse populations, providers and other stakeholders. (Health Care Delivery System)
11. Integrate ethical principles in clinical practice and decision making. (ETHICS)
12. Function as a licensed independent practitioner demonstrating the highest level of accountability for professional practice. (Independent Practice)

Student Learning Outcomes

In accordance with the Essentials of Master’s Education for Advanced Practice Nursing of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2016) Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies (National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties [NONPF], 2016), the Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Competencies in Specialty Areas: Adult, Family, Geriatric, Pediatric, and Women’s Health (NONPF/AACN, 2013), and Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education, 2016), graduates from the nurse practitioner specialty tracks shall be able to:

1. Integrate evidence-based principles from advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment and health promotion/ disease prevention into clinical decision making related to management of patient health/illness status.
2. Incorporate principles of leadership to develop and implement the Nurse Practitioner role in health care delivery, and to generate professional, collaborative, and productive health care teams.
3. Synthesize and apply advanced knowledge, nursing experience, and the best available evidence as the basis for the delivery of safe, competent, and quality advanced nursing practice.
4. Select appropriate patient-care technologies and information systems to assess health status and to manage, enhance, integrate, and coordinate health care delivery.
5. Operationalize quality, cost effective nursing practice principles and function in a leadership role as an advocate for health care policy and health care delivery systems that are equitable, accessible and affordable for all populations across the lifespan.
6. Establish a caring partnership with patients and/or caregivers based on mutual trust. Collaborate with members of the health care team to resolve resistant patient care problems and to establish a safe, high quality health care -environment.
7. Apply the best available evidence to provide culturally competent health care services to patients, families, and populations that focus on a framework of holistic illness treatment, as well as disease prevention, risk management, and health promotion.
8. Incorporate evidence-based standards of care, patient preferences, concern for patient safety and appropriate teaching/learning principles to devise and implement an individualized patient management plan.