The Certificate of Graduate Study in Advanced Practice Nursing (nurse practitioner) is restricted to students who hold a master’s degree in nursing. The program of study is designed to augment the student’s prior graduate study through advanced practice preparation in one of three emphasis areas: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Students who complete the program of study are eligible to apply to take a national certification examination in the applicable nurse practitioner specialty area.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply theoretical knowledge to the practice of advanced nursing roles.
• Utilize evidence to address population health problems. 
• Demonstrate professionalism at the advanced nursing level in the clinical setting.
• Pursue quality, effectiveness, and innovation in shared leadership of interprofessional health teams.

Entry Options

The Advanced Practice Nursing, Certificate program offers two entry points for students:

1. M.S.N. certified and practicing as an APRN (please note after admission a GAP analysis will be done to determine specific plan of study based on the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties LACE components).
2. M.S.N. not certified as Advanced Practice Nurses

Requirements for earning the Certificate include:

1. Completion of an approved program of study;
2. A GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) on all courses attempted for graduate credit and all courses numbered 700 and above;
3. A GPA of a 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) on all courses on the approved program of study
4. Minimum 18 Hours for students already certified for advanced practice nursing who need to obtain additional certification.

Course Requirements

All Advanced Practice Nursing, CGS students will take the following courses³ and one of the following concentration areas (Total APRN Core 14 credit hours)

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
NURS 702	Pharmacologic Mgmt in Pediatric, Adult, & Gerontological Patients Across Hlthcare Delivery Continuum 3	3
NURS 704	Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning 2,3	3
NURS 707	Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurses 3	3
NURS 718	Diagnostic Interpretation and Therapeutic Modalities 3	3
One of the below courses based on the chosen concentration:		2
NURS 760A	Family Nurse Practitioner Role Practicum 1,3
NURS 768A	Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practicum III: Role Development 1,3
NURS 778A	Practicum of Advanced Practice Role: Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) 1,3
Total Credit Hours		14

1	Indicates courses with practicum hours
2	Indicates on campus immersion course.
3	Students pursuing the Certificate of Graduate Study in Advanced Practice Nursing who are certified, practicing and meet the LACE components as Advanced Practice Nurses may not be required to take one or all of these courses. Determination will be done after admission via GAP Analysis.

Required Concentration Courses for Family Nurse Practitioner

18 specialty credit hours (Total program 32 Hours)

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
NURS 756	Advanced Primary Care of Children for the FNP	2
NURS 757	Advanced Primary Care of Women for the FNP 2	2
NURS 758	Acute Problems in Primary Care for the FNP 1	6
NURS 759	Management of Common Chronic Health Problems for the FNP 1,2	6
NURS 760	Family Nurse Practitioner Legal, Ethical, and Role Transition	2
Total Credit Hours		18

1	Indicates courses with practicum hours
2	Indicates on campus immersion course.

Required Concentration Courses Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

18 specialty credit hours (Total program 32 Hours)

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
NURS 770	Emergent Diagnostics in Nursing ((Only if 718 not required))	1
NURS 772	Introduction of Acute Care Adult and Geronotological Health Problems	3
NURS 786	Management of Acute Care Adult and Gerontological Health Problems I 1	5 or 6
NURS 787	Management of Acute Adult and Gerontological Health Problems II 1,2	5 or 6
NURS 778	Advanced Practice Role: Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP)	2
Total Credit Hours		16-18

1	Indicates courses with practicum hours.
2	Indicates on campus immersion course.

Required Concentration Courses for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

18 specialty credit hours (Total 32 Program Credit Hours)

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
NURS 761	Neuroscientific Basis for Pharmacological & Nonpharmacological Treatments for Psychiatric Conditions	4
NURS 763	Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practicum I: Management of Psychiatric/Mental Health Conditions 1	6
NURS 764	Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practicum II: Management of Complex Psychiatric/Mental Health Conditions 1	6
NURS 768	Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Legal, Ethical, and Role Transition	2
Total Credit Hours		18

1	Indicates courses with practicum hours.