Program Details
This post-graduate certificate program prepares currently licensed and certified
family, adult, or gerontology primary care advanced practice nurses who have
an MSN degree to meet the needs for advanced adult gerontology nursing care
in acute care settings. Graduates of this program will meet all requirements
to sit for the national certification examination offered by the American
Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Association of Critical Care
Nurses specific to this select population.
This is a 16-21 credit hour program, consisting of three didactic and one variable
credit clinical course. All didactic courses are offered via asynchronous,
web-based modalities. Two didactic courses focus on implementation of disciplined
reasoning in the application of therapeutics and evidence-based acute care
advanced nursing practice in the adult and geriatric population. An additional
didactic course is designed to reinforce the difference in role delineation
between primary care and acute care certified nurse practitioners and explore
common practice issues specific to the acute care certified nurse practitioner.
National certification requires at least 500 clock hours of direct patient
care in the advanced role. However, some students may have accrued appropriate
hours prior to admission. Any hours accrued prior to admission must have
been academically supervised and completed in an approved acute care setting.
At the completion of the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s
Certificate, the graduate will be prepared to demonstrate the following outcomes:
- Conduct a comprehensive and systematic assessment of health and illness parameters
in complex situations, incorporating diverse and culturally sensitive approaches.
- Design, implement, and evaluate therapeutic interventions based on nursing
science and other sciences.
- Develop and sustain therapeutic relationships and partnerships with patients
(individual, family or group) and other professionals to facilitate optimal
care and patient outcomes.
- Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment and accountability in designing,
delivering, and evaluating evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes.
- Guide, mentor, and support other nurses to achieve excellence in nursing
practice.
- Educate and guide individuals and groups through complex health and situational
transitions.
Curriculum
Program Website
Admissions
Application Information
Qualifications
- Degree of Master of Science in Nursing (or higher) from a nationally accredited
nursing program.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on graduate degree
work.
- Hold an active, unrestricted RN license in at least one state.
- Hold current national nurse practitioner certification for advanced practice
in family, gerontology, or adult primary care; and evidence of completion
of stand-alone graduate-level courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced
pharmacotherapeutics, and advanced physical assessment across the lifespan.
To be considered, applicants will be required to meet all WVU admission requirements
in addition to program-specific admission criteria.
Note: Any student who has been dismissed from the West Virginia University
School of Nursing or any other nursing program will not be readmitted or
considered for admission to the program.
Apply To WVU
Depending on pre-requisites completed, entry term into the program will vary
from student to student.
Apply Now
- Click on the Apply Now button above.
- Please select the following options on the New Application screen:
- Program Delivery Method: Online
- Type of Student: Certificate
- Which Program: Select your Post-MSN Program
- You will be asked to select a Progression Plan on the Nursing Application.
The Post Graduate certificate is only offered as a full-time program.
- On the Supplemental Materials screen, you will upload the following:
- Current curriculum vita or resume
- Professional goals statement. Click here for
guidelines on writing the essay
Computer Application Checklist
Once the WVU application has been completed, you must complete and submit the
Application Checklist, a tool designed to ensure you have submitted all
required information for your application to be considered complete.
Request Official Transcripts from All Colleges and Universities Attended
- It is preferred that official transcripts be sent via an online, secure service
such as
eScrip-Safe,
National Student Clearinghouse, or
Parchment to
graduateadmissions@mail.wvu.edu.
- Alternatively, sealed, untampered, physical official transcripts can be sent
directly to: WVU Graduate Admissions, P.O. Box 6510, Morgantown, WV 26506-6510.
- Applicants who completed prior education outside of the U.S. must have their
transcripts evaluated by
World Education Services (WES). Please request a “course-by-course”
International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP).
Acceptance
Students will be evaluated based on the following:
- Nursing GPA
- Work Experience
- Professional Writing Statement Score
- Overall GPA
Orientation
Students are required to attend an online orientation session prior to the
start of the semester.