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Post-Doctoral Nursing Certificates


Post-Doctoral Certificates are designed for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who has a doctorate in nursing and wishes to broaden their scope of practice by preparing for board certification as a family nurse practitioner or psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner.

Through coursework and clinical experiences, students will attain the skills and knowledge needed to provide care to individuals and families across the lifespan. Post-Doctoral certificate students will be prepared to manage a variety of health conditions—acute, chronic and complex—and provide holistic care to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

Upon completion of the certificate program, the student will demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Integrate Nursing and Interdisciplinary Sciences for Advanced Clinical Reasoning
    Apply nursing science along with biophysical, psychosocial, pharmacological, and organizational knowledge to perform comprehensive clinical assessments, support diagnostic reasoning, and manage complex patient care across diverse populations.

  1. Apply Quality and Safety Principles in Advanced Practice
    Implement and evaluate evidence-based strategies to improve care quality, patient safety, and equity within clinical practice environments.

  1. Critically Appraise and Apply Evidence for Advanced Nursing Practice
    Integrate current evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences to guide the diagnosis, treatment, and management of health conditions; engage in quality improvement initiatives to optimize patient outcomes.

  1. Leverage Healthcare Technologies and Informatics in Clinical Practice
    Utilize electronic health records, clinical decision support tools, and population health data to enhance diagnosis, care planning, and patient education in advanced practice settings.

  1. Provide Person-Centered, Culturally Responsive Care
    Deliver holistic, individualized care that respects patients’ values, cultural backgrounds, and health literacy levels, with the goal of improving health equity and outcomes.

  1. Collaborate with Interprofessional Teams to Optimize Patient Care
    Work effectively within interprofessional teams to coordinate care, resolve complex clinical issues, and improve health outcomes at the individual and population level.

  1. Assess and Address Social Determinants of Health in Clinical Practice
    Identify social, cultural, and environmental factors affecting health; integrate resources and community partnerships into care plans to address disparities and promote health resilience.

8. Demonstrate Clinical Expertise and Professionalism in the APRN Role
Provide independent, evidence-based care including advanced assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic conditions; demonstrate ethical leadership, accountability, and commitment to continuous professional growth in the APRN role.

Post-Doctoral Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate Requirements:

Course

title

Credits

NUR-841

Practicum in Common Problems in Family/Across the Lifespan

3

NUR-843

Practicum in Acute Problems in Family/Across the Lifespan

3

NUR-845

Practicum in Complex and Chronic Problems in Family/Across the Lifespan

3

NUR-840

Management of Common Problems in Family/Across the Lifespan

3

NUR-842

Management of Acute Problems in Family/Across the Lifespan

3

NUR-844

Management of Complex and Chronic Problems in Family/Across the Lifespan

3

NUR-915

Immersion 2: Family Nurse Practitioner

0

NUR-925

Immersion 3: Family Nurse Practitioner

0

Post-Doctoral Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate Requirements:

Course

title

Credits

18 Total

NUR-831

Advanced Concepts in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 

4

NUR-833

Practicum in Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities

3

NUR-837

Practicum for Complex and Chronic Problems in Psychiatric and Mental Healthcare

3

NUR-830

Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan

3

NUR-832

Management in Lifespan Psychiatric and Mental Healthcare

3

NUR-836

Complex and Chronic Problems in Psychiatric and Mental Healthcare

2

NUR-918

Immersion 2: Psych Nurse Practitioner

0

NUR-928

Immersion 3: Psych Nurse Practitioner

0

Post-Doctoral Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Certificate Requirements:

Course

title

Credits

18 Total

NUR-871

Practicum in Pediatric Patients I

3

NUR-873

Practicum in Pediatric Patients II

3

NUR-875

Practicum in Pediatric Patients III

3

NUR-870

Health Promotion and Primary Care of Pediatric/Adolescent Patients

3

NUR-872

Management of Pediatric/Adolescent Care

3

NUR-874

Management of Acute and Chronic Pediatrics

3

NUR-917

Immersion 2: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

0

NUR-927

Immersion 3: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

0