Director of Graduate Nursing
Layna Himmelberg, Ed.D., MSN, CNE
PH 402.552.2776  TF 800.647.5500
himmelberg@clarksoncollege.edu

Post-Graduate Certificate Options

The purpose of the Post-Graduate certificate options provide opportunities for students who already have a graduate degree to gain knowledge within a specialty at Clarkson College. The Post-Graduate certificate represents the student’s successful completion of the required courses in the chosen nursing option. The five options are Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator and Nursing Healthcare Administration.

Admission Policies

Enrollment in Clarkson College degree programs is limited through a selective admissions process. Admission policies and procedures are available from: the Enrollment and Advising office, College website or Academic Policies & Procedures section (AD-1).

Program requires Health and Safety – View Health and Safety Information

Required Courses for Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing

Family Nurse Practitioner Courses

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care of the individual and family in primary care settings. Throughout this program option, the learner will develop an advanced nursing practice that encompasses concepts and theories related to nursing and health care, as well as recognized and evidence-based care standards to deliver family-centered care. The family nurse practitioner (FNP) assumes the role of educator, referral agent and advocate while providing care within an evolving health care system.

Courses	Semester Hours
NS 807 - Theories and Concepts of Advanced Practice Roles	3
NS 830 - Advanced Physical Assessment	3
NS 832 - Primary Healthcare I	3
NS 833 - Foundations of Adult-Gerontologic Healthcare	2
◊ NS 834 - Advanced Nutrition	3
NS 835 - Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health	2
NS 836 - Pharmacology for Practitioners	3
NS 838 - Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NS 840 - Primary Care of Children and Adolescent	3
NS 842 - Primary Care of Women	3
NS 844 - Primary Healthcare II	3
NS 852 - Family Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice	2
Total Semester Hours	33

*The Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progression through clinical courses. Though the program may be com­pleted online, students are required to attend an on-campus weekend for the specified clinical course (NS 830). Only one clinical course may be taken at a time.

Nursing Education Courses

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become academic or clinical nurse educators. The evidence-based curriculum offers students the opportunity to acquire information about teaching and learning theories and strategies, curriculum or program development, and evaluation or assessment strategies while fostering an ethical perspective. These learners will also encounter technologies being used to deliver nursing education content and experiences, from classroom technologies to skills lab and simulation technologies. The nurse educator assumes the role of mentor, coach, guide and expert, nurturing student nurses and/or providing continuing professional development to registered or licensed practical nurses.

Courses	Semester Hours
NS 807 - Theories and Concepts of Advanced Practice Roles	3
NS 806 - Theories of Learning for the Nurse Educator	3
◊ NS 822 - Curriculum Development for the Nurse Educator	3
NS 823 - Evaluation Strategies for the Nurse Educator	3
NS 826 - Pharmacology, Pathophysiology and Health Assessment Overview for Nurse Educators	3
NS 827 - Teaching and Learning Strategies for the Nurse Educator	3
NS 894 - Nursing Education Practicum	3
NS 890 - Nurse Educator Transition to Practice	2
Total Semester Hours	23

Nursing Healthcare Administration Courses

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become nursing health care administrators (i.e., executives or managers). The curriculum encompasses systems, leadership, and organization information, including theoretical models and concepts that are relevant to the role of nursing health care administrator. Learners will review and evaluate several health care settings and identify strategies to manage those areas. This program option prepares the learner to engage in evidence-based, data-driven decision-making while pursuing high-quality health care that is safe, affordable and results in positive outcomes.

Courses	Semester Hours
MB 800 - Ethics in Leadership	2
MB 808 - Healthcare Leadership	3
MB 826 - Healthcare Strategic Management	3
MB 828 - Financial Management in Healthcare	3
MB 833 - Healthcare Quality and Risk Management	3
MB 836 - Healthcare Project Management	3
NS 898 - Nursing Healthcare Leadership Practicum	3
MB 837 - Leading Change OR MB 846 - Fundamentals of Informatics	3 3
Total Semester Hours	23

**Each of the MB courses is offered in a six-week format, allowing Post-Graduate Certificate students to interact with the graduate students in the Healthcare Administration program.

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care to adult and gerontological patients in acute care settings. Throughout this program option, the learner will develop an advanced nursing practice that encompasses concepts and theories related to nursing and health care, and will assume the role of educator, referral agent, and advocate while providing care within an evolving health care system.

Courses	Semester Hours
NS 807 - Theories and Concepts of Advanced Practice Roles	3
NS 830 - Advanced Physical Assessment	3
NS 833 - Foundations of Adult-Gerontologic Healthcare	2
◊ NS 834 - Advanced Nutrition	3
NS 835 - Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health	2
NS 836 - Pharmacology for Practitioners	3
NS 838 - Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NS 861 - Introduction to Acute Care Concepts	3
NS 862 - Applying Acute Care Concepts	3
NS 863 - Complex Acute Care Concepts	3
NS 864 - Advanced Acute Care Concepts	3
NS 854 - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice	2
Total Semester Hours	33

*The Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progression through the clinical courses. Though the program may be completed online, students are required to attend an on-campus weekend for the specified clinical course (NS 830). Only one clinical course may be taken at a time.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care for patients in mental and/or behavioral health settings. The learner will engage in identifying key concepts and theories related to psychiatric-mental health nursing, strategies for communicating clearly with patients, and evidence-based treatment options or plans that meet the unique needs of each patient. The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner takes on the roles of educator, communicator and advocate while providing care within an evolving health care system.

Courses	Semester Hours
NS 807 - Theories and Concepts of Advanced Practice Roles	3
NS 830 - Advanced Physical Assessment	3
NS 833 - Foundations of Adult-Gerontologic Healthcare	2
◊ NS 834 - Advanced Nutrition	3
NS 835 - Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health	2
NS 836 - Pharmacology for Practitioners	3
NS 838 - Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NS 855 - Pharmacology for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner	2
NS 856 - Introduction to Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts	3
NS 857 - Application of Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts	3
NS 858 - Complex Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts	3
NS 859 - Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts	3
NS 860 - Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice	2
Total Semester Hours	35

*The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progression through clinical courses. Though the program may be completed online, students are required to attend an on-campus weekend for the specified clinical course (NS 830). Only one clinical course may be taken at a time.