May 20, 2024  
National University Volume 86B-2 Catalog - April 2024 
    
National University Volume 86B-2 Catalog - April 2024

Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing


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Post-Master’s Certificate


Description of Program


In order to earn a Post-Master’s Certificate, students must complete four courses (12 credit hours) within the chosen Post-Master’s Certificate program. With the exception of the General Business program, each Post-Master’s Certificate program is prescribed, meaning students can only take what is listed for the particular Post-Master’s Certificate program (students may not substitute alternative courses with the exception of the School of Business and Economics doctoral level elective course). Students must complete all four courses with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in order to receive the certificate.

The Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Quality and Safety is not eligible for Title IV funding. 

Click here for potential career opportunities within the Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing.

Certificate Learning Outcomes


  • Implement appropriate theories, models, frameworks, and concepts from nursing and non-nursing disciplines when designing interventions that influence healthcare outcomes for diverse populations in a variety of settings.
  • Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, to evaluate fiscally appropriate healthcare delivery systems that integrate research and clinical expertise to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care.
  • Evaluate economic, policy, environmental, and social forces that impact nursing practice, health care delivery and quality of health care.
  • Participate in the analysis, implementation and evaluation of strategies for improving nursing practice through the implementation of health information systems and technologies.
  • Demonstrate a professional commitment to creating an environment of lifelong learning for patients, families, communities, and other healthcare practitioners.

Basis for Admission


Admissions to the Post-Master’s Certificate program requires a minimum of a conferred Master of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited university. 

Scope


4 Courses (12 Credit hours) must be completed from the coursework outlined within the corresponding Post-Master’s Certificate specialization. Courses taken as part of a master’s program cannot be applied towards a Post-Master’s Certificate program.

Certificate Requirements


Post-Master’s Certificate has the follow graduation requirements:

  • Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 (letter grade of “B”) or higher
  • Official documents on file for basis of admission: a conferred master’s level or higher degree from an accredited academic institution
  • Official transcripts on file for all transfer credit hours accepted by the University
  • All financial obligations must be met before the student will be issued their complimentary diploma

Time to Completion


The University allows 2 years to complete all certificate programs. 

The median time to completion for this program is 12 months.

Time to completion varies depending upon the pace in which a student completes courses and the number of transfer credits accepted. As most students are working adults, balancing educational, professional, and personal commitments, our academic and finance advisors will work with you to develop a program schedule that works best for your needs.

Students following the preferred schedule designed by the Dean for this program, and applying no transfer credits, can expect to finish in as little as 10 months.

Post-Master’s Certificate Transfer into a Doctoral Sequence


Specialization coursework completed as part of a doctoral degree, where a degree was conferred, cannot be applied towards a Post-Master’s Certificate program.

  • Coursework completed within a Post-Master’s Certificate program may be applied towards the specialization sequence within a doctoral program.
  • Applying Post-Master’s Certificate coursework towards a doctoral degree is contingent upon coursework and degree relevance under the most current doctoral degree program version.

Post-Master’s Certificate - Nursing Quality and Safety


This specialization prepares nurses to assume a broader leadership role in risk management and quality and safety improvement within a healthcare organization, and to actively participate in and lead interdisciplinary teams. In addition to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Graduate Essentials (2021), the specialization outcomes are based upon the Graduate-Level Quality and Safety Education in Nursing (QSEN) Competencies: Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (2012). 

The Nursing Quality and Safety Post-Master’s Certificate is designed to offer graduate-level education to Registered Nurses (RN) with a minimum of an earned Master of Science in Nursing to expand their career options.

Disclosure: Please note that National University is not affiliated with QSEN and cannot guarantee that this Post-Master’s Certificate will provide all the training necessary to pass a certification exam.

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