Post-MSN Certificates for Nurse Practitioner

As employment opportunities and demands of the health care environment change, nurses at the graduate level need additional specialty education. The Division of Nursing and Allied Health at Wilmington University has developed options for nurses holding an earned MSN degree who seek to become a nurse practitioner for the first time or who seek another concentration as a nurse practitioner.

All candidates for any post-master’s certificate must make an application to the program as a certificate candidate and must meet the admission requirements for the MSN program. Applicants will have graduate transcripts reviewed and will be advised regarding course selection. Course of study is individualized based on the type of MSN held by the candidate. You may obtain a Graduate Certificate Program Form from the Registration Book or by downloading it from the Wilmington University Registrar’s webpage.

Candidates who are nurse practitioners already, and are seeking additional certification in a different track, need to meet different requirements from those MSN graduates seeking nurse practitioner certification for the first time. This applicant must have graduated from an accredited program with an earned MSN and be licensed as a nurse practitioner. A portfolio must be submitted to verify previous clinical experiences. A range of 140-260 previous clinical hours may be accepted as Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), based on the portfolio. However, a minimum of 240-360 clinical hours (2-3 clinical courses) will be required within the course of study at Wilmington University. The type of clinical experiences will be based on the student’s portfolio, which will identify the gaps in their clinical knowledge base.

Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program Competencies

Through completion of the selected certification program, graduates will:

  1. Demonstrate competence in the domain of management of patient health/illness.
  2. Employ evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to guide screening activities; identify health promotion needs; and provide anticipatory guidance and counseling addressing environmental, lifestyles, and developmental issues.
  3. Plan and implement diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions to help patients with unstable and complex health care problems regain stability and restore health in collaboration with the patient and multidisciplinary health care team.

Course of Study for Non-Practitioners

This course of study is for nurses with an earned Master of Science in Nursing, but not as a nurse practitioner.

Adult Nurse Practitioner (24 credits/ 500 clinical hours)

MSN 6603 Advanced Pathophysiology*

MSN 7702 Advanced Adult Health Assessment

MSN 7703 Advanced Pharmacology*

MSN 7705 Primary Care II: Acute and Chronic Care of Adults

MSN 7707 Primary Care III: Gender Health Issues

MSN 8101 Certification Adult Practicum I

MSN 8201 Certification Adult Practicum II

MSN 8301 Certification Adult Practicum III

* May be accepted as transfer credits

Family Nurse Practitioner (30 credits/ 500 clinical hours)

MSN 6603 Advanced Pathophysiology*

MSN 7701 Child Development and Assessment

MSN 7702 Advanced Adult Health Assessment

MSN 7703 Advanced Pharmacology*

MSN 7704 Primary Care I: Acute and Chronic Care of Children

MSN 7705 Primary Care II: Acute and Chronic Care of Adults

MSN 7707 Primary Care III: Gender Health Issues

MSN 8103 Certification Family Practicum I

MSN 8203 Certification Family Practicum II

MSN 8303 Certification Family Practicum III

* May be accepted as transfer credits

Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (24 credits/500 clinical hours)

MSN 6603 Advanced Pathophysiology*

MSN 7702 Advanced Adult Health Assessment

MSN 7703 Advanced Pharmacology*

MSN 7709 Geriatric Assessment and Health Promotion

MSN 7708 Primary Care IV: Acute and Chronic Care of Geriatrics

MSN 8102 Certification Gerontology Practicum I

MSN 8202 Certification Gerontology Practicum II

MSN 8302 Certification Gerontology Practicum III

* May be accepted as transfer credits

Course of Study for Current Nurse Practitioners

These courses of study are for nurses with an earned Master of Science in Nursing as a nurse practitioner and require study in another concentration.

Adult Nurse Practitioner—Seeking Family Nurse Practitioner (18 credits/500 clinical hours)

MSN 7701 Child Development and Assessment

MSN 7704 Primary Care I: Acute and Chronic Care of Children

MSN 7707 Primary Care III: Gender Health Issues*

MSN 8103 Certification Family Practicum I**

MSN 8203 Certification Family Practicum II

MSN 8303 Certification Family Practicum III

* Many ANP programs include some gender-related health courses and clinical requirements. This will be reviewed on an individual basis.

**May be accepted as Prior Learning Assessment

Adult Nurse Practitioner—Seeking Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (15 credits/500 clinical hours)

MSN 7709 Geriatric Assessment and Health Promotion

MSN 7708 Primary Care IV: Acute and Chronic Care of Geriatrics

MSN 8102 Certification Gerontology Practicum I**

MSN 8202 Certification Gerontology Practicum II

MSN 8302 Certification Gerontology Practicum III

**May be accepted as Prior Learning Assessment

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner—Seeking Family Nurse Practitioner (18 credits/500 clinical hours)

MSN 7702 Advanced Adult Health Assessment

MSN 7705 Primary Care II: Acute and Chronic Care of Adults

MSN 7707 Primary Care III: Gender Health Issues*

MSN 8103 Certification Family Practicum I**

MSN 8203 Certification Family Practicum II

MSN 8303 Certification Family Practicum III

*Many ANP programs include some gender-related health courses and clinical requirements. This will be reviewed on an individual basis.

**May be accepted as Prior Learning Assessment

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner—Seeking Family Nurse Practitioner (18 credits/500 clinical hours)

MSN 7701 Child Development and Assessment

MSN 7704 Primary Care I: Acute and Chronic
Care of Children

MSN 7705 Primary Care II: Acute and Chronic Care of Adults

MSN 8103 Certification Family Practicum I**

MSN 8203 Certification Family Practicum II

MSN 8303 Certification Family Practicum III

**May be accepted as Prior Learning Assessment

This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2008-2009 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2008 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.