Program Overview
The Post-Master's Adult-Gero Nurse Practitioner Certificate online at Northern Kentucky University gives you the professional knowledge and qualifications to provide healthcare services to adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. Discover new opportunities in your nursing career when you add this program's specialized competencies and clinical experiences to your existing practice.
Core coursework includes innovative clinical pharmacology for APRNs, analysis and application of health data, and fundamentals of research and theory for advanced nursing and evidence-based practice. You will also explore the issues faced by today's evolving healthcare system. This 31-credit-hour certificate program is delivered online with four embedded supervised clinical residencies and a capstone course to synthesize skills acquired from previous learning.
As a graduate of the program, you will be prepared to take the Adult-Gero Primary Care certification examination. Nurses who specialize in adult-gero focus on designing plans to improve lifelong outcomes for their patients by promoting healthy changes and managing chronic illnesses.
In this online program, you will:
- Prepare for the Adult-Gero Primary Care certification exam and expanded practice opportunities to diagnose and treat patients from adolescence to geriatrics
- Develop advanced skills in assessment of physical, cognitive, nutritional, and functional domains while integrating appropriate test data and diagnostic reasoning
- Evaluate pharmacological interventions and review the physiology of selected therapeutic agents and pharmacological management of clients while discussing best practices for patient education
- Use evidence-based practice to demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability while implementing change to improve healthcare outcomes
- Work with patients in a series of supervised clinical residencies to increase your understanding of health promotion, problem identification, acute and chronic illness management, the integration of advanced assessment, and the management of pharmacological interventions
- Participate in interactive courses that cover topics related to the primary care of adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients, examining neurological, psychosocial, and dermatological systems as well as women's health and gynecology, fetal development, and strategies for elderly patients
The baccalaureate degree in nursing/master's degree in nursing, postgraduate APRN certificate, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Northern Kentucky University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington DC, 20001, 202-887-6791.
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Also available:
Northern Kentucky University offers a variety of Master of Science in Nursing degrees, an RN to BSN, a Post-Master's DNP, and several nursing certificates online. Check out our other online nursing programs.
Tuition
The Post-Master's Adult-Gero NP Certificate online program features affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition. All fees are included in the total tuition, and the rate is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify.
Tuition breakdown:
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Required Fees | Total With Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Master's Adult-Gero Nurse Practitioner Certificate | $550 | $1,564 | $18,614 |
Contact your enrollment specialist for information on currently available tuition-saving offers. Offers cannot be combined. Tuition is subject to change at any time.
Northern Kentucky University has been designated an Age-Friendly University by the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education, in conjunction with The Gerontological Society of America, due to its commitment to increasing educational access for all learners. NKU is the only university in Greater Cincinnati and Kentucky to join the international effort to support intergenerational learners.
Calendar
The Post-Master's Adult-Gero NP Certificate program is delivered in a convenient online format with 7-week courses and six start dates a year. View the calendar to find the best class start for you and note the corresponding deadlines.
Now Enrolling:
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2 | 10/14/20 | 10/01/20 | 10/06/20 | 10/09/20 | 10/14/20 | 12/04/20 |
| Spring 1 | 01/11/21 | 01/04/21 | 01/06/21 | 01/08/21 | 01/11/21 | 02/26/21 |
| Spring 2 | 03/15/21 | 03/03/21 | 03/08/21 | 03/11/21 | 03/15/21 | 04/30/21 |
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from Northern Kentucky University?
Admissions
The Post-Master's Adult-Gero NP Certificate online program features a simplified admission process. Please review the Program Map to determine eligibility of this program in your state. Requirements for admission include:
View full admission requirements
Post-Master's Adult-Gero NP Online Admission Requirements
- Completed application for graduate admission
- $40 application fee paid
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate academic work
- Verification of your current, unencumbered RN license with expiration date in the state in which you are licensed and practice
- Master of Science in Nursing degree from an ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA-accredited nursing program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in MSN graduate coursework
- 1,000 clinical hours of practice as a Registered Nurse; fill out the verification form here
Official documents may be mailed or emailed to:
NKU Office of Graduate Education302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.
Courses
In order to earn the Post-Master's Adult-Gero NP Certificate online, students must complete 13 courses comprising 31 credit hours. These include eight core courses, four supervised clinical residencies for a total of 500 clinical hours, and 3 credit hours for a capstone project. All courses are seven weeks in length.
Students must take the following courses:
MSN 610: Diagnostic Reasoning and Advanced Physical Assessment
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Development of advanced skills in assessment of physical, cognitive, nutritional and functional domains: integration of appropriate test data and diagnostic reasoning.
MSN 611: Advanced Clinical Pharmacology and Intervention for APRN's
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Review of pharmacological physiology of selected therapeutic agents; pharmacological management of clients, including drug selection, client/family education, and monitoring and evaluating pharmacological interventions.
MSN 612: Role Development in Advanced Practice Nursing
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course explores the history and role of Advanced Practice Nurses. This includes an overview of the role of the Advance Practice Nurse as a Provider, Consultant, Educator, Researcher, Collaborator, Leader and Administrator. Selected legal, practice, and ethical issues are explored. Nursing theory is incorporated into the course.
BIO 669: Human Pathophysiology
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
A systems-based approach designed to study the physiology and pathophysiology relating to human health. Integrative regulatory mechanisms responsible for homeostasis and cellular adaptation will serve as the foundation for clinical assessment, decision-making, and management in clinical practice.
MSN 620: Primary Care of Adolescents and Adults I
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Interactive course covering topics related to the primary care of adults, specifically examining the ears, eyes, nose & throat, neurological, psychosocial, dermatological, musculoskeletal, and abdominal systems. Pathophysiology, principles of health promotion and disease prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of common health problems within these systems will be presented.
MSN 621: Primary Care of Adolescents and Adults II
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Interactive course covering topics related to primary care of adults, specifically examining the renal, women's health & gynecology, fetal development, preconception & prenatal, men's health, hematological, immunological, & respiratory systems. Pathophysiology, principles of health promotion, disease prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of common health problems within these systems presented.
MSN 622: Primary Care of Adolescents and Adults III
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Interactive course covering topics related to primary care of adults, specifically examining cardiac and endocrine systems, palliative care, minor emergency care, and common laboratory and diagnostic tests. Pathophysiology, principles of health promotion and disease prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of common health problems within these systems will be presented.
MSN 623: Geriatric Primary Care and Pharmacology
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This interactive course focuses on the management of common illnesses affecting and pharmacological management of geriatric patients. Students incorporate principles of health promotion, disease prevention, pathophysiology, and assessment to develop therapeutic management and evaluation strategies for geriatric patients.
MSN 655L: Primary Care A/G Clinical I
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 1
The first in a series of courses comprised of a supervised AGNP clinical residency in a variety of primary care settings. Students will engage in health promotion, problem identification, management of acute and chronic illnesses, integration of advanced assessment, and management of pharmacological and other therapeutic interventions.
MSN 656L: Primary Care A/G Clinical II
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 1
The second in a series of courses comprised of a supervised AGNP clinical residency in a variety of primary care settings. Students will engage in health promotion, problem identification, management of acute and chronic illnesses, integration of advanced assessment, and management of pharmacological and other therapeutic interventions.
MSN 657L: Primary Care A/G Clinical III
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 1
The third in a series of courses comprised of a supervised AGNP clinical residency in a variety of primary care settings. Students will engage in health promotion, problem identification, management of acute and chronic illnesses, integration of advanced assessment, and management of pharmacological and other therapeutic interventions.
MSN 658L: Primary Care A/G Clinical IV
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 1
The fourth in a series of courses comprised of a supervised AGNP clinical residency in a variety of primary care settings. Students will engage in health promotion, problem identification, management of acute and chronic illnesses, integration of advanced assessment, and management of pharmacological and other therapeutic interventions.
Students must take the following course, totaling 3 credit hours, as part of the Post-Master's Adult-Gero NP Certificate practicum.
MSN 634: Adult-Gero Primary Care Capstone
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Practicum synthesizing content from all previous courses in the Advanced Practice Nurse majors. This culminating experience will result in a project synthesizing all previous learning. Prerequisite: MSN 656L. Co-requisite: MSN 658L.
