Certificate After Graduate Education in Nursing
The Certificate After Graduate Education in Nursing (CAGE) program allows individuals with a prior Master of Science in Nursing degree to add a different clinical emphasis. The program offers three options: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Educator. The program curriculum is individualized for each student based on their academic needs to meet their certification goals. A transcript review of previous MSN courses will be completed and a progression plan will be developed. This provides an opportunity to increase advanced practice nursing knowledge and clinical experience without duplicating coursework previously completed. Credit requirements for completion will vary based on prior academic work.
General Information
- The master’s degree program in nursing at Concordia University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
- All students must maintain an unencumbered RN license while in the program. As this is an online program, sometimes there are out of state requirements that apply to the clinical setting. If clinicals will take place outside the state of Wisconsin, it is the student's responsibility to make sure their program of study is eligible and meets all requirements within that state's Department of Licensing & Regulation.
- Students must earn a minimum of a B in all courses. Policies regarding progression and retention will be applied if the the student earns less than a B in any course.
- Students are expected to comply with the requirements as stated in the Student Responsibilities Agreement.
- The MSN FNP and AGPCNP clinical courses require a minimum of 750 hours. Based on their level of performance, a student may need to complete additional hours to be successful.
- Students will identify and secure clinical preceptors which then need to be approved for appropriateness by the graduate faculty. The Clinical Contract Coordinator is available for assistance.
- Students must complete all degree requirements within a five-year period from the time of taking the first course in the program.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation the graduate student will be able to:
- Integrate liberal arts and sciences into advanced nursing roles and education.
- Analyze organizational and systems leadership principles to improve quality and patient safety in advanced nursing roles.
- Integrate evidence-based approaches into advanced nursing practice and education.
- Integrate healthcare technologies in the delivery, enhancement, and coordination of quality patient care.
- Analyze healthcare policies, finances, and regulations that impact healthcare systems.
- Integrate patient-centered care using interprofessional teams to improve health outcomes of individuals and populations.
- Integrate evidence-based, culturally appropriate knowledge in clinical prevention and population health at the individual and aggregate level.
- Assume accountability for advanced nursing practice and lifelong learning.
- Apply best evidence to assure competence in advanced nursing practice or nursing education with diverse populations.
Curriculum
Adult/Gero Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| NURS 530 | Healthcare Policy & Issues in Advanced Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 534 | Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Roles and Interprofessional Collaboration | 3 |
| BIO 650 | Genetics, Immunology, & Microbiology for Advanced Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 536 | Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 560 | Fundamentals of Health Care Informatics | 3 |
| NURS 645 | Role Transition for the APN | 2 |
| BIO 542 | Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 |
| NURS 638 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| Specialization | ||
| Specialization Courses (AGPCNP) | 12 | |
| Advanced Primary Care Clinical I - AGPCNP (4 credits) | ||
| Advanced Primary Care Clinical II - AGPCNP (4 credits) | ||
| Advanced Primary Care Clinical III - AGPCNP (4 credits) | ||
| Total Hours | 35 | |
Curriculum
Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| NURS 530 | Healthcare Policy & Issues in Advanced Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 534 | Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Roles and Interprofessional Collaboration | 3 |
| BIO 650 | Genetics, Immunology, & Microbiology for Advanced Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 536 | Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 560 | Fundamentals of Health Care Informatics | 3 |
| NURS 645 | Role Transition for the APN | 2 |
| BIO 542 | Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 |
| NURS 638 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| Specialization | ||
| Specialization Courses (FNP) | 12 | |
| Advanced Primary Care Clinical I - FNP (4 credits) | ||
| Advanced Primary Care Clinical II - FNP (4 credits) | ||
| Advanced Primary Care Clinical III - FNP (4 credits) | ||
| Total Hours | 35 | |
Curriculum
Nurse Educator Certificate
Note: This 15-credit graduate certificate provides participants with a foundation in the knowledge and skills required to teach in a nursing education program. Those who complete the program will be eligible to sit for the Certification for Nurse Educators (CNE) exam through the National League for Nursing.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| NURS 677 | Evaluation and Testing in Nursing Education | 3 |
| NURS 530 | Healthcare Policy & Issues in Advanced Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 771 | NE I: Role Transition for the Nurse Educator | 3 |
| NURS 772 | NE II: Instructional Design in Nursing Education - Didactic Teaching | 3 |
| NURS 774 | NE III: Instructional Design In Nursing Education - Clinical Teaching | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Entrance Requirements for the Graduate School of Nursing in Addition to Graduate School Requirements
- MSN and/or DNP degree from an accredited nursing school
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Science GPA is evaluated as part of the admission process
- Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in the USA
- Actively working in practice.
- Current CPR certification
- Ability to perform Technical Standards for Registered Nurses
Application/Admission Process
Students must apply online through NursingCas. All students applying for admission must submit:
- All official college transcripts leading to the bachelor's degree
- A formal essay addressing the following topics:
- Your rationale for choosing a career as a Nurse Practitioner or a Nurse Educator
- Your personal compatibility with the CUW mission
- Your plans for academic success in the program, including time management, stress management, and professional communication
- Address any previous academic issues
- Upon completion of your degree, where do you envision yourself practicing and with what populations
- Professional resume
- Current unencumbered RN license
- Documentation of the number of faculty-supervised clinical hours completed in the MSN or DNP program.
- Three letters of reference: two must be professional and/or academic and one must be from an individual who has worked with the applicant in a professional capacity and has a minimum of a Master's degree.
- Applicants who have completed graduate level classes and wish to have them evaluated must submit these transcripts and the transfer credit form.
- GRE exams are not required.
The deadline for fall admission is July 1.
The deadline for spring admission is November 1.
In addition to the graduate admission requirements, there may be a pre-admission telephone interview.
The admission committee will review applications and a formal letter/email of acceptance or denial will be sent to the student.
Transfer of Credit
The Graduate Nursing Program will accept up to 50 percent of the overall certificate credit requirements as transfer credits. Additional credits may be accepted subject to the approval of the Dean for the School of Nursing. Credits will be accepted based on the following criteria:
- Courses transferred must be comparable in scope and subject matter to courses offered in the CAGE Program. The student will need to provide a course description and the course syllabus for any course requested for transfer. A transfer credit form must be completed and submitted to the Graduate Nursing Office for approval upon admission.
- All courses transferred in must be at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- All transfer credits must be certified by the Registrar and approved for the degree by the graduate nursing program director.
- Transfer credits will not be applied to the cumulative grade point average the student earns while in Concordia's CAGE program.