Nurse Practitioner Advancement Certificate

De-dee Foti, DNP, RN, Interim School of Nursing Director

Erin Robinson, Ed.D, MSN, RN, Interim School of Nursing Director

Anne Sahingoz, DNP, MSN.Ed., BSN, RN, Graduate Program Director

Introduction

Nurse practitioner advancement options are offered to provide opportunities for nurse practitioners to gain the additional specialty focus on Psych-Mental Health Nursing.

The MSN Program at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) provides an accelerated online format with 7-weeks terms for all classes. Despite the condensed timeframe, these accelerated courses maintain the same comprehensive content as their 16-week counterparts.  While we recognize the demanding nature of balancing full-time work and family obligations, it’s imperative for students to prioritize effective time management. We are unable to adjust the academic standards or expectations of the program to accommodate work or family responsibilities. The demanding nature of the MSN program necessitates undivided attention for successful progression. We strongly advise students to carefully assess the study hours required in relation to their existing responsibilities.

MSN Philosophy

The MSN program is guided by the missions of Northern Kentucky University and College of Health & Human Services. The MSN curriculum is grounded in the Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, QSEN, and the Future of Nursing report. The MSN program prepares graduates to be stewards of the discipline. Masters’ education originates from the student’s practice experiences, advances through individualized, student-centered and transformational opportunities, and culminates in the graduate assuming the nursing expert role. Masters learning includes opportunities for the improvement of health outcomes across diverse populations utilizing the best evidence and clinical judgement. Students and faculty promote academic excellence, professionalism, integrity, and inclusiveness within the advanced nursing community through shared responsibility, interprofessional collaboration, communication, teamwork, and mentoring relationships. This individualized student-centered learning takes place in a scholarly community grounded in standards for rigor, the nursing imperative of caring, and recognition of a plurality of voices.

Program Outcomes

1. Analyze evidence for practice to generate solutions utilizing clinical judgment and innovation within nursing’s philosophical framework and scientific foundation.
2. Develop person-centered care incorporating a systematic approach that integrates effective communication, cultural sensitivity, and engagement with families and communities..
3. Integrate knowledge of socio-cultural and political contexts and health determinants to improve all populations’ health.
4. Integrate the principles of nursing science within advanced practice roles to develop and evaluate initiatives that enhance the highest levels of practice.
5. Apply professional values, accountability, and responsibility to analyze, evaluate, and develop strategies that exemplify nursing practice’s quality and safety levels.
6. Collaborate in interprofessional communication and teamwork to enhance the health care system.
7. Coordinate resources to provide safe, quality, and equitable care across healthcare systems.
8. Utilize information and communication technologies and informatics tools integrating best practices, regulatory standards, and ethical, legal, and social implications to enhance the quality of care while upholding professional and regulatory guidelines.
9. Integrate professional values, accountability, and responsibility into advanced levels of nursing practice.
10. Participate in personal and professional development that fosters resilience, self-advocacy, and well-being to promote leadership capacity and contribute to advancing the nursing profession.

 

Student Advising

Students are expected to maintain close contact with their advisor throughout the program of study.  Prior consent of the advisor must be obtained before any deviation is made from full program advising.  Students are cautioned not to rely on the advice of other students regarding applicability of courses.

The MSN program reserves the right to determine the applicability of graduate transfer credit.  A maximum of 40% of your program may consist of transfer work that can be applied toward the program of study.

The MSN program is a year-round program (including summers) designed to be completed in a particular sequence, and may be lockstep fashion and in part-time progression.  Please consider managing work and family while completing a rigorous academic program.

MSN students must achieve a “C” or better in non-nursing courses (specifically BIO 669 and PSY 550) and a “B” or better in all MSN nursing courses in the MSN graduate program (including MSN/CHP/DNP). The “B-” is not considered a passing grade in an MSN graduate nursing course. If a grade of “B-” or less is earned the student is required to retake the course.

NP Advancement Admission Requirements

Prior to applying, please check the program map (https://onlinedegrees.nku.edu/map.aspx) to ensure our program is available in your state.

To be considered for admission to the NP Advancement Program, the university requires all applicants to fulfill the following requirements:

1. Submit a complete application for graduate admission to Northern Kentucky University.
2. Submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.  Please note that the transcripts sent should reflect all previous conferred degrees (BSN, MSN, previous NP) and any additional courses that you plan to transfer.
3. Master of Science in Nursing degree from an ACEN, CCNE or CNEA accredited program of nursing.  Students who have earned an MSN degree from a non-US institution will be considered for an exception to the requirement that the MSN come from ACEN, CCNE or CNEA accredited program of nursing, where applicable.
4. Applicants should have a Master of Science in Nursing program GPA of at least a 3.0.
5. Verification of your unencumbered NP nursing license and National NP certification.  Proof of licensure and certification should include expiration date. 
6. Proof of 1,000 clinical hours of practice over the previous year for all post-MSN certificates Download the Employment Verification Form on the Office of Graduate Education

 

Courses transferred into Northern Kentucky University may or may not be accepted for board certification requirements with ANCC, AACN, or AANP.   Faculty review transfer credit courses as outlined by the ANCC, AACN, and AANP guidelines.  ANCC, AACN, and AANP determine eligibility of course work for board certification and this is not determined by Northern Kentucky University. Courses accepted by Northern Kentucky University for transfer credit from another University are not a guarantee to be accepted by ANCC, AACN, or AANP.