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Post-Graduate Certificate Program in Nursing

Program Description

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences endeavors to provide curricula that encourage individuals to pursue Christ-centered excellence in their nursing vocation as the future needs of the nursing profession come into view. The certificate program fits with the mission of the University to provide Christ-centered higher education that promotes excellence and character development in service to Church and society.

This program is ideal for nurses who have obtained their master’s or doctoral degree in nursing in another area and now find themselves in positions that require advanced preparation in nursing education, nursing administration, nurse practitioner, or nurse anesthetist. For example, if an MSN graduate with a major in nursing administration desired to acquire a certificate in nursing education, that individual could enroll in this program. Another example might be that of an individual with a nurse practitioner degree desiring advanced study in nursing administration.

Additional coursework may be required upon evaluation of transcripts for students with a master’s degree in a field other than nursing.

Mission Statement

To prepare graduates for advanced professional nursing practice with specific functional and clinical abilities.

Program Outcomes

The nursing education certificate prepares nurses for educator positions in various settings such as staff development, patient education, schools, and colleges. The nursing administration certificate prepares nurses for a variety of administrative and leadership positions in health care delivery systems. The nurse practitioner certificate prepares nurses to serve in a variety of clinical practices. The nurse anesthesia certificate program prepares nurses to serve as certified registered nurse anesthetists.

Schedule

The certificate program is hybrid with online and on-campus requirements. Clinical requirements of practicum commonly require more than one day per week. Curricular needs of full-time cohort students will be given priority.

Admission Requirements:

  1. Completed application with $50 application fee
  2. Completion of a master’s degree in nursing from a CCNE or ACEN accredited and state approved program.  
  3. Students dismissed from a graduate nursing program for academic, clinical, or behavioral reasons will not be admitted to Union University’s Graduate Nursing Program. Students who have been enrolled in another program and withdrew or are still enrolled in good standing must have a letter from the program director or Dean stating that they are in good standing or withdrew while in good standing in order to be considered for admission to Union University’s Graduate Nursing Program. 
  4. Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions must be submitted directly through NursingCAS. Please do not send transcripts for non-traditional nursing programs to Undergraduate Admissions. Transcripts must be received by NursingCAS in a sealed envelope from all previous academic institutions attended. Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions must be sent to: NursingCAS, P.O. Box 9201, Watertown, MA 02471.
  5. Proof of current unencumbered RN licensure and APRN licensure (if applicable) in the state  of residence.
  6. Eligible for licensure as a RN and APRN (if applicable) in Tennessee.
  7. Interview with the Nursing Graduate Admissions Selection Committee
  8. Applicants from a country where the native language is not English may be required to show proof of English proficiency with scores no lower than 105 on the DuoLingo English Proficiency test. In addition, students must provide WES evaluations of transcripts
  9. Three letters of professional/academic reference specifying the applicants capabilities for graduate study. One letter of reference must be from the applicant’s supervisor.
  10. Last 60 hours cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

    Calculation of GPA for the last 60 hours will occur as follows:
    • The grades used to calculate the 60 hours GPA will be the most recent, and exactly 60 hours will be included in the calculation. If a partial semester must be utilized, the course with the highest grade will be chosen, and the number of hours needed will be multiplied by the grade. For example, if 2 hours are needed to complete the 60, and the applicant has a 3 hour course in which they earned an A, 8 points will be added (2 x 4 = 8).
    • If an applicant re-took a course, the higher grade will be used in the calculation; the lower grade will not count in the calculation at all.
    • Plus and minus grades will be considered as standard A, B, C, etc. For example, an A+ and an A- will both be a assigned 4 quality points per credit hour.
  11. Cleared criminal background check
  12. Clean drug screen

Additional requirements for the Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator tracks:

  • Science GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale, defined as Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2, and Statistics is preferred
  • Statement of professional goals to include (limit to 2 pages):
    • Why you wish to become a Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, or Nurse Administrator
    • What you plan to do with this certificate, including long term goals
    • How you have prepared for success in this program

Students admitted to the program must have and maintain while in the program:

  1. Current CPR certification
  2. Evidence of Hepatitis B, MMR, and tetanus vaccination (TDaP unless TD within the past 2 years)
  3. Proof of 2 Varicella vaccinations or positive antibody titer (If titer is negative, student must repeat the 2 vaccine series.
  4. Freedom from tuberculosis as evidenced by a negative PPD, negative QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus, or negative chest x-ray.
  5. Health insurance

Academic Standards, Requirements for Progression, Probation, and Dismissal

Students must maintain an overall B average. After completion of 9 graduate hours at Union University, a graduate student whose cumulative GPA from courses completed at Union University for graduate credit is below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. A student placed on academic probation has one semester to increase his or her cumulative GPA to 3.0 or greater to be removed from a probationary status. If the student fails to increase his or her cumulative GPA to 3.0 or greater during the following semester, the student will be dismissed from the graduate program. 

Students will also be dismissed without opportunity for probation if they:

  • Receive an “F” (i.e., any grade below a “C”) in any course
  • Receive more than two “C”s in any non-track specific courses.

Students must make a grade of B or higher in all track specific and 700-level courses (excluding pass/fail courses) in order to progress in or graduate from the graduate nursing program.

The program faculty recognize that situations may arise which prevent students from successfully matriculating through the program. Students who are concerned about their academic standing should contact their advisor. If it appears the student may not be able to achieve a minimum passing grade in a course, they may be encouraged by the appropriate Program Chair to withdraw from the program. This can potentially prevent the student from acquiring an F on their Union University transcript if the dropped class occurs prior to the deadline listed on the academic calendar (“last day to drop a class”). All students who withdraw or who are academically dismissed from the program can reapply for admission. However, readmission is not guaranteed. 

Financial Information

Tuition is $665 per semester hour for Post-graduate programs and $995 for post-graduate DNP programs. Full payment for a term is expected at the time of registration for classes.

General Student fee: $32/credit hr.

Any combination of the following payment methods is available:

  1. Check, cash, or credit card.
  2. Employer reimbursement.
  3. FACTS (and electronic monthly draft from a savings or checking account)

The cost of books is approximately $150 per course.

All financial information is subject to change without notice.

Employer Tuition Reimbursement Policies

  1. The student is responsible for providing information to the university regarding his/her employer’s policies for reimbursement.
  2. If the employer reimburses the student directly, the student must pay the university in full at the time of registration for classes.
  3. If the employer provides partial reimbursement directly to the university, the student must pay his/her portion of the tuition at the time of registration.
  4. The university will provide any required information to an employer when requested by the student.

Certificate Program Completion Requirements

  1. Must demonstrate evidence of completion of MSN or DNP core through an accredited MSN or DNP Program.
  2. Completion of the specialty curriculum for Post-graduate Certificate.
  3. File an application for graduation with the Graduate Nursing Office by the published deadline.
  4. Pay in full the student’s account in the Business Office.
  5. Discharge all other obligations (fines, credentials, fees, etc.) at the University.

 

Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Administration—22 hours

Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education—24 hours

Post Graduate Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner—26 hours

Post Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner—29 hours