Family Nurse Practitioner, Post-MSN Certificate (0449)
Department website: http://www.wku.edu/nursing
Program Coordinator
Tonya M. Bragg-Underwood, tonya.bragg-underwood@wku.edu, (270) 745-4377
Program Contact
Maria E. Main, eve.main@wku.edu, (270) 745-3489
This certificate is for students who have completed a master's degree or higher in nursing and desire to pursue a non-degree course of study that leads to eligibility to take a national Family Nurse Practitioner certification examination.
Program Admission
Admission to the Post MSN Certificate is competitive and limited to available space, clinical sites, and clinical preceptors. Following initial review, if applicant meets minimum admission standards, consideration is given to the applicant’s professional work experience, statement of professional and personal goals, and professional references. An interview may be requested following a review of admission materials but does not assure acceptance into the program.
Minimum Admission Standards
- Earned MSN, DNP or higher degree in nursing from nationally accredited nursing program
- Hold unencumbered or have applied for RN licensure in Kentucky or compact state
- Submission of official transcripts that document a cumulative MSN GPA of at least 3.0 on 4.0 scale
- One year of full-time clinical experience as a registered nurse in a setting supporting primary care practice such as acute care, long term care, home health, etc.
Additional Required Application Materials
- A written goal statement (500-700 words in length, 12 pt. font, in Microsoft Word or RTF) describing your personal and professional career goals; your academic strengths and weaknesses; planned location of clinical practicum experiences and potential clinical preceptors; and role change anticipated following completion of certification
- Three professional references (on form provided) to include current nurse manager or nurse administrator and nurse faculty if a recent (<3 yrs.) MSN graduate.
- Professional resume
All program admission materials must be received prior to the due date noted on the program web page. An interview may be offered following a review of admission materials. Completion of an interview and acceptance by Graduate Studies does not assure acceptance into the certificate program. Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission. Applicants must reapply to be considered for the next admission cycle by updating the Graduate Studies application, and submitting all required program materials.
Graduate Studies Admission
Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate Studies admission requirements.
Program Requirements (17 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| NURS 508 | Advanced Issues in Professional Nursing | 1 |
| NURS 509 | Practice Management for Advanced Practice Nurses | 1 |
| NURS 546 | Primary Care of the Infant, Child, and Adolescent | 3 |
| NURS 547 | Primary Care of the Infant, Child and Adolescent Clinical | 2 |
| NURS 548 | Primary Care of the Adult | 3 |
| NURS 549 | Primary Care of the Adult Clinical | 2 |
| NURS 554 | Primary Care Internship | 5 |
| Total Hours | 17 | |