Post Graduate Certificate - Clinical Nurse Specialist

The Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist program will prepare you with the knowledge and skills needed to function as an advanced practice nurse to meet the needs of adult-geriatric patients. Students can develop subspecialty expertise within the adult-gerontology population including such areas as cardiology, nephrology, neurology, and oncology, among others. CNSs are equipped to advance quality of care, integrate evidence into practice, develop and lead clinical innovations, and improve patient and system outcomes. Graduates practice in a wide range of health care settings that include hospitals and acute care, long-term care, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation care.

The Clinical Nurse Specialist curriculum prepares graduates to apply for and sit for the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Adult Gerontology certification exam. 

Program Outcomes

Those who earn a post-graduate clinical nurse specialist certificate often:

Lead and collaborate in an interdisciplinary healthcare team
Assist and offer guidance to patients and their families as they navigate the complex healthcare delivery system
Serve as educators, consultants, evidence-based researchers, change agents and case managers, as well as clinical nurses

Admission Requirements

Completion of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse. CNS and NP program applicants must be licensed in the state of Oklahoma. www.ok.gov/nursing Applicants to the CNS and NP programs are advised that their clinical rotations must be completed in the state of Oklahoma. Administration/Management and Education program applicants must be licensed in the United States. Applicants to the Administration/Management and Education programs are advised that their practicum experience must be completed in the United States.
Completion of a research methodology course with a grade of C or better.
Completion of a graduate or undergraduate general statistics course. Must include probability theory, inferential statistics, and descriptive statistics with a grade of C or better.
An overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 hours of academic credit.
Submission of three (3) recommendations (references) for admission with the Nursing CAS Admission Application.
Application to the University.
If requested by faculty, an interview.
Additional Information: All students must be enrolled in the graduate-nursing student group professional liability insurance program.

Curriculum

Clinical Practicum

Faculty assist students in obtaining preceptors for their clinical practice hours and help guide the selection of preceptors so that there is an optimum match between student career goals and needs and preceptor expertise.

Clinical Science Core Courses

Course #	Course Title	Credits
PATH 5503	Applied Principles of Pathology	3
NURS 5013	Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses	3
NURS 5633	Advanced Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning	3
Total Credit Hours		9

Clinical Nurse Specialist Pathway Courses

Course #	Course Title	Credits
NURS 5913	CNS Systems Management (96 Clinical Hours)	3
Total Credit Hours		3

Adult/Gero CNS Courses

Course #	Course Title	Credits
NURS 5643	Advanced Concepts in Adult/Gerontology Nursing I	3
NURS 5763	Advanced Practicum in Adult/Gerontology Nursing I (192 Clinical Hours)	3
NURS 5653	Advanced Concepts in Adult/Gerontology Nursing II	3
NURS 5773	Advanced Practicum in Adult/Gerontology Nursing II (192 Clinical Hours)	3
Total Credit Hours		12

Capstone Course

Course #	Course Title	Credits
NURS 5944	Synthesis in Nursing for the CNS Pathway (192 Clinical Hours)	4
Total Credit Hours		4
Total Program Hours		28
Total Clinical Hours		672