Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate

The accredited online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate is intended for MSN prepared practitioners who would like to gain further knowledge in the management of medical, surgical, and critical care patient populations. The program provides the knowledge and skills needed to improve and sustain the health of acutely ill patients. Emphasis is placed upon diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision making. Acute care nurse practitioners are needed in a variety of healthcare settings, including: intensive care units, consult services, hospitalist teams, palliative care services, home care, sub acute long-term care hospitals, specialty clinics and research intense settings.

The program can generally be completed in 1.5 to 2 years of part-time study with 800 clinical hours, although you may be eligible for a reduction in course work and clinical hours. In that case, an individual program of study will be formulated by performing a formal Gap Analysis of previously completed course work. If you wish to be considered for this reduction, you're required to submit syllabi, course calendars, and transcripts of the courses under consideration. Coursework completed more than five years ago and without current clinical experience will not be accepted for the following courses: Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Physical Assessment. All students are required to successfully complete Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP specific pharmacology at Drexel.

Program Features

• Ranked #45 in Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs by U.S. News & World Report
• Ranked #12 in Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report
• Experienced and board certified faculty from Drexel’s acclaimed College of Nursing and Health Professions
• Synchronous online lectures offer a highly interactive learning format that challenges and engages
• Upon completion of the program, you will become eligible for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification through ANCC or AACN
• The post-graduate APRN certificate at Drexel University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

On-Campus Requirements

This high-quality program demands a major commitment of time, including multiple on-campus visits that are essential for transition into the NP role. During your time in the program, you will participate in mandatory on-campus and/or virtual intensives. The required intensives will be held during clinical courses. Students will attend an in-person on-campus intensive in NURS 570 for 4 days during week one of the summer quarter. Students will attend a second in-person on-campus intensive in NURS 571 for 2 days during week seven of the fall quarter. Dates are subject to change.

Pennsylvania RN licensure is required prior to the start of your clinical components. While this is not a requirement for admission, we recommend starting the process immediately after admission.

Clinicals

The nurse practitioner programs in the Department of Advanced Practice Nursing at Drexel University provide you the flexibility of finding and coordinating your own clinical site and preceptor. The department also offers resources to assist you in this process. Accessibility to clinical sites and preceptors varies from state to state, and you may be required to travel to access clinical sites/preceptors and achieve the necessary clinical hours.

Online Open Houses

Learn more about this and other nursing programs during our upcoming online open house webinar series.

Questions? We're here to help!

For application related questions:
enroll@drexel.edu

For program related questions:
College of Nursing and Health Professions Program Team
CNHPGraduateDivision@drexel.edu

*Online Nurse Practitioner programs are offered only on a part-time basis.
*State restrictions may apply to some programs.
*The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate program at Drexel University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.