Post-Master's Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Certificate Level: Graduate
Admission Requirements: Master's degree
Certificate Type: Post-Master's
Number of Credits to Completion: 34.0; 640 clinical hours
Instructional Delivery: Online
Calendar Type: Quarter
Expected Time to Completion: 2 years
Financial Aid Eligibility: Aid eligible*
Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) Code: 51.3801
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: 29-1141

*The current plan of study for this program would only allow for federal financial aid (including Federal Direct Student Loans) for terms that are at least a minimum of 4.5 credits for graduate courses and 6.0 credits for undergraduate courses. This is based on current regulations from the U.S. Department of Education.

About the Program

The post-master’s Adult-Gerontology Primary Care (AGPC) Nurse Practitioner certificate program is intended for MSN-prepared professionals who want to gain further knowledge in the primary care continuum. It is designed to prepare practitioners to take advanced nursing roles as clinicians, educators, researchers and leaders in the rapidly changing, evidence-driven health care environment. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration and critical use of evolving technology. Graduates will be prepared to provide care for adults throughout their lifespans to promote maximal health, reduce risks and manage acute and chronic health conditions.

All graduates will be eligible to sit for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certification exam through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and/or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

The nurse practitioner faculty is committed to quality and excellence in the nurse practitioner (NP) programs. Students meet on campus for mandatory on-campus intensive (OCI) learning experiences, simulation and evaluation. There are a maximum of two OCIs in each program. Students will attend an OCI during week one of their first clinical course for three to four days (summer quarter). An additional OCI visit may be required for two to three days in another clinical quarter. Dates are subject to change.

During the OCIs, students engage in simulated clinical learning experiences conducted in the College of Nursing and Health Professions' state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary patient simulation lab. These visits provide direct guidance and mentoring from faculty and the opportunity to collaborate with peers. Mandatory, on-campus visits are essential to students transitioning into the NP role.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Program Requirements

Support Courses
NURS 548Advanced Pathophysiology3.0
NURS 549Advanced Pharmacology3.0
NURS 550Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning4.0
NURS 664Professional Issues for Nurse Practitioners1.0
Concentration Courses
NURS 641Advanced Pharmacology for Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners3.0
NURS 660Adult-Gero Primary Care I: Introduction to Adult-Gero Primary Care and Care of the Young-Adult5.0
NURS 661Adult-Gerontology Primary Care II: Management and Care of Adult Patients in Primary Care5.0
NURS 662Adult-Gerontology Primary Care III: Management of the Older-Adult Patient in Primary Care5.0
NURS 663Adult-Gerontology Primary Care IV: Gerontology Management and Care5.0
Total Credits34.0

Sample Plan of Study

First Year
Term 1CreditsTerm 2CreditsTerm 3CreditsTerm 4Credits
NURS 5483.0NURS 6413.0NURS 5504.0NURS 6605.0
NURS 5493.0   
NURS 6641.0   
 7 3 4 5
Second Year
Term 1CreditsTerm 2CreditsTerm 3Credits 
NURS 6615.0NURS 6625.0NURS 6635.0 
 5 5 5 
Total Credits 34

Additional Information

For more information about this program, contact:

Graduate Nursing Division

CNHPGraduateDivision@drexel.edu

Additional information is available on Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner webpage and on the Drexel University Online Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner webpage.

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