Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Director/Program Coordinator: Michelle Skipper (3166-C Health Sciences Building; 252-744-6444; skipperm@ecu.edu)

The adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner certificate curriculum expands competencies from the master’s level to encompass knowledge required as nurse practitioners engage in increasingly complex healthcare systems to assess published evidence informing practice, improve systems of care to improve healthcare outcomes, and to make changes to enhance the quality of care.

Admission Requirements

A master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program and a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) or doctor of philosophy (PhD) in nursing
Completion of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and advanced health assessment within the last five (5) years
A current unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse (RN) in North Carolina
Current approval to practice as a family nurse practitioner (FNP)

Retention Standards

Good academic standing in accordance with graduate school guidelines
A minimum grade of “B” must be earned in clinical courses before progression to subsequent clinical courses

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires 25 s.h. as follows:

Note:

The DNP program director will review student transcripts and professional experiences in comparison to the program requirements to determine the appropriate plans of study. All students will be required to complete a terminal program assessment as advised by the program director in the final semester.