Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Adult-Gerontology - Clinical Nurse Specialist is for individuals with Advanced Practice Registered Nurse certification and license authority from the state who wish to extend their scope of practice to provide broader care for patients outside their original competency set from their graduate education verified by their national certification.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Adult-Gerontology - Clinical Nurse Specialist, an applicant must:

1. Submit a university application and a curriculum vita or resume.
2. Have completed a graduate degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university.
3. Possess a current unrestricted license to practice nursing as a registered nurse in the applicant’s state or country. For those applicants practicing in Michigan, a current registered nurse Michigan license is required. Applicants who hold registered nurse licensure from other states or countries and who are a Nurse Practitioner may be admitted provisionally with the requirement that a United States and Michigan registered nurse license must be obtained prior to progression.
4. Possess current certification from a U.S. National Certifying Board as an NP, CNS, CRNA or CNM.
5. Have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for total credits completed during the graduate nursing program.
6. Submit a written essay that addresses the applicant’s career goals and motivations for additional graduate study in the selected area of specialty nursing practice; nurse practitioner, or adult-gerontology clinical nurse.
7. Submit three letters of recommendation. The reference letters must be from a source that has direct knowledge of the applicant’s work and educational experience.
8. Complete an admission interview with the college of Nursing faculty. Recommendations for admission are made by the faculty committee to the Dean of the College based on the requirements for admission and the personal interview.
9. If the applicant’s native language is not English, the applicant must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum average score of 550, no subscore below 52 on the paper-based test (PBT). If the applicant completes the Internet-based test (iBT), no subscore below 19 for reading, listening, and speaking; no writing subscore below 22 and a minimum average score of 80. Applicants should have all test scores sent from the testing agency directly to the Michigan State University Office of Admissions.

A gap analysis will be conducted to assess competency and prior course work in the three core APRN clinical courses (3Ps).
NUR    907    Advanced Pathophysiology for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
NUR    908    Advanced Physical Assessment for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
NUR    909    Advanced Pharmacology for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Applicants may choose to take any of the above courses for refresher. Faculty will assess compatibility of previous courses in these areas and may require one or all before enrolling in the graduate certificate. The student must demonstrate pharmacology course work (credit and/or continuing education credit) within the past five years.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Adult-Gerontology - Clinical Nurse Specialist

The student must complete all of the following courses (27 credits):
NUR	931	Wellness Promotion for Diverse Populations							3
NUR	932	Clinical Decision Making and Management of Acute Chronic Complex Conditions							6
NUR	933	Clinical Nurse Specialist Advanced Practice Role Development I							6
NUR	934	Clinical Nurse Specialist Advanced Practice Role Development II							6
NUR	935	Clinical Nurse Specialist Advanced Practice Role Development III							6