Program Overview

The Post-Master Certificate prepared Nurse Practitioner is ready to assume responsibility and accountability for the health promotion, assessment, diagnosis, and management of patient problems including the prescription of pharmacologic agents within a specialty area of clinical practice such as Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP), Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), and Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP).

The Post-Master Certificate prepared Nurse Educator (NE) is prepared for a leadership role in the academic setting, health care facility staff development and/or the community as a health care educator. The Nurse Educator is prepared to develop, deliver, and assess curriculum in a variety of settings.

Program Details

What is a nurse practitioner (NP)?

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who use theory, evidence-based practice/research, and clinical expertise to provide care to people of various ages and populations. As a health care provider, the nurse practitioner will:

• Assess patient health status
• Complete a detailed history and physical exam
• Diagnose and treat common acute health problems
• Manage care for stable, but chronically ill, patients
• Manage prenatal care during pregnancy (WHNP)
• Participate in, or manage, clinical research projects
• Provide disease prevention and health promotion services

Potential career opportunities for nurse practitioner graduates include:

• Collaborative clinical practice
• Specialty practice
• Community clinics
• Group clinical practice/HMOs
• Nurse-managed clinics
• Rural health clinics
• Occupational health
• Urgent/emergency room
• Migrant clinics
• Clinical research
• Medically underserved areas
• Prisons

What is a nurse educator (NE)?

Nurse educators are master’s degree prepared nurses who use theory and evidence-based research to develop, deliver and assess nursing curriculum primarily in undergraduate and graduate programs.

Potential career opportunities for nurse educator graduates include:

• Hospitals
• Various health care settings
• Community colleges in associate degree and LPN/LVN programs
• Universities and colleges BSN, MSN programs

Track Options

Specific hours will be based on previous education and course work.

- Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (ACPNP)

- Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)

- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) 

- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)

- Nurse Educator (NE)

- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)

- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

- Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

On Campus Residency Requirements

On campus residencies are required during the online programs (excluding the Nurse Educator track which is 100% online). These dates are scheduled in advance and communicated on the schedule for the semester to allow students ample time to make proper arrangements. Faculty will provide more information prior to each scheduled on-campus residency which occurs during your clinical coursework.

Online/Hybrid - How it Works

The graduate nursing program courses are conducted online with some required class/chat times. Class/chat times are usually scheduled on Thursdays or Fridays and are communicated well in advance.

Students use the Web-based software, Canvas, for their online courses. Courses are conducted in synchronous and asynchronous modes depending on the professor and class. You can log on to find homework, class assignments, a class list, a syllabus and more at any time. The program allows students to engage in interactive learning with faculty and other students in an online platform.

Online coursework may require synchronous scheduled online class times.

Required clinical institute dates (required for all newly admitted students, with the exception to NNP & NE):

Spring 2025 Clinical Institute: Wednesday, January 15, 2025, and Thursday, January 16, 2025

*Held via Zoom

Summer 2025 Clinical Institute: Wednesday, May 28, 2025, and Thursday, May 29, 2025

*Held via Zoom

Mission

In support of the SoNHS mission to prepare leaders in the nursing workforce, the Post-Master Certificate program provides an innovative graduate education that prepares the nurse for leadership within complex and diverse systems, teaching to improve health outcomes, and knowledge and skills to enhance healthcare in various roles and inter-professional settings.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students of the Post-Master Certificate program will be prepared to:

• Implement skills and strategies to advance professional nursing and health across populations and settings.
  • Competencies:  global perspectives, ethics, and cultural sensitivity
• Integrate theory and research in evidence-based nursing and teaching practice. 
  • Competencies:  research, service delivery, technology utilization, crucial thinking, role development, theory, and teaching/learning
• Serve as a leader in organizational change.
  • Competencies:  collaboration, communication, and healthcare systems

State Regulation Requirements

Each state has different registration and approval regulations for online degree programs offered within their state. We highly recommend students review this list prior to completing your application for one of our programs. We are not approved to offer online degree programs in all states. Please review the state regulatory map https://online.umkc.edu/online-programs/state-authorization/ to verify the status of your state's regulations.