Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist

Graduate Study at USI  >> Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions  

24 Credit hours

MSN-prepared nurses may apply for admission and receive a Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist. Admission to the post-master’s certificate program requires admission to USI’s School of Graduate Studies, which includes an official copy of the Master of Science in Nursing transcript from a nationally accredited nursing program and a nationally or regionally accredited college or university, and admission to the graduate nursing program.

The Post-Master’s Certificate program in nursing at the University of Southern Indiana is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Graduate nursing clinical practice requirements may be completed in the student’s own geographic area. Each student is encouraged to identify preceptors and clinical sites with assistance from the university clinical liaison. Approval of each preceptor and clinical site must be obtained from the CNHP graduate nursing clinical liaison prior to beginning clinical hours. A written agreement with each agency is required prior to initiating clinical experiences. Students may be required to visit campus to demonstrate clinical competency. Faculty will validate clinical competency through virtual learning and education sessions, site visits and/or conference calls with preceptors and students.

To earn the Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, students must complete all courses with a grade of B or better.

Program Outcomes

The outcomes of the Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist program are to prepare nurses at an advanced practice level who demonstrate professional leadership and foster a research climate in the practice of nursing. The graduate of the Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist program is a clinican who can: 

• Translate and integrate established and evolving knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to advanced nursing practice specialties.
• Coordinate and manage holistic person-centered care that is individualized, equitable, respectful, compassionate, coordinated, evidence-based, and developmentally appropriate.
• Analyze and evaluate population health care including wellness, social determinants of health, and disease prevention and management in collaboration with community partners to promote equitable population health outcomes at the advanced nursing practice specialty level.
• Appraise, synthesize, and apply evidence to advanced nursing practice to improve health outcomes, advance the profession, and transform healthcare.
• Coordinate the implementation of initiatives utilizing principles of safety and quality improvement as core values of advance nursing practice specialties to enhance care delivery and minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.
• Lead interprofessional teams to collaborate with patients, families, communities, and other constituents to optimize care, enhance the healthcare experience, and improve outcomes.
• Analyze and manage complex healthcare systems to provide safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.
• Integrate information and communication technologies and informatic processes to gather data, support evidence-based decision-making, provide care, and expand knowledge and wisdom in accordance with best practice and professional and regulatory standards within advanced nursing practice specialties.
• Cultivate a professional identity aligning with advanced nursing practice specialties, demonstrating caring, civility, integrity, accountability, a collaborative disposition, and behaviors that reflect nursing’s characteristics and values.
• Lead activities and self-reflection fostering personal health, resilience, and well-being, promote lifelong learning, and support the acquisition of nursing expertise and the assertion of leadership.