School of Nursing
3008 Human Health Building (map)
(248) 370-8733 • Fax (248) 364-8740
www.oakland.edu/nursing

Program Director:
Tracey Chan
2004 Human Health Building
(248) 364-8748
techan@oakland.edu

Program Description

The Adult Gerontological-Acute Care (AG-AC) Post-Master’s Certificate Program prepares students to be leaders in health care. Required coursework is based upon a gap analysis that compares prior MSN didactic and clinical experience with the AG-AC national certification requirements to determine the courses for the plan of study. The curriculum focuses on holistic patient care in the management of episodic and complex health issues in critically ill adolescents, young adults, adults, and older/aging adults. Attention is given to clinical experiences in acute care/inpatient settings. Oakland University’s Nurse Practitioner Program is proud to educate students with experienced nurse practitioner faculty and students have opportunities for involvement with many organizations on campus, including the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners - Oakland Chapter. Oakland University School of Nursing is accredited through CCNE. Upon completion of all program requirements, graduates are prepared for certification through ANCC or AACN.

Admission to the AG-AC track at Oakland University occurs once a year, during the Fall semester. Admission to the program is highly competitive and priority is given to students who submit all materials by the deadline. Our desired applicants are self-directed learners, demonstrate superior communication and interpersonal skills, and have strong critical thinking skills. Qualified applicants will be selected for an interview with current Oakland University School of Nursing faculty.

Post-Master’s Certificate

Required coursework is based upon a gap analysis that compares prior MSN didactic and clinical experience with the Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Acute Care national certification requirements to determine the courses for the plan of study. Graduates of the Post Master’s Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Certificate in Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Acute Care are prepared to take the AGACNP national certification examination.

Master’s Program Outcomes

Applies and integrates established and evolving scientific knowledge from nursing and other disciplines as the basis for ethical clinical judgment, decision making, innovation, and diagnostic reasoning.
Design, deliver, coordinate, manage and evaluate comprehensive person-centered care utilizing best evidence at the advanced nursing practice specialty level.
Partners with public health, healthcare systems, community, academic community, governmental, and other entities to integrate advanced nursing knowledge into culturally competent practices that promote health and disease prevention to improve equitable population health outcomes.
Appraise, synthesize, integrate, and disseminate knowledge to improve person centered health and transform health care.
Facilitate and execute the implementation of principles of safety and improvement science to maximize quality and minimize the risk of harm for providers, patients, populations and systems.
Facilitate the collaboration of interprofessional teams to optimize care with patients, families, communities, and other stakeholders to enhance healthcare experiences and improve outcomes.
Develop organizational and system-level plans to enhance quality and safety to improve patient, population, and organizational outcomes to provide safe, high quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.
Appraise informatics processes and use communication and healthcare technologies to form information to drive decision making, and evaluate and improve programs, outcomes, and standards of care within healthcare systems.
Establish a professional identity within a nursing specialty that is accountable, collaborative and reflects nursing’s disposition, comportment, perspective, and values.
Lead, model, and facilitate activities that foster wellness, resilience, and progression toward growth for self, others, and the profession in the acquisition of nursing expertise and assertion of leadership capacity within advanced nursing practice specialties.

Admission Terms and Application Deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in NursingCAS by the deadline listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

All applicants to this program are admitted for the fall semester only. The application deadlines are:

Fall Admission Application Deadlines

Early Decision Application Deadline: March 1
Standard Decision Application Deadline: May 1

International students: May 1 for admission to the following Fall semester

Application Requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines.

Applicants do not submit an online Oakland University Graduate Application. A completed application and required materials must be submitted through the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS).

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines.

Additional department application requirements

• Applicants for admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program must have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with an overall undergraduate cumulative grade point average of B (3.0) or above from an institution accredited by the National League for Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

• Applicants must submit all transcripts from previously attended institutions.

• Proof of a current unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the United States or its territories.

• Unrestricted R.N license to practice in Michigan.

• Two (2) letters of recommendation are required and must be completed by healthcare professionals in nursing, leadership, administration/management, or education who can attest to the applicant’s work and/or educational experience, as well as the applicant’s potential for graduate study.

Professional statement of 750 words or fewer. The professional statement should focus on the consensus model within the APRN scope of practice, the applicant’s career goals after completion of the program, how recent clinical experiences have prepared them for an advanced practice role, and plans for professional development.

International Students

International students are encouraged to contact The Graduate School (www.oakland.edu/grad) to determine what additional documentation is required for admission eligibility.

Admission Review and Assessment

Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University Graduate School, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, professional statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

Qualified applicants will be selected for an individual interview with a School of Nursing faculty. The interview will be scheduled after all application materials have been submitted.

Post Master’s APRN Certificate Requirements

A gap analysis of prior didactic coursework and clinical experiences from an applicant’s master’s degree program will be completed to determine coursework required for the post-master’s APRN AGACNP certificate. The gap analysis will identify Foundation, Clinical Core, and Specialty course content necessary to prepare students to be eligible to sit for a national certification exam that corresponds with the role and population focus of the AGACNP track. Additional clinical hours may be necessary to meet the 500 minimum required for AGACNP certification. Students completing all required courses based on the gap analysis will earn a post-masters (PM)certificate in Adult Gerontological Acute Care NP. Based on the gap analysis courses for the student’s plan of study (POS) will be selected from the following list of Foundation, Clinical Core, and Specialty courses.

The PM APRN AGACNP certificate is awarded upon satisfactory completion of a minimum of 15 credits in an approved plan of study. It is typical for PMC students to complete all of the courses listed under the Specialty Courses category below.

Course Requirements

a. Foundation Course Requirements (10 credits)

Foundation courses address critical content needed by all graduate nursing students.

b. Clinical Core Courses (11 credits)

The clinical core courses provide graduate students with advanced clinical knowledge and skills and are based on population foci.

course Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
course Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (4 credits)
course Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan (4 credits)

c. Specialty Courses (27 credits)

Specialty courses consist of didactic and clinical courses that prepare students for advanced practice nursing. The specialty courses build upon nursing knowledge and skills learned at the undergraduate level and graduate foundation and clinical core courses, and are based on population foci.

course Inter-professional Role Development Leadership and Ethics in Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
course Advanced Concepts in Gerontology (3 credits)
course Nurse Practitioner Diagnostic Testing and Procedures in the Acute Care Setting (2 credits)
course Adult and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Clinical concepts in Acute Care I (6 credits)
course Adult and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Clinical Concepts in Acute Care II (6 credits)
course Adult and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Clinical Concepts in Acute Care III (7 credits)

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good Academic Standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good Academic Standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program.

To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of B (3.0).

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Program requirements: Students are required to follow the university policies and procedures for graduate students, as described in the Oakland University Graduate Catalog. In addition to the university requirements, specific School of Nursing policies and procedures are outlined in the School of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook.

Students are expected to earn a grade of B (3.0) or above in each course in the PM APRN Certificate program. In courses graded Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory (S/U), students are expected to earn a course grade of satisfactory. Students who are not making satisfactory progress in the program may be placed on probation with conditions imposed for retention in the program or may be recommended for dismissal from the program.

Students are required to keep health requirements current and must maintain an RN license that is current and free of any complaint or restriction throughout the program. See the SON website for health requirements. Students are also required to meet any requirements of the healthcare facilities where they have clinical learning experiences.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related Program Information

Plan of Study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned NP Program Director, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements The plan of study must be approved by the NP Director and the student.

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.

Advising

Students are responsible for all requirements and policies stated in the School of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook and in each course syllabus. Every student admitted to the MSN program is assigned an academic adviser and program director who are available to discuss coursework, plans of study, concerns regarding progression in the program, and student career goals.

Adult Gero Nrs Practner AC

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