Post-Master's Certificate: Nurse Practitioner
Website: https://twu.edu/nursing/certifications/
Individuals who have a master's degree in nursing may be considered for admission to a Post-master's Certificate as a Nurse Practitioner.
Those students admitted to the Certificate program must have completed a graduate Physical Assessment course, a Pharmacology course, and a course in Pathophysiology with a grade of B or better (The three 'Ps'). The Pharmacology course must have been successfully completed within 6 years of the anticipated completion of the Post-Master's Certificate. Prerequisite courses for the Post-Master's Certificate are not required that are part of the MSN degree since all students admitted to the Certificate program must have a master's degree in nursing. Therefore, courses within the MSN are waived as pre-requisite except the Assessment, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology.
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who holds a master’s or doctoral degree in a specific population focus. These include family, adult-gerontology (primary or acute care), neonatal, pediatrics (primary or acute care), women’s health, or psychiatric-mental health populations. Texas Woman’s University offers programs for family, adult-gerontology (primary and acute care), pediatric primary care, women’s health, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner tracks (PMHNP pending SACS approval).
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) provides care for patients of all ages and within many settings. The FNP role focuses on health promotion and health maintenance of patients while also managing both common acute and chronic health conditions across the lifespan in primary care.
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care (PNP-PC) provides care to newborns through young adults for both common acute and chronic health conditions with an emphasis on growth and development. Practice extends across a variety of settings. While there are both primary and acute care programs, TWU prepares students for the primary care role.
The Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) provides care for women extending from adolescence through adulthood. The TWU WHNP program prepares graduates to provide well-woman care, high-risk prenatal management, family planning, support for menopause, and fertility care.
The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner is prepared to function in a primary care role (AGPCNP) or an acute care role (AGACNP). Texas Woman’s University offers both specialty tracks. The AGPCNP provides acute, chronic, and preventative care for adults from adolescence through old age, typically in a primary care setting. An AGACNP provides care for acute and severe episodes of illness, injury or trauma, and may continue care following the acute phase.
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is prepared in mental health assessment, treatment, and management of mental health disorders for clients and families of all ages. The PMHNP provides advanced therapeutic modalities such as individual, group, and family psychotherapy as well as prescribing psychotherapeutic medications.
Marketable Skills
Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."
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Work well with teams and complete project work.
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Collect and analyze information, problem-solve, and make decisions.
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Effectively communicate through a variety of mediums and modes.
Admissions
All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.
This academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.
Certificate Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours Required
27 semester credit hours (SCH).
These courses are considered pre-requisites to a Post-Master's Certificate. The Pharmacology course, or its equivalent, can be no older than 6 years at the time of graduation.
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BIOL 5333 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NURS 5663 | Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 5643 | Advanced Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 9 | |
Complete One of the Following Tracks
The following are the track-specific courses for each track.
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Online / Hybrid | ||
| NURS 5602 | Foundational Concepts for the Family Nurse Practitioner | 2 |
| NURS 5603 | Principles of Care Management, Diagnostics, and Common Procedural Interventions in Primary Care | 3 |
| NURS 5303 | Primary Care Management of Common Acute Illnesses across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 5493 | Primary Care Disease and Restorative Health Practicum I | 3 |
| NURS 5893 | Chronic Disease and Restorative Health Management across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 5665 | Chronic Disease and Restorative Health Practicum II | 5 |
| NURS 5703 | Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice for the Family Nurse Practitioner | 3 |
| NURS 5705 | Primary Care Disease Management across the Lifespan Practicum III | 5 |
| Total SCHs | 27 | |
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care (PNP-PC) | ||
| NURS 5302 | Foundational Concepts for the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner | 2 |
| NURS 5223 | Principles of Pediatric Care Management, Diagnostics, and Common Procedural Interventions | 3 |
| NURS 5343 | Well Child Concepts in Pediatric Primary Care | 3 |
| NURS 5353 | PNP Practicum I: Management of the Well Child | 3 |
| NURS 5363 | Acute and Chronic Illness in Pediatric Primary Care | 3 |
| NURS 5365 | PNP Practicum II: Non-emergent Acute and Chronic Child Care and Management | 5 |
| NURS 5403 | Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice for the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner | 3 |
| NURS 5585 | Advanced Pediatric Primary Care Synthesis Practicum III | 5 |
| Total SCHs | 27 | |
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) | ||
| NURS 5402 | WHNP Role in Managing Healthcare Disparities in Women's Health | 2 |
| NURS 5412 | Principles of Women and Gender-Related Care Management: Diagnostics and Common Procedural Interventions | 2 |
| NURS 5423 | Women's Health - Gender-related Advanced Practice Nursing I | 3 |
| NURS 5401 | Primary Care in Women's Health and Gender-related Advanced Practice Nursing | 1 |
| NURS 5463 | WHNP Clinical Practice I | 3 |
| NURS 5443 | Women's Health - Gender-related Advanced Practice Nursing II | 3 |
| NURS 5465 | WHNP Clinical Practice II | 5 |
| NURS 5473 | Women's Health - Gender-related Advanced Practice Nursing Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice | 3 |
| NURS 5475 | WHNP Clinical Practice III | 5 |
| Total SCHs | 27 | |
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) | ||
| NURS 5502 | Foundational Concepts for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner | 2 |
| NURS 5503 | Principles of Adult and Geriatric Care Management, Diagnostics and Common Procedural Interventions | 3 |
| NURS 5323 | Primary Care Management of the Adolescent, Adult, and Older Adult | 3 |
| NURS 5523 | AGPCNP Clinical Practicum I: Introduction to Adult Primary Care | 3 |
| NURS 5563 | Acute and Chronic Disease Management of the Adult and Older Adult | 3 |
| NURS 5565 | AGPCNP Clinical Practicum II: Acute and Chronic Disease Management | 5 |
| NURS 5573 | Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner | 3 |
| NURS 5575 | AGPCNP Clinical Practicum III: Advanced Care Management | 5 |
| Total SCHs | 27 | |
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) | ||
| NURS 5012 | Foundational Concepts for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | 2 |
| NURS 5193 | Principles of Management, Diagnostics, and Procedural Interventions for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners | 3 |
| NURS 5103 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Evaluation and Management of the Acutely Ill: I | 3 |
| NURS 5173 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum I | 3 |
| NURS 5153 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Evaluation and Management of the Acutely Ill: II | 3 |
| NURS 5055 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum II | 5 |
| NURS 5163 | Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice for the Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | 3 |
| NURS 5065 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum III | 5 |
| Total SCHs | 27 | |
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) | ||
| NURS 5912 | Advanced Psychiatric Diagnostics | 2 |
| NURS 5922 | Advanced Psychiatric Interviewing and Assessment | 2 |
| NURS 5932 | Psychopharmacology for the Advanced Practice Nurse | 2 |
| NURS 5952 | Psychotherapeutic Interventions | 2 |
| NURS 5933 | Establishing Therapeutic Relationships | 3 |
| NURS 5953 | Advanced Psychotherapeutic Interventions | 3 |
| NURS 5205 | Advanced Therapeutic Relationships | 5 |
| NURS 5183 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Synthesis | 3 |
| NURS 5225 | Holistic Psychiatric Care | 5 |
| Total SCHs | 27 | |
If a student in one of the certificate options is practicing as an advanced practice registered nurse and is currently credentialed by the Texas Board of Nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse, the pharmacology course must have been completed no more than six years earlier (must be current within six years of anticipated certificate completion). If not, this coursework will need to be repeated for the new certificate.
