Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post-Master’s)

Program Location	Distance Education/Online
Program Credits	28 Credits
Program Length	5 Semesters, 80 Instructional Weeks
Time to Complete	20 Months

 Total program length may vary.  WCU distance education programs are delivered out of the Orange County and Dallas campuses, and may not be available to residents in all states.  

Clinical Hour Requirement:  this track requires a total of 520 precepted clinical hours.

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: 29-1141.00, 29-1170.00

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program Purpose:

The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG PCNP) is a Registered Nurse educated at the Master's level as a nurse practitioner. The focus for the AG PCNP is to provide primary care to individuals across the adult age spectrum from late adolescence through older adulthood. In addition, AG PCNPs are prepared to provide comprehensive end of life care to adults. The AG PCNP is educated to provide high quality, continual and comprehensive wellness and illness care to adults by providing preventive health services, patient education, disease management and illness prevention. The AG PCNP is prepared to implement evidence-based practice guidelines and to critically analyze and adapt health care interventions based on individualized assessments of individual needs. The AG PCNP practices in the context of community, with broad knowledge, sensitivity and awareness of the specific needs of people from diverse populations and cultural backgrounds. AG PCNP delivers care may include community health centers and clinics, private medical practices, specialty clinics, health maintenance organizations, Veteran's Administration facilities, Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) units, adult day health centers, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities and other long-term care settings, acute and chronic rehabilitation centers, urgent care and emergency departments.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master's) Program must:  

1. Have graduated from an accredited master's or doctoral program in nursing.
2. Have a cumulative graduate GPA of 2.7
   1. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 2.5 to 2.69 may be considered for probationary admission after meeting the following admissions requirements:   
      1. The applicant must provide a letter of intent. 
      2. The applicant must be approved for admission following an interview with the Program Dean/Director.
      3. The applicant must satisfy program prerequisites and achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all coursework attempted over the first trimester (two terms).  Students failing to meet these requirements following the first trimester (two terms) will be withdrawn from the university.  
3. Provide proof of current unobstructed professional licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the United States.
4. Applicants to the APRN tracks must have a minimum of one (1) year of direct patient care experience as a registered nurse (RN) prior to entering APRN core courses. 
5. Pre-requisite coursework:  Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Physical Assessment within the last five (5) years. 

In addition to meeting the admissions requirements stipulated above, applicants to the APRN (Post-Master's) tracks must also:  

1. Recommendation for admission by the Program Dean and admission committee members. Past academic performance and professional achievements will be evaluated using a rubric to determine the applicant’s level of qualification.

2. Submission of a written essay that addresses the applicant’s career goals and motivations for APRN study.

3. Submit current Curriculum Vitae.  

4. All applicants may be contacted for a personal interview with the Program Dean as needed based on the submitted application.  

5. Students who have taken an outside or generalist Advanced Health/Physical Assessment course (or its equivalent) within five (5) years must participate in the On-site Intensive (OSI) weekend for Advanced Health/Physical Assessment course and must pass the Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) to receive credits. Students who do not pass the OSCE must repeat the APRN Advanced Health/Physical Assessment course at West Coast University.  

6. Students who have previously taken an outside or generalist Advanced Pharmacology which was not approved by the BRN for prescriptive authority will need to complete and pass a BRN-approved Advanced Pharmacology course/module (or equivalent) prior to the end of first term of matriculation to receive credits.  
   

APRN Progression Requirements

1. In the APRN tracks, students must receive a grade of "B-" or better in all APRN track courses taken to progress.  Students will be allowed one (1) course failure (theory or clinical) with opportunity to repeat it. If the student fails the second time, the student will be dismissed from the APRN and may move to the MSN (non-APRN) program.  
2.  An APRN student may be dismissed for the following reasons: Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the standards of the program; conduct reasons; or failure to meet program-specific grade and/or clinical requirements.
3. Due to the importance of the content of the three (3) Advanced Practice core courses (Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Health/Physical Assessment), they (or their equivalents) must have been completed within the last five (5) years with a grade of "B-" or better prior to starting APRN core courses. If more than five years has elapsed, they will need to repeat the courses. 
4. Students must demonstrate clinical competence prior to starting the APRN track clinical/practicum courses. Demonstration includes a focused history taking, physical examination and documentation of findings. Students who do not demonstrate clinical competence cannot be placed in a clinical practicum course. 
5. A student in the APRN track must participate in the On-site Intensive (OSI) weekends. The OSI brings students to campus to learn, practice and demonstrate essential hands-on skills and competencies needed by nurse practitioners. Students who do not attend the OSI automatically fail the course that is associated with the OSI. 
6. A student who fails a sequenced theory and/or clinical course may not continue to the next course in the sequence until the failed course is repeated successfully. Students must complete all required clinical hours in each of the clinical courses, or they will not progress into the next course and must follow the University Incomplete policy. 

Program Information and Disclosures

AG PCNP Accreditation & Approvals Disclosure

The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner coursework is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington DC 20036, [phone]. 

A student in the Post-Master's Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner online program at West Coast University participates in two On-site Intensive (OSI) weekends.  The OSI brings students to campus to learn, practice and demonstrate essential hands-on skills and competencies needed by nurse practitioners.  

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master's) Curriculum

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master's) Coursework

NURS 530A	Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology	1.5
NURS 676A	Advanced Pharmacology - APRN specific	1.5
NURS 530B	Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology	1.5
NURS 676B	Advanced Pharmacology - APRN specific	1.5
NURS 680A	Advanced Health/Physical Assessment - APRN specific	1.5
NURS 601A	APRN Bridge course	1.5
NURS 680B	Advanced Health/Physical Assessment - APRN specific	1.5
NURS 601B	APRN Bridge course	1.5
NURS 663A	Primary Care Adult and Geriatric Patient: Theory	1.5
NURS 663L-A	Primary Care Adult and Geriatric Patient: Practicum	1.5
NURS 663B	Primary Care Adult and Geriatric Patient: Theory	1.5
NURS 663L-B	Primary Care Adult and Geriatric Patient: Practicum	1.5
NURS 660	Advanced Practice Nursing Role	1
NURS 664A	Primary Care Women's Health Theory	1
NURS 664L-A	Primary Care Women's Health: Practicum	1
NURS 664B	Primary Care Women's Health Theory	1
NURS 664L-B	Primary Care Women's Health Practicum	1
NURS 665A	Care Management and Coordination - Theory	1
NURS 665B	Care Management and Coordination - Theory	1
NURS 668L-A	Advanced Health Care Residency	1.5
NURS 668L-B	Advanced Health Care Residency	1.5
Total Credit Hours:		28.0

Family Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master's) Certificate Program Costs

For program costs, please see the Graduate Tuition and Fees section.