Nursing - Nurse Practitioner

Students who complete the Post-Graduate Certificate – Nurse Practitioner program are prepared to provide socially just, culturally responsive, advanced nursing practice and to serve as ethical, safe, holistic and innovative leaders of healthcare. As advanced practice nurses, they are prepared to navigate and integrate services across the connected healthcare system as part of an interprofessional collaborative team to promote excellence through cost-effective, accessible healthcare in a rapidly changing, multicultural, global environment. They possess the knowledge and skills required to provide high-quality care, understand industry-driven outcomes and initiate change through leadership and innovation.

• Emergency Departments
• Clinics
• Private Practice
• Schools
• Academia

Additional typical career paths for Adult Gerontology Primary Care, Family and Pediatric Primary Care specializations

• Telehealth Services
• Nurse-Managed Health Centers
• Home Health Care
• Community Health Centers
• Mental and Behavioral Health Services

Additional typical career paths for Psychiatric Mental Health specialization

• Hospitals
• Behavioral Health Facilities

The Post-Graduate APRN Certificate program at Rasmussen University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. http://www.ccneaccreditation.org.

This program is not available to residents of all states. Please speak with an Admissions Representative to determine your eligibility for enrollment.

This Post-Graduate Certificate program is designed to prepare graduates to apply for an advanced practice nursing license, as well as eligibility to write the associated national certification examination, which may be required by individual state boards of nursing for advanced practice licensure. This program has been approved by the Minnesota State Board of Nursing. For further information on professional licensing requirements, please contact the appropriate board or agency in your state of residence.

Determinations regarding professional licensure or certification have been made for all states and territories as displayed below. “Meets” means that the program meets the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification, or that there is no license or certification. “Does Not Meet” means that the program does not meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification. Other licensure requirements may apply; please verify your eligibility against applicable rules, which can change at any time.

Determinations regarding professional licensure or certification have been made for all states and territories as displayed below. “Meets” means that the program meets the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification, or that there is no license or certification. “Does Not Meet” means that the program does not meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification. “Undetermined” means that Rasmussen was unable to determine, after reasonable efforts, whether the program meets the educational requirements for professional licensure. Other licensure requirements may apply; please verify your eligibility against applicable rules, which can change at any time.

• Meets: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, Guam, HI, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, Northern Marianas Islands, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
• Does Not Meet: AL, ID, KS, LA, MD, PA
• Undetermined: American Samoa, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

In addition to the practicum experiences, this program requires a one-weekend on-campus residency.

Applicants must submit an application packet containing:

• A completed program application form.
• A professional essay, as prescribed in the application packet.
• Two professional recommendation forms.
• A current curriculum vitae or resume.
• An active, unencumbered RN or APRN license issued by a board of nursing from the state where clinical hours will be completed. Rasmussen University defines a current, unencumbered license as a license that is unexpired and has not been reprimanded, stipulated, suspended, revoked, or has any current or prior disciplinary action regardless of current ability to practice.
• Official transcript that reflects a Master’s or Doctoral degree in Nursing from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Applicants with a GPA of 2.8 (no rounding) to 2.99 may request an exception to the minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA requirement through the submission of a personal statement in the form of a written essay. Instructions and a scoring rubric for submitting a request for an exception may be obtained from the Admissions Representative. The scoring of the committee will be final.

When a completed application is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Dean of Post-Licensure Nursing. In addition to determining program entrance acceptance, the applicant’s transcript will be reviewed to determine whether the student will need to take Nurse Practitioner Core courses as part of the Certificate program or if one or more of these course requirements may be fulfilled with transfer credit.

Once the Dean of Post-Licensure Nursing approves the application packet the following will be required:

• Rasmussen University application and enrollment agreement.
• Complete and pass a criminal background check through Rasmussen University’s chosen third-party vendor.
• Any additional program-specific requirements as specified at the time of enrollment.

Approved applicants will receive a communication from the University confirming acceptance once all acceptance requirements have been met.

Accepted applicants must complete an online orientation course and will attend a Graduate Nursing Orientation and receive a Graduate Nursing Program Handbook.

In addition to meeting all other admissions requirements, applicants to this program must successfully complete and pass a criminal background check through Rasmussen University’s chosen third-party vendor. An additional and different background check may also be required during active enrollment prior to practicum or clinical placement depending on site requirements. An additional background check may include components that are different than those originally checked at the time of admissions. Any prospective student must also consider their history, lifestyle, and future actions before enrolling in this program, and carefully consider whether their actions may prevent them from attaining employment in the field they choose to pursue. Additional requirements, such as industry-specific training may be required to obtain employment in this field. Applicants for careers in this field may be subject to pre-employment screenings such as, but not limited to, criminal background checks, and drug/or alcohol testing. Employment decisions, including whether to require background checks and other tests, are made at the discretion of the employer.

Drug testing, proof of current immunizations, and proof of current CPR certification are not entrance or acceptance requirements for this program. However, students must submit proof of current immunizations, TB testing and standard non-employee requirements to pass the clinical prerequisite course. Based on specialization, the clinical prerequisite course is NGR6650 Advanced Primary Care of the Adult and Older Adult II, NGR6234 Reproductive Health of the Family, NGR6350 Advanced Primary Care of the Pediatric Patient II or NGR6502 Psychiatric Mental Health Treatment Modalities. Certain clinical sites may also require drug screening, proof of current CPR certification, and/or additional background studies prior to professional practice experience. The student is responsible for complying with and paying for any health examinations, immunizations, and drug tests required by the practicum site and providing proof upon request.