Post-Graduate Completion Program Outcome

The Post-Graduate Completion Program is designed to provide an opportunity for the student to become a leader. The graduate makes significant contributions to the improvement of health care and influences health care policy through advanced clinical practice and research in order to meet the current needs of society.

Education at the post-graduate level prepares graduates to assume leadership roles in clinical practice, nursing administration and nursing education. Advanced nursing practice graduates are prepared for entry into doctoral education.

Graduates are given the opportunity to:

• Demonstrate mastery of specialized knowledge and skills that will promote functioning in an advanced nursing role.
• Integrate nursing science with knowledge from ethics, informatics, and the biophysical, psychosocial, and organizational sciences into advanced nursing practice.
• Integrate best practices and evidence aimed at positively impacting health care to achieve optimal outcomes.
• Foster collaborative interprofessional relationships with other health professionals to promote delivery of safe, value-driven, and high-quality health care.
• Utilize leadership skills in promoting health for individuals, groups, and communities of interest.

The non-degree Post-Graduate Completion Programs of study combine online courses with face-to-face courses and clinical experiences offering flexibility to students. The curriculum varies per track. Students have the following areas from which to choose:

• Post-Graduate Completion: Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Graduate Completion: Family Nurse Practitioner 
• Post-Graduate Completion: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Post-Graduate Completion Nurse Practitioner (Non-Degree) Curriculum

Students enrolled for a Post-Graduate Nurse Practitioner completion program must meet the following requirements. Students may meet these requirements by either taking the courses, achieving course objectives using validation procedure, or through equivalency credit (for courses from another university). Equivalency credit is not granted for clinical courses and preceptorships.

All students must complete the following Advanced Practice Core courses or have written approval and verification of having taken them:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 6810W	Advanced Physical Exam and Differential Diagnosis for DNP	2
NURS 6810B	Advanced Physical Exam and Differential Diagnosis Lab for DNP	1
NURS 6809W	Advanced Practice Role in Population Health for DNP	3
NURS 6804W	Advanced Pathophysiology for DNP	3
NURS 6901W	Advanced Pharmacology for DNP	3
NURS 6811W	Diagnostic Tests and Procedures for DNP	2
Total Hours		14

Clinical Courses

• Population specific Practitioner I for DNP – didactic and clinical courses (240 clinical clock hours) 
• Population specific Practitioner II for DNP didactic and clinical courses (240 clinical clock hours) 
• Population specific Preceptorship for DNP clinical course (360 clinical clock hours) 
• The total clinical hours for the new role are 840 and 14 credit hours for NPs adding a new population. 
• The total clinical hours for the new role are 1020 and 25 for non-NP students. 

Total 28 -39 credit hours

Students with an MS or MSN or DNP in a population focus but with a different advanced practice role (i.e. CNS to NP) must take:

• Advanced Practice Core Courses (or have equivalency credit)
• Clinical Sequence including:
  • Population specific Practitioner I for DNP – didactic and clinical courses (240 clinical clock hours)
  • Population specific Practitioner II for DNP didactic and clinical courses (240 clinical clock hours)
  • Population specific Preceptorship for DNP clinical course (360 clinical clock hours)
  • The minimum total clinical hours for the population are 840.

Students with an MS or MSN or DNP in another specialty and a different role must take:

• Advanced Practice Core Courses (or have equivalency credit)
• Clinical Sequence including:
  • Population specific Practitioner I for DNP – didactic and clinical courses (240 clinical clock hours)
  • Population specific Practitioner II for DNP – didactic and clinical courses (240 clinical clock hours)
  • Population specific Practitioner Specialty Care III for DNP – didactic and clinical courses (180 clinical clock hours)
  • Population specific Preceptorship for DNP – clinical course (360 clinical clock hours)
  • The total clinical hours for the new role are 1020.

Students with an MS or MSN or DNP in another population but in the NP role (i.e. FNP to PMHNP) must take:

• Advanced Practice Core Courses (or have equivalency credit)
• Clinical Sequence including:
  • Population specific Practitioner I for DNP – didactic and clinical courses (240 clinical clock hours)
  • Population specific Practitioner II for DNP – didactic and clinical courses (240 clinical clock hours)
  • Population specific Preceptorship for DNP – clinical course (360 clinical clock hours)
  • The minimum total clinical hours for the population are 840.

Academic Requirements for Progression

To be eligible for completion with a Post-Graduate Completion Program, a student must:

• have a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average;
• successfully complete the prescribed curriculum for which they are registered and must meet all other requirements of the Cizik School of Nursing;
• submit official transcripts of any courses taken outside the Cizik School of Nursing to the UTHealth Houston Office of the Registrar;
• complete the graduate curriculum within five years from admission for MSN students or three years for post-graduate students or have been granted an extension by the Master’s Council.
• apply to graduation in MyUTH prior to the established deadline each term;
• pay the required graduation fee of $150;
• complete the clearance packet and clear through all designated offices; and
• be enrolled during the term of graduation program completion.

See policy G5440 Eligibility for Graduation/Completion for more information.