Post-Graduate Completion (Nurse Practitioner)

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.

Program outcomes are:

• Program Outcome 1. Knowledge and Scholarship. Uses evidence-based practice in the delivery of nursing care through integration of theories, models, and nursing scholarship to improve health and transform health care.
• Program Outcome 2. Health Care Delivery. Integrate person-centered nursing care in advanced nursing roles to meet health care needs for individuals, families, populations, and communities in diverse settings with coordination of resources across the healthcare delivery continuum.
• Program Outcome 3. Quality, Safety, and Technology. Integrate quality and safety science and healthcare technology to manage and improve the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient healthcare services.
• Program Outcome 4. Interprofessional Practice. Utilize team communication and multidisciplinary collaboration skills to promote, improve, or maintain optimum health for patients, families, communities, and populations.
• Program Outcome 5. Professionalism and Leadership. Utilize professional and leadership values and skills to support ongoing personal and professional development.

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: Emergency Medical Service 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 7307	Advanced Health Assessment & Differential Diagnosis	3
NURS 7305	Professional APRN Practice	3
NURS 6804W	Advanced Pathophysiology for DNP	3
NURS 6901W	Advanced Pharmacology for DNP	3
Total Hours		12

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 Practitioner III for DNP didactic and clinical courses (180-240 clinical clock hours)
• Population specific Preceptorship for DNP clinical course (360 clinical clock hours) 

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 Practitioner III for DNP didactic and clinical courses (180-240 clinical clock hours)
  • Population specific Preceptorship for DNP clinical course (360 clinical clock hours)
  • The minimum total clinical hours for the new role are 1020-1080.

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 (180-240 clinical clock hours)
  • Population specific Preceptorship for DNP – clinical course (360 clinical clock hours)
  • The total clinical hours for the new role are 1020-1080.

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 Practitioner III for DNP didactic and clinical courses (180-240 clinical clock hours)
  • Population specific Preceptorship for DNP – clinical course (120-360 clinical clock hours)
  • The minimum total clinical hours for the new population are 780.

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 Graduate 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.