Certificates and Badges
In addition to degree offerings, the Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) at GVSU offers post-graduate certificate and badge options for nursing professionals looking to build upon their prior knowledge and experience. Through pursuit of these options, students will grow in their understanding within the offerings scope, preparing them for advancement in that area.
KCON offers the following post-graduate include the following:
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Post-Graduate Certificates |
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Interprofessional Health Informatics Certificate |
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Interprofessional Palliative and Hospice Care Certificate |
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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate |
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Graduate Badges |
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Palliative and Hospice Care I |
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Palliative and Hospice Care II |
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Telehealth |
Why Choose a KCON Certificate or Badge Program?
Flexible Format: The hybrid format is ideal for working adults through online coursework and high-impact in-seat classes at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences (CHS) in downtown Grand Rapids.
World-class Teaching Faculty: Highly qualified faculty are invested in student success and relevant coursework.
Distinguished Education: Grand Valley is highly respected by employers across the region.
Certificate and Badge Quick Links
Interprofessional Certificate Palliative and Hospice Care
This post-baccalaureate interprofessional certificate is designed to prepare individuals interested in palliative and hospice care with a deep understanding of the personal, professional, economic, and legal perspectives of delivering care to patients facing life-limiting disease, terminal illness, and death. Person-centered, family-oriented care should be a priority, according to the 2014 Institute of Medicine report, Dying in America. The report acknowledges the need for better palliative care education in order to meet the goal of high-quality, affordable care for persons with life-limiting illness.
Why is this an extraordinary opportunity for learners?Through this certificate program, individuals interested in palliative and hospice care will gain a deep understanding of the personal, professional, and societal perspectives of delivering care to patients facing life-limiting disease, terminal illness, and death and become champions for the delivery of exceptional interprofessional care.
Why is this a critical opportunity for care organizations?Quality palliative and hospice care must be consistent with a person’s values, beliefs, goals, and preferences. Individuals skilled in palliative and hospice care will better assess treatment preferences, positioning organizations to better manage patient symptoms, increase patient satisfaction and ensure efficient use of organizational resources.
Contact Mike Stoll at 616-331-6742 or at [email protected].
The online classes are utilized by an experienced interprofessional team of palliative and hospice care faculty and clinicians to deliver course content.
12 Credit Hours / 4 Graduate-Level Courses
NUR 581 / Chronic and Terminal Illness: The Palliative and Hospice Model (3 credits)
NUR 582 / Complex Pain and Symptom Management (3 credits)
SW 669 / Death, Grief and Loss (3 credits)
Choice of 1 Elective (3 credits):
- NUR 607 / Health Care Systems, Policy & Politics
- NUR 620 / Clinical Pharmacology
- PA 634 / Health Care Law and Ethics
- SW 671 / Social Work and Healthcare
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate
In response to our nation’s mental health treatment crisis, we're offering this post-master’s certificate designed to prepare nurse practitioners to provide advanced mental health treatment to individuals with mental health disorders. PMHNPs are in high demand and uniquely qualified to fill the workforce gaps in the mental health system and have an important perspective on both the physical and mental health needs of people seeking quality care.
Courses focus on growth and development across a person’s lifespan, psychopharmacology, theories of mental health and personality, treatment modalities (individual, group, and family), and practicum experiences. 22 credits can be earned, depending on previous coursework completed.
The following pre-requisite courses must be completed before beginning the program:
- NUR 620 - Clinical Pharmacology - 3 credits
- NUR 610 - Advanced Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning - 4 credits
- NUR 621 - Clinical Pathophysiology - 4 credits
FIRST SEMESTER
- NUR 628 - Psychopharmacology for Advanced Practice - 3 credits
- NUR 631 - Human Development Across the Lifespan - 3 credits
SECOND SEMESTER
- NUR 676 - Theoretical Perspectives-Mental Health - 3 credits
THIRD SEMESTER
- NUR 677 - Mental Health Practicum: Diagnosis and Treatment of Individuals - 4 credits
FOURTH SEMESTER
- NUR 678 - Mental Health Practicum: Group and Family Therapy - 4 credits
FIFTH SEMESTER
- NUR 679 - Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum - 5 credits
Total Credits: 22
Total Clinical Hours: 750
NUR 677 (225 hours), NUR 678 (225 hours), NUR 679 (300 hours)
Interprofessional Health Informatics Certificate
Optimal use of health information technology (HIT) is a priority for the transformation of healthcare. As healthcare systems across the nation implemented HIT in inpatient settings over the past decade, emerging HIT fields now extend beyond acute care to include population health informatics, data analytics, and telemedicine. This certificate is theory-based with an emphasis on practical application by clinicians, information technology professionals, and public health administration professionals. GVSU students interested in gaining knowledge and skills in health care informatics also will benefit from the coursework.
BENEFITS FOR PROFESSIONALS & ORGANIZATIONS
- Prepares experienced collaborators who anticipate risks and advocate for integrated and cost-effective approaches to care.
- Develops proficient experts who identify gaps and fragmentation in care and address needs individually or as defined for specific patient populations.
- Cultivates confident leaders who positively impact quality, cost and patient health outcomes.
This 9 credit graduate interprofessional certificate is designed to prepare individuals interested in gaining comprehensive knowledge and skills in the design, utilization, evaluation, and clinical processes of health informatics. The certificate can be completed in two to four semesters and provides a unique opportunity to pursue a theoretically based and practically oriented education to effectively meet the contemporary needs of health organizations and society.
Pre-Requisite Courses (Applicants without healthcare experience as defined by the Admission Requirements):
- PNH 630 - Health Administration and Service - 3 Credits
Requirements Course (All applicants - select one):
- CIS 661 - Introduction to Health and Bioinformatics - 3 Credits
- CIS 665 - Clinical Information Systems - 3 Credits
- NUR 703 - Health Care Informatics - 3 Credits
Elective Courses (All applicants - select two):
- CIS 635 - Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining - 3 Credits
- PHN 646 - Managerial Epidemiology for Health Administrators - 3 Credits
- CIS 660 - Information Management and Science - 3 Credits
- NUR 705 - Healthcare Decision Support - 3 Credits
- NUR 706 - Telehealth - 3 credits
Admission Information
Admissions Criteria
- Minimum 3.0 GPA at the graduate level
- Graduate of accredited Advance Practice Registered Nurse program and licensed as a registered nurse (RN) in the State of Michigan
- Completed online application with an educational/professional goal statement.
- Curriculum vitae or resume and interview with our nursing faculty
- Successful completion of background check and drug screen, as well as compliance with health records, immunizations, and our graduate program requirements
Application Timeline
Applications accepted throughout the year for fall cohort start. The $30 nonrefundable application fee is waived if the applicant has previously applied to Grand Valley State University. Please visit gvsu.edu/gradapply/.
The Kirkhof College of Nursing’s Master of Science in Nursing degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate programs prepare registered nurses to take the national certification exam in their area of specialty (clinical nurse leader, primary care adult/gerontology nurse practitioner, primary care pediatric nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, or nurse executive). Graduates seeking to practice in a state other than Michigan must meet the requirements of that state. For more information regarding state licensure/certification requirements, please visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).
A badge is a digital record of achievement that recognizes the completion of a coherent and meaningful academic experience. You can link your digital badges to online résumés and portfolios, career websites, or social media. This gives you a way to share experiences, competencies, and knowledge with current and future employers, professional and community organizations, recruiters, and graduate program advisors.
Why earn a digital badge at GVSU?
- Completing a badge is an opportunity to highlight marketable and desirable skills to potential employers.
- Pursuing a badge, either in continuing education or while completing a degree, enhances your education.
- Digital badges can be displayed on social media, websites, and in emails.
- Badges are an efficient way to obtain a specialization, and the P&HC II can be completed in one semester.
- Gain a deep understanding of the personal, professional, and societal perspectives of delivering care to patients facing life-limiting disease, terminal illness, and death.
Nursing Badge credits can be applied to Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees.
Palliative and Hospice Care Graduate Badge Options
The palliative and hospice care model (Palliative and Hospice Care I) badge recognizes the completion of a three-credit graduate-level course covering the history and philosophy of palliative and hospice care. In addition, current skills related to holistic assessment, communication, and ethical considerations in end-of-life care are presented and practiced.
The symptom management in palliative and hospice care (Palliative and Hospice Care II) badge recognizes the completion of a graduate-level course covering the assessment and management of pain and the variety of non-pain symptoms afflicting people who could benefit from palliative and hospice care. Skills for incorporating physical, psychologic, sociologic, and spiritual considerations into the management decisions for symptom relief are emphasized. Pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches to symptom management are considered.
This badge is designed for individuals with a baccalaureate degree and a background in nursing, health professions, or informatics who desire to expand their understanding of telehealth implementation as influenced by current regulatory and billing rules.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. It is not required to be admitted to a graduate degree program to complete the badge.