Post MSN Nursing Leadership Certificates

As employment opportunities and demands of the health care environment change, nurses at the graduate level need additional specialty education. The College of Health Professions and Natural Sciences at Wilmington University has developed several options for nurses holding an earned MSN degree: Executive, Educator, Legal Nurse Consultant, and Public Health certificates.

All candidates for the post-master’s certificate must make an application to the program as a certificate candidate and must meet the admission requirements for the MSN program. A course of study may be individualized based on the type of MSN held by the candidate. Applicants may obtain a Graduate Certificate Program Form by downloading it from the Wilmington University Registrar’s webpage.

Nursing Leadership Certificate Program Competencies

Through completion of the selected certification program, graduates will:

Executive Role

1. Demonstrate a firm knowledge base in the areas of executive and management theories.
2. Fill a leadership role in executive nursing practice through collaboration; client, staff, and management advocacy; sensitivity to diversity; and ongoing involvement in professional organizations.
3. Negotiate an appropriate role within the context of an evolving health care system.

Educator Role

1. Incorporate findings from teaching/learning theories and research to educate individuals and groups.
2. Fulfill a leadership role in the area of education by facilitating and encouraging the exploration and application of knowledge.

Legal Nurse Consultant

1. Implement knowledge of the medical and legal system to meet the needs of their clients and society.
2. Negotiate an appropriate role within the dynamic legal system.
3. Promote the art of nursing by valuing the unique relationships among people, which create meaning and preserve human dignity.

Public Health Role

1. Monitor health status to identify, diagnose, and investigate community health problems and hazards in the community. 

2. Achieve public health leader role by informing, educating, and empowering individuals about health issues.

3. Review and develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts. 

Course of Study

This Post Master's Certificate course sequencing is for MSN Leadership students who have started their program in Fall I 2016 and after.  Students that began their certificate program before Fall I 2016 should contact their program chair for course sequencing.

Executive Role (15 Credits)

Students are required to take the following:

MSN 6612 Nurse Executive Seminar I

MSN 6613 Nurse Executive Seminar II

MIS 7000 IT in Business

Final Course Requirement:

Portfolio is taken after all coursework is complete.

MSN 8900 Nurse Leadership Portfolio

Students select one (1) course from the following Graduate College of Business Courses:

HCA 7730 Health Insurance and Reimbursement

HCA 7740 Legal Aspects in Health Care

Educator Role (18 Credits)

Students are required to take the following:

MSN 7752 Clinical Teaching and Evaluation

MSN 7753 Curriculum Development

MSN 6609 Advanced Concepts in Pathophysiology and Pharmacology

MSN 6610 Advanced Physical Assessment for Nurse Leaders

MSN 6611 Instructional Technology for Nurse Educators

Final Course Requirement:

Portfolio is taken after all coursework is complete. 

MSN 8900 Nurse Leadership Portfolio

Legal Nurse Consultant (18 Credits)

Final Course Requirement:

Portfolio is taken after all coursework is complete. 

MSN 8900 Nurse Leadership Portfolio

Students are required to take the following:

MSN 6502 Contemporary Concepts in Advanced Practice Roles

MSN 6646 Philosophy and Ethics in Advanced Nursing Roles

MSN 7310 Legal Issues in Nursing Practice

MSN 7320 Practices in the Realm of Nursing and the Law

MSN 7350 Forensic Nursing: Clinical and Legal Implications

Public Health Role (18 Credits)

Students are required to take the following

MSN 6609 Advanced Concepts in Pathophysiology and Pharmacology

MSN 6610 Advanced Physical Assessment for Nurse Leaders

MSN 6615 Public Health Essentials

MSN 6616 Epidemiology Health Professions

MSN 6617 Population Health for Health Professionals

Final Course Requirement:

Portfolio is taken after all coursework is complete. 

MSN 8900 Nurse Leadership Portfolio

Trauma and Resilience (15 Credits)

Students are required to take the following:

PSY 6100 Trauma and the Brain

PSY 6200 Resilience and Self-Care

PSY 6300 Leadership in Trauma-Informed Approaches

Students select one (1) MSN Elective described below

MSN 6646 Philosophy and Ethics in Advanced Nursing Roles

MSN 7741 Politics and Policy in the Healthcare System

Final Course Requirement

MSN 8900 Nurse Leadership Portfolio

This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2022-2023 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2021 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.