Online Graduate Certificates in Nursing Administration
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Nursing is a profession integral to the practice of medicine. Nursing professionals perform various essential tasks in their daily work, including initial patient assessment; medication management; facilitating productive relationships with parties such as families, other medical practices, and local and state agencies; and patient advocacy.
Nurses interested in assuming positions featuring more responsibility and higher compensation may find that completing a graduate certificate in nurse administration will help them achieve their career goals. Nurses with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing may find value in such additional training and can find programs that align with their career goals and existing education and experience.
A nurse administrator is typically a registered nurse (RN) who holds a valid license to practice and works in a clinical setting but whose primary focus is some form of management or administration. The particular management focus of a nurse administrator may include fiscal management, data management, or human resources management. Such administrative functions are essential to the timely and effective operations of various healthcare providers, including hospitals, clinics, care facilities, and private medical practices.
A nurse seeking to become a nurse administrator typically first gains experience as a clinician before enrolling in an academic program. Graduate certificate programs in nursing administration, nursing management, and nursing executive leadership offer one route for RNs to develop the managerial and administrative skills to become nurse administrators. A graduate certificate program in nurse administration typically will cover subjects such as healthcare economics and policy; the theory, practice, and roles associated with nurse leadership; human resources management; the management of patient data and healthcare information systems; and organizational effectiveness.
Graduates of such programs will encounter various opportunities to apply their new skills. Nurse administrators’ career paths include director of nursing administration, assistant director of nursing, nursing supervisor, nursing executive secretary, and nursing instructor.
Within these career paths, individuals may apply many skills in their daily activities, such as personnel and materials management, financial planning, research, and nurse education.
Accredited graduate certificate programs offer more promise for individuals seeking to advance their nursing careers than those without accreditation. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency, is responsible for ensuring the quality of nursing education programs, including graduate-level certificate programs focused on nurse administration.
Featured Graduate Certificates in Nurse Administration
Queens University offers an online post-master’s certificate in nursing administration. This 11-credit program can be completed in two semesters. It includes courses such as financial management for nurse leaders, leadership principles and practices, and a residency. The program requires 225 clinical hours.
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $604 per credit
- Program length: 11 credits, one year
Kent State University’s graduate certificate in nurse administration is open to students with a master’s degree or doctorate in nursing practice. Students must meet several admission criteria, including holding an active, unrestricted registered nurse license in the state where practicum hours are to be completed.
This online program is designed to provide students with the specialized knowledge to work in nursing administration and health systems leadership effectively. Students are eligible to complete this online program while residing in certain states. Prospective students should inquire directly to determine eligibility.
- Location: Kent, Ohio
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: Contact the institution to learn more
- Program length: 23 credits
Northwest Missouri State University offers an accelerated 15-credit certificate in nurse administration that can be completed in less than a year. Applicants must have an undergraduate nursing degree (BSN) and an active, unencumbered nursing license. The curriculum focuses on topics such as organizational leadership, financial policy, and the application of multiple methodologies to achieve quality patient outcomes. Students also complete an experiential capstone project. In addition, students receive regular support from a faculty mentor.
- Location: Maryville, Missouri
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
- Tuition: $350 per credit
- Program length: 15 credits, four to eight months
Penn State’s graduate certificate in nurse administration is designed for registered nurses seeking to develop advanced administrative skills to ultimately obtain positions with more responsibility, such as organizational leadership, improved patient outcomes, and more. Nurses with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees are eligible to apply.
Students develop actionable skills they can immediately apply in their current position. Students wishing to gain still more real-world experience may complete a fourth, four-credit practicum course for a total of thirteen credits. In addition, nurses with bachelor’s degrees may apply the credits from this certificate towards the school’s master of science in nursing (MSN) degree requirements.
- Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $1,007 per credit, plus fees
- Program length: Nine credits, one year
Created specifically for nursing professionals with an existing career, this abbreviated program consists of four courses that may be completed online or in a classroom one night per week. Students also develop new skills through an internship in a topic of their choosing. The program uses a cohort model; students thus benefit from the support of faculty and fellow nursing professionals. This program meets the educational requirements for the Nurse Executive Certification Exam and is accredited by New York State.
Applicants must meet several requirements. These include having a current license to practice as an RN in the United States or Canada, clinical RN experience of at least two full-time years in the last four years, and a master’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution.
- Location: Rochester, New York
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: Contact the institution to learn more
- Program length: One year or less
The Sacred Heart University Davis & Henley College of Nursing offers an advanced graduate certificate program in nursing management and executive leadership. This program provides nursing professionals the leadership, financial, and organizational management skills to serve in administrative positions effectively. Applicants must hold a master’s degree in nursing, be currently licensed as a registered nurse, and have current malpractice insurance.
- Location: Fairfield, Connecticut
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: Contact the institution to learn more
- Program length: Contact the institution to learn more
The University of North Carolina Charlotte offers a 12-credit graduate certificate in nurse administration. Eligible applicants may have a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The curriculum consists of four three-credit courses focused on topics including program evaluation, organizational behavior, financial management, and strategic planning.
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $280.34 per credit for residents; $1,026.68 per credit for non-residents
- Program length: 12 credits, twelve months
