Post-master's certification in nursing education prepares students to teach others in classroom and clinical settings. The Jefferson School of Nursing program in Philadelphai requires 12 credits in classes that cover teaching strategies, evaluation methods, general nursing curriculum and the role of the nursing educator.
Some colleges also offer post-master's training in nursing informatics, studying the design and implementation of medical information systems. Courses aimed at this certification include ethics, issues and trends within health care informatics, project management, financial management and practicum experience. Jefferson's program requires 21 credits.
Nurse practitioners differ from RNs in that NPs can prescribe medication, order tests, perform laboratory work and draw conclusions from tests in order to diagnose patients and prescribe treatment. Educational programs for the nurse practitioner teach clinical assessment and decision making, pathophysiology of human disease and advanced pharmocotherapeutics. Students spend time in clinical study, as well (600 hours in the University of Massachusetts' certification program). Practitioner certification typically requires 18-21 college credits, two full-time semesters.
A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program requires approximately 40 credits beyond the master's. Specific coursework varies depending upon the student's background and specialty, but programs typically include study of informatics, application of nursing theory, health system evaluation, team leadership, nursing education and policy initiatives. DNP programs primarily prepare nurses to work as educators, social impact on health care, diversity, intervention and outcomes assessment, medical administrators and clinical practitioners.
The nursing science Ph.D., on the other hand, is more geared toward research. Programs require approximately 60 credits beyond the master's in classes such as nursing theory, experimental design, qualitative inquiry and analysis, medical research and biostatistics. A Ph.D. typically includes a directed practicum and dissertation. Graduates understand the mechanisms to prevent and treat injury, how to reduce risks and promote health care in vulnerable populations, design and implementation of innovations that stem from research and management techniques for aging and chronic health issues.