Nursing Leadership and Organizational Science, Certificate in (Post-professional certificate)

The 15-credit Certificate in Nursing Leadership and Organizational Science will prepare students to serve in administrative nurse leader roles in a variety of health care settings. The purpose of the post-professional certificate is to prepare nurses for leadership and management roles in health care settings. The courses focus on financial management, human resource management, performance improvement and leadership at the unit or organizational level. Course work will provide students with the skills for creating safe, healthy environments that support the work of the health care team, contribute to patient engagement, improve the patient experience and improve patient outcomes.

Program goals

The goal of the VCU School of Nursing post-professional Certificate in Nursing Leadership and Organizational Science is to prepare registered nurses or advanced practice registered nurses for certification in the nursing leadership and organizational science specialty. 

Student learning outcomes

Graduates will:

1. Synthesize knowledge and theories from nursing and related sciences to improve health outcomes for individuals, population and systems
2. Demonstrate leadership to foster interprofessional collaboration that advances health care practices and influences health policies
3. Integrate evidence and organizational science into practice to enhance outcomes
4. Demonstrate core competencies in the nursing leadership and organizational science specialty

VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs

The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.

Graduation requirements

As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.

Admission requirements

Note: No admissions test is required for this program.

To be considered for admission to the School of Nursing, applicants must:

1. Meet the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School.

2. Be eligible for readmission or be in good standing at the last college or university attended.

3. Submit a completed application with all required materials to the School of Nursing.

4. Be a baccalaureate (or higher) graduate of an accredited (ACEN, CCNE or CNEA) nursing program.

5. Have a current unrestricted R.N. license or authorization to practice as an R.N. in the U.S.

6. Provide additional information with the application according to the English language proficiency guidelines for applicants who are international or non-native English speakers without a degree from a U.S. high school, college or university (Additional information can be found on the ‘Required materials’ tab of the VCU International Admissions website.)  

Note: Requests for exceptions to the above criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Degree requirements

Fifteen graduate credit hours are required for the post-professional Certificate in Nursing Leadership and Organizational Science.

In addition to general VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, a candidate for the post-professional certificate must be recommended by the faculty and must:

1. Meet academic requirements of the Graduate School
2. Complete all requirements for the prescribed curriculum within six calendar years of the first registration for work to be credited toward the degree
3. Earn a minimum grade of B or pass grade in all nursing courses
4. Earn a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all work presented for graduation
5. Conform to School of Nursing policies in respect to pass/fail grading for course work or thesis study

The degree will be granted only after all requirements have been fulfilled and all fees to the university have been paid. Degrees are not granted in absentia unless a written request is made to the dean and permission is granted.

Curriculum requirements

The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this certificate is 15.

Students who complete the requirements for this programs will receive a Certificate in Nursing Leadership and Organizational Science.

Contact
Debra Shockey, D.N.P., RN, CPNP-PC
Clinical associate professor and graduate program director
dpshockey@vcu.edu
(804) 828-1930

Additional contact
Fonda Neal
Educational program coordinator for doctoral programs
fneal@vcu.edu
(804) 828-0836

Program website: nursing.vcu.edu