The new College of Nursing at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth has launched three graduate certificate programs and a microcredential − short, affordable and intensive programs designed to train nursing professionals in specific areas of acute need.

Starting this fall, nursing professionals can take the following certificates and microcredential programs:

• iTEACH for Nursing Education Microcredential (offered free to the first 150 registrants)
• Correctional Health Graduate Certificate
• Substance Use Disorder Graduate Certificate
• Health Care Management for Nurses Graduate Certificate

“Microcredentials and certificates are a retention strategy in nursing,” said Cindy Weston, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CHSE, FAANP, FAAN, founding dean of the college. “They provide professional nurses with the opportunity to make a positive impact through short, intensive courses designed to advance their practice and career. Our goal is to support the educational needs of local health care professionals while equipping nurse innovators to address urgent public health issues.”

iTEACH Microcredential

The Innovation in Training nurse Educators in Assessment, Competency evaluation and High-quality simulation (iTEACH) microcredential trains nurse clinicians to enter the nursing education role to certify new nurses and increase nurse competency. iTEACH is ideal for RN preceptors, prospective nurse educators, clinical teaching assistants and adjunct faculty members to launch their careers with more confidence and best practices in nursing education.

iTEACH is an eight-week online program with an in-person practice opportunity at HSC’s Regional Simulation Center.

In keeping with the UNT System’s tradition of affordable education, the iTEACH microcredential will be offered free to the first 150 registrants. The application deadline is Aug. 22.

Correctional Health Graduate Certificate

 The Correctional Health Certificate is available to students who want to gain the skills and knowledge needed to provide care for those who are incarcerated. As the aging prison population increases, so does the need for skilled correctional health nurses. HSC’s graduate-level certificate is intended for nurses interested in learning more about this specialty, current correctional health nurses who want to pursue administrative roles within correctional health care systems, and nurses wishing to provide expertise to correctional facilities about health care issues.

Registrants in the Correctional Health Graduate Certificate will participate in four, eight-week online courses over two semesters. The deadline to apply is Aug. 15.

Substance Use Disorder Graduate Certificate

Students registered for the Substance Use Disorder Certificate will learn skills to provide holistic, high-quality care for patients with substance use disorder by addressing psychological, social and economic challenges.

Participants interested in the certificate will take four, eight-week online courses over two semesters. The deadline to apply is Aug. 15.

 Graduate Certificate in Health Care Management for Nurses

HSC’s Graduate Certificate in Health Care Management for Nurses is for those wanting to understand the complexities of data management, financial expertise, insurance dynamics and population health analytics. In this program, nurses will learn about capital acquisition, budgeting, revenue cycle management and fiscal responsibility within health care organizations.

The Graduate Certificate in Health Care Management for Nurses consists of four, eight-week online courses over two semesters. The deadline to apply is Aug. 15.

Existing Degree Programs

In addition to offering field-leading microcredentials and certificates for busy nursing professionals, the HSC College of Nursing provides two degrees for those who want to take their skills and careers to the next level. The Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) is for registered nurses with an associate degree whose next step is to earn a BSN. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nursing Practice Innovation is for nursing professionals with a BSN who want to continue and expand their education. The fall application deadline for both degree programs is July 15 with classes starting Aug. 19.

Both the RN to BSN and MSN in Nurse Practice Innovation at HSC are pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

To apply or learn more about HSC’s College of Nursing and its programs, visit unthscstaging.wpengine.com/nursing.

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