Post-Graduate Certificates?

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Specializes in Postpartum/Lactation.

Hello,

I am a relatively new nurse, who started in L&D. I never considered L&D before interviewing for my current position, but I love it! Having said that, I’ve always thought I would go on for my MSN as an educator. Now I’m considering CNM. I want to clarify that all of this is in the relatively distant future (certainly at least a year or 2 in the future before I even apply for anything, because I want to gain more experience as a staff nurse in L&D before thinking about moving forward in my career) but I am trying to start looking at all my options. If I earned my MSN- Nurse Educator from a university such as WGU, which is accredited but is self-paced and pass/fail and therefore doesn’t give students a GPA, would I be eligible to still go for a post-graduate certificate as a CNM, or would I have to go through a whole separate masters program at a different university? I’m a little unclear as to how a post-graduate certificate compares to a second masters degree when applying for jobs. Would it even be considered by most employers? I’m seeing lots of well-known and respected universities, like Duke and Vanderbilt, offering post-grad certificates in various specialties, but I honestly don’t know a ton about them and how they’re viewed from a hiring perspective.

WGU is very affordable, and I like that its self-paced. Teaching is something I very much enjoy, and would also like to have in my back pocket just in case I am unable to continue on as a bedside nurse at some point down the road, whether due to disability or age. I was thinking I could earn my MSN nurse educator from WGU while still working as an L&D nurse and gaining more experience before going for my CNM... ??‍♀️ I don’t know ? Thoughts?

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Specializes in school nurse.

Not to come across as a "smarty pants", but I'd recommend making a list of all the programs that interest you and then contact their admissions directly with your main WGU question.

I have heard that a prestigious named school can increase your chances in hiring. Keep in mind that you'll be paying prestigious tuition as well...

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Specializes in Postpartum/Lactation.

Thanks for replying! I totally get that a prestigious university will probably have crazy pricing. I’ve also found post-grad certificates at smaller, more affordable universities. It was just seeing them at the big-name schools that made me realize they might actually be legitimate. I had never heard of a post grad certificate in a separate specialty until I started looking into different MSN programs. ? As someone who is really interested in 2 different MSN specialties and would probably use both at different points in my life, a post grad certificate is something I’m trying to research a little more. I agree with your suggestion to contact individual programs that interest me. Thanks a lot! ?

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

From my understanding, the general part of the MSN is similar and then the specialty part is added. I have a friend who got her MSN in a non-clinical specialty (leadership & finance, I think). Later she decided to get her NP. It's confusing because she had done a DNP program too. No clinical portion to either. To get her NP, she went to another program for her Post-graduate certificate for AGNP (I think) so she could practice in women's health-not L&D or OB. 

I, too have an MSN in a non-clinical specialty and am not sure what I would need to do to get a clinical post-grad certificate. Not interested in going back to school. I have too much in student loans already. I have that fancy school MSN ?

 

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Whether or not your midwifery training was completed as part of your MSN, post-masters, or DNP wouldn’t matter to most employers. You shouldn’t have a problem enrolling in a post-masters after an MSN from. WGU but since you wouldn’t have a grade for them and they aren’t taught with advanced practice nurses in mind, you will likely have to repeat the 3-Ps: advanced pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology, and advanced physical/health assessment. But it would be a good idea to contact a few programs you might be interested in directly to find out how they would handle the situation. 

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bringing up an old post because I am currently in this boat.

I have a MSN in education and recently decided I want to pursue NP.

However, I don't want to pay out of pocket and wanting my employer to finance this goal. With that said, the school affiliated with my employer does not offer a post masters FNP for California--- and to pursue one locally is about 40-60K.

However, affiliated schools do offer a MSN in FNP that I can do and would be financed. Would it be smart to purse a second's masters in FNP and have my employer finance 75%?  or would I be wasting my time and go with at post masters FNP certificate?

Looking for much advise and recommendations!

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

If you can get it 75% financed that seems like the better option. You will be repeating the basic courses, I think almost all MSN programs start with the same first two semesters, but that's not necessarily a bad thing if it's been a while since you took them. That's an excellent benefit from your employer, so being able to take advantage of it is great. 

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

you can do just the post masters certificates. I don't think too many places are looking at schools. really. 

I have a masters in teaching and they actually took some of my classes for my MSN (informatics) If I wanted to do another field, like CNS or NP, I would just look into a post masters certificate program

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mmc51264 said:

you can do just the post masters certificates. I don't think too many places are looking at schools. really. 

I have a masters in teaching and they actually took some of my classes for my MSN (informatics) If I wanted to do another field, like CNS or NP, I would just look into a post masters certificate program

I know. I would also prefer just the post masters but it would be at least 30k out of pocket when I can have a second masters fully funded ?

so wondering if I would be crazy to do another masters ... ??‍♀️

JBMmom said:

If you can get it 75% financed that seems like the better option. You will be repeating the basic courses, I think almost all MSN programs start with the same first two semesters, but that's not necessarily a bad thing if it's been a while since you took them. That's an excellent benefit from your employer, so being able to take advantage of it is great. 

I know. I just wonder if it would be a waste of my time to do another full masters but at the same time it would be fully funded .... ??‍♀️

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

 

sh3rylanne said:

However, affiliated schools do offer a MSN in FNP that I can do and would be financed. Would it be smart to purse a second's masters in FNP and have my employer finance 75%?  or would I be wasting my time and go with at post masters FNP certificate?

I was in the same situation as you. If you have a masters in another field, you have to almost start over in nursing. 

I have a masters in teaching. long story, short, I worked as a teacher for 4 years and none of us got career status d/t local budgeting. My primary degree was a pre-vet Biology degree, so all I needed was nursing classes. I got into an ADN program and started working quickly. After 2 years, my organization reimburses up to $5K/year for education, so my BSN cost me nothing. Then, after one has been at there 3 years, you are eligible to attend the university (teaching hosp) with them covering 90% of tuition for MSN. I did my MSN in Informatics. If I want to get a clinical degree (NP or CNS) I would just have to do the post-masters certificate. Only if I have an MSN. My MAT would not count for an advanced nursing degree. 

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
ToHealTheSick said:

Hello,

I am a relatively new nurse, who started in L&D. I never considered L&D before interviewing for my current position, but I love it! Having said that, I've always thought I would go on for my MSN as an educator. Now I'm considering CNM. I want to clarify that all of this is in the relatively distant future (certainly at least a year or 2 in the future before I even apply for anything, because I want to gain more experience as a staff nurse in L&D before thinking about moving forward in my career) but I am trying to start looking at all my options. If I earned my MSN- Nurse Educator from a university such as WGU, which is accredited but is self-paced and pass/fail and therefore doesn't give students a GPA, would I be eligible to still go for a post-graduate certificate as a CNM, or would I have to go through a whole separate masters program at a different university? I'm a little unclear as to how a post-graduate certificate compares to a second masters degree when applying for jobs. Would it even be considered by most employers? I'm seeing lots of well-known and respected universities, like Duke and Vanderbilt, offering post-grad certificates in various specialties, but I honestly don't know a ton about them and how they're viewed from a hiring perspective.

WGU is very affordable, and I like that its self-paced. Teaching is something I very much enjoy, and would also like to have in my back pocket just in case I am unable to continue on as a bedside nurse at some point down the road, whether due to disability or age. I was thinking I could earn my MSN nurse educator from WGU while still working as an L&D nurse and gaining more experience before going for my CNM... ??‍♀️ I don't know ? Thoughts?

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If you want to be a CNM, why would you need a non clinical masters?  Do you have time and money to burn?  You can't become a CNM online  so get your experience and start saving for grad school.  You'll need some savings to make it through. 

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
sh3rylanne said:

I know. I just wonder if it would be a waste of my time to do another full masters but at the same time it would be fully funded ...

If I had the option of spending my time or my money, I would probably spend my time and use someone else's money. If you can work and complete the program, you'll be making money and you may have to repeat a few courses, but that will help with the difficulty of the workload and you'll have a better understanding of the material. But if that's more time than you want to spend, I agree with the poster that said don't bother with the non-clinical MSN, just go right for the clinical program.  (I didn't finish school until I was almost 48, so I understand wanting to be done. )

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