Graduate Certificate in Nursing Quality and Safety
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Degree:
Graduate Certificate in Nursing Quality and Safety
Application:
$0 application fee. No essays/exams.
Enhancing the quality of care in the field of nursing is vital to patient safety and integral to the advancement of quality healthcare for all. National University’s Nursing Quality and Safety postgraduate certificate is designed to offer graduate-level education to Registered Nurses (RN) focused on expanding their career options.
This career-focused certificate prepares nurses to assume a broader leadership role in risk management and quality and safety improvement within a healthcare organization. It also emphasizes the importance of actively participating in and leading interdisciplinary teams. In addition to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Graduate Essentials (2021), the specialization outcomes are based upon the Graduate-Level Quality and Safety Education in Nursing (QSEN) Competencies: Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (2012).*
*Please note that National University is not affiliated with QSEN and cannot guarantee that this graduate certificate will provide all training necessary to pass a certification exam.
Course Details
Required Preparation
4 Courses
Patient Safety in Nursing
3.0 Credit Hours
Patient safety focuses on the minimization of errors in treatment and the prevention of adverse effects associated with patient care. In this course, students will be introduced to relevant theories, principles, practices, and operational issues as they relate to patient safety and quality. Patient safety problems and high-risk contexts for error occurrence will be explored, and appropriate tools and evidence-based practices to address these issues will be determined. Students will also examine external drivers and policy initiatives related to quality and patient safety improvement in nursing, including accreditation, and performance. Through the utilization of error theory and systems thinking, as well as methods of risk assessment, students will be challenged to consider the roles of various stakeholders in patient safety.
Analytics in Quality and Patient Safety
3.0 Credit Hours
In the management of healthcare and nursing, the application and utilization of data are critical to achieving better healthcare outcomes and improvement. Nursing analytics encompasses the technology and skills utilized in data analysis and data visualization for enhanced decision-making.
In this course, you will be introduced to how data analytics is utilized in nursing quality and patient safety. You will re-visit Quality Safety Education in Nursing (QSEN) principles for best patient outcomes. This course will provide an overview of data management for effective health systems evaluation and tools utilized for organization, analysis, and presentation of data. Understanding how to develop data collection plans that support continuous quality improvement will also be included.
Performance and Process Improvement in Nursing
3.0 Credit Hours
The tools and techniques utilized for performance and process improvement help nurses identify inefficiencies, ineffective care, and preventable errors, and perform root cause analysis to identify gaps in best practice. In this course, you will explore various processes utilized for quality control and assurance to support performance improvement in the healthcare settings. Performance improvement tools and techniques explored during this course will include Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle, Lean Six Sigma, project management, and process mapping. You will gain an understanding of how to apply effective performance improvement tools in the role of a nurse leader in health systems management.
The Nursing Quality Professional
3.0 Credit Hours
High reliability organizations (HRO) are organizations that operate in complex, high-hazard domains for extended periods without serious accidents or catastrophic failures. The nursing professional is instrumental in ensuring a culture of safety and continuous quality improvement exists within the HRO. In the role of a nursing quality professional, you will contribute to enhancing care delivery, optimizing value, and improving outcomes by leading activities that improve quality and patient safety. In this course, you will explore the nursing quality professional’s role and examine the necessary competencies and ethical standards required of today’s nursing quality professional. You will focus on collaboration with various healthcare stakeholders to assess and identify quality issues that may impact the healthcare organizations’ reputation, safety, security, and financial prosperity.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Appraise nursing leadership roles utilizing data assessment, quality processes, and improvement sciences.
- Recommend professional nursing practices using research and evidence-based practice models.
- Prioritize accountability and responsibility in professional judgment, ethics, and actions.
- Optimize collaboration strategies to develop, participate, and lead interprofessional teams and partnerships.
- Evaluate policies and economics related to healthcare delivery.
- Integrate health promotion and prevention strategies to improve care of diverse populations.
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To speak with our admissions team, call (855) 355-6288 or request information and an advisor will contact you shortly. If you’re ready to apply, simply start your application today.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
National University is dedicated to making higher education affordable, as well as accessible. Through NU scholarship offerings, eligible students are able to reduce the financial burden of college, start classes sooner, and finish their programs faster while focusing on achieving their goals.
Accreditations
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the U.S.
Why National University?
We’re proud to be a Veteran-founded, San Diego-based nonprofit. Since 1971, our mission has been to provide accessible, achievable higher education to adult learners.
Today, we educate students from across the U.S. and around the globe, with over 240,000 alumni worldwide.
“You will be challenged to think critically, and it may be hard, but at the end of the day you will learn how capable you are to set goals and challenge yourself.”
Grant M.,
B.S. Nursing
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NU makes it easy to get your degree, even if you started it with another university. Learn more about transferring to NU.
Accelerate Your Career With NU
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FAQs
You’ll work with faculty who are also experts in the field and have the opportunity to take advantage of their real-world insights. The program is highly individualized and focused on the student learning experience.
NU’s curriculum utilizes precision learning and a verified course sequence, which are unique to National University. Additionally, you’ll focus on practitioner self-care, social and emotional learning, and cultural competency. You’ll also complete a research-based capstone project, and upon completion of the program, we’ll help place you in an internship program.
Behavior analysts provide services to individuals, families, group homes, schools, mental health agencies, hospitals, industrial and business settings, and other agencies working with individuals who require intensive behavioral training and/or consultation.
A Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Analysis degree opens doors in a variety of industries, including health care, social assistance, and educational services. Employers in this field are looking for skills in teaching, research, communications, leadership, writing, advocacy, planning, and management.
In order to be eligible to sit for the BACB (Behavior Analyst Certification Board) exam, you must have a master’s degree with the verified course sequence (provided by NU) and have 2,000 supervision hours. Once you pass the exam, you are a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
The career opportunities and rewards within the profession are plentiful. Some of the positions* NU’s ABA program can prepare you for include:
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
- Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA)
- Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT)
- Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA)
- Behavior Consultant
- Behavior Analyst
- Behavior Technician
- Behavior Specialist
- ABA Interventionist
- ABA Behavioral Technician
- Lead ABA Interventionist
- Behavior Lead
- Behavior Supervisor
- Behavior Intervention Specialist
- Behavior Engineers
- Organizational Behavior Management Specialist
* SOURCE: Emsi Labor Analyst- Report. Emsi research company homepage at https://www.economicmodeling.com/company/ (Report viewed: May, 2022). DISCLAIMER: The data provided is for informational purposes only. Emsi data and analysis utilizes government sources to provide insights on industries, demographics, employers, in-demand skills, and more to align academic programs with labor market opportunities. Cited projections may not reflect local or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Current and prospective students should use this data with other available economic data to inform their educational decisions.
A master’s degree in ABA provides students with advanced study in research-based theories and findings, arming them with the knowledge to implement the concepts and principles of behavior analysis so as to begin or advance in professional practice.
Aspiring behavior analysts need a master’s degree in special education, psychology, or a related field. Depending on the state in which they practice, professionals might also need to meet licensing requirements.
You can apply online via the BACB’s website. The application asks that you show proof of your degree, coursework, and supervised experience; you’ll also have to pay an application fee. Once the Behavior Analyst Certification Board sees that you’ve met these requirements, they will approve your application to be eligible to sit for the BCBA examination.
In order to obtain the Behavior Analysts Certification ABA certificate, a person has to complete the required coursework. Most certifications require 270 hours of coursework at an accredited institution if the person holds a master’s degree.
Additional Resources
Program Disclosure
Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.
Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.
NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.
All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.
National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.
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