Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, MSN

The Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) specialization prepares clinical nurse specialists with advanced competencies in nursing practice and strategies for improving the quality of patient care. This specialization is offered as a 33-credit master’s degree for baccalaureate prepared nurses. The curriculum emphasizes the development of adult-gerontology nursing clinical expertise based on an in-depth understanding of nursing practice and theory.

Each student is required to complete a clinical practicum. Faculty will provide guidance for students in selection of a practitioner(s) who will serve as preceptor(s) for clinical practicums. The preceptor(s) must be a master’s prepared nurse or licensed physician. Each credit of clinical equals 125 clock hours per semester so that total clinical practicum time for the CNS program is 500 hours.

Graduates will be eligible for certification as an adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist (CNS) in Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. In addition, graduates will be eligible to take the national certification examination for CNS in Adult-Gerontology from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.