For more information contact:
Email: nursing@gwumc.edu
Phone: (202) 994-7901

Post Masters Certificate: Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner

Option 1. Post Masters Certificate Program for Palliative Care Nurse Practitioners

1. A Master of Science in Nursing from an accredited program of nursing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
2. Current Nurse Practitioner license
3. Successful completion of graduate-level courses in pathophysiology, pharmacology, advanced health assessment, and primary care.
4. Two letters of recommendation
5. An active RN license
6. Resume or curriculum vitae
7. A one-page personal statement of academic and professional goals.
8. Current CPR certificate
9. Immunization records, including PPD, Hepatitis B, MMR, varicella (titer required), and TD or TDap
10. Proof of health insurance

1. A Bachelor of Science Degree from an accredited university
2. Two letters of recommendation
3. Statement of goals
4. Resume or curriculum vitae

Application Process
The GW School of Nursing participates in the online NursingCAS application system (Nursing Central Application Service).  All applicants must submit NursingCAS and GW Supplemental applications to the Office of Admissions for consideration to any nursing programs. Please go to http://www.nursingcas.org/ to begin the NursingCAS and  https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=gwu-smhs for the GW supplemental application.

The fee for using NursingCAS is based on the number of programs the applicant designates. A limited number of application fee waivers are available. Meeting NursingCAS’ eligibility criterion for a fee waiver does not guarantee a waiver will be granted for supplemental application fees.

Please be sure to review the admissions process page for the GWU Health Sciences Programs: http://www.gwumc.edu/healthsci/admissions/process.cfm

Any questions regarding the application form, the admissions process, or application deadlines should be addressed to:

Office of Admissions
Health Sciences Programs
The George Washington University
2300 K Street, N.W.,

Warwick Bldg., Room 203
Washington, DC 20037

Telephone: (202) 994-8528
Fax: (202) 994-0870
email: hsphora@gwu.edu

Option 1. Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
This innovative program will build on the nurse’s previous graduate nursing education and experience to present an interdisciplinary approach to improving palliative and end of life care. Intensive clinical experiences may be designed to meet the individual goals and interests of students.
The Post Masters certificate program as a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner is based on the Masters Essentials (AACN,1995), the National Organization Nurse Practitioner Faculty Competencies (NONPF, 2002), the National Consensus Project (2004) core precepts and structures. See Appendix A for a listing of the competencies. The curriculum also addresses the End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC, 2004) and the NBCHPN Hospice and Palliative Advanced Practice Nursing Certification Exam Content (NBCHPN, 2006).

When the Advanced Practice Nurse completes the Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Post Master’s Certificate, he/she will be able to:

1. Utilize advanced clinical judgment and practice to provide for the health and illness experiences of individuals and families from a variety of socio-cultural backgrounds
2. Create a supportive, caring environment for individuals experiencing serious, chronic and/or terminal illness that enhances their dignity and acknowledges his/her strengths
3. Synthesize information from a variety of disciplines to develop diagnostic and treatment strategies for clients with chronic illnesses
4. Effectively communicate prognosis, plans of care and management options with patients, families, healthcare team
5. Provide therapeutic interventions and regimens that incorporate an understanding of the client’s needs and desires, while considering multiple systems variables and the impact of these variables on treatment options (e.g. treatment efficacy, cost factors, and safety issues)
6. Respond with sensitivity and compassion to the unique health beliefs and practices of all clients from a variety of socio-cultural backgrounds 
7. Work collaboratively with other healthcare team members in providing care for clients with complex healthcare needs
8. Incorporate professional, legal, moral, and ethical standards into practice
9. Possess a knowledge base that reflects national policies, statutes, regulations, and fiscal responsibilities
10. Monitor the quality of healthcare provided to clients in a variety of settings
11. Contribute to professional nursing through advanced nursing practice and professional involvement in palliative and end of life care, as well as pursuit of doctoral study
12. Take a leadership role in ensuring palliative care is available to all people, including developing the program models and building the evidence base

Option 2.  Specialty in Palliative and End of Life Care
Nurses and other healthcare professionals who complete the specialty in Palliative Care will be able to integrate palliative care into all health care for debilitating and life-threatening illnesses to  help ensure that:

1. Pain and symptom control, psychosocial distress, spiritual issues and practical needs are addressed with patient and family throughout the continuum of care.
2. Patients and families obtain the information they need in an ongoing and understandable manner, in order to grasp their condition and treatment options.
3. Patient and family values and goals are elicited over time; the benefits and burdens of treatment are regularly reassessed; and the decision-making process about the care plan is sensitive to changes in the patient’s condition.
3. Genuine coordination of care across settings is ensured through regular and high-quality communication between providers at times of transition or changing needs, and through effective continuity of care that utilizes the techniques of case management.
4. Both patient and family are prepared for the dying process and for death, when it is anticipated.
5. Hospice options are explored, opportunities for personal growth are enhanced and bereavement support is available for the family.

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