Healthy People 2020 states that health care professionals need basic and continuing geriatric education in order to improve care and quality of life for the older adult. Nurses provide the frontline health care for older adults in a variety of settings, including preventative care in primary care offices and the community, acute care in hospitals, and long-term care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Nurses who have additional education in this area of health care will be better able to anticipate, prepare for, and meet the needs of the increased numbers of older adults. 

MSOE’s School of Nursing’s gerontology certificate prepares nursing students and practicing RNs to provide exceptional care to older adults in any health care setting. The courses focus on healthy aging; managing acute and chronic diseases in older adults; policy, service, and social issues; and end of life care.

This 12-credit certificate program is open to any RN, including associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree or higher. The program is also available to current undergraduate and graduate Nursing students. Courses are offered in a blended format to meet the needs of working adults over an 8-month timeframe. Courses start in the spring quarter, uses the two summer subterms for two courses, with the final course offered in fall. The certificate sequence is offered once per year.

The gerontology certificate program prepares RNs for the ANCC Gerontological Nursing Certification (RN-BC) by providing the continuing education hours in gerontological nursing that are required for eligibility.

For more information, see the certificates  policy.