Graduate Certificate in Nursing Specialty

San Jose State University

The Valley Foundation School of Nursing offers a Nursing Specialty Advanced Certificate program for registered nurses graduated with at least a baccalaureate degree. The program allows students to choose from one or more of the following courses: wound, ostomy, and foot and nail. If students are taking only one course, they will be eligible to receive academic credits. However, if they are taking at least two courses, they will be eligible to receive an advanced academic certificate. Each course in the Nursing Specialty Advanced Certificate consists of both didactic and practicum components, incorporating interactive lectures, discussions, and skills practice in the instructional design. The didactic portion of each course is five weeks in duration and consists of approximately 40 hours of online instruction and 20 hours of onsite instruction. Interactive classes in 3-hour blocks are conducted online 2-3 times a week via Zoom throughout each of the five-week courses. Canvas is the learning platform for instructional materials and exams. The two onsite days for each specialty are designed for skills demonstration and practice, guest lectures, and vendor exhibition. Each onsite day is an immersive 10-hour learning experience. The didactic hours include: orientation (2-hour online class), 13 3-hour online classes, and 20 hours of onsite classes (two 10-hour days). The didactic component is equivalent to a 4-unit lecture course.