The UNMC College of Nursing has achieved a major milestone in advancing emergency care education.
On Sept. 3, the college’s new Emergency Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate Program received national validation from the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners — the official recognition that the program meets rigorous national standards for ENP education.
The inaugural cohort of the ENP program will begin in January 2026.
American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners validation ensures that academic ENP programs deliver high-quality education, with strong curriculum design, program leadership and alignment to ENP competencies. It also establishes eligibility for graduates to sit for the national ENP certification examination through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board.
“The purpose of validation is to ensure ENP programs are preparing nurse practitioners with the knowledge and skills needed to provide safe, competent and high-quality emergency care,” said Haley Hays, DNP, UNMC College of Nursing-West Nebraska Division interim assistant dean and ENP specialty coordinator. “This recognition underscores the strength of our program’s structure, curriculum, and commitment to excellence in emergency care education.”
Lepaine Sharp-McHenry, DNP, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing, said the program will be an asset for health care across the state.
“The notification of this approval is a testament affirming the rigor and quality of the Emergency Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate Program,” she said. “This is one example of our college listening to health care partners across the state and responding to a need.
“This program will develop nurse practitioners who will partner with hospitals to maintain their emergency medical services in rural communities.”
The ENP certificate program is designed to equip nurse practitioners working in emergency care settings with advanced expertise in assessment, diagnostics and management of patients across the lifespan. This 16-credit program follows a hybrid format, combining online coursework with in-person intensive training and clinical training over 12 months.
Applications for the first cohort are open now through Oct. 15 via this Nursing CAS link. To support prospective students, the UNMC College of Nursing will host a virtual informational session on Sept. 17 via Zoom.
Dr. Hays said she looks forward to welcoming the program’s first students.
“This program is not only an investment in our graduates, but in the communities they will serve. By strengthening emergency nurse practitioner education, we strengthen emergency care across Nebraska and beyond,” she said.
For more information, email Dr. Hays at this link.