Duke University School of Nursing’s advanced practice nursing certificate in endocrinology was designed to address the national shortage of endocrine specialists.
Our rigorous endocrinology specialty program equips nurses to become highly skilled diabetes nurse practitioners, meeting the growing demand for providers experienced in treating various endocrine disorders.
Whether you’re a nurse practitioner student or practicing NP, our nine-credit-hour endocrinology specialty gives you the knowledge and expertise to care for patients with diabetes and other endocrine conditions — all within a highly accessible program built for working professionals’ schedules.
We are proud to be the first and only endocrinology training program for nurse practitioners in the United States, and our world-class coursework will prepare you for a rewarding career as a nurse practitioner with endocrinology expertise.
Endocrinology Specialty Highlights
Our endocrinology specialty is ideal for advanced practitioners who want to expand their expertise to work as a diabetes nurse practitioner in various health care settings. The distance-based coursework includes evidence-based guidelines from the American Diabetes Association, the Endocrine Society and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, incorporating the latest knowledge in the field. You will graduate with a certificate that sets you apart from other providers in addressing endocrine disease and diabetes.
There are many other benefits to joining to the endocrinology program at Duke, just some of which include:
Flexible coursework:
As a nurse practitioner student or practicing NP, your personal and professional schedules are a priority. That’s why we offer mainly asynchronous courses to accommodate every type of schedule. You can take endocrinology courses and study when it’s most convenient. We aim to schedule our synchronous classes at times when our students can join without sacrificing time at work or with family.
Accomplished faculty:
There’s no better way to prepare to become an endocrine specialist than by learning from clinical experts of endocrine disease and diabetes. Our endocrinology faculty comprises board-certified family nurse practitioners as well as interdisciplinary experts from Duke University Health System and beyond. They bring decades of experience as professionals and educators into each class to prepare you for a career treating endocrine disease.
Hands-on training:
The highlight of our endocrinology program is the on-campus experience that allows you to meet faculty, classmates and endocrine experts from around campus — not to mention experiencing the beauty of Duke University’s campus. Over two to three days in the summer, you’ll immerse yourself in practical training with insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, as well as using essential diabetes technologies. You’ll also collaborate with other endocrinology students in simulated experiences and on group projects.
Endocrinology Specialty Courses
As you earn your endocrinology certificate, you will complete 168 supervised clinical hours in endocrine settings across the spectrum of care. You will be precepted by an endocrinologist or an experienced advanced practice provider in an endocrine setting.
The three courses you’ll take as you earn your endocrine certificate are:
- NUR 831: Advanced Practice Nursing: Endocrine Specialty I - Diabetes (Spring only).
- NUR 833: Advanced Practice Nursing: Endocrine Specialty II - General Endocrinology (Summer only)./li>
- NUR 835: Advanced Practice Nursing in Endocrine Synthesis - 168 hours clinical.
Learn More About the Endocrinology Specialty Program
Enrollment Options
The endocrinology specialty is available to nurse practitioner students and currently practicing nurse practitioners who manage adult patients in primary care or specialty settings.
Duke University School of Nursing students interested in adding the endocrine specialty to their academic plan must complete the Add a Specialty Form. Earlier submission is recommended to ensure that a spot can be reserved.
Nurse practitioners with an MSN degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution and nurse practitioner students from other regionally accredited colleges or universities interested in earning an endocrinology certificate should follow the instructions for the Specialty Certificate application. Enrollment decisions are made by the faculty director of the endocrinology specialty. Due to limited space, the endocrinology specialty is competitive, and an interview (web-based or phone) may be required.
Specialty Director
Kathryn Evans Kreider
DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP
Dr. Kathryn Evans completed her DNP at the Duke University School of Nursing in 2013, and her capstone project (“The implementation and evaluation of an evidence-based protocol to treat diabetic ketoacidosis: a quality improvement study”) received the Outstanding Capstone Project award and was awarded an honorable mention by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
Learn more about Kathryn E. Kreider: Scholars@Duke
Q&A With Faculty Director Kathryn Evans Kreider
Endocrinology is so fascinating! It is incredible to understand how the different hormonal systems in the body work together. Endocrine conditions affect a large percentage of the population, and having advanced knowledge of the treatment of diabetes, thyroid conditions and obesity (just some examples) is so crucial. Diabetes has always been my favorite topic as the management is so multifaceted and must be individualized, and it has a significant behavioral/psychological component.
Our program is still the first and only program of its kind in the United States. We designed this program to meet a societal need for endocrine and diabetes experts around the country. Endocrinology is applicable to populations no matter what area of nursing that you practice in. Nurse practitioners across specialties find this information relevant for effective patient management.
We pride ourselves in delivering an individualized experience to students. Faculty who teach in the program are all currently practicing clinicians at Duke University Medical Center. Coursework is rigorous but practical.
Any currently practicing nurse practitioner or someone enrolled in nurse practitioner school can apply for this program. You should consider advanced training in endocrinology if you have a firm interest in adult health and advanced diabetes management and a desire to gain more expertise in the management of general endocrine conditions such as thyroid, lipid, bone, pituitary disorders and obesity. We have graduated a range of students from this specialty, from those with no experience as an NP to those who have been running their own clinic for decades. No matter how long you have been practicing, you will find relevant and practical content that will improve the care you deliver to patients.
Self-motivated and directed, diverse in background and experience, professional and compassionate. Passionate about delivering optimal, individualized patient care.
This endocrinology specialty training program is the first in the country for nurse practitioners. This is a unique opportunity to gain experience in a distance-based environment. Diabetes nurse practitioners are in high demand, so having specialty training can elevate your practice and increase your ability to care for your patients using the most evidence-based approach.