Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Patients who are physiologically unstable, technologically dependent and highly vulnerable to complications receive frequent monitoring and intervention from adult­-gerontology acute care NPs. Nurse practitioners with this specialty provide care ranging from disease prevention to acute and critical care management, restoring health and/or providing symptom management.

The Adult­-Gerontology acute care NP major requires at least 39 credit hours of coursework and 700 hours of clinical experience. A recent year of adult intensive care (ICU) nursing experience is required prior to beginning this program.

Ranked #7 in the country by U.S. News and World Report Best Graduate Schools 2022.

Sample Full­-Time Curriculum: Beginning Fall 2015

Fall Semester I

Course ID Course Title Credits
NURS 444B* Health Care Delivery and Finance in Advanced Practice 1
NUNP 438^ Foundations for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nursing 4
NURS 459 Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NURS 453 Advanced Pathophysiology 4
  Total 12

Spring Semester I

Course ID Course Title Credits
NURS 405* Inquiry I - Theoretical Foundations 2
NURS 430 Advanced Pharmacology 3
NUNP 443^ Acute Health Problems of Adults and Older Adults 6
  Total 11

Summer Semester I

Course ID Course Title Credits
NURS 425* Inquiry II - Research Process 3
NURS 451* Leadership for Quality Healthcare within Organizations and Systems 3
  Complete ELNEC online (Recommended to complete by Summer Semester I CE
  Total 6 + CE

Fall Semester II

Course ID Course Title Credits
NURS 444A* Ethical Issues in Advanced Nursing Practice 1
NURS 444C* Health Policy, Legislation and Legal Issues in Advanced Practice 1
NURS 502* Inquiry III - Evidence-Based Practice 2
NURS 431* Psychosocial and Spiritual Dimensions of Advanced Nursing 2
NUNP444^ Advanced Management of Acutely Ill Adults and Older Adults 4
  Total 10

Accumulated Total Hours: 39

Note: The above curriculum is full-time; part-time plans are also available. The Advanced Practice Core courses (NURS 430, 453, 459) are co-requisites or pre-requisites for clinical nursing courses. Clinical nursing courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.

* = Intensive Course, see MSN Intensives general schedule online for more information
^= Clinical Course

Sample Full-­Time Curriculum: Prior to Fall 2015

Fall Semester I

Course ID Course Title Credits
NURS 405 Inquiry I: Theoretical Foundations 3
NUNP 438 Foundations for Adult­-Gerontology Acute Care Nursing 4
NURS 453 Advanced Pathophysiology 4
NURS 459 Assessment for Advanced Practice 3
  Total 14

 

Spring Semester I

Course ID Course Title Credits
NURS 430 Pharmacology and Therapeutics for the Advanced Practice Nurse 3
NUNP 443 Acute Health Problems of Adults and Older Adults 6
NURS 425 Inquiry II: The Research Process 3
NURS 431 Psychosocial and Spiritual Dimensions of Advanced Nursing Practice 2
  Total 14

 

Fall Semester II

Course ID Course Title Credits
NURS 502 Inquiry III Evidenced Based Nursing Practice 2
NURS 503 Inquiry Practicum 1
NUNP 444 Advanced Management of Acutely Ill Adults and Older Adults 4
NURS 444A Health Care Delivery, Legal and Ethical Issues in Advanced Practice: Ethical Issues 1
NURS 444B Health Care Delivery, Legal and Ethical Issues in Advanced Practice: Finance 1
NURS 444C Health Care Delivery, Legal and Ethical Issues in Advanced Practice: Policy and Legal 1
NURS 443B Professionalism in Advanced Practice: Role Development 1
  Total 11

Accumulated Total Hours: 39