“The DNP degree allows me to advocate for my patients on a higher level.”
Jaines Andrades, BSN ’14
Doctor of Nursing Practice student, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track
Class of 2020
Staff Nurse, Baystate Medical Center
DNP in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who specializes in the care of patients in hospital settings such as, medical/surgical units, emergency departments, intensive care units, skilled nursing facilities, and in ambulatory specialty clinics managing diverse patients with complex acute and chronic health conditions across the entire adult age spectrum.
The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) strongly recommends obtaining a DNP as a pathway for preparation and entry into the nurse practitioner role.
The competencies of the AGACNP are centered on assessment and advanced care for critically ill patients to diagnose and treat chronic, acute, and critical medical conditions. The AGACNP curriculum is designed with in-depth content about pathophysiology and management of complex patient problems with various illnesses intended to help both the patient and family achieve the highest degree of wellness possible.
The adult-gerontology acute nurse practitioner is “job ready” based upon practice experience and nurse competency skills to find employment working in trauma, emergency care, critical care, surgical services, rehabilitation units, orthopedics, cardiology, pulmonology and oncology settings, and sports-medicine. Based upon the student interests, the graduate will have clinical training experiences in their area of interest to meet their career goals.
Scholarly Project
The program culminates in the successful completion of a practice-focused project completed over the course of several semesters. This project must demonstrate a student’s ability to synthesize scientific evidence and develop new systems or population health approaches for improved outcomes in a practice settings.
Certification
Students are prepared to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners certification examinations as Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
Curriculum
Click to view course requirements for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) DNP.
Foundational Core – 10 Credits (BS-DNP only)
| Course # | Formerly | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology: Methods and Tools for Graduate Study | 1 | ||
| Translating and Integrating Evidence into Practice | 3 | ||
| Nursing Knowledge and Practice | 3 | ||
| Health Care Policy and Advocacy | 3 |
Clinical Core: Advanced Practice – 15 Credits
| Course # | Formerly | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Diagnostic Analysis, Health and Physical Assessment with 30 hours of supervised lab practicum practice hours | 4 | ||
| Advanced Pathophysiology | 4 | ||
| Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 4 | ||
| Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning for the Advanced Practice Nurse | 3 |
DNP Theory Core – 30 Credits
| Course # | Formerly | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organizational Systems and Quality Improvement | 3 | ||
| Biostatistics and Informatics | 3 | ||
| Research Methods and Translation for Advanced Practice | 3 | ||
| Financial Management in Health Care Delivery | 3 | ||
| Population Health and Epidemiology | 3 | ||
| Leadership and Collaboration in Health Care Organizations | 3 | ||
| DNP Immersion I: Role Development of the APRN Nurse Practitioner | 3 | ||
| DNP Immersion II: Scholarly Project – Project Idea | 2 | ||
| DNP Immersion III: Scholarly Project – Project Development | 2 | ||
| DNP Immersion IV: Scholarly Project – Project Implementation | 2 | ||
| DNP Capstone: Scholarly Project – Project Evaluation | 3 |
Advanced Practice Specialty: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nure Practitioner (AGACNP) – 25 Credits
| Course # | Formerly | Course Name | # of Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult-Gerontology Health Care I and Practicum | 5 | ||
| Adult-Gerontology Health Care II and Practicum | 5 | ||
| Adult-Gerontology Health Care III and Practicum | 4 | ||
| Adult-Gerontology Health Care IV and NP Practicum | 4 | ||
| DNP Independent Study | 2 | ||
| Ethics for Advanced Practice | 3 | ||
| Transition into Practice and Certification Seminar | 2 |