Why Elms for your Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree?

  • Designed for practicing RNs to discover your unique path in nursing.
  • Specialize in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track.
  • Complete a practice-focused scholarly quality improvement project in a faculty-mentored environment.
  • Educated in the knowledge and skills to pass the ANCC board certification.
  • Clinical placement support provided.
  • Course and clinical faculty are committed educators as well as nurse practitioners, each continues to practice professionally to remain grounded in clinical practice.

DNP in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is for registered nurses who have an entry level degree in nursing such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or professional master’s entry-level nursing degree and are interested in  expanding and advancing their scope of responsibility, specialized practice, and their impact upon care and populations whom they will care for. 

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum prepares a registered nurse in the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner role. The AGACNP specializes in the care of patients in acute 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 degree as a pathway for preparation and entry into the nurse practitioner role by 2025.

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 AGACNP student is educated through practice experiences, skill labs and advanced nurse competency skills to find employment working in acute care settings such as trauma, emergency care, critical care, surgical services, rehabilitation units, and specialty settings.

Jaines Andrades BSN ’14, DNP ’20, APRN, AGACNP-PC

DNP SCHOLARLY FINAL PROJECT

The Elms DNP AGACNP program culminates in a practice-focused quality improvement project completed over the course of several semesters. The DNP scholarly project demonstrates a student’s ability to synthesize scientific evidence focused on new systems or population health approaches for improved outcomes in a practice setting.

Certification

Upon program completion, students are prepared to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification examination as Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.


Admission to Elms College is by formal application to Graduate Admissions. To be considered for admission to the Elms College Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) track, the ideal candidate will have met the following requirements in their application for one of two points of entry.

  • BSN to DNP (baccalaureate degree in nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice degree): Projected three year full-time study program or a four year extended program of study encompassing approximately 80 credits of required coursework; 1,000 hours of required clinical practicum and immersion experiences; and distinguished completion of a scholarly experience that builds toward the achievement of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice and nurse practitioner competencies. The knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct the scholarly experience is developed across the program and demonstrated in the DNP final project.
  • MSN to DNP: Earned master’s degree in nursing and are seeking to be an advanced practice nurse. The course of study will be approximately 70 credits for coursework over a projected three year full-time study program or a four year extended program; 1,000 hours of required clinical practicum and immersion experiences; and distinguished completion of a scholarly experience that builds toward the achievement of the AACN’s Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice and nurse practitioner competencies. The knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct the scholarly experience is developed across the program and demonstrated in the DNP final project.

Application requirements: 

  • BSN to DNP: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
  • MSN to DNP: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Master of Science in Nursing. 
  • Complete the DNP Application.
  • Submit a professional portfolio which should include a Curriculum Vitae or resume of professional accomplishments.
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended indicating completion of a baccalaureate degree in nursing. 
  • Official transcripts indicating completion of a master’s degree in nursing.
  • Current unencumbered Registered Nurse licensure at time of application.  
  • Elms College seeks to enroll students with strong academic preparation who show the greatest potential to succeed. Two letters of reference pertaining to the candidate’s academic ability and clinical practice with an interest to pursue this degree are preferably an academic and/or professional­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ recommendation.
  • Written Statement of Purpose: “My intent in applying to the Elms College Doctor of Nursing Practice program is…”
  • A telephone or Zoom interview prior to admission with the Program Director and/or Track Coordinator.  

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION DEADLINE

Applications are reviewed based upon the date of submission and the candidate’s qualifications. 

Curriculum

Click to view course requirements for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) DNP.

The DNP program offers a three-year plan and by an  individual design of a plan of study, a four-year program plan option for completion of program requirements.

Foundational Core – 10 Credits (BS-DNP only)

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
NUREstimated Course Work Effort: 8-90 hours weekly depending on didactic and clinical practicum experiences
7xxInnovating in Practice1
5005Translating and Integrating Evidence into Practice3
5105Nursing Knowledge and Practice3
5302Health Care Policy and Advocacy3

Clinical Core: Advanced Practice – 15 Credits

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
NUR3
6006Advanced Diagnostic Analysis, Health and Physical Assessment with 30 hours of supervised lab practicum practice hours4
6004 A/BAdvanced Pathophysiology4
6007 A/BAdvanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics4
7600Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning for the Advanced Practice Nurse3

DNP Theory Core – 30 Credits

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
7105Organizational Systems and Quality Improvement3
7306Biostatistics3
7307Research Methods and Translation for Advanced Practice3
7400Financial Management in Health Care Delivery3
7304Population Health and Epidemiology3
7406Leadership and Collaboration in Health Care Organizations3
7100DNP Immersion I: Role Development of the APRN Nurse Practitioner3
7101DNP Immersion II: Scholarly Project – Project Idea2
7102DNP Immersion III: Scholarly Project – Project Development2
7103 A/BDNP Immersion IV: Scholarly Project – Project Implementation2
7500DNP Capstone: Scholarly Project – Project Evaluation3

Advanced Practice Specialty: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nure Practitioner (AGACNP) – 25 Credits

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
7206Adult-Gerontology Health Care I and Practicum5
7207Adult-Gerontology Health Care II and Practicum5
7208Adult-Gerontology Health Care III and Practicum4
7209Adult-Gerontology Health Care IV and NP Practicum4
xxClinical Procedures in Critical Emergency Care2
7309Ethics for Advanced Practice3
7404Transition into Practice and Certification Seminar2