You’re fascinated with the health of adults, committed to your aging patients, and known for your expert advice. You’re ready to become an adult gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP). If you’ve already decided on the DNP, feel free to skip ahead to our program listings. But if you’d like some background on certification requirements, a summary of the DNP curriculum, examples of DNP capstone projects, and real-life advice from a qualified AGNP, read on!
Becoming an Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
The Modern Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Adult gerontology nurse practitioners, known in nursing circles as AGNPs, are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who take special care of adults. In this case, “adult” can mean any patient – including young adults – confronted with the challenges of aging. You may sometimes see AGNPs referred to as GNPs, or geriatric nurse practitioners. Nurses holding this title tend to deal directly with the elderly.
Working under the supervision of a physician, AGNPs are responsible for diagnosing illnesses, conducting exams and screenings, ordering lab tests, prescribing medications and physical therapy, managing a patient’s pain, and educating families on preventative care. Since aging also includes dying, modern AGNPs are renowned for being compassionate caregivers and counselors.
AGNPs work in two major arenas: acute care and primary care. Acute care AGNPs specialize in the care of acutely ill adults and can be found in hospitals (e.g. ICUs, ERs, surgical units, etc.) and outpatient specialty clinics. Primary care AGNPs tend to work in places such as hospices, home healthcare, and nursing homes. Some AGNPs even choose to run their own private practices. Regardless of their specialty, AGNPs must be able to collaborate with families, social workers, nursing staff, therapist, pharmacists, and physicians in order to provide adult patients with the very best advice.
AGNP Certification Requirements
Most employers and states require you to complete a master’s degree or DNP in nursing with an adult gerontological nurse practitioner focus and become nationally certified before you can practice as an AGNP. Adult gerontology certifications are offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
If you’re interested in primary care, you could consider the:
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (AGPCNP-BC) credential from ANCC
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP) credential from AANP
If you’re interested in acute care, you could consider the:
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (AGACNP-BC) from ANCC
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certified – Adult-Gerontology (ACNPC-AG) from AACN
Talk to your university and check with your State Board of Nursing for advice on which certification to pursue. In the end, you may wish to complete a number of credentials. DNP programs should clearly state that they are accredited and able to prepare you for AGNP board certification exams. If you can’t find the information on the program website, ask the school for its student pass rates on certification exams.
AGNP Primary Care Certifications
AGPCNP-BC Requirements
- Hold a current, active RN license.
- Hold a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from an adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
- Complete a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours during your adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner program.
- Complete graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology, as well as coursework in health promotion/maintenance, differential diagnosis, and disease management.
- Pass the national AGPCNP-BC exam administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
- Maintain your certification & licensure through continuing education.
A-GNP Requirements
- Hold a current, active RN license.
- Hold a master’s, post-master’s, or doctoral degree from an adult gerontology primary care practitioner program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
- Complete a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours during your program.
- Complete APRN core courses in advanced physical assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology.
- Pass the national A-GNP exam administered by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
- Maintain your certification & licensure through continuing education.
AGNP Acute Care Certifications
AGACNP-BC Requirements
- Hold a current, active RN license.
- Hold a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from an adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
- Complete a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours during your adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program.
- Complete graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology, as well as coursework in health promotion/maintenance, differential diagnosis, and disease management.
- Pass the national AGACNP-BC exam administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
- Maintain your certification & licensure through continuing education.
ACNPC-AG Requirements
- Hold a current, active RN or APRN license.
- Hold a graduate degree from an adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
- Complete a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours focused on the care of acutely ill adult gerontology patients, including young adults, older adults, and frail elderly.
- Complete graduate-level courses in advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment, as well as coursework in the legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities of the NP. The school’s curriculum must include supervised clinical and didactic coursework consistent with competencies of adult-gerontology ACNP practice.
- Pass the national ACNPC-AG exam administered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
- Maintain your certification & licensure through continuing education.
Helpful Professional Organizations
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE)
- Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA)
The Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner DNP
Typical Gerontological NP DNP Curriculum
Many AGNP programs are listed as “graduate tracks” or “concentrations” in DNP degrees. In other words, you start by taking general APRN courses and gradually focus on adult gerontology. Once you have laid the groundwork, you will often have the option to pursue a primary care or acute care sub-specialty in adult gerontology (e.g. cardiology, hospice care, oncology, orthopedics, organ transplant, etc.).
Look for DNPs that focus on advanced clinical knowledge, evidence-based research, and leadership skills. AGNPs deal with adults across the age spectrum, including geriatric patients, so you must be equipped to handle tasks such as case management, patient stabilization, and end-of-life care. That means practicums should expose you to a variety of clinical settings (e.g. long-term care facilities, the patient’s home, hospitals, private practices, etc.) and a range of patient ages. In the case of acute care, you will often conduct your clinical training in ERs and ICUs.
In terms of coursework, you can expect hard-core classes in science and medicine. Programs that wish to meet AGNP certification requirements must cover key APRN courses such as advanced physical assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology. As a DNP student, you will also be studying areas such as nursing leadership, healthcare policy, and ethics. All of these classes are intended to prepare you to take a proactive role in your workplace. The grand finale of your work is your DNP capstone project – a final assignment that combines research, theory, and clinical practice into actionable steps.
Experience Requirements
Experience requirements vary from school to school. Some program may demand to see proof of two years of full-time work experience as an RN; others don’t list specifics. Generally speaking, acute care AGNP programs are going to want to see at least 1-2 years of experience in hospitals, ERs, or other acute care situations.
Examples of Gerontological NP DNP Capstone Projects
- Improving Care of Assisted Living Residents with Dementia Through a Competency-Based Behavioral Training Curriculum for Assisted Living Caregivers (University of San Francisco)
- Telehealth Case Management Nursing Process and Technology Enhancements: Reflecting Practice and Outcomes (St. Catherine University)
Real-World DNP Advice
Dr. Laura Sandquist, DNP, APRN, ANP-C, GNP-C
Certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Laura Sandquist is an Integrative Medicine Nurse Practitioner at the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing and a member of the Graduate Faculty at U of MN’s Center for Spirtuality and Healing (CSH). Her practice is based on the philosophies of functional medicine, integrative nursing, and holistic nursing, and allows her to spend time with her patients, develop relationships, and conduct lots of education and coaching. Dr. Sandquist has also served as a Health and Wellness Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Lead, Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Educator, and Integrative Health Consultant. She graduated with a DNP from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in 2012 – the same year she won the Doctor of Nursing Practice Innovation Award.
Q&A with Dr. Sandquist
Q. Why did you choose the DNP? How did you decide which school to go to?
A. I chose to do the DNP because I wanted a terminal degree. The University of Minnesota Twin Cities was my first choice because it is the only school in the world that has a DNP specialty in Integrative Health and Healing. In the end, I decided to tackle two specialties: 1. Adult and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner 2. Integrative Health and Healing. The AGNP specialty allowed me to pursue my NP license and provide direct patient care. The Integrative Health and Healing specialty gave me a chance to focus on integrative and holistic nursing. U of MN had the added benefit of being close to my home.
Q. What kinds of challenges did you face during the DNP? How did you juggle commitments?
A. The biggest challenge I faced during the DNP was being pulled in multiple directions. To keep my work schedule manageable, I worked a 0.6 the first year, 0.4 the second, and on-call the third year. To finance the DNP, I received a few scholarships, my workplace offered tuition reimbursement, and the rest was loans. I balanced my commitments with a very supportive husband who worked and took care of the cooking and housework!
Q. Was it an online/hybrid DNP or a traditional one? Would you recommend that format?
A. I completed a hybrid DNP. It fit in with my work schedule and meant I didn’t have to spend a lot of time on campus, commuting to campus, or paying to park. I would recommend the hybrid format because it was a balance of working independently and connecting regularly with classmates and professors. My favorite experience was forming relationships with my cohort. You grew together, cried together, stressed out together, and survived together. Taking the journey through the DNP program truly bonds you for life.
Q. What did your DNP capstone project focus on? What did you learn?
A. My DNP capstone project was a “Delirium Prevention Protocol for Hospitalized Older Adults.” I picked this topic because there was a need for a protocol at the hospital where I worked at the time. That meant stakeholders were on-board. Plus, since many of the interventions in the protocol were non-pharmacologic, I was able to combine my adult/geriatric specialty with my integrative health specialty. During this project, I learned how to navigate project development and organization implementation. I also learned how to be flexible and open to uncertainty.
Q. Any other advice or tips you have for future DNP students?
A. Be sure to take care of yourself during the program. Many of my classmates worked themselves to sickness by the end of the program. As nurses, we want to take care of everyone and do it all. In the DNP program, you need to let others take care of you, be okay with saying no or cutting back, and to place priority on doing things that make you feel well.
DNP Programs with a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Focus
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Gerontological NP Programs in Alabama
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses who want to work with patients with complex, acute, or critical health conditions can prepare for the role in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP track at Jacksonville State University. In fact, JSU requires students to have two years of professional experience in an acute care setting before they begin practicum experiences. Students can follow a full-time plan of study, which takes 12 semesters, or attend part-time for 15 semesters. When it's time for their practicum and residencies, students benefit from the strong partnerships JSU has with local health systems. AG-ACNP students frequently work clinical rounds in hospital-based settings such as emergency and subacute care. Graduates are eligible for the AG-ACNP national certification exam.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Alabama at Birmingham's BSN to DNP program has a double focus on preparing expert clinicians and developing leadership skills. RNs who want to specialize in the adult population can choose from two AGNP tracks: acute care or primary care. The curriculum for the two tracks is similar, aside from classes in the specialty area. As a part-time, distance-accessible degree, the program relies on mandatory annual on-campus intensives to bring students together for skills training, assessments, and advising sessions. The program spans 10 semesters, with the advanced nursing classes and clinicals scheduled for the seventh, eighth, and ninth semesters. Students complete 32 credits in that year, vastly more than they complete in the first or second year. Candidates also finish their DNP project in the ninth and tenth semesters.
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-BSN nurses in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP program at the University of Alabama in Huntsville attend classes using a hybrid format while completing the MSN portion. That requires meetings on campus every other week. Courses move all online when students enter the DNP portion of the program, which also requires attending a three-day intensive on campus. Students may follow a full-time or part-time plan for the 73-credit degree. After completing 42 credits, including AGACNP specialty and clinical classes, nurses receive an MSN and are eligible for NP certification. DNP classes focus on preparing nurses to provide complex care to patients and to serve as leaders who can evaluate and redesign health care systems and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
University of South Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
Advanced Emergency Nursing (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Dual Role NP)[online][BSN to DNP option]
The BSN-DNP pathway at USA College of Nursing features Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specializations. All are offered predominantly online, with students pursuing clinicals near their homes. To get in, applicants must have two years of RN experience in their specialty, and the program is flexible enough to allow them to continue working, at least part-time. The Nurse Practitioner specialties are both 69 credits, while the Clinical Nurse Specialist track clocks in at 62 units. The MSN-DNP plans for the specializations are just 36 credits, which are normally completed in two years or less. Students in any curriculum can add a subspecialty in Advanced Forensic Nursing Care, Cardiovascular, Clinical Lipidology, Nursing Education, or Palliative Care, all of which lead to postgraduate certificates.
Gerontological NP Programs in Arizona
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona
ASU's Advanced Nursing Practice (Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner) DNP is based out of the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation in downtown Phoenix. The 84-credit hybrid program features online classes punctuated by periodic trips to campus each semester. The required curriculum calls for 34 credits in the concentration, much of it dedicated to two classes and corresponding practicums. The first is about managing common health problems. The second is about managing complex health problems. Additional work includes health promotion for gerontological clients and a 12-credit clinical residency. Clinicals can happen in a variety of spots. The school has established relationships with Phoenix-area sites and pushes students to pursue opportunities in rural health. It also works with students to arrange experiences in their area. Those looking to fortify their hands-on degree with teaching and research experience can apply concurrently to the PhD in Nursing and Healthcare Innovation program.
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Accreditation: CCNE
The DNP at University of Arizona's College of Nursing is designed to meet the needs of multiple demographics. That includes RNs who want to get back to full-time work in under three years and out-of-state residents who like online coursework sprinkled with short trips to the Tucson sunshine. The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty spans 67 hours, including 720 hours in clinical practicums in students' home states. It's obviously shorter for students entering with an MSN and APRN certification in the specialty. The course sequence is split so that didactic coursework primarily comes in the first four semesters. The final four semesters are devoted to clinical practicums, a DNP project, and additional online courses. Certificate options in Rural Health, Rural Telehealth, and Informatics let students add on to a degree plan that already features an introductory informatics course and diverse clinical practicums.
Gerontological NP Programs in Arkansas
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, Arkansas
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Post-BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
As a major academic health center, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences offers adult-gerontology students a multitude of learning opportunities. The post-BSN to DNP program has specialty tracks in AG Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and AG Primary Care NP. Beyond gaining hands-on experience in UAMS hospitals and clinics, nurses can learn from the university's institutes of excellence in aging, cancer, neurosciences, and translational research, and a center of excellence in geriatric nursing. The curriculum emphasizes leadership skills so that graduates can head up interprofessional teams to improve outcomes for patients and innovate health care delivery systems. Students also hone their clinical skills and prepare for certification as a Nurse Practitioner. Clinical placements are tailored to a student's professional goals.
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Adult-Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing recognizes that DNP graduates may make excellent teachers. Students in the Adult-Gerontology Acute-Care Nurse Practitioner concentration can add four nursing education classes and a project to their degree. And, since the school participates in the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, such students are candidates to have up to 85% of their school loans forgiven in return for teaching commitments. Arkansas residents determined to teach in the state may also be able to fund their education through the Fields Nursing Scholarship. That award also goes to aspiring practitioners, who will still find plenty at the BSN-DNP program. Clinical practicums cover chronic, common, and acute illnesses in adults and elderly patients. Didactic coursework mixes in writing, finance, policy, and organizational leadership. And a multi-semester DNP project lets students synthesize their knowledge and skills. APRNs in the specialty can skip at least 18 of the required units.
Gerontological NP Programs in California
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, California
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Adult / Gerontology Nurse Practitioner[MSN required]
The Adult-Gerontology BSN to DNP program at Loma Linda University prepares students to provide preventive and primary care for patients over the age of 18. The degree is a full-time program that enables students to participate in clinical research as well as all aspects of patient care. The degree requires 119 quarter units, which equates to 80 semester hours. Some core courses cover health care at the system level, including finance, policy development, and leadership. Other core classes reflect the Seventh-day Adventist heritage of Loma Linda, such as the theology of human suffering and Christian leadership of health care. In addition to clinical practicum in the Adult-Gerontology NP role, students also complete clinical hours in support of their DNP project.
University of San Diego
San Diego, California
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Dual Adult-Gerontology / Family Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
The University of San Diego has a BSN to DNP program with a dual focus in Adult-Gerontology/Family Nurse Practitioner. With a background in both populations, NPs can provide primary care and case management to patients throughout the lifespan, from birth onward. The 81-credit program emphasizes treating medically underserved and culturally diverse patients. Classes within the specialty cover health assessment and management of acute, chronic, and complex problems. Emphasizing the gerontology aspect, there's a course devoted to managing long-term health problems in older adults. While the NP classes focus on advanced nursing practice, the DNP core prepares students to lead health care settings in adopting evidence-based practices and effective health care policies. Classes primarily meet in-person, and students should expect to be at the campus at least twice a week.
Gerontological NP Programs in Colorado
Colorado State University-Pueblo
Pueblo, Colorado
Accreditation: ACEN
BSN to DNP - Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Family Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Colorado State University Pueblo has two DNP options for nurses who want to treat adult populations. RNs seeking work in chronic, acute or emergency settings can select a track in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Students who want the ability to treat acute or emergency patients and to provide primary care across the lifespan can choose a track for dual certification as an AGACNP and Family Nurse Practitioner. With either option, students receive a concurrent MSN. The single-focus degree requires 84 credits and 1,125 practicum hours, while the dual focus requires at least 102 credits and 1,710 clinical hours. The DNP program uses a hybrid delivery plan, so students attend classes online and in person. BSN-prepared nurses can complete the degree in 11 semesters.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, Colorado
Accreditation: CCNE
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, Colorado
Accreditation: CCNE
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
With a part-time course plan and online courses that are mostly delivered asynchronously, the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner emphasis at UNC meets the needs of working RNs nationwide. To emphasize the point, the school charges students from out of state the same rate as Coloradans. Of the program's 94 credits, 24 go to a BSN-DNP core that's heavy on nursing theory and healthcare leadership. The AGACNP emphasis is 38 credits, including four practicums and corresponding classes on providing care. A research core is 29 hours and provides students with skills in research design and data collection and analysis so they can complete a scholarly project. Though courses are online and practicum sites are scheduled in students' home states, enrollees come to campus for two intensives in the summer that count toward their required 1,185 hours of clinicals, practicums, and labs.
Gerontological NP Programs in Connecticut
Quinnipiac University
Hamden, Connecticut
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Bachelor's DNP - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Quinnipiac's Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner DNP starts up every fall, admitting RNs with a BSN or related degree. Upon acceptance, nurses can enroll in the three- or four-year course plan, depending on whether they want to go full- or part-time. Quinnipiac's DNP aims to produce APRNs who can care for patients from adolescence through old age. The 68-credit curriculum features 500-level classes in epidemiology, policy, assessment, pathophysiology, ECG reading, radiography, and pharmacology. Its 600-level courses ask students to put it all together. To do this, students learn to holistically diagnose patients, they simulate clinical experiences, and they get out into the field to tackle real-life patient problems, both common and complex, across four practicums, a clinical fellowship, and a DNP project.
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut
Adult-Gero Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care[BSN to DNP option]
Adult-Gero Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care[BSN to DNP option]
At the University of Connecticut, RNs earn an MSN and continue seamlessly into DNP coursework through the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Concentrations are available in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with a primary care or acute care focus. Courses are primarily online, but students attend on-campus intensives at the start of the fall and spring semesters. Either track requires 72 credits, and students can follow a full-time or part-time plan. Early in the program, nurses gain the advanced skills needed to assess, diagnose, and treat AG patients. As they move into doctoral-level classes, the focus turns to evidence-based practice, with students taking courses in responsible conduct of research, health service statistics, and quality and organizational systems. Three classes lead students through the development, implementation, and evaluation of their DNP project.
Gerontological NP Programs in District of Columbia
George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia
Accreditation: CCNE
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
The difference between GW's Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program and its Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program is mostly where students want to practice when they graduate. The acute care program draws upon GW Nursing's big-city surroundings to put enrollees in intense practicums in urgent care and critical care units. The primary care program is for those who want to be in inpatient facilities with older clients. Both programs incorporate 1,000 clinical hours and coursework with adolescents, adults, and elderly patients into 81 required credits. The programs come in full- or part-time options. Though courses are online, the programs require students to be on campus for several milestones. All applicants need a BSN, and preferably a 3.0 GPA, to be considered. The AGACNP program has additional requirements: Enrollees need one year of critical care experience before starting and must be DC, Maryland, or Virginia residents.
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia
Accreditation: CCNE
Georgetown University's School of Nursing and Health Sciences hosts an online BSN to DNP program that focuses on ethical nursing leadership and improving the quality of care that underserved populations receive. Students in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program gain the skills to lead in providing critical care in a variety of settings serving adult and aging patients. AG-ACNP students complete 69 credits and 1,000 clinical hours. If they attend full-time, students can earn the degree in eight semesters, and part-time students can finish in 11 semesters. While classes meet online, students attend three on-campus intensives during their studies. Georgetown has a clinical placement team that helps students find appropriate clinical sites for practice hours.
Gerontological NP Programs in Florida
Barry University
Miami, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Baccalaureate DNP - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Post-Master's DNP - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care[MSN required]
The DNP program at Barry University has Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks for nurses with a BSN or an MSN. The post-baccalaureate plan requires 79 credits, and part-time students can earn their degree in four years. Post-BSN nurses begin their acute care clinical experiences in the second year when they also take a class in differential diagnosis for the AG-ACNP. By the fourth year, students have finished all required coursework aside from the DNP residencies and project, enabling candidates to concentrate on completing the capstone. For nurses with an MSN and APRN certification, the DNP program requires 37 credits, and Barry uses a hybrid format that includes synchronous and asynchronous online work and on-campus sessions. Post-Master's DNP students can complete their clinical requirements in their home community.
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP graduates of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University are prepared to treat patients from culturally diverse, vulnerable, and underserved populations. The BSN to DNP program prepares nurses as Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioners who also know how to manage practices and evaluate systems and models of care delivery. To develop their understanding of the population, AGNP students take classes in primary care of adolescents through older adults, women's health, and aging perspectives. They also complete more than 1,000 clinical hours to perfect the hands-on skills they'll use as APRNs. Florida Atlantic offers the program only in a full-time format, and courses are online with in-person meetings one Saturday a month.
Florida International University
Miami, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
After completing six semesters of study, nurses in the BSN to DNP program at Florida International University receive their MSN in Adult-Gerontology Primary Nurse Practitioner. That allows them to take the national certification exam and work as an APRN while finishing the courses for the doctoral degree. The AGACNP curriculum requires students to complete 77 credits, which FIU spreads over 10 semesters. AG candidates also perform 1,170 clinical hours. Early in the program, students take foundational and theory courses, but they start clinical hours in the second semester with a health policy practicum. They complete an adult health role synthesis in the sixth semester in preparation for the certification exam. In DNP courses, students learn to translate research into practice and apply it to decision making.
Palm Beach Atlantic University
West Palm Beach, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Nurses who want to diagnose and manage common and complex medical conditions in adult patients can earn a DNP in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at Palm Beach Atlantic University. The BSN to DNP program requires 74 credits, and the curriculum includes advanced practice skills workshops to help students strengthen their clinical skills. For the AG focus, students take classes that examine geriatric health issues, acute and chronic health problems, and complex family health. With each of those classes, students complete a semester-long practicum to gain hands-on experience. For their capstone, students select a project to show their expertise in a practice area or population. Palm Beach Atlantic University was founded as an interdenominational Christian school, and courses have a Christian viewpoint.
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
UCF College of Nursing runs two BSN-DNP programs for aspiring AGNPs: one for acute care (AGACNP) and one for primary care (AGPCNP). Both are hybrid programs that can be taken either full- or part-time. The programs cater to Central Florida residents - all clinicals are scheduled in nine counties in the region and students must regularly visit the Orlando campus for intensives and labs. Full-time enrollees who want to maintain their RN jobs are requested to keep their work schedules to no more than 12 hours a week, while part-time students can manage 24 hours. The AGACNP is a 76-credit program featuring 1,080 clinical hours. It's aimed at patient populations 18 and older and places enrollees in a variety of care settings so they can provide urgent treatment in complex situations. The ACPCNP is 72 credits, though it widens the curriculum to include adolescent care.
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track of Florida's BSN-DNP program is 76 credits. Enrollees in the full-time program spend their first year taking online classes with occasional on-campus visits. Clinicals, residencies, and project work take up much of their final two years, though they still take courses in areas like diagnosis, policy and finance, and genomics. (A part-time variation is four years.) All clinicals are scheduled within Florida, and applicants must have Florida RN licensure in addition to a 153 on the GRE verbal section and a 144 on the quantitative section. The College of Nursing's MSN-DNP is open to Florida APRNs and is online. The 35-credit curriculum requires the completion of three residencies and an advanced nursing project during the final three semesters. Other topics explored in the five-semester program include policy, statistics, research methods, informatics, and a double dose of leadership.
University of South Florida-Main Campus
Tampa, Florida
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Dual Occupational Health/Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Dual Oncology/Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
USF College of Nursing runs four AGNP concentrations for BS-DNP students. The vanilla version is the 75-credit Adult-Gerontology Primary Care concentration, which creates nurse practitioners comfortable working with 13- to 113-year-olds in residential facilities and outpatient clinics. For something more specialized than primary care, the Occupational Health/Adult-Gerontology Primary Care concentration is a slightly longer program that incorporates classes like Safety Management Principles & Practice and Industrial Hygiene into the curriculum. Similarly, the Oncology/Adult-Gerontology Primary Care program adds courses such as Pathobiology of Neoplasia into an 81-credit curriculum for nurses who want to work in cancer clinics. The Acute Care concentration promises more emergency care and urgent care exposure via a 78-credit curriculum. All concentrations are offered in BSN-DNP and MSN-DNP pathways on a full- or part-time basis, though the expectation is for students to pursue part-time study for 10 to 13 semesters (4 to 6 for MSN-DNP enrollees).
Gerontological NP Programs in Georgia
Augusta University
Augusta, Georgia
Accreditation: CCNE
The DNP with an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration at Augusta University College of Nursing is 75 credits. Admitted students join a cohort in Augusta or Athens and, if they are in a post-BSN pathway, can expect to finish in three years of full-time study or four years part-time. Courses are delivered in distance-learning and face-to-face formats. Core work in the specialty is broken into three main classes and associated practicums. The first is about managing chronic illnesses, the second explores dealing with urgent health problems, and the third covers complex diseases. In their final semester, students synthesize all they've learned in a final practicum. Post-MSN students can also enter the College of Nursing. Theirs is a fully online program for working APRNs, who can choose between full- and part-time plans.
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia
Accreditation: CCNE
Georgia Southern University has two concentrations with an adult-gerontology focus in its DNP program. The AG Primary Care Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares nurses to work in a variety of primary care settings, while the AG Acute Care NP program gives nurses the necessary training to work in an acute care setting. The curriculum is arranged so that nurses can opt out after completing the requirements for an MSN, which occurs at the end of eight semesters. The final five semesters cover core DNP courses such as biomedical ethics, leadership, and outcome management. Students also complete a collaborative initiative with an AG population focus and a clinical project in which they translate evidence to practice.
Mercer University
Macon, Georgia
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with a bachelor's degree can prepare as acute care or primary care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner at Mercer University's BSN to DNP program. Mercer also has a post-MSN DNP in AG Acute Care NP. BSN-prepared nurses can complete the degree in nine semesters of full-time study, and they receive an MSN after the seventh semester. In the early semesters, students take both master's and doctoral-level classes before starting the specialized courses needed for APRN certification. Some classes use a synchronous format that requires students to be online at a set time, and a few require in-person attendance. The post-master's DNP is a 54-credit program and takes six semesters. Recent grads have completed scholarly inquiries into topics such as nurse-led diabetes prevention programs and using group education to decrease stroke risk.
Gerontological NP Programs in Hawaii
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, Hawaii
The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) program at UH Manoa presents multiple paths to entry. The most straightforward is to be an RN with a BSN, but RNs with a bachelor's in a different major can also apply if they agree to take prerequisites. Even non-RNs can apply via the Graduate Entry Program in Nursing, which allows them to earn a BSN in a condensed timeline before transitioning directly into graduate coursework. Once everyone is up to speed, they join a full-time cohort. The 77-credit BSN-DNP takes three years. Students are exposed to both acute and chronic illness management within their first year. Seminars and lab work in Year 2 deepen their knowledge in those areas. In Year 3, they look at special populations and integrating care across the lifespan. Graduates should be able to work with vulnerable populations in community or long-term care.
Gerontological NP Programs in Illinois
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois
Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Students in the AGNP track at Chicago's DePaul University complete 98 quarter credits. That works out to 38 credits in a doctoral core that covers healthcare costs, economics, leadership, IT, research, and the implementation of their final project. The advanced practice core has 52 credits: 10 classes in the science of nursing, plus three practicums with adult and gerontological patients. Last, the two advanced practicums in the specialty, which take 300 hours combined, are worth eight credits. Entry into the College of Science and Health requires a BSN, an Illinois RN license, a 3.0 GPA, and 2,000 hours of recent work experience. Enrolled students split their time between online study and on-campus courses.
Governors State University
University Park, Illinois
Accreditation: ACEN
At Governors State University, nurses in the Post-Baccalaureate DNP program must complete the coursework for an MSN before taking the DNP level coursework. The MSN in Adult-Gerontological Health Clinical Nurse Specialist is a 42-credit program, and the DNP coursework takes 44 to 47 credits. When they are ready for the DNP coursework, students can select from four tracks that focus on a professional role they can prepare for: practitioner/educator, community behavior, leadership/administration, or direct practice. DNP candidates also complete a capstone project, which requires them to synthesize what they have learned to produce a tangible academic deliverable, such as a manuscript or grant proposal. The curriculum includes four courses to guide students as they develop and implement their capstone project.
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist - Oncology Specialization[online][BSN to DNP option]
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner - Oncology Specialization[online][BSN to DNP option]
Nurses who want to specialize in the care of adult patients can prepare for a Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist role through the BSN to DNP program at Loyola University Chicago. Both roles are available with a primary care or acute care focus. Loyola also has a program that prepares students as an NP or CNS with a specialization in oncology. Most classes use online delivery, and students can choose a full-time or part-time schedule. Nurse Practitioner students complete clinical rounds in the Chicago area, including working with underserved populations. CNS students can complete their rotations in their home communities. Instructors for the BSN to DNP program include practicing clinicians who are certified in the AG focus area.
Rush University
Chicago, Illinois
Accreditation: CCNE
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care - Clinical Nurse Specialist[BSN to DNP option]
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care (DNP)[BSN to DNP option]
BSN - DNP - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care[BSN to DNP option]
MSN-DNP for APRNs - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care[MSN required]
MSN-DNP for non-APRNs - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care[MSN required]
The Department of Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing at Rush University boasts a top-three program in the specialty, as ranked by US News & World Report. It runs two degrees of interest. The first, the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, prepares graduates to work in critical care and surgery units, if desired. The second, the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner skews toward clinics, nursing facilities, and hospitals. The programs share some basic attributes. In the BSN-DNP option, the first half is scheduled part-time, and the second half is full-time. Most of the classes are online, but students meet on campus once per week. All clinical sites are in the Chicago metro area. Both programs entail 62 credits for post-BSN students. Students with an MSN face at least 30 credits, though they work with the college to create individualized course plans. Non-APRNs with an MSN can also apply.
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
Peoria, Illinois
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses who want to work in ICUs, emergency departments, and other places that treat critically ill patients can train as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing. The BSN to DNP in AGACNP is a six-year program. In the first three years, students gain a system view of health care, taking classes such as policy, organizational leadership, and technology to transform health care. During the second and third years, students work on their doctoral projects while continuing to take classes. Then students turn their focus to advanced practice nursing, and in the fifth and sixth years, they take theory and practicum classes in acute care of AG patients. While enrolled in AG practicum classes, students must come to campus each semester for skills training.
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) programs at UIC College of Nursing feature 77-credit curriculums packed with both online and on-campus study as well as clinicals in the Chicago area. AGACNP students get ICU and emergency room experience, while AGPCNP students work in a mix of clinics, home-health settings, and assisted living homes. Practicing AGNPs can enroll in the post-master's DNP, a 42-credit program with much of the leadership-oriented coursework from the BSN-DNP programs, such as social determinants of health, change management, strategic planning, and information systems. The DNP Transition Program lets current RNs without a BSN study online for two terms until they're ready to start graduate work. UIC students in either track can earn an additional concentration in Rural Nursing. AGPCNP enrollees can also get a concentration in Primary Care Mental Health.
Gerontological NP Programs in Indiana
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses who want to explore innovative ways to improve patient outcomes can participate in collaborative interdisciplinary research as a DNP student at the Purdue University School of Nursing. The BSN to DNP program offers a track in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. The program uses collaborative practice team education where nursing students work with engineering graduate students to research and implement evidence-based practice. Other collaborations may include experts in gerontology, pharmacy, health communications, and similar subjects. Purdue also offers cognate classes so students can develop a subspecialty such as rural health, practice management, or quality improvement. Students can complete clinical rounds with interdisciplinary teams working in underserved areas, including rural or urban settings.
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana
Accreditation: CCNE
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP)[online][BSN to DNP option]
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP)[online][BSN to DNP option]
The adult-gerontology DNP programs at Saint Mary's College have an unusual focus that develops nurses' entrepreneurial skills. The BSN to DNP program offers acute care and primary care tracks in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. In place of the standard DNP project, students take a six-seminar sequence called DNP Practice Innovation, where they use their knowledge of social entrepreneurship to find an unmet need in their area of clinical expertise. They design a solution, create a business plan, and write a scholarly paper. Saint Mary's believes that equipping nurses with these business skills will result in new, cost-effective ways to improve care. Students can complete the 77-credit degree in 12 semesters. The program uses an online class format with students traveling to campus one week each semester.
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Indianapolis recently added a BSN to DNP program with a track in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. The AG classes prepare nurses to treat patients from adolescent to geriatric with an understanding of conditions that are unique to each age group. Students complete their clinical experience in a range of settings, which allows them to develop a variety of skills for different circumstances. Classes are hybrid, combining online and on-campus components. In addition to gaining expertise in advanced practice nursing, DNP candidates also become proficient in areas such as administration, analysis, and leadership so that they can help to shape health policy at all levels. Students may enter the program at the start of the fall, spring, or summer semester.
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Southern Indiana has three adult-gerontology concentrations in its BSN to DNP program: AG-CNS and AG Nurse Practitioner with a focus on acute or primary care. Classes are mostly online, but students come to the campus in Evansville, Indiana, almost every semester for sessions where they attend class meetings, hear presentations, and work on projects. The curriculum is arranged so that students take core coursework at the master's and DNP levels during the program's early semesters. Students take courses in their AG specialty during their final year and complete clinical experiences working with adult and geriatric patients. The program has a strong focus on taking credible research and finding ways to use it innovatively to improve a practice.
Gerontological NP Programs in Iowa
Allen College
Waterloo, Iowa
Accreditation: CCNE
Allen College's BSN to DNP program has a track that prepares nurses for certification as an Adult Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Students can complete the 71 credits in eight semesters of full-time study or 10 semesters of part-time study. The curriculum includes courses on leadership, system-level issues such as health care finance and informatics, and advanced nursing practice. To get hands-on experience in acute care, students complete three semesters of clinical rounds. They also complete four clinical scholarship intensives as part of the required DNP scholarly project. For the project, students apply what they have learned by implementing an evidence-based organizational change and evaluating the outcomes. Students also present written and oral reports about the project.
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Accreditation: CCNE
The AGNP programs at University of Iowa are designed for full-time students living in the state. The College of Nursing's DNP programs put all courses in a hybrid or online format, and all clinicals must be completed in Iowa. A major benefit of the program is the ability to earn dual certification. Enrollees in the Adult/Gerontology Acute Care or Primary Care NP programs may be able to extend their knowledge to psychiatric health, family medicine, or even do both acute and primary care. The AG-ACNP and AG-PCNP both allow for three- and four-year plans. The former mandates 73 credits and the latter requires 79. Earning a dual certificate necessarily adds somewhere around 20 to 25 credits to the tally, but students do not need to complete two projects in such programs. Students who enter the MSN-DNP versions of the program must complete 44 to 45 credits of work to graduate.
Gerontological NP Programs in Kansas
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Accreditation: CCNE
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Kansas Medical Center gives BSN-prepared nurses expertise as a clinical scholar and transformational leader. Two adult-gerontology advanced practice specialties are available: AG Primary Care Nurse Practitioner or AG Acute Care NP. Either specialty requires 75 credits, with the majority of classes online. Students must attend two courses on campus, and they have to visit the KU Medical Center campus three times during each practicum class for clinical intensives and standardized patient exams. Acute care students generally complete their clinical placements within the University of Kansas Health System. Primary care students may have internships in Kansas City, around the state, or in their home community, working in clinics that focus on primary care, internal medicine, occupational health, rural health, and other primary care sites.
Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas
Accreditation: CCNE
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
The online MSN-DNP program from Wichita State features two Adult/Gerontology specializations: one for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners and one for Clinical Nurse Specialists. Both use a cohort model with a spring start. Classmates spend 29 credits together in fully online courses. For post-BSN students, there's the on-campus AGACNP. To get in to the 74-credit program, applicants need a Kansas nursing license. The curriculum assumes enrollees have taken courses in anatomy, microbiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, physiology, and statistics. Enrollees get further exposure to each throughout the program, which includes a final DNP project. Lucky students can win the Legend Senior Living Fellowship.
Gerontological NP Programs in Kentucky
Kentucky State University
Frankfort, Kentucky
Accreditation: ACEN
BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice - Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Coursework for the BSN to DNP program at Kentucky State University is presented in an asynchronous online format, although students must come to the campus in Frankfort occasionally for in-person meetings. Students can also complete the clinical experiences required for the program with an approved preceptor in their home community. The curriculum for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner DNP requires 72 credits. It's a full-time program and students complete the degree in nine semesters, with all students entering the program in the fall. In the fourth semester, students begin taking the clinical courses specific to the gerontological APRN role, including practicum experiences in adult and geriatric nursing. As they advance to the doctoral level classes, nurses also complete a management practicum and residencies for their DNP project.
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Accreditation: CCNE
The DNP program at UK College of Nursing uses a combination of graduate assistantships and scholarships to lure RNs to Lexington. The assistantships provide $4,000 to $10,000 stipends in exchange for teaching or research help. The UK Medical Center DNP Academic Excellence Scholarship, DNP Enhancement Scholarship, and DNP Wright Scholarship go to students who maintain high GPAs, contribute to college diversity, or are otherwise excellent students, respectively. Students in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track may also be able to work toward their degree, thanks to an optional five-year plan. The full-time, three-year BSN-DNP curriculum bookends each term with half-week intensives in Lexington, with the rest of the learning completed online. Enrollees take their first practicum at the start of the second year and begin developing a project proposal shortly thereafter. All told, students complete 74 credits in a program that is similar to the Family Nurse Practitioner track.
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Louisville's DNP tracks in Adult-Gerontology NP are open to nurses with a BSN as well as master's prepared nurses who want the AG acute care or primary care NP role. Classes use a hybrid format, with mostly asynchronous online work and meetings at the Louisville campus. On-campus sessions take place four to six times per semester and keep students engaged in academic activities from morning until evening. The acute care program requires 76 credits, and the primary care degree requires 77 credits. In the three-year, full-time study plan, nurses spend the first two years in core classes and preparation for the AGNP role. Students begin their clinical practicum at the start of the third year, and they work on their DNP project concurrently.
Gerontological NP Programs in Louisiana
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
BSN to DNP - Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist[BSN to DNP option]
BSN to DNP - Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Aspiring advanced practice nurses with BSNs may be interested in three programs from LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. The Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP produces nurses who work with patients across the lifespan and in a variety of settings. It takes 84 credits. Practicums in the concentration cover acute, chronic, and long-term care. The Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP is more narrowly focused on urgent situations but still provides exposure to chronic and long-term conditions. It takes 89 credits to complete. Last, the 84-credit Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist DNP is similar to the AGPCNP. However, its practicum hours involve not only providing patient-centered care but also taking holistic looks into how the healthcare system works. Students with an MSN and certification in their APRN role can enter the 36-credit post-master's DNP. Alternatively, they can earn a new certification in the AGACNP or AGPCNP tracks.
Gerontological NP Programs in Maryland
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses seeking to specialize in adult-gerontological care can choose from four tracks in Johns Hopkins' University's BSN to DNP program, depending upon whether they want an NP or CNS role and whether they're interested in critical care or primary care. All four tracks are delivered online with seven onsite immersions. During immersions, students take assessments, perform standardized clinical, develop leadership skills, and network. Students who live in the Baltimore area can complete their clinical experiences at a Johns Hopkins Health Systems facility. Students who live outside the city can complete their rotations in their home region. Each track has a different curriculum and required number of credits. When they select a DNP project, candidates can build upon research being conducted at the university.
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Bethesda, Maryland
Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (DNP)[BSN to DNP option]
The Uniformed Services University offers a unique DNP curriculum that matches its mission of preparing nurses for the needs of military and public health medicine. The Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist DNP has a focus on perioperative care, with perioperative content woven into a variety of courses students take during the three-year program. The program includes 30 credits in the DNP nursing core, 22 credits in the advanced practice core, and 45 credits in the AGCNS role. While many courses are similar to what nurses take in traditional APRN programs, others are unique to USU, such as operational readiness classes in critical care air transport teams and medical management of chemical and biological casualties. Candidates complete 1,650 clinical hours with about one-quarter of the hours devoted to practice within the perioperative continuum.
University of Maryland-Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland
Adult-Geronotology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist[online][BSN to DNP option]
Adult-Geronotology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist[online][BSN to DNP option]
RNs who want to provide acute care to the adult-gerontology population can prepare for advanced practice certification through the University of Maryland's trauma/critical care/emergency room DNP. Graduates are eligible for both the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist certification exam and the AG Acute Care NP certification exam. BSN-prepared nurses can choose a 3-, 4- or 5-year plan of study. The post-baccalaureate program requires 80 credits and more than 1,000 clinical hours. The 3 pillars of this DNP program are evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership. Master's-prepared nurses interested in changing specialties can enter a post-MSN program for a CNS DNP. There's also a post-master's track for nurses who have a CNS or NP in these fields. Applicants should have experience in acute or critical care or in an emergency department. The School of Nursing manages clinical placements, which are performed at sites in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Gerontological NP Programs in Massachusetts
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Accreditation: CCNE
Direct Entry DNP - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care[MSN required]
Post-Baccalaureate DNP - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care[BSN to DNP option]
Post-Master's DNP - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care[MSN required]
RN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care[BSN to DNP option]
Boston College has four pathways to a DNP in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. There are pathways for an RN with an associate degree, BSN, or MSN. The Connell School of Nursing also offers a Direct Entry Doctor of Nursing Practice for students who have a bachelor's degree in another field and want to enter the nursing profession. In the classroom, students learn from School of Nursing faculty who share their clinical experiences and relevant research. Among the 52 full-time faculty members are four who are in the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. When it's time for clinical hours, DNP students may be assigned to some of Boston College's well-known clinical partners, such as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Tufts Medical Center.
Regis College
Weston, Massachusetts
Accreditation: ACEN
BSN to DNP - Adult Gerontology - Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)[online][BSN to DNP option]
At Regis College, nurses can select a 100% online option for the BSN to DNP in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, or they can attend on campus is they are local to Boston. Classes within the specialty focus on chronic illness and aging, and students learn about managing pharmaceutical treatments, palliative care, and end of life. DNP students also learn how to use nursing theory and evidence from research to deliver better, more efficient health care and gain leadership skills. The curriculum includes four courses dedicated to developing the DNP project, so students remain on track to complete the project. Nursing classes at Regis reflect the dedication to social justice exhibited by the nuns who founded the school.
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts
Accreditation: CCNE
One of the early distance learning DNPs, UMass Amherst's program is totally online. Even the orientation is done via internet. And enrollees only travel as far away as the clinical sites they can find in their area. The Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) concentration accepts impressive applicants with either a BSN or just an associate degree in nursing and a baccalaureate in a different major. All applicants need a 3.0 GPA, RN licensure, a scholarly writing sample, and a well-crafted goal statement. Certified AGPCNP nurses with an MSN can enter straight into the 36-credit DNP completion program, as can advanced practice nurses with other certifications. The College of Nursing participates in the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, helping future nurse educators finance their full-time education in exchange for a four-year teaching commitment.
University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Individuals can enter the AG-Acute Care NP or AG-Primary Care NP programs at UMass Medical School in Worcester in a handful of ways. For those without a nursing background (but with a baccalaureate), the school offers a graduate entry pathway that allows applicants to earn a BSN and then enter the program. The actual BSN-DNP curriculum is 75 credits, with the first year devoted to didactic work. The second year mixes practicums and DNP project work. Students tie everything together in their third and final year. Students can further specialize in one of five areas: cancer care, cardiovascular care, critical care, palliative care, or nurse educator. To get in, students need a Massachusetts RN license, a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, and competitive GRE scores.
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
The College of Nursing & Health Sciences at UMass Dartmouth offers a five-year Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner program for Massachusetts RNs with a BSN. The 63-credit DNP degree never asks students to commit more than seven credits in a semester and doesn't schedule classes during the first two summers, making the program a good fit for students with work and/or family commitments. The first practicum comes in Year 3, with further practicums and residencies scattered across the final two years. The college considers applicants who have a 3.0 undergraduate GPA and one year of acute care nursing experience; it does not require the GRE. A MS-DNP program is available for APRNs. Like the BSN-DNP, this 30-credit program requires participants to complete three residencies and undertake a project that applies research to the field.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, Massachusetts
Accreditation: CCNE
BS to DNP - Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
BS to DNP Fast Track - Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Nurses who earned their BSN from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a GPA of 3.5 have a leg up in the BSN to DNP program with a concentration in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. They can choose a fast-track option that allows them to transfer up to 12 credits they earned in approved courses toward the DNP. Nurses with a BSN from any other school must complete the full 75 credits, but they have eight years to do so and can select a full-time or part-time schedule. Classes are mostly online, with a few offered in a weekend blended format. All DNP students complete a scholarly project, with courses dedicated to designing the project, implementing it, and disseminating the evidence collected.
Gerontological NP Programs in Michigan
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
The Kirkhof College of Nursing at Grand Valley State University has a BSN to DNP program that offers an emphasis in Advanced Nursing Practice (Adult/Older Adult). The curriculum requires 77 credits, including 25 credits in the specialty. In addition to learning about common and complex health problems in adults, nurses get experience in managing mental health care for adults in a primary care setting and study health promotion and advanced nursing strategies. At the doctoral level, students focus on how to deliver health care effectively at a system level and study issues such as health care policy and quality management. They also gain leadership skills and learn to apply scientific inquiry with an eye on improving patient outcomes. Most classes meet in person, but some have online elements.
Madonna University
Livonia, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
The Adult-Gerontology DNP program at Madonna University has three options: AG Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, AG Acute Care NP, or a dual focus on AG primary care and Family Nurse Practitioner. No matter the focus population, graduates have the knowledge to translate evidence into patient-centered care, resulting in improved outcomes. All three programs use a hybrid delivery system that combines online coursework with in-person sessions. The primary and acute care AG tracks each require 70 credits. With an additional four credits, students can complete the dual-focus degree. Madonna allows students to exit the BSN to DNP program after they complete the requirements for an MSN. Toward the end of the program, students develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate their DNP project.
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Michigan State University has two Adult-Gerontology DNP programs with differing online availability. The AG Clinical Nurse Specialist program is offered entirely online, although students must attend an on-campus orientation at the beginning of the program. The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program, on the other hand, is a hybrid program. Some classes are entirely online, but some courses may require students to visit campus several times per semester. All DNP candidates graduate with advanced clinical and leadership skills. Both DNP programs accept students who have a BSN, and both qualify students to take the national certification exam in their specialty. Members of the most recent graduating class achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the CNS and AGNP certification exams.
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, Michigan
Accreditation: COA
The University of Detroit Mercy offers a BSN to DNP program that allows students to exit after completing the requirements for an MSN in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist. The program is available in an all-online format, with students completing their clinical placements in their home community. Nurses gain competence in advanced holistic care, and the program's recent graduates have a record of 100% first-attempt pass rates on the national AG-CNS exams. The program requires 41 credits to the MSN exit point and another 25 credits to earn the DNP. The DNP courses cover topics such as business management to ensure quality in health care, ethical issues, and analytics for evidence-based practice. The curriculum reflects Detroit Mercy's Jesuit tradition with a focus on social justice and vulnerable populations.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
At the University of Michigan, BSN to DNP students don't have to look for clinical placements or preceptors. With more than 600 clinical partnerships, the UM School of Nursing can match AGNP students with sites that meet their interests and needs, whether their specialty is primary care or acute care. Examples include the Beaumont Health System, University of Michigan Health System, Glacier Hills Senior Living Community, and VA Medical Center. The primary care DNP requires 72 credits, and the acute care DNP requires 70 credits. Students can follow a three-year or four-year plan of study. Because the university is a top research center, nursing faculty are recognized leaders in practice specialties and in data analytics for evidence-based practice, a central tenet in DNP education.
University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
The standard way to get into UM-Flint's AGPCNP and AGACNP programs is with a BSN, but it's not the only way. The RN-DNP pathway admits students into either track if they have a 3.5 GPA from their last 60 college credits, even if those were from an ADN degree. Via this pathway, students can complete their BSN before moving into the AGPCNP or AGACNP, which require 67 or 72 credits to complete, respectively. The programs share a 54-credit core with work in biostatistics, pathophysiology, pharmacology, assessment, informatics, transcultural care, and other topics. Enrollees complete four practicums within their specialty. For primary care NPs, that includes experiences dedicated to women's health and mental health. Both programs are predominantly online with clinicals scheduled near students' residences, though some travel to Flint is required. A dual MBA option lets DNP students apply 15 credits toward a business degree in Health Care Management.
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care (AGNP-AC)[BSN to DNP option]
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care (AGNP-PC)[BSN to DNP option]
Depending upon the setting they wish to work in, Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner DNP students at Wayne State University can prepare for a primary or acute care AGNP role. In addition to developing expertise in advanced nursing of adolescents, adults, and older adults, nurses in the program become clinical scholars. The curriculum emphasizes using diagnostic reasoning and evidence gleaned from research to improve clinical practices and bring about better patient outcomes. Nurses also gain skills as leaders and educators, roles that are often part of the AGNP job. Wayne State's BSN to DNP program requires 78 credits, including a practice inquiry project with three associated practicums at the site where the student implements the practice inquiry.
Gerontological NP Programs in Minnesota
St Catherine University
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Accreditation: ACEN
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)[BSN to DNP option]
Students in the BSN to DNP program at St. Catherine's University can earn their Master of Science in Nursing in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care in 18 months, allowing them to gain AGNP certification while finishing the work for the DNP. In all, the 74-credit degree takes about three years. Most classes meet weekdays on the campus in St. Paul, but others have weekend or online sessions. Coursework emphasizes the university's mission to provide care for vulnerable populations, and students gain leadership skills that they can apply to improve patients' health outcomes. In addition to building upon the skills they learned in undergraduate nursing classes, students take courses in ethical leadership, cultural diversity, making critical decisions, and solving problems.
The College of Saint Scholastica
Duluth, Minnesota
A major selling point of The College of St. Scholastica's BS-DNP program is that students can pursue a dual track. That means enrollees can either go into the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty or add an emphasis in gerontology onto the Family NP, Psychiatric and Mental Health NP, or even the AGPCNP specialties. The AGPCNP itself is an 81-credit program that mixes in five practicums covering different populations: adults, rural patients in emergency situations, women of reproductive age, frail adults, and older adults and families. It takes four years of full-time study to complete. The course plan calls for only two or three classes per term, making it possible for enrollees to keep their RN jobs. Though the coursework is part online, part on-campus in Duluth or St. Cloud, students can complete practicums near their home instead of in Minnesota.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Accreditation: CCNE
Adult Health/Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist[BSN to DNP option]
Adult Health/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
The University of Minnesota requires a full-time commitment from nurses in the BSN to DNP program, with adult-gerontology options leading to a DNP concentration in AG Clinical Nurse Specialist or AG Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. With either specialty, students move through a variety of clinical rotations selected to match each individual's interests and career goals. Care of older adults is a research focus at the University of Minnesota, which is home to centers looking into the science of aging and care innovations. In the first year, students come to campus each semester for a four-day educational session. After that, they'll travel to school three times per semester for coursework.
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota
Accreditation: CCNE
RNs who have spent a year in a critical care unit can apply to the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track of Winona State's DNP program. It's a 74-credit curriculum that prepares graduates for certification from the ANCC and/or AACN so they can work in emergency and urgent care settings. Six of those credits are dedicated to electives, which include nursing education courses for aspiring professors. Depending on their academic background and current commitments, students can choose from three- or four-year post-BSN study plans and a two-year post-MSN plan. All are held on the WSU's Rochester campus an hour west of Winona. Students not looking for the adrenaline boost of critical care may prefer the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist track, which can lead to CNS certification from the AACN. The 72-credit program shares a similar format to the Acute Care program, with the addition of a three-year post-MSN plan.
Gerontological NP Programs in Mississippi
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with a BSN can skip over the MSN and advance directly to a Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing. The program has both acute care and primary care options for enrollees seeking to become an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. The School of Nursing uses a variety of modes to deliver classes, including online courses with one- or two-day intensive on-campus sessions, online courses with up to four in-person meetings, and a biostatistics course that requires weekly on-campus meetings in Jackson. The acute care degree requires 79 credits and 1,155 clinical hours, with the AGACNP practicum and scholarly project work occurring at the end of the program. The AG primary care DNP, with 82 credits, follows a similar arrangement
Gerontological NP Programs in Missouri
Maryville University
Saint Louis, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
Maryville University has an online BSN to DNP program with concentrations in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with a primary or acute care focus. The primary care track requires 68 credits, and the acute care track requires 74 credits. Along with courses and practicum in the focus population, students also complete a full slate of core courses that advance their nursing skills, give them a system-level understanding of health care, and enhance their knowledge of translating scientific evidence into clinical practice. Maryville's curriculum devotes three classes to a clinical inquiry, guiding students through designing an evidence-based study, implementing the project, collecting data, evaluating the results, and disseminating their findings. The online program requires no campus visits, and students can complete practicum locally.
Saint Louis University-Main Campus
Saint Louis, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
Saint Louis University's BSN to DNP program has a track for students who want to qualify as an Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Students in this track gain skill in using invasive therapies, sophisticated monitoring systems, and high-intensity interventions to treat patients who have critical, acute, or chronic illnesses, disabilities, or who have suffered injuries. Students can take the 68-credit program over four or five years. Classes are offered online with students coming to campus on four occasions, starting with a two-day orientation. The second meeting is for an assessment of diagnostic reasoning and clinical skills, and the third visit orients students to doctoral-level work. On the final trip to campus, students present their DNP project. Graduates are eligible for the AGACNP certification exam.
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with a BSN or MSN can earn a DNP in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist through the University of Missouri-Columbia. The post-master's program takes three years, while bachelor-prepared nurses can receive a doctoral degree in four or five years. Courses are mainly online, but students are required to visit campus at four points during their DNP career, beginning with a week-long session the summer they start the program. There are two sets on on-campus days in the middle of the program, and a three-day finale just before graduation. By the end of the second year, nurses begin to take classes that require CNS clinical hours, and that continues through the third year of study. The final year is devoted to DNP clinical residencies and the DNP project.
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies accepts applications into its Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program for spring and summer starts. RNs with a BSN can enroll in the 74-credit track on a part- or full-time basis. By taking courses in cultural diversity, ethics, and healthcare leadership, students get a well-rounded curriculum to go along with 1,155 supervised hours. Those take the form of three clinicals, an extended project, and a 330-hour residency during the back half of the curriculum. Though the program is predominantly online, some courses may use a hybrid or synchronous format. Additionally, clinicals take place in Missouri and Kansas, so students must hold RN licensure in both states. Once students begin clinicals, they'll be required to visit the Kansas City campus once per term. The MSN-DNP requires at least 31 credits, but students with different nurse practitioner specializations may craft an individualized study plan.
University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
At the University of Missouri-St. Louis, nurses develop their clinical expertise in the early part of the program, then spend the final year taking evidence from research, putting it into practice, and measuring the outcomes. RNs can prepare for a role as an Adult-Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner through the UMSL program, which requires 70 credits. Students can select a full-time or part-time plan of study. Full-time students jump right into advanced nursing classes, taking the "Advanced P" courses starting in the first semester. They begin courses in the diagnosis and management of adult health in the third semester. The curriculum also includes classes such as social determinants of health for underserved populations, program evaluation and quality management, and health care informatics.
Gerontological NP Programs in Nebraska
Clarkson College
Omaha, Nebraska
Accreditation: ACEN
Nurses with a BSN can earn a DNP in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from Clarkson College while continuing to work. Students can select a full-time or part-time option, and courses are delivered online for added flexibility. The curriculum requires 71 to 79 credits, including 39 credits in the specialty. Future AGACNPs take classes in advanced nutrition (which has a service requirement), acute care concepts, and complex acute care. Core courses provide students with a system-level view of health care, including health care policy and law, informatics, data analytics, and financial management. There's also room in the curriculum for electives, which students can match to their career goals, selecting from options such as entrepreneurship, grant writing, or teaching and learning strategies.
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track of Creighton's BSN-DNP keeps things flexible to meet the needs of a variety of students. To start with, the College of Nursing doesn't require GRE results, and the program welcomes applicants who have just gone back to work after getting their BSNs. Second, the hybrid program is structured to accommodate working RNs, who can also take advantage of a part-time option. A full-time version of the program takes eight semesters and involves 1,200 clinical hours and 68 to 71 credits. Students who are already AGNPs can enroll in the post-MSN program, which includes at least 375 clinical hours and around 30 credits. That program begins with courses in ethics, evaluative methods, healthcare finance, policy, and epidemiology, then leads to a project and final residency.
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
Omaha, Nebraska
Accreditation: CCNE
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist[online][BSN to DNP option]
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Students in the Nebraska Methodist College DNP program earn 57 credits from online study and 18 from clinicals. The course plan is compact enough to be finished in three years, though part-time plans can extend this to four or five years. Two specialties - the Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and the Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist - put students in a variety of clinical settings with patients from young adults to geriatrics. Though the AGCNS program is more geared toward nurse leaders, this mainly plays out in the practicums. In terms of courses, both programs incorporate studies of finance, policy, and systems leadership. Moreover, with eight elective courses to choose from, including Rural Nursing, Curriculum Planning and Evaluation, and Public Health Ethics, students can customize their degree depending on their career goals. RNs need to have earned a 3.0 from their BSN program to apply. Classes begin in the fall.
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska
Adult-Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Adult-Gero Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Nurses with a BSN can train as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with an acute care or primary care focus while pursuing their Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Classes are online, and students can select a full-time schedule, which takes three years, or a part-time schedule, which takes four years. Since life happens and students may get off track, the university allows up to seven years to complete the doctorate. Nebraska's DNP program highlights nurse leadership and improving patient care and the delivery of health care. As part of a significant research university, the College of Nursing faculty members conduct research that will influence nursing in the future, giving students a chance to participate in innovative research and outreach programs.
Gerontological NP Programs in Nevada
University of Nevada-Reno
Reno, Nevada
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Nevada, Reno, has a BSN to DNP program in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner that is primarily online. Students must come to campus at least once a semester, beginning with an orientation session when they start classes. Some courses require on-campus immersions, and students also come to Reno to defend their DNP project proposal and for a final defense. AG students may select a full-time schedule, which takes eight semesters, or an 11-semester part-time plan. The program frontloads much of the DNP coursework, including some work on the DNP project, with candidates taking their AGNP specialty classes in the final four semesters. AGNP practicums focus on acute care, critical care, and chronic illness.
Gerontological NP Programs in New Jersey
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Madison, New Jersey
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Baccalaureate MSN-DNP: Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Pre-Baccalaureate ABSN-DNP: Gerontology[BSN to DNP option]
Fairleigh Dickinson University recently added two DNP programs that have a gerontology focus. One program is the Accelerated Pre-Baccalaureate DNP, which requires 109 credits and 1,565 clinical hours. Students begin by taking the 51 credits needed for the RN licensure exam. After that, they complete 22 master's level credits to qualify for the APRN exam in adult-gerontology primary care. The program concludes with 36 credits in Doctor of Nursing Practice coursework. The other program is the Post- Baccalaureate MSN to DNP, a 58-credit program for RNs that prepares them for the APRN exam in AG primary care and includes the core and specialty courses for the doctoral degree. The program uses a blended format with in-person classes meeting monthly.
Rutgers University
Camden, New Jersey
Accreditation: CCNE
Post Baccalaureate DNP - Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Post-Baccalaureate DNP - Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Rutgers School of Nursing runs a post-bachelor's DNP with specializations in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PCNP). Both can be completed with three years of full-time study or four years part-time. And both involve 540 clinical hours plus 500 hours working with a mentor on a final project. The ACNP clocks in at 71 credits, while the PCNP is 68. The two share 41 credits in common, including units on leadership, health data analysis, business practices, epidemiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology. The specialty courses in each are split into four theory classes and corresponding practicums, covering either acute or primary care. Students can add an HIV Care certification with just three or six extra credits in the PCNP and ACNP, respectively. The school admits New Jersey RNs with BSNs and 3.2 GPAs. ACNP applicants also need two years of work experience in acute care.
Stockton University
Galloway, New Jersey
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-BSN DNP in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)[BSN to DNP option]
DNP graduates of Stockton University are practitioner-scholars who combine advanced nursing skills with leadership training to bring new models of care delivery to the health care environment. Nurses with a BSN can select a concentration in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, which requires 74 credits and 1,000 clinical hours. The program uses a hybrid class format and accommodates part-time students who want to continue to work while earning a degree. Stockton also offers a full-time option, which AGPCNP candidates can complete in 11 semesters. Students take core courses in the early semesters and AG nursing classes and practicum in the middle of the program. They finish the curriculum by focusing their efforts on the DNP project and practice immersions.
Gerontological NP Programs in New York
Adelphi University
Garden City, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner DNP[MSN required]
Nurses who have an MSN and are Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners receive advanced standing for Adelphi University's Doctorate of Nursing Practice program. With advanced standing, they face fewer requirements for course credits and clinical residency hours. Adelphi offers the DNP in a part-time format, and some courses are delivered online. The faculty includes Nurse Practitioners who have extensive experience in evidence-based practice and in caring for patients from early adulthood to older adults. The curriculum provides four courses that assist students in preparing their proposals for the DNP project and developing their plan, which helps nurses complete the project and graduate on schedule. Candidates complete practice hours in settings such as community health clinics, HMOs, specialty clinics, and correctional facilities.
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, New York
Accreditation: AACN
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP)[BSN to DNP option]
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP)[BSN to DNP option]
Post-BSN students can choose a primary care or acute care focus in the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner DNP program at Columbia School of Nursing. In the primary care focus, nurses learn to treat different adult populations from adolescent to geriatric, including palliative and end-of-life care. They also study mental health care to broaden their insights. While working at clinical sites in the tri-state area, nurses can pursue clinical interests such as HIV/AIDs, oncology, cardiology, or dermatology. Nurses in the acute care track get experience across the continuum of services, including in intensive care and emergency units. Clinical experiences occur in the metro New York City area and may include cardiothoracic surgery, trauma, and specialty services such as transplants.
CUNY College of Staten Island
Staten Island, New York
Accreditation: AACN
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist[BSN to DNP option]
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Nurses who want to specialize in Adult-Gerontological Health Nursing can choose from two DNP paths at CUNY College of Staten Island. The AG Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track prepares nurses to provide primary care in outpatient settings. The AG Clinical Nurse Specialist track is for individuals who want to be an expert in a specialty area and to manage complex conditions and assume leadership roles. The college has AG DNP options for nurses with a bachelor's or master's degree. The program uses a cohort model, with students taking two courses per semester, and classes meet in the evenings. In addition to clinical skills, DNP candidates gain experience in analyzing complex issues and finding ways to improve health care delivery through a scholarly project.
CUNY Hunter College
New York, New York
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)[BSN to DNP option]
The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner specialization at Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing prepares future APRNs to work with urban elderly populations in both outpatient and residential settings. Over the span of 90 credits and 1,000 clinical hours, RNs with a BSN explore topics that will help improve care in either setting. Such topics include policy, ethics, leadership, and financial management. These go along with scientific core work in pathophysiology, genetics, and epidemiology as well as a 12-credit capstone. Within the AGNP concentration, students choose three electives, giving some freedom to sample from Hunter's psychiatric and family nursing programs. Students with an MSN in the specialty may be able to trim as many as 42 credits off the program, which normally takes five years of full-time study and six years part-time. All students need to have a New York RN license, a BSN, and a 3.5 undergraduate GPA to get in.
Molloy University
Rockville Centre, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
The adult-gerontology DNP programs at Molloy College build on the AG advanced practice specialties the school offers at the master's level: AG Nurse Practitioner and AG Clinical Nurse Specialist. The Doctor of Nursing Practice at Molloy encourages critical thinking and decision-making as nurses participate in clinical, leadership, and policy roles. Post-master's nurses take nine core courses and complete four immersion residencies for 500 clinical hours. During their residencies, students develop a project that translates research findings into practice to help a specific population. DNP core classes provide students with an overview of the health care system, including how economic laws relate to health care and the finances underlying health care. Other courses cover leadership, policies that shape health care, and informatics.
New York University
New York, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses with a BSN can become leaders in practice innovation focusing on the care of adults in the BSN to DNP program at New York University. Students can choose a Nurse Practitioner track focused on adult-gerontology acute or primary care. In addition to preparing for the advanced practice NP role, students get hands-on experience in evaluating how research can improve practice through a scholarly project they complete during a clinical placement. Students may do the project independently or as part of a team. The Myers College of Nursing at NYU is known for its research into gerontology, preventing and managing chronic disease, translational research, and quality improvement. DNP students benefit from that expertise, which the faculty weaves into the AG DNP curriculum. Master's level classes meet on campus, and the leadership classes use an executive hybrid format.
Saint John Fisher College
Rochester, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Baccalaureate to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Post-Baccalaureate to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist[BSN to DNP option]
RNs can choose from three adult-gerontology concentrations in the BSN to DNP program at Saint John Fisher College: AG Clinical Nurse Specialist, AG Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, or AG Acute Care NP. All three concentrations share core courses, including 31 credits in the scholarship core, nine credits in the DNP clinical core, and nine credits in the direct care coursework. CNS students complete 13 credits in their desired functional role, and Nurse Practitioner students complete 16 credits. The curriculum uses blended hybrid courses, and content may include case studies, seminars, and training using simulation. In addition to creating expert clinicians, the program emphasizes using scientific knowledge to evaluate and improve clinical practice, patient outcomes, and organizational quality.
SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
Advanced Standing DNP in Adult/Gerontological Nursing[MSN required]
Master's-prepared Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners can enter the Advanced Standing Doctor of Nurse Practice program offered by the Graduate School at Binghamton University. In the DNP program, nurses prepare for changes in the health care system and gain the skills to lead health care delivery systems as they evolve to meet future needs. Students learn clinical, economic, and research skills to have a positive effect on patient outcomes. Full-time students can complete the degree in four semesters, and part-time students can finish in six semesters. In the final few semesters, students concentrate on a scholarly project that requires them to translate research into practice by implementing a clinical innovation and evaluating the results.
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
The post-master's DNP programs at UB School of Nursing are for APRNs who are looking for a part-time, distance learning experience while they work. Students in the Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) and Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist tracks take 200 non-clinical hours, often with their employer, as part of their DNP project. They also take classes that provide them with options beyond simple practice: Scientific Writing, Teaching in Nursing, and a seminar in grant writing. The program is 36 credits long. Post-bachelor's students find themselves on campus much more often because most of their classes are face-to-face. However, full- and part-time options let AGPCNP enrollees control their course load. The program is 82 credits. Current BSN students in their last term can apply via the DNP Early Assurance program. If admitted, they can start on the DNP immediately and skip the GRE and MAT.
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-BS to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)[online][BSN to DNP option]
Post-BS to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)[online][BSN to DNP option]
The University of Rochester offers a BSN to DNP program with specialty tracks available in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with either an acute care or primary care focus. While the AG classes provide nurses with advanced clinical expertise in a specific population, the DNP core takes a broader approach to health care. Nurses learn about evidence-based practice and how it can be used to improve quality at the patient and system level. They gain skills in leadership that they can apply in advocating for policy. And they gain experience in interprofessional collaboration. The UR School of Nursing uses a hybrid online format for the program, and students may be able to complete their clinical hours at the UR medical center.
Gerontological NP Programs in North Carolina
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
Duke University's School of Nursing awards a concurrent master's degree when students graduate from the BSN to DNP program in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. When they apply for the program, nurses must select either the primary care or acute care AGNP focus. After attending a two-day on-campus orientation, students take online courses and come to on-campus executive sessions about once a semester. In addition to the courses required for the primary or acute care specialty, students can add a clinical specialty by completing more coursework and clinical practice. Specialties include oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, HIV, orthopedics, and palliative care. Students also complete a capstone DNP project where they spend four or five semesters addressing an issue in a practice setting.
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina
The ECU College of Nursing's Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner curriculum actually covers patients as young as adolescents. Indeed, although there is specific coursework for caring for older adults, there are also classes for family care and reproductive healthcare. The AGPCNP is meant for APRNs who want to work in rural areas in the region, regardless of the type of facility or patient. Although many of the classes are online, all clinicals are in North Carolina, letting students dive deep into the area's healthcare ecosystem. Part-time and full-time course plans allow students to complete the 63 semester credits and 720 practicum hours in a relaxed four years or a speedy three. In both plans, students spend their final four semesters completing a DNP project as well as practicums.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care[BSN to DNP option]
Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care - Oncology[BSN to DNP option]
The UNC School of Nursing offers a DNP with a standard Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty for RNs interested in caring for everyone from adolescents to the elderly. The curriculum for the BSN-DNP can only be completed over three years of full-time study. The MSN-DNP, on the other hand, allows for part-time enrollment and is online. Students who wish to work in cancer clinics can add an oncology focus to the AGPCNP track. Adding just a few credits to their degree means they qualify to sit for not only the ANCC or AANP certification exams, but also the Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner exam. All applicants to the track must have a year of nursing experience as well as an RN license from North Carolina or a compact state.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
The AGNP concentration at UNC Greensboro is a post-BSN program. The 73-credit AGNP is designed for nurses who want a mix of on-campus and online work. Courses in Greensboro, including all labs, are typically grouped together so that enrollees only come to campus once a week. Under a cohort model that spans eight semesters, students take 9 to 11 credits during the fall and spring terms and 4 to 6 credits during the summer. After students receive an initial dose of coursework in diagnostic reasoning, pathophysiology, and disease prevention, they head to their first practicum during the second semester. Later coursework covers non-clinical topics such as informatics, healthcare law, and research methods. The program admits registered nurses from all states and asks that they have a year of clinical experience. The School of Nursing offers some graduate teaching and research assistantships so students can partly cover the cost of classes.
Gerontological NP Programs in Ohio
Kent State University at Kent
Kent, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
Kent State invites RNs with a BSN to enter its DNP program. Once enrolled, for the first two years they take graduate-level classes in their concentration until they qualify for APRN certification and their MSN. With another two years of coursework in leadership and clinicals near where they live, they can earn their DNP. Three concentrations are of interest. The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP produce nurse practitioners who thrive in critical care and diverse care settings, respectively. Students can customize their schedules to be part-time, and the array of online core courses increases flexibility. The Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist - for nurses who want to combine patient care with consulting, leadership, and coaching - is completely online. All told, each concentration takes at least 71 credits and 1,050 clinical hours.
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist[BSN to DNP option]
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Nurses with a BSN can prepare for one of three adult-gerontology advanced practice roles at Ohio State University: AG Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, AG Primary Care NP, or AG Clinical Nurse Specialist. The BSN to DNP program focuses on providing nurses with the skills needed to improve patient outcomes. Graduates receive an MSN and Doctor of Nursing Practice. They are also eligible for the national certification exam in their specialty. Classes for all the AG specialties have an on-campus format. While the specialties each have a different focus, all three programs emphasize becoming a clinical expert and conducting inquiry to translate research into practice. All candidates complete a DNP project in which they take evidence from research and apply it to practice in a clinical setting.
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care[BSN to DNP option]
There's one key difference between the adult-gerontology acute care and primary care tracks the University of Cincinnati offers for BSN to DNP students. The AG Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program is online, requiring students to visit campus only two times - for orientation and in the final semester to defend their DNP project. The AG Acute Care NP program, on the other hand, requires frequent on-campus attendance combined with online classes. Students in either track begin with classes that focus on big-picture nursing, such as biostatistics for evidence-based practice, epidemiology, and the finance of health care. Specialty courses with a focus on AG patients begin around the fifth semester, and students start their NP nursing practicum in the sixth semester. In the final semester, they synthesize the leadership role.
University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Toledo uses a hybrid format for the BSN to DNP program with a concentration in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. Some classes are online and may include synchronous and asynchronous sessions, while others require students to attend class in person. All students enter the program in the fall, and during the first semester, they attend orientation and core courses. Full-time students complete their AGPCNP clinical experiences in semesters 5-7, then work on their doctoral project, which involves creating an evidence-based practice project. The DNP prepares nurses who can serve as leaders to enact policies and procedures that improve performance in health care. To that end, all students take a class in marketing and entrepreneurial activity in complex health care.
Gerontological NP Programs in Oklahoma
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Accreditation: ACEN
Oklahoma City University has a BSN to DNP track in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner that is open to RNs who have at least two years of adult acute care experience in an ICU or emergency setting. The curriculum and clinical hours prepare nurses to treat patients with complex medical needs, such as those who may experience complications. Clinical rounds may include work in critical or acute care units in hospitals and clinics. The NP classes meet on campus once a week. Doctoral courses use an online format, but students must come to the university for certain coursework. The AGACNP DNP requires 67 credits, and students can complete the requirements in three or four years.
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Accreditation: CCNE
The Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist BSN to DNP program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences uses a hybrid format, combining online classes with in-person meetings. However, students must complete their clinical rotations in Oklahoma, so they need an Oklahoma RN license. The Ziegler College of Nursing bases clinical placements on the individual student's interests and competencies. AGCNS students complete more than 1,000 clinical hours during the BSN to DNP program, which requires 67 credits. Full-time students can finish the degree requirements in nine semesters, taking classes such as systems for the CNS, health care quality for improved outcomes, and health policy from local to global. Students also complete a practice inquiry project.
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Accreditation: COA
BSN to DNP in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP)[BSN to DNP option]
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP at the University of Tulsa is a full-time, three-year plan of study with five semesters devoted to AGAC clinicals. Each semester of clinical rotations has a focus: Cardiac/pulmonary, neuro/renal/oncology, ID/GI/endocrine, and acute mental health/trauma/critical care continuum. The final clinical semester is a summation of the AGACNP role with specialty clinical rotations. The faculty arranges clinical sites and preceptors, and the main locations are in Tulsa, including St. John Medical Center, Saint Francis Hospital, and Bristow Medical Center. Students may also be assigned to other sites around Oklahoma and neighboring states. The curriculum is arranged so that students complete the "advanced P" classes in the first two semesters and start working on AGACNP advanced skills in the second semester.
Gerontological NP Programs in Oregon
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, Oregon
OHSU asks enrollees in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program to fully commit to their studies. The AGACNP is a full-time, three-year program that is mostly on campus. The beginning takes place in OHSU classrooms, where participants work in lockstep alongside others in their cohort. After they gain exposure to areas like pharmacology and diagnosis, students head out to work in rotations exclusively within the Portland metropolitan area. Those experiences may include sites as varied as trauma surgery and urology units. The program's intensity is often offset by OHSU's financial aid. For instance, the $15,000 Hearst Endowed Scholarship goes to two DNP students who focus on older adults. AGACNP enrollees are also eligible for an award through the Scholars for a Health Oregon, should they decide to practice in an underserved part of the state after graduation.
Gerontological NP Programs in Pennsylvania
Alvernia University
Reading, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Alvernia University's DNP program is arranged to fit the schedules of working nurses. Classes are held in the evenings using a blended online format, with upper-level courses primarily online. Some courses require students to come to Reading, Pennsylvania, for on-campus intensives, which are scheduled on weekends. The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner track requires 67 credits and 1,050 clinical hours, which students complete with NP preceptors in the area around Reading, Lancaster, and Berks County. The nursing school faculty helps students find clinical placements, and future AGNPs often make employment connections through at their clinical sites. The doctoral-level classes focus on clinical leadership, and students learn to translate evidence into practice and improve patient outcomes.
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurses seeking the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner role can earn enter the BSN to DNP program at Cedar Crest University and graduate in six years. Students never take more than two courses per semester, and in the final four semesters, they devote all their efforts to the DNP project. Specialty classes in acute care cover topics such as health assessment and clinical reasoning. Nurses learn to perform physical exams on adults with complex problems and interpret screening and diagnostic tests. They also take classes in diagnosing and managing chronic, acute, and emergency illnesses and traumatic injury. In the DNP core courses, students learn about leadership skills, quality improvement, and translating evidence into practice, then integrate that knowledge in their DNP project.
Misericordia University
Dallas, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Students in the BSN to DNP program at Misericordia University earn an MSN after eight semesters and the Doctor of Nursing Practice the following semester. Students can specialize in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and graduates are eligible for the national certification exam. The curriculum combines theory, practice, and research - all skills that will help students become expert clinicians who can help lead change in health care to improve outcomes and policy. Some of the specialized AG classes focus on the chronic and acute health needs of adults and older adults. The curriculum also includes a course and clinical practicum specifically devoted to women's health issues. To gain experience in translating evidence to practice, students complete an evidence-based clinical capstone project to earn the DNP.
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Temple University offers an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP track for its BSN to DNP program. In addition to preparing nurses for the APRN role in adult-gerontology, the curriculum includes the classes required for a Teaching in Higher Education Certificate that qualifies graduates for a faculty role. At Temple, the nursing program is part of the College of Public Health, and many faculty members are practicing clinicians who have first-hand experience with current trends in health care. Classes for the 68-credit AG track meet once a week on campus, and some have a mix of in-person and online lessons. Students begin to develop their scholarly project near the start of the program, giving them plenty of time to work with mentors and advisors in designing a significant project.
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-BSN Doctor of Nursing Practice - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Post-BSN Doctor of Nursing Practice - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Nurses who want an MSN and a DNP can earn both degrees in Thomas Jefferson University's seamless Post-BSN to DNP program. RNs can choose an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner track in acute care or primary care. Classes meet online, and students can earn both the master's and doctoral degrees in four to six years, depending upon whether they attend full time or part time. Either AGNP track requires 69 credits, with the curriculum differing only in the clinical classes for the major. For the doctoral program, all students complete a practice inquiry project to demonstrate their ability to implement and evaluate evidence-based practice. Unlike many schools, the Jefferson College of Nursing allows students to enter the BSN to DNP program at the start of any semester.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Clinical Nurse Specialist - Adult Gerontology[BSN to DNP option]
Pitt's School of Nursing allows students to customize their degrees with subspecialties or minors. Pitt offers DNP concentrations in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Clinical Nurse Specialist with a focus on Adult-Gerontology. All three BSN-DNP concentrations are based out of the School of Nursing on Pitt's campus. However, the MSN-DNP pathways for each can be taken either on-campus or online. Pitt's 81-credit Clinical Nurse Specialist program asks students to focus on general medicine, surgery, cardiopulmonary care, critical care, oncology, or trauma and emergency preparedness. The AG-ACNP, meanwhile, is an 81-credit curriculum that incorporates five possible subspecialties: cardiopulmonary, critical care, oncology, trauma and emergency preparedness, or directed study. AG-PCNP enrollees, on the other hand, are prepared to be generalists via a 76-credit course plan. MSN-DNP enrollees can also specialize by adding a minor in Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, Nursing Administration, or Nursing Research.
Widener University
Chester, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Widener University has a post-baccalaureate DNP program that prepares RNs for a role as an Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist. The program is available to full-time and part-time students, who can attend courses at Widener's main campus in Chester, Pennsylvania, or in Harrisburg. The CNS track requires students to complete 66 credits. Students take core classes in advanced practice, including the "advanced P" courses, and classes covering topics such as health care issues for underserved populations and epidemiology. DNP classes provide nurses with the skills to evaluate evidence from research and find ways to transform practice based on that evidence. At the end of the program, students synthesize what they have learned by applying evidence to improve health outcomes. Students may complete the DNP project as an individual or collaborate with fellow students.
Gerontological NP Programs in Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP in Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
BSN to DNP in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Nurses can earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Rhode Island in adult-gerontology acute care or primary care. In addition to gaining clinical expertise in the specialty, DNP candidates also learn to translate scientific findings into policies and procedures at the practice level. They gain skills in evaluating programs and outcomes and can use that knowledge to improve health care systems and strategies. The BSN to DNP program in AG acute care includes 72 or 73 credits divided among master's core courses, advanced practice courses, specialty AGACNP courses, and the DNP core. The AG primary care program follows a similar breakdown. With either major, students have the option of exiting after they complete the 43 credits required for a master's degree.
Gerontological NP Programs in South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Accreditation: COA
Graduates of the Medical University of South Carolina's DNP program in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner are qualified for positions in a broad range of health care settings. Because the program focuses on primary care, grads can find careers in medical offices, ambulatory care centers, employer health centers, specialty clinics, and in underserved communities such as rural areas. Classes meet online, but clinical specialty classes require students to come to Charleston once or twice a semester for an intensive learning experience. Students also must attend an on-campus orientation. Nurses can complete their clinical experiences near their homes, but they are responsible for arranging preceptors and sites. The degree requires 75 credits, and students can select a full-time or part-time plan.
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of South Carolina recently added a BSN to DNP program with a concentration in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Full-time students can complete the degree in nine semesters through online coursework and on-campus immersion events required for two classes. The program frontloads the NP core and DNP coursework, with students developing their DNP project proposal in the fifth semester. By the sixth semester, students begin specialized courses in acute care of adult and gerontological health problems. Students also complete at least 1,000 clinical hours, and the College of Nursing can help them locate a preceptor if they can't complete the requirements with their current employer. Enrollees who follow a part-time plan can earn an AGACNP degree in 12 semesters.
Gerontological NP Programs in Tennessee
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
The DNP program at ETSU College of Nursing is committed to preparing graduates to work in rural communities. The college, located just outside Cherokee National Forest, runs internships in the area. In fact, because of this, enrollment is only open to Tennessee residents and out-of-state students who live within 250 miles. While clinicals require local travel, most classes can be done online from home with just one trip to Johnson City per term. RNs who want to work with gerontological clients have multiple entry points. With a BSN, students can enter either the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner concentration or, if they want much more pathophysiology, the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration. Both have full-time and part-time options. For MSN-holders, the 32-credit Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program takes just four semesters. Applicants need to have certification in the specialty.
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, Tennessee
Accreditation: ACEN
BS to Doctor of Nursing Practice - Primary Care Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Adult/Gerontology[online][MSN required]
Southern Adventist welcomes RNs from across the country to come to southern Tennessee for a DNP program infused with Christian values. There are two emphases for aspiring AGNPs, one for acute care practitioners and one for primary care practitioners. Both are 77 credits, which incorporates enough units for students to take a second emphasis. There are eight total, including three with online courses: Healthcare Administration, Nurse Educator, and Lifestyle Medicine. In keeping with Southern Adventist University's mission, students in all emphases take Christian Leadership and Management as well as Christianity and Ethics in Professional Practice. These classes go alongside standard courses in theory, policy, economics and healthcare technology. Students with an MSN take only 48 credits. They also need at least two years of work experience before they can begin their practicums; there's no such requirement for the BSN-DNP.
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
Tennessee Technological University is the home campus for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration in the DNP program that TTU jointly sponsors with East Tennessee State University. Full-time students can complete the 88-credit degree in nine semesters, and part-time students can finish in 15 semesters. Students jump right into the specialty coursework, taking health assessment classes in the first semester and starting their AGACNP practicum in the second semester. Specialized courses include acute care and pharmacotherapeutics, diagnostic interpretation, and clinical reasoning for acute disease management. This concentration requires 1,060 practicum hours, including clinical experiences in the AGACNP role and practicum experiences related to the DNP scholarly project. Classes use a blended/online format, but students must complete their clinical placements in Tennessee, North Carolina, or Virginia.
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Dual Concentration in Adult-Gerontology and Family Nursing[online][BSN to DNP option]
Nurses who want to work with adult patients can select from two concentrations at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares nurses to work with adults with acute or critical care needs, such as those who need frequent monitoring. The dual concentration in AGACNP and Family Nurse Practitioner adds classes in primary care across the lifespan. Students in either concentration take the same 30 credits in core classes. The AGACNP focus requires 29 credits in specialty coursework, while the dual-focus program requires 43 credits in the two specialties. Courses are primarily online, but students must meet on campus four times during the first semester. After that, they visit campus near the end of each semester for intensive skill labs and simulation exercises.
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track at Vanderbilt University provides two optional focus area educational tracks for students in the BSN to DNP program. The Hospitalist focus area prepares students to provide comprehensive and specialized care to acutely ill individuals in a hospital setting. The Intensivist focus is for nurses who want to treat adults with a critical illness or condition, such as a heart attack or organ failure, in an intensive care setting. Alternately, students can follow the general AGACNP curriculum and specialize through clinical experience in areas such as oncology, cardiothoracic surgery, or transplantation. Nurses with an associate or bachelor's in nursing and two years of RN experience can take this program in a distance format, which still requires occasional travel to Nashville.
Gerontological NP Programs in Texas
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
Texas Christian University's DNP program prepares Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners to work in multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive health care. Students learn to manage acute, chronic, and critical illness in patients and in the broader contexts of families and health care settings. Before starting the program, nurses must have at least two years of full-time experience in an emergency or critical care setting. Students enter this 66-credit online program in the summer semester and sharpen their skills through three on-campus intensives during their academic careers. Candidates can complete their clinical experiences near their home with preceptor supervision. Full-time students can earn a degree in three years, and part-timers in four years.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston recently added an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track to its online BSN to DNP program. An AG primary care track continues to be offered, allowing students to specialize in the branch of adult nursing that most appeals to them. The curriculum requires 79 credits. Advisors work with new students to determine the pace they wish to advance through the program and create a course plan that matches that pace. Early in the program, students come to campus four or five times a semester for core classes. As they enter the AG specialty courses and DNP core classes, students might only come to school two or three times per semester. AG students can conduct the DNP project at their place of employment or partner with a community agency.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP in Adult Gerontology - Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP)[BSN to DNP option]
With a focus on leadership skills and translational science, the UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing prepares DNP students for roles including Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Full-time and part-time plans are available for the 76-credit degree. Leadership classes cover topics such as leadership in complex adaptive systems and health care policy analysis and advocacy. Translational science classes include the science of knowledge translation, informatics, and the DNP project. Full-time students begin to take courses in the AGACNP specialty in their second year, and they complete their NP practicums in the third year. UT San Antonio has more than 400 clinical affiliates, which guarantees that all students get the clinical placements they need.
Gerontological NP Programs in Utah
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Accreditation: CCNE
RNs interested in becoming AGNPs can enter University of Utah's Primary Care or Acute Care programs. Both are BSN-DNP tracks that require 78 credits to complete, including 17 dedicated to practicums and 6 for a scholarly project. The first two semesters feature didactic work exclusively. Students then complete a practicum as well as coursework during each of the last six semesters. In their final year, they add the scholarly project to the mix. Students take the program along with a cohort, so they should expect to finish after eight semesters. Students who live in an eight-state stretch from Montana to New Mexico can enroll in the Primary Care program via a distance learning option, though they may still have to attend clinicals in northern Utah.
Gerontological NP Programs in Vermont
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Primary Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
The University of Vermont's BSN to DNP program includes an option to train as a Primary Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. The curriculum requires 69.5 credits, and full-time students can earn a degree in three years. Full-time students complete the "Advanced P" classes in the first two semesters and begin clinical experiences in the second semester. During the program, AGNP students complete practicum that focus on managing common health issues, nursing older adults, women and gendered care, and managing acute, chronic, and complex conditions. Students may complete clinical rotations at Apple Bay Primary Care in Burlington, a practice led by NP instructors in the nursing program. At Apple Bay, nursing students provide primary care to patients with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and geriatric issues.
Gerontological NP Programs in Virginia
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
The School of Nursing at George Mason employs a variety of course formats. Core courses are held online, while those involving clinical skills development require trips to either the Prince William or Fairfax campus. Still other courses use an executive format in which students study intensively on campus for a few days. All BSN-DNP programs, including the AGNP, require 72 credits. The AGNP specifically starts with coursework but gets full-time students out doing practicums by the second semester; they take a practicum every semester until graduation. The part-time plan, on the other hand, puts off the initial practicum until the fifth semester, letting enrollees first ease into coursework on the science - pharmacotherapeutics and physiology, for instance - as well as practice-oriented skills, such as assessment and decision-making. The MSN-DNP, meanwhile, is between 42 and 72 credits with a personalized study plan that builds off students' graduate work.
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Accreditation: CCNE
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist[BSN to DNP option]
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Nurses interested in training to provide acute care of adult patients at the University of Virginia can choose a Certified Nurse Practitioner track, a Clinical Nurse Specialist track, or a dual track that prepares them for both certifications. The UVA School of Nursing uses a standard 2+2 format for its BSN to DNP pathway, meaning students attend two years of master's level classes, then move seamlessly into two years devoted to the DNP. Three-year, accelerated options are available for all concentrations, and the dual NP/CNS program is only offered with the accelerated schedule. Students complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised clinical experiences (the CNS/NP double concentration requires more than 1,600 hours), and students typically complete practicum in Virginia, including at UVA Medical Center.
Gerontological NP Programs in Washington
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, Washington
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner DNP program at Seattle Pacific University requires students to complete 96 quarter credits in four areas. The graduate core includes classes in nursing theory, health care policy, and evidence-based practice. The APRN courses cover advanced nursing skills, and the synthesis area consists of the DNP scholarly project and immersion practicum. Courses in the AGNP role and population focus cover topics such as gerontology, acute and chronic conditions, behavioral health, and gender-based care and obstetrics. Students also complete a simulation and field experience practicum to expand their health assessment skills before they begin clinical experiences in the role of an AGNP. Classes meet on campus one day a week.
Seattle University
Seattle, Washington
Accreditation: CCNE
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Seattle University has tracks to prepare Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners with a focus on either acute care or primary care. The program isn't just for RNs, either. The university has a four-year plan for non-nurses with a bachelor's degree to earn licensure and pursue the AGNP DNP. RNs with a bachelor's degree can achieve the doctorate in three years. The standard BSN to DNP program requires 12 terms of full-time study, with students completing most of the core classes and specialized AGNP courses by the end of the second year. During their final three quarters, they work on the DNP project. The College of Nursing is located near Seattle's "Pill Hill," which provides a variety of settings for AG students to work their clinical hours.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, Washington
Accreditation: CCNE
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
DNP - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[MSN required]
DNP - Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[MSN required]
Aspiring AGNPs can specialize in Acute Care or Primary Care in UW's full-time DNP program. The three-year degree uses a hybrid format that brings enrollees to Seattle one day a week during the first year as they learn about healthcare systems, wellness promotion, leadership, and evidence-based practice. The second year is when they break off into specialty-specific coursework and start their clinicals. In the third year, they complete clinicals and do a final project at one of their sites. Acute Care students can find themselves at neurosurgery facilities, cardiology clinics, and intensive care units. Primary Care students, on the other hand, might be placed in veterans hospitals, oncology units, or urgent care facilities. Applicants should have a Washington RN license, as clinical experiences are set up in the Puget Sound region. Acute Care applicants also need one year of experience as a critical care RN.
Gerontological NP Programs in Wisconsin
Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Bachelors to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
BSN to DNP students at Marquette University can choose a concentration in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with either an acute care or primary care focus. Each program requires 69 credits, with 21 credits in specialty classes. Primary care students take courses in complex health problems, management of episodic health problems, and health promotion and they complete clinical courses for hands-on experience. Acute care majors study differential diagnosis for the acutely ill adult and complex critical care problems and they work clinical rotations with severely ill patients. Marquette bestows a master's degree during the program, allowing students to seek NP certification while completing the DNP requirements. Marquette's BSN to DNP uses a hybrid format.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Accreditation: CCNE
Adult-Gerontologic Clinical Nurse Specialist[BSN to DNP option]
Adult-Gerontologic Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
BSN-prepared nurses can earn a DNP from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in three, four, or five years. The three-year plan is considered full-time. Students who want to focus on the adult population can prepare as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. (The AG Clinical Nurse Specialist program is currently on hold.) The program requires 73 credits and nearly 1,100 clinical hours. Classes mostly meet on campus, with the day of the meeting determined by the course's level. Summer, Winterim, and DNP project/practicum courses use a hybrid form that combines online elements with immersion meetings on campus. For their DNP project, candidates demonstrate their clinical judgment, system thinking, and evaluation skills by developing an evidence-based practice that improves health care outcomes.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Accreditation: CCNE
The Wisconsin School of Nursing embraces a cohort model for its DNP program. Students enamored with Adult/Gerontology care can choose from three tracks: Primary Care, Acute Care, and Clinical Nurse Specialist. Once they do, they'll learn in lockstep with their classmates in a three-year or four-year progression. The program asks enrollees to do three things: use systematic thinking to evaluate their nursing practice, learn how to lead and navigate healthcare policy, and hone their skills in the field. Most classes in the 71-credit curriculum feature a mix of online work and on-campus time. Outside of those locations, students complete practicums with major healthcare networks in the Badger State. Students who want to teach after graduation can add nine credits to earn their Nurse Educator certificate. In addition to an RN license, applicants to the BSN-DNP program need a 3.0 from their last 60 credits and a year of RN experience.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Accreditation: CCNE
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist[BSN to DNP option]
Depending upon their career goals, BSN to DNP students at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee can prepare for an advanced practice role as an Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist or as an AG Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Additionally, students can select from four course schedules that vary in time from three to four and a half years to complete. Generally, students begin by taking theoretical and core classes covering everything from cultural diversity and health disparities to translational science. About midway through the program, students enroll in the theory and practicum classes in their AG specialty, and they also spend time planning their culminating DNP project. The final semester is devoted to a leadership immersion and the capstone project.
Viterbo University
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Accreditation: CCNE
The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner track at Viterbo University School of Nursing is available to post-bachelor's and post-master's students. The BSN-DNP is a three-year program, while the MSN-DNP features a two-year plan, though students in either pathway may proceed part-time. DNP students get to pursue clinical rotations at Mayo Clinic sites throughout the Midwest. Since the curriculum mixes online and on-campus coursework, the program recruits RNs who have been working in direct patient care for at least two years and can handle a heavy course load in multiple formats. Classes cover scholarly writing skills, process management, and leadership in addition to pharmacotherapeutics, pathophysiology, and other clinical topics.