Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Programs
What is an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/APRN? (AGACNP)
In the United states nurse practitioners are also referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). There are several NP specialty programs to choose from. Adult gerontology acute care NPs specialize in the care of adults and older adults with acute, complex, or critical conditions. AGACNPs work in hospitals, ICUs, trauma centers, and specialty clinics, where they diagnose, treat, and manage unstable or severe illnesses and injuries. Their focus is on short-term, high-intensity care, often in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
In many U.S. states, AGACNPs practice independently, which expands access to care in both urban and rural areas. However, the scope of practice can vary depending on the state. For example, some states are considered full practice, allowing AGACNPs to operate independently, while others are reduced or restricted practice, requiring physician supervision or collaboration.
Where do Adult Gerontology Acute Care NPs work?
A variety of settings, and this varies by state of course. Some examples include:
Hospitals - inpatient units, emergency departments
ICUs
Trauma centers
Long term care facilities
Specialized adult-focused ambulatory surgery centers
How do I become an Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP?
If you are thinking of becoming an AGACNP, I highly recommend reading this post on different pathways to become an NP. After getting a BSN, you need to become a registered nurse. From there, gain as much experience as possible. If you decide to pursue an AGACNP degree, most programs will mandate you have critical care experience - so it’s important to look ahead to the future to ensure your RN experience is relevant for any future NP program. There are many different degree pathways to become an NP. Here is a visual representation of what your journey may look like:
Becoming a AGACNP - Different Tracks to Choose: MSN, post-masters certificate, and DNP
In the United states, there are several AGACNP nurse practitioner programs. But first, it’s important to define some terms:
BSN: bachelor's of nursing science (undergraduate degree)
MSN: masters of nursing science (masters graduate degree)
MN-NP: combined maters + nurse practitioner degree (masters graduate degree)
DNP: doctor of nursing science (some schools offer with an NP specialty) (doctoral graduate degree)
Post-masters certification: an additional certification (like an NP speciality) someone gets after completing a masters of nursing degree
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When applying for an AGACNP program, there are 4 tracks offered. Not all universities offer every track:
Master of Science in Nursing with an NP specialty (MN-NP or MSN)
Post-masters NP (sometimes referred to as post-masters certificate)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN-DNP) with an NP specialty
Masters of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN-DNP) with an NP specialty
Let’s break these down:
MN-NP programs: these are for students who do not have a master’s degree in nursing. Courses are a blend of masters & clinical courses, to prepare you to become an NP.
Post-masters programs: you require a master’s degree in nursing to apply for a post-masters program. Programs focus on core NP clinical courses to prepare you to become an NP.
BSN-DNP with an NP specialty: This is an advanced, doctoral-level nursing program for Registered Nurses (RNs) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) who want to become a specialized Nurse Practitioner (NP). These programs are typically longer e.g. 3-4 years.
MSN-DNP with an NP specialty: This is an advanced, doctoral-level nursing program for Registered Nurses (RNs) with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) who want to become a specialized Nurse Practitioner (NP). These programs are typically longer e.g. 3-4 years.
The path you choose will be unique to you. Personally, I pursued an MSN in nursing, then went on to do a post-masters certificate. Some people decide to go right from a BSN degree to a doctoral level NP program (DNP), designed for hands-on clinical practice and leadership, with an emphasis on translating research and evidence into improved patient outcomes (this is different from a PhD in nursing). Now let’s get into different program offerings across key states.
AGACNP Curriculum
Each program consists of a combination of clinical and non-clinical course work, plus clinical placements. Here is an example of Barry University MSN curriculum:
Year I example courses:
Advanced pathophysiology
Scientific foundations of advanced pharmacology
Advanced pharmacology
Advanced health assessment/diagnostic reasoning
Health promotion/disease prevention/epidemiology
Year II example courses:
Adult/gerontology acute care courses I & II
Behavioural health
Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) Programs- there’s lots to choose from!
While several states offer AGACNP programs, I will focus on the following states that offer several program options: California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) Programs California
| University | Tracks Offered | Delivery Format |
|---|---|---|
| California State University, Long Beach | BSN-DNP | In Person |
| California State University, Los Angeles | MSN, Post-Masters | In Person |
| Loma Linda University | BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| San Diego State University | BSN/MSN-DNP | In Person |
| University of California, Los Angeles | BSN-DNP | In Person |
| University of California, San Francisco | BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| University of San Diego | MSN, BSN-DNP | In Person |
| West Coast University - Orange County | MSN, Post-Masters | Online |
Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) Programs Florida
| University | Tracks Offered | Delivery Format |
|---|---|---|
| Barry University | MSN, Post-Masters | Hybrid |
| Jacksonville University | MSN, Post-Masters | In Person |
| Florida International University | MSN, Post-Masters, BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| University of Miami | MSN | In Person |
| University of Florida | MSN | Hybrid |
| University of Central Florida | BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| University of South Florida | MSN, BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| Nova Southeastern University | MSN, Post-Masters, BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| Florida State University | Post-Masters, BSN-DNP | Online |
Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) Programs Illinois
| University | Tracks Offered | Delivery Format |
|---|---|---|
| Bradley University | MSN, Post-Masters, BSN-DNP | Online |
| Rush University | Post-Masters, BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| University of Illinois Chicago | BSN/MSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| Loyola University Chicago | Post-Masters, BSN/MSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| St. Anthony College of Nursing | MSN, MSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| Chamberlain University | MSN | Online |
| Lewis University | MSN, BSN/MSN-DNP | Online |
| Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing | MSN, Post-Masters, BSN/MSN-DNP | Hybrid/Online |
Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) Programs New York
| University | Tracks Offered | Delivery Format |
|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain University | MSN | Online |
| Columbia University | BSN/MSN-DNP | Online |
| NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing | MSN, Post-Masters | In Person |
| University of Rochester School of Nursing | MSN, Post-Masters | Online |
| PACE University, NYC & Westchester | MSN, Post-Masters | Hybrid |
| St John Fisher University | MSN, Post-Masters, BSN/MSN-DNP | Online/In Person Options |
| Stony Brook University, SUNY | MSN, Post-Masters, MSN-DNP | Online |
| Molloy University | MSN, Post-Masters, BSN/MSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| Hunter College | BSN/MSN-DNP | In Person |
| Hofstra University | MSN, Post-Masters, MSN-DNP | Hybrid |
Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) Programs Ohio
| University | Tracks Offered | Delivery Format |
|---|---|---|
| Kent State University | BSN/MSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| Ohio State University | MSN | Online |
| Ohio University | MSN, Post-Masters, BSN-DNP | Online |
| Wright State University | MSN | Online |
| Youngstown State University | MSN, Post-Masters | Online |
| Cedarville University | MSN, BSN/MSN-DNP | Online |
| Franklin University | MSN, Post-Masters | Online |
| Ursuline College | MSN, Post-Masters | Hybrid |
Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) Programs Oregon
| University | Tracks Offered | Delivery Format |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) | BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) Programs Pennsylvania
| University | Tracks Offered | Delivery Format |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson University | MSN, Post-Masters | Online |
| Drexel University | MSN, Post-Masters | Online |
| University of Pennsylvania | MSN | Hybrid |
| DeSales University | MSN | Online |
| University of Pittsburgh | Post-Masters, BSN-DNP | Online |
| Duquesne University | MSN, Post-Masters | Online |
| La Salle University | MSN, Post-Masters | Online |
| Saint Joseph's University | Post-Masters | Hybrid |
| Pennsylvania State University | Post-Masters, DNP | Hybrid |
Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) Programs Texas
| University | Tracks Offered | Delivery Format |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas at Arlington | MSN, Post-Masters | Hybrid |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | MSN, Post-Masters | Online |
| Texas Woman’s University | MSN | Hybrid |
| UTHealth Houston (The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston) | BSN-DNP | Hybrid |
| Baylor University | BSN-DNP | Online |
| University of Texas El Paso | MSN, Post-Masters | Online |
| The University of Texas Medical Branch | MSN, Post-Masters | Hybrid (Mainly Online) |
| Texas Christian University | BSN-DNP | Online |
Pre-requisites for Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) Programs
Specific pre-requisites vary across universities and programs, but commonly, here is what you will need for a successful application:
Bachelor of science in nursing degree (BScN)
A masters of science in nursing degree (MSN) if applying for a post-masters certificate program, and some DNP programs that do not offer the direct entry from BSN
RN license in the respective state
Minimum GPA of 3.0
RN experience – the more the better! For most AGACNP programs, many universities require 1-2 years full time RN experience in a critical care/relevant setting within the last 3-5 years.
Official transcripts
A CV/resume
Statement of interest
2-3 academic +/- clinical references
Others: many require an undergraduate statistics course completion with a grade of B or C
Online Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) Programs
Many universities offer online AGACNP programs, both full and part time. Several highlight the need for a few on-campus “intensives.” Intensives are hands-on workshops that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. These immersions are held at the university's physical location, are guided by expert faculty, and focus on refining advanced clinical skills.
👉 Read this post for more information about online AGACNP programs.
Key Take home Points:
Do your research on NP programs.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to university admissions offices to ask questions about the program or admission process.
Talk with nurse practitioners who have been through this process already.
Think about what you want out of your career (Do you want a serious challenge with career growth potential?)
The NP program (and career in general!) is intense and will probably be the steepest learning curve of your life. Don’t let this intimidate you – check out our newsletter to kick-start your NP journey.
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Disclaimer - The views expressed in this post are my own and do not represent the official position of any organization. This is not a sponsored post.