Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Apply advanced clinical assessment and management skills to complex health problems

Care for acutely ill patients, ages 13 and up, in a variety of settings such as acute care facilities, specialty practice offices and skilled care. The program prepares the student to apply advanced clinical assessment and management skills to complex health problems commonly encountered among ill adults and older adults in the acute care setting. Graduates will be academically eligible to take the national certification examination for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP).  

Program Highlights

  • Advisor who works closely with you throughout your program
  • Offers a variety of in-person, hybrid and online courses
  • Smaller class sizes allow faculty and student to get to know each other
  • Clinical site placement
  • Consistently high pass rate for the Adult Gerontology Certification examination
  • DNP- and PhD-prepared faculty to guide the DNP scholarly project**
  • Advanced level coursework allows you to practice at the highest level**
  • Career development work that includes mock interviews and resume building

**Not applicable to the post-master's certificate or MSN


 

 

What degree is right for me?

Post-Master's Certificate MSN Post-BSN DNP*

Credits: 12-30


MSN required


Milwaukee campus

Credits: 42


BSN required


Milwaukee campus

Credits: 69


BSN required


Milwaukee campus


Capstone required

*Post-MSN DNP tracks also offered. 

Tuition Cost Per Credit: $1,360.00
Other costs exist, see here.

 


View the course work

These programs are generally completed on a part-time basis (3-6 credits per term) while students are working. Personalized plans of study are created collaboratively by each student and their adviser in order to create a manageable and flexible schedule. 

Post-Master's Certificate Courses – 12-30 Credits

Post-Master's certificates may require 12-30 credits, depending on academic background. 

Specialty Courses – 21 Credits

Complex Acute Care Problems 1  

Complex Acute Care Problems 2 

Differential Diagnosis and Advanced Skills for the Acutely Ill Adult

Complex Health Problems

Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology 1 Clinical

Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology 2 Clinical

Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology 3 Clinical

 

Foundation Courses – 9 Credits

Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice

Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice

Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan

 

MSN Courses – 42 Credits

Specialty Courses – 21 Credits

Complex Acute Care Problems 1  

Complex Acute Care Problems 2 

Differential Diagnosis and Advanced Skills for the Acutely Ill Adult

Complex Health Problems

Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology 1 Clinical

Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology 2 Clinical

Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology 3 Clinical

 

Core Courses – 12 Credits

Theoretical Foundations of Nursing

Ethics, Policy, and Health Care Advocacy

Organizational and Systems Leadership

Research & Evidence as a Foundation for Nursing

 

Foundation Courses – 9 Credits

Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice

Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice

Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan

 

DNP Courses – 69 Credits

DNP Core Courses – 27 Credits

Quality & Patient Safety in Health Care 

Health Care Informatics, Technology and Professional Issues 

Translational Research 

Epidemiology 

Applied Statistics for Health Sciences 

Professional Issues in APN/DNP Practice 

DNP Project 1 - Proposal & Residency 

DNP Project 2 - Implementation & Residency 

DNP Project 3 - Evaluation, Dissemination & Residency

 

Specialty Courses – 21 Credits

Complex Acute Care Problems 1 

Complex Acute Care Problems 2 

Differential Diagnosis and Advanced Skills for the Acutely Ill Adult 

Complex Health Problems

Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology Clinical 1 

Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology Clinical 2 

Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology Clinical 3 

 

Core Courses – 12 Credits

Theoretical Foundations of Nursing

Ethics, Policy, and Health Care Advocacy

Organizational and Systems Leadership

Research & Evidence as a Foundation for Nursing

 

Foundation Courses – 9 Credits 

Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice

Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice

Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan 

 

Take the next step towards your future

  • Contact Us
  • Application Information
  • Qualifications
  • Faculty
  • Financial Aid

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Application Deadline

Spring Admission- Nov. 15 
Fall Admissions- Feb. 15

Application Requirements 

  • A resume and written statement of professional goals, including reasons for pursuing graduate study.
  • International applicants only: TOEFL score or other acceptable proof of English proficiency.
  • The adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner may require an interview. Applicants who are invited for an interview are notified by email.
  • Two years of practice in an acute care setting is required for acute care students prior to beginning clinical practicum course work.
  • GRE not required.

1Upon admission, final official transcripts from all previously attended colleges/universities, with certified English translations if original language is not English, must be submitted to the Graduate School within the first five weeks of the term of admission or a hold preventing registration for future terms will be placed on the student’s record.

2Upon admission, an official course-by-course transcript/academic record evaluation must be submitted to the Graduate School within the first five weeks of the term of admission or a hold preventing registration for future terms will be placed on the student’s record. 

  • Applicants to the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program should have graduated with, or be about to graduate with, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program with an upper division major in nursing.
  • The required minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.000 on a 4.000 scale is required for the M.S.N. For graduates of foreign nursing schools, a formal evaluation of their nursing program of study documenting equivalency to a U.S. Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree must be submitted.
  • Prior to or during the first term of study, all Master of Science in Nursing applicants must have taken undergraduate nursing research and a statistics course which included inferential analysis (must be completed within 5 years of program start date). Applicants who select an advanced practice nursing specialization must have taken an undergraduate course in health assessment.
  • Two years of practice in an acute care setting is required for acute care students prior to beginning clinical practicum course work.
  • BCLS from the American Heart Association, which must be maintained during all programs. Additional certifications:  adult-gerontology acute care - ACLS prior to clinical. 
  • All applicants must be registered in the United States as a professional nurse. Graduates of nursing schools in foreign countries must successfully complete the certification program administered by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools and must be licensed in Wisconsin.

Deb Casper

Debra Casper MSN, CCRN, ACNP-BC (Program Director)

Felisa Antonchorgy

Felisa Antonchorgy, MSN, ACNP-BC

Jennifer Bauman

Jennifer Bauman, MSN, CCRN, AGACNP-BC

Peggy Conroy

Peggy A. Conroy
RN, MSN, APNP, ACNP-BC, AACC

Felisa Antonchorgy

Betsy Jaruseski
DNP, RN, AGACNP-BC

 

 

For a comprehensive listing of merit-based aid (graduate assistantships/fellowships), visit the departmental financial aid webpage. U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to apply for need-based federal aid (loans) to help fund their educational expenses as well.

Tuition information for the Master of Science in Nursing — Second Degree Direct Entry for Non-Nurses program can be found in the , as it differs from other graduate programs.

 

Program Contact

Taylor Rose Pamperin, M.Ed.

Graduate Student Success Advisor

Email Taylor