Online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs

In the coming years, the nursing workforce will face numerous challenges and changes. These include catering to an aging population with increasingly complex and intensive medical needs, addressing the demand for more primary care capacity, and bridging the gap between medical and healthcare services and the social factors that impact people's health and well-being.

The population of people 65 years old and older in the United States is projected to grow by about 14 million between 2022 and 2030, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These same individuals will have a greater life expectancy than previous generations. Because of their lifestyles, they may also have a greater chance of suffering from heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory problems, and other acute conditions.

The baby boomer generation comprises 76 million Americans — many of whom already face age-related challenges and concerns. To prepare for the massive size of today’s aging population, some health systems are adding specialized acute care for the elderly (ACE) units to meet the increasing needs.

AGACNPs will play a key role in these practice areas, addressing the unique requirements of older adults in the hospital setting to improve clinical outcomes. In this role, you can help patients maintain the greatest possible degree of independence during hospitalization and after being discharged.

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates a 45% increase in job opportunities for nurse practitioners between 2022 and 2032.
• Scrubs Magazine identifies the adult-gerontology nurse practitioner as one of the “Top 10 Highest Paying Nursing Specialties.”
• The role of nurse practitioner also ranked No. 1 on the 2024 list of the “100 Best Jobs” as chosen by U.S. News & World Report.
• Data from the BLS reports an annual median salary of $126,260 for NPs overall. Pay rates are expected to stay elevated as demand continues to grow.
• The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) reports that there’s an ongoing nursing shortage based on factors like an aging NP workforce, shifting demographics, and expanding healthcare needs.

This course explores focused and comprehensive health assessments in a variety of settings and patients across the lifespan. This includes development of health promotion strategies and prioritization of care.

Prerequisite: Online - NURS 611, NURS 615

Corequisite: On Ground - NURS 615

This course focuses on the pharmacological foundation for safely prescribing medical regimens of illnesses for individuals across the lifespan. Also included are illness prevention, non-pharmacological and legal implications for prescriptive authority for the nurse practitioner.

Note: Selection of appropriate therapies, patient education and evaluation parameters are stressed.

This is the first didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Focus is on individuals experiencing illness seen in the acute care setting. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 641 or NURS 641C

First practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in NURS-640 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in acute care practice settings.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 640

This course is the second didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Students will continue to expand on knowledge, decision making and management of acute and emergent physiological alterations in health. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management.

Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641 or NURS 641C

Corequisite: NURS 643 or NURS 643C

This is the second practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS 642 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience.

Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641

Corequisite: NURS 642

This is the final didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will continue to analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management in complex symptomology.

Prerequisite: NURS 640, NURS 641 or NURS 641C, NURS 642 and NURS 643 or NURS 643C

Corequisite: NURS 645 or NURS 645C

This is the final practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. The student will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS-644 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience.

Prerequisite: NURS 642 and NURS 643

Corequisite: NURS 644

This course explores focused and comprehensive health assessments in a variety of settings and patients across the lifespan. This includes development of health promotion strategies and prioritization of care.

Prerequisite: Online - NURS 611, NURS 615

Corequisite: On Ground - NURS 615

This course focuses on the pharmacological foundation for safely prescribing medical regimens of illnesses for individuals across the lifespan. Also included are illness prevention, non-pharmacological and legal implications for prescriptive authority for the nurse practitioner.

Note: Selection of appropriate therapies, patient education and evaluation parameters are stressed.

This course is designed to introduce students to the purpose, content, and methods of epidemiology and biostatistics. Students will learn to evaluate and use output from statistical computing software.

Prerequisite: NURS 710

This course is designed to explore the phenomenon of interest related to the DNP scholarly project. Students will systematically develop a project protocol that is supported by the literature and submit it for department approval.

Course objectives:

1. Develop a clinical question that guides the scholarly project.
2. Read critically from professional nursing literature and other related disciplines to interpret, analyze and apply current research to improve practice.
3. Apply a systematic approach to address clinical problems within healthcare organizations, including outcome measures and a sustainability plan to create meaningful changes in clinical outcomes.
4. Develop a protocol and submit it to the DNP council for project approval.
5. Develop the first chapter of the scholarly project that includes needed sections based on the selected DNP project format.

This course is designed to emphasize an objective approach to the integration and synthesis of knowledge. Manuscript preparation and practical use of evidence are incorporated to prepare students for the design of research proposals.

Prerequisite: NURS 700 and NURS 701

This course will allow the students to design an evidence-based project that will guide clinical practice. The feasibility of conducting this initiative will be explored. Potential funding sources and budget issues will be examined. Students will apply the elements of protection of human subjects and complete the Maryville IRB.

Prerequisite: NURS 700, NURS 701, NURS 702, and NURS 703

This course is designed to expand the students knowledge of clinical project data collection and analysis of data. Students will apply integrated research concepts pertaining to the clinical project. Utilization of various methods of data analysis and data management systems will be explored. Complete project data is needed prior to the start of this course.

Prerequisite: NURS 705 and NUS 705L

This course is designed to expand the students understanding of methods of dissemination in translational research. Variables that impact the analysis of data related to the scholarly project will be examined. Implications for patients, clinical practice and the healthcare systems will be explored and findings disseminated.

Prerequisite: NURS 706

This is the first didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Focus is on individuals experiencing illness seen in the acute care setting. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 641 or NURS 641C

First practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in NURS-640 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in acute care practice settings.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 640

This course is the second didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Students will continue to expand on knowledge, decision making and management of acute and emergent physiological alterations in health. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management.

Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641 or NURS 641C

Corequisite: NURS 643 or NURS 643C

This is the second practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS 642 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience.

Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641

Corequisite: NURS 642

This is the final didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will continue to analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management in complex symptomology.

Prerequisite: NURS 640, NURS 641 or NURS 641C, NURS 642 and NURS 643 or NURS 643C

Corequisite: NURS 645 or NURS 645C

This is the final practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. The student will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS-644 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience.

Prerequisite: NURS 642 and NURS 643

Corequisite: NURS 644

This course explores focused and comprehensive health assessments in a variety of settings and patients across the lifespan. This includes development of health promotion strategies and prioritization of care.

Prerequisite: Online - NURS 611, NURS 615

Corequisite: On Ground - NURS 615

This course focuses on the pharmacological foundation for safely prescribing medical regimens of illnesses for individuals across the lifespan. Also included are illness prevention, non-pharmacological and legal implications for prescriptive authority for the nurse practitioner.

Note: Selection of appropriate therapies, patient education and evaluation parameters are stressed.

This is the first didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Focus is on individuals experiencing illness seen in the acute care setting. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 641 or NURS 641C

First practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in NURS-640 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in acute care practice settings.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 640

This course is the second didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Students will continue to expand on knowledge, decision making and management of acute and emergent physiological alterations in health. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management.

Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641 or NURS 641C

Corequisite: NURS 643 or NURS 643C

This is the second practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS 642 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience.

Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641

Corequisite: NURS 642

This is the final didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will continue to analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management in complex symptomology.

Prerequisite: NURS 640, NURS 641 or NURS 641C, NURS 642 and NURS 643 or NURS 643C

Corequisite: NURS 645 or NURS 645C

This is the final practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. The student will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS-644 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience.

Prerequisite: NURS 642 and NURS 643

Corequisite: NURS 644

This course is designed to introduce students to the purpose, content, and methods of epidemiology and biostatistics. Students will learn to evaluate and use output from statistical computing software.

Prerequisite: NURS 710

This course is designed to explore the phenomenon of interest related to the DNP scholarly project. Students will systematically develop a project protocol that is supported by the literature and submit it for department approval.

Course objectives:

1. Develop a clinical question that guides the scholarly project.
2. Read critically from professional nursing literature and other related disciplines to interpret, analyze and apply current research to improve practice.
3. Apply a systematic approach to address clinical problems within healthcare organizations, including outcome measures and a sustainability plan to create meaningful changes in clinical outcomes.
4. Develop a protocol and submit it to the DNP council for project approval.
5. Develop the first chapter of the scholarly project that includes needed sections based on the selected DNP project format.

This course is designed to emphasize an objective approach to the integration and synthesis of knowledge. Manuscript preparation and practical use of evidence are incorporated to prepare students for the design of research proposals.

Prerequisite: NURS 700 and NURS 701

This course is designed to provide an understanding of the measurement of phenomena as it relates to the research process. Procedures for selecting, applying, and interpreting the correct statistical application to a research problem will be presented with students processing the results.

Prerequisite: NURS 700

This course will allow the students to design an evidence-based project that will guide clinical practice. The feasibility of conducting this initiative will be explored. Potential funding sources and budget issues will be examined. Students will apply the elements of protection of human subjects and complete the Maryville IRB.

Prerequisite: NURS 700, NURS 701, NURS 702, and NURS 703

This course is designed to expand the students knowledge of clinical project data collection and analysis of data. Students will apply integrated research concepts pertaining to the clinical project. Utilization of various methods of data analysis and data management systems will be explored. Complete project data is needed prior to the start of this course.

Prerequisite: NURS 705 and NUS 705L

This course is designed to expand the students understanding of methods of dissemination in translational research. Variables that impact the analysis of data related to the scholarly project will be examined. Implications for patients, clinical practice and the healthcare systems will be explored and findings disseminated.

Prerequisite: NURS 706

This course explores focused and comprehensive health assessments in a variety of settings and patients across the lifespan. This includes development of health promotion strategies and prioritization of care.

Prerequisite: Online - NURS 611, NURS 615

Corequisite: On Ground - NURS 615

This course focuses on the pharmacological foundation for safely prescribing medical regimens of illnesses for individuals across the lifespan. Also included are illness prevention, non-pharmacological and legal implications for prescriptive authority for the nurse practitioner.

Note: Selection of appropriate therapies, patient education and evaluation parameters are stressed.

This is the first didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Focus is on individuals experiencing illness seen in the acute care setting. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 641 or NURS 641C

This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice nurse and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum.

Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615

Corequisite: NURS 620

This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this second of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology

Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621 or NURS 621C

Corequisite: NURS 624 or NURS 624C

This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice provider and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Opportunity is provided for the assessment, management, and evaluation of adults with chronic and acute health problems in a primary care setting

Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621

Corequisite: NURS 623

This is the final didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will continue to analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management in complex symptomology.

Prerequisite: NURS 640, NURS 641 or NURS 641C, NURS 642 and NURS 643 or NURS 643C

Corequisite: NURS 645 or NURS 645C

This is the final practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. The student will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS-644 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience.

Prerequisite: NURS 642 and NURS 643

Corequisite: NURS 644

An adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) is an advanced-practice registered nurse (APRN) who is trained to manage acute and complex health problems in younger and older adults. AGACNPs work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, emergency departments, intensive care units, and specialty clinics.

Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners (AGACNPs) can work in a variety of healthcare settings, including:

• Hospitals: AGACNPs can work in hospitals, including emergency departments, intensive care units, and medical-surgical units, where they manage the care of acutely ill patients.
• Specialty clinics: AGACNPs can work in specialty clinics, such as cardiology or pulmonology clinics, where they provide specialized care to patients with acute or chronic conditions.
• Long-term care facilities: AGACNPs can work in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities, where they provide ongoing care to older adults with complex health needs.
• Home health agencies: AGACNPs can work for home health agencies, providing care to patients in their homes who require acute or chronic care management.
• Telehealth companies: AGACNPs can work for telehealth companies, providing virtual care to patients who require acute or chronic care management.