Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

The adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who specializes in the care of patients with acute, critical, and complex health conditions, typically in hospital or emergency settings. AGACNPs are trained to assess, diagnose, treat, and manage patients experiencing serious, life-threatening illnesses or injuries. They focus on providing high-quality care to patients who require intensive monitoring, intervention, and rapid decision-making.

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care program is designed to prepare registered nurses with advanced clinical skills and knowledge to provide care to adult and older adult patients who have complex and acute health conditions. The program focuses on improving patient outcomes in acute care settings, such as hospitals, emergency rooms, and intensive care units.

Please note: AGACNP track is a hybrid program with on-campus and online components.
Classes typically meet every other Wednesday, except where noted.

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Prerequisites/Co-requisites:

There are three required prerequisite/co-requisite courses for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program. Students may complete Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Pharmacology at UAH or another institution before applying to the program, or they may take them while in the program. Advanced Health Assessment and Advanced Pharmacology are offered during the summer, and Advanced Pathophysiology is offered during the fall. All three courses must not be older than two years at the time of admission.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner total clinical hours:

To meet the program objectives, you must complete 720 clinical hours. Of the total 720 hours, 600+ direct patient care clinical hours are a minimum.

It is expected that the NP student provides direct patient care distributed over the population-focused area of specialty (i.e., the acute adult-gerontology NP student should receive experiences with adults across the entire adult age spectrum from young adult to older adult, including the frail elderly). It is also expected that the NP student exceeds the minimum 600-hour direct patient care clinical hour requirement.

— National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (2016)

The 600 direct patient care hours must be one-on-one with a physician or a nurse practitioner in the clinical area. The remaining clinical hours would include clinical seminars, pre-approved CEs (12 per semester), simulation experiences, and other pre-approved (by the Nurse Practitioner Coordinator) acute care specialty rotations.